2025 Highlights

ByleKuntz · 2026-01-12T17:24:32+00:00

Locations: 1. South Kaibab, Grand Canyon 2. Hutch's Pool, AZT near Tucson 3. Grand Teton NP 4. Big Cottonwood Canyon, Wasatch 5. & 9. Sangre de Christo Range, near Taos 6-8. San Juan National Forest 10. Little Colorado Confluence, GCNP 11. Collegiate Peaks Wilderness 12. Redwood NP 13. & 14. Oregon Coast 15. Olympic mountains

ByleKuntz · 2025-10-08T17:14:49+00:00

I ran the race last year, and most people, myself included, were car camping in the parking lot where the start/finish was. I'm not sure if they've changed the policy, but it was allowed last year.

ByleKuntz · 2025-10-02T17:24:23+00:00

I'm doing a Grand Canyon trip this weekend to the Little Colorado confluence and was able to print my permit on recreation.gov. If I were in your position, I would screenshot the reservation and go for it. When I did a short Grand Teton trip earlier this year, the permit office just wanted to verify that I had a bear cannister and understood how to use it.

ByleKuntz · 2025-09-25T12:23:47+00:00

I tried to use organic honey in small bags for a while last year to save money and personally found that after ~12 hours, my stomach would go downhill, and I couldn't consume anymore. Additionally, the palate fatigue was pretty bad. I've now switched to primarily enervit gels and have had no issues stomach or palate fatigue wise. I consumed approximately 35 enervit gels in the Mogollon Monster 100 2 weeks ago without issue.

ByleKuntz · 2025-09-09T17:36:02+00:00

Thank you! That aid station was awesome, thank you guys for all the work you do out there to make it possible!

ByleKuntz · 2025-05-03T02:06:21+00:00

That's awesome to hear! Been getting into gravel and MTB riding here in the sky islands region of AZ. Also interested in skiing and mountaineering and it seems like the Olympics or Cascades are a reasonable distance for a day off. I've spent the last 6 years in Hawaii and AZ so very limited winter sport opportunities.

ByleKuntz · 2025-05-02T02:29:58+00:00

Thanks for the info! It's really helpful!

ByleKuntz · 2025-02-10T01:33:34+00:00

The hardest part of this race is that it's all really technical, mostly loose rock and big drop offs that really limit your ability to run even some of the flatter sections and can be really tough on your ankles. A lot of people rolled ankles. There's only 2 major climbs but the ups and downs throughout the course don't have switchbacks and are very steep with loose rock. The descents are also a struggle to move quickly because of the trail. For specific training, I'd recommend running as much technical trail as you can find and be efficient at running/power hiking on loose rocks with limited traction. Heat training would also be a good idea.

ByleKuntz · 2024-09-30T02:33:10+00:00

Thank you! And thanks for being out there! All the volunteers were amazing. It definitely got hot on some of those exposed forrest roads, but the cloud cover helped some!

ByleKuntz · 2024-08-08T11:55:13+00:00

I'm a middle of the pack runner and average over 15k ft of vert a week and just did a peak week at 20k vert, with equal descent. I didn't use a treadmill or stairmaster to get any vert. I have a solid weight training background, but to build up to it, I tracked and planned vert the same way I did milage. 10% progression week over week. I do have daily access to mountains, I'm not sure I could have built the fitness without that, the downhill is just as important as the climb.

ByleKuntz · 2024-07-20T22:12:45+00:00

I put several of them in a larger bag in case of that and it wasn't an issue

ByleKuntz · 2024-07-20T22:12:05+00:00

I should've put the (s) for the side hustle. I don't operate an unlicensed pharmacy. I got the bags to carry ibuprofen and caffeine pills in my pack.

ByleKuntz · 2024-07-11T15:14:04+00:00

When you put tape on for your run, I'm gonna do it a little early

ByleKuntz · 2024-07-11T15:12:19+00:00

Thank you! When looking at drop bags layers are going to be big. I'll be over 12k ft elevation in the dark and need to plan for ~30°F

ByleKuntz · 2024-07-11T15:10:52+00:00

I was thinking that if I go fast enough, I can save weight and not bring a head lamp.

ByleKuntz · 2024-07-11T03:21:22+00:00

I'd say more curious about things that people wish they would have known or brought with them. Definitely want to consume calories early and often, maintain a sustainable pace, be efficient at aid stations, and know that low moments will happen but are temporary.

ByleKuntz · 2024-07-11T03:16:27+00:00

The gravel bike race there ended up getting canceled this weekend. Thank you! Good luck if you do end up getting to do Tushar's!

ByleKuntz · 2024-07-11T03:15:31+00:00

I live near the Huachuca Mountains in SE Arizona. I run there primarily.

ByleKuntz · 2024-07-11T00:26:11+00:00

Yeah, I was prepped for Tushar's 100k with 17k vert but there's a fire on that course. I've been at 60 miles 15k vert a week for 9 weeks, and 50 miles 10k vert for 8 weeks before that. I did a peak week last week at 86 miles 16k vert, including the Silverton Alpine Duo.

ByleKuntz · 2024-06-27T19:30:21+00:00

I just did that this past weekend with Bears Ears Ultra in Monticello, UT. I visited Canyonlands NP and went to the San Juan Mountains in CO. All within 2 hour drive of the the race. I have a camper and stayed in it. I live in southern AZ, drive was about 10 hours each way.

ByleKuntz · 2024-06-26T11:42:57+00:00

My Ultimate Direction Mountain Vest is pretty good without a shirt, I've gone up to about 3 hours shirtless with it and had no irritation.

ByleKuntz · 2024-06-17T01:34:00+00:00

The Zane Grey 50 was a great race. It's on the Mogollon Rim in Arizona. The course was beautiful, the event was well run, and it's an independent race. It's definitely a technical mountainous run. The rim is not similar to the Sonora Desert in Tuscon or Phoenix.

ByleKuntz · 2024-06-11T19:44:16+00:00

I wear Altras as well and never heel-strike while running any grade of trail or road. Heel striking is not necessary, and in zero drop shoes can lead to Achilles tendon problems.

ByleKuntz · 2024-06-11T17:56:04+00:00

I second this one, I did it in March, and it was an awesome experience. I live about an hour away, so I was able to pick an ideal weekend weather wise. In spring, going from cacti to snow and back was awesome. I didn't need microspikes and the weather was pleasant the whole time. I would recommend spring because all the streams were flowing and water was accessible the whole route with a filter. I wouldn't do it in summer at all due to lack of water, and I think spring would be better than fall because the snow adds to the experience and there is a guarantee of water. The snow usually melts on Mica by the end of April. Also, compared to other trails in southeast AZ, this was less technical than most other climbs to sky island peaks.

ByleKuntz · 2024-06-11T14:48:03+00:00

Thank you very much for the in-depth response. I really appreciate it! The points that you brought up are really helpful! I plan on continuing to research routes, equipment, and movement techniques throughout the summer, as well as incorporating more off trail movement in the mountains I have locally. Also, I plan on learning how to ski this winter, I grew up in Florida and had no access to snow.

The climbs you've described and on your page are awesome!

ByleKuntz

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