[Author’s Note: This is the sixth of a 10-part series in AJW’s Taproom called Race Director Chronicles, where we profile the unsung heroes who make our sport’s racing possible.]
Anybody who has run, crewed, paced, volunteered, or spectated on the Javelina Jundred Mile or the Black Canyon Ultras in Arizona has crossed paths with Jubilee Paige. Probably the most ebullient and fun-loving race administrators on the market, Paige is understood for her in depth wardrobe of artistic costumes, impeccable race group, and a spirit of pleasure that’s embedded into each of her high-volume occasions. I sat down with Paige lately as she was getting ready to direct the Javelina Jundred later this month.
Race director Jubilee Paige. Picture: Aravaipa Working
Andy Jones-Wilkins: How lengthy have you ever been directing extremely/path operating occasions in Arizona?
Jubilee Paige: I joined Aravaipa Working within the spring of 2016 as an workplace supervisor and common administrator, and inside a 12 months was promoted to race director. This will probably be my seventh 12 months because the race director for Javelina and Black Canyon.
AJW: What’s the most satisfying facet of your work as a race director?
Paige: As a common event-planner, I really like seeing all of the items come collectively race week. It’s like engaged on a puzzle and having a common thought of the image, however because the items fall into place, I get to see in actual time months of planning come into focus, and it genuinely brings a smile to my face on race day. Greater than that, nevertheless, I feel the perfect facet of being a race director is figuring out that the entire planning and coordination creates an setting the place athletes can embrace risk — nevertheless they outline that for themselves. The potential for operating 100 miles, or the potential for operating the farthest or the quickest, the potential for qualifying for Western States 100 — no matter their “why,” the likelihood is there for them firstly line. And having the ability to facilitate that’s extraordinarily satisfying.
AJW: What makes operating within the desert southwest so distinctive and particular?
Paige: The Sonoran Desert is the world’s most biodiverse desert. In all of its extremes, there may be an abundance of life. After all, the southwest panorama is gorgeous — and I hardly must promote it, with the Grand Canyon and crimson rocks of Sedona — however anybody operating by way of a desert forest of towering saguaros for the primary time will discover a surreal expertise. There’s no different place prefer it.
Patrick Reagan, operating by way of the distinctive Sonoran Desert, on his technique to profitable the 2017 Javelina Jundred. Picture: Aravaipa Working
AJW: What are the largest challenges you face as a race director?
Paige: I feel it varies for every race. The logistical and security challenges for Black Canyon range from the environmental impression and participation challenges of Javelina. Making certain the security of every participant is paramount. For logistics-heavy races like Black Canyon, the climate may be unpredictable, inflicting rivers to rise and trails to develop into impassible inside 24 hours. I’ve realized to have contingency plans in place as much as and together with on race day — which we’ve had to make use of! Black Canyon particularly is a superb instance of desert extremes and retains the entire workforce on their toes.
Javelina, alternatively, is simply BIG! Area has been an ongoing problem as participation grows. The race outgrew its authentic venue in 2015, so we moved it in 2016, and at the moment we’re once more addressing the finite quantity of area, for each the bottom of operations and on path, with the rise in reputation. It’s a enjoyable problem for positive, however with elevated participation, I’m additionally cautious to handle the impression that 1,000-plus runners could have on a singletrack path and surrounding setting.
I additionally wish to create an general optimistic expertise for contributors. With the expansion of each occasions, I discover a problem in assembly the expectations of a various group of runners. From elites to first-time runners, entrance of the pack to the again — I need these races to be distinctive in the case of assist, assist, and expertise.
AJW: What modifications have you ever seen within the sport because you started directing occasions?
Paige: I’m excited to see the game develop. There’s an general rising consciousness of the game and its wonderful athletes, which has led to a rise in participation in diversified distances. The inclusion and development of livestreams at our occasions has elevated visibility and hopefully impressed others to step onto the paths and discover the pure world round them. Over time, one of the vital inspiring and optimistic traits I’ve witnessed as a race director is the numerous enhance in girls’s participation in ultrarunning occasions. After I first began as a race director, the ratio of participation was staggering, and lately I’m excited to see these numbers shift, as extra girls enter the game.
I feel one of many issues that issues me with the general progress of the game, nevertheless, is the pressure on pure environments and the impression that the recognition of the game can have on the distant locations we love. I got here to ultrarunning due to a love of the outside, and the genuine spirit of neighborhood, and I feel preserving each is essential as we navigate this progress. As ultrarunners, we have now a chance to be stewards of the paths each time we come to a race — to follow “go away no hint,” to take part in cupless races, and to encourage others to take care of the pure landscapes that we love. As race administrators, we might want to discover a steadiness between offering entry to those stunning and distant locations, whereas additionally discovering methods to reduce the ecological footprint of the occasions.
AJW: What are you trying ahead to most within the 2023 to ‘24 occasion season?
Paige: Truthfully, I don’t look too far forward of the race I’m presently directing! Javelina and Black Canyon are pretty shut to 1 one other every season, so my focus narrows throughout this time. However each season is an journey — I all the time sit up for the rising elite discipline at Black Canyon, and showcasing upcoming expertise. And Javelina will all the time be a number of surprises annually, so I sit up for seeing what I can study from the earlier 12 months to make that occasion higher for the following.
Bottoms up!
The beginning of the 2023 Black Canyon 100k. Picture: Jesse Ellis/@letswanderphotography
AJW’s Beer of the Week
This week’s beer of the week comes from Uncle Bear’s Brewery in Gilbert, Arizona. Located just some miles from the Javelina Jundred course, Uncle Bear’s produces a various vary of beers for each palate. Bear’s Seaside Bum Tropical IPA is a balanced, fruity IPA, which efficiently blends the normal West Coast fashion with the newer New England Type. An IPA that goes down easy and is effectively suited to its beachy roots, Seaside Bum is a superb beer for any event.
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