[Author’s Note: This article is part of an occasional series on the unique opportunities and challenges of growing older as a runner.]
Last weekend, I participated in the Crown King Scramble 50k, a race in central Arizona that runs from the desert floor north of Phoenix to the historic mining town of Crown King, high in the Bradshaw Mountains. Established back in 1987 by a small and hardy group of Phoenix area ultrarunners who were training for the Western States 100, Crown King has long been a staple of the Arizona running community, bringing runners back year after year to run the point-to-point net uphill course.
AJW (center) at the finish of the 2026 Crown King Scramble 50k. Photo: Aravaipa Running
Going into this year’s race, I was hoping to improve on my 2025 time and perhaps come close to my 2024 time. The beauty of the Crown King course is that it never changes. For some seemingly divine reason, the rugged dirt road from the boat ramp at the east end of Lake Pleasant to the front entrance of the Crown King Saloon is exactly 50k, and it proves to be an honest test year after year.
Having run 7:44 in 2024 and 8:10 in 2025, I really wasn’t sure what I was capable of this year, especially with temperatures forecast to be in the 90s Fahrenheit. From Lake Pleasant, I started out slowly and settled in with a group of other Crown King veterans to pass the miles of the first half. I arrived at mile 15.4 in 3:17 and said to myself, “I think I may be able to sneak in under eight hours.”
The heat dissipated slightly as we climbed out of the desert and into the mountains, and I found myself not slowing down like I usually do late in this race. Having been so busy with moving for most of February, my training had been less than ideal, but in the moment, I felt I was running within myself, staying strong, and slowly distancing myself from the group I had spent much of the morning running with. Maybe this would be one of those days!
While AJW’s training in the Sonoran Desert hadn’t been ideal, he still got to have a special day out on course. Photo: Andy Jones-Wilkins
I strode into Oro Belle, the aid station at 27 miles, with 6:49 on the clock. I knew from past experience that I could comfortably run the last four-mile section — two miles up and two miles down — in about an hour, so I ever so slightly took the foot off the gas and cruised to a 7:48 finish, 22 minutes faster than 2025.
As a runner in my late fifties, it is rare for me to improve on my past efforts. In fact, it seems like much of the time, I am simply trying not to lose too much from my previous runs. Yet, every so often, the stars align, and small improvements reveal themselves. The 2026 Crown King Scramble was one such time. As older athletes, and older people for that matter, we often have to take what the day gives us. Some days are good and some days are bad, and then you have that rare day when you harness something special from the past, and it becomes a great day. It was nice to have one of those last weekend.
Bottoms up!
AJW’s Beer of the Week
This week’s Beer of the Week comes from Machine House Brewery in Seattle, Washington. Specializing in British-style beers, Machine House brews some fantastic classics. Invincible Lager is a tasty British pub-style lager brewed with British malt and British and Czech hops, creating a truly unique brew.
Call for Comments
- As you age, how do you come to terms with slowly losing ground on your younger self?
- Have you had a “one of those days” experience lately?
