The Javelina Jundred was held on Jalloween this year. This desert 100-mile race is run in McDowell Mountain Park near Fountain Hills, Arizona. The course is a loop format that runs on the 15.5-mile Pemberton Trail. We would have to run six loops in alternating directions and then run a shorter loop to bring the distance up to 101.4 miles.
The Pony Express Trail 100 is one of the most unique 100-mile races in the U.S. It runs on the historic 1860 Pony Express route in the western desert of Utah. This very remote section of the country has been untouched by modern development, except for the wide dirt road we would run on. Herds of antelope are seen on the course. This year runners even got a treat in seeing wild horses galloping in the desert. Some are believed to be descendants from the original Pony Express herd of horses.
I dreamed up this race four years ago after doing an adventure run on the historic route. To me, it felt amazing to be out in the beautiful desert, far away from civilization. I could look around me in every direction and not see a single man-made structure. Here I was, Davy Crockett, in the Wild West. All I could see was low mountains, sage brush, huge ant hills, and jack rabbits hopping away from me. I went away wishing that I could share that experience with others.
