Pigtails Challenge 100
May 23, 2026
28:51, 91st hundred
This was the fourth time I attempted Pigtails Challenge. My first time was back in 2012 and it was my second 100 miler. In 2014 I came back and completed the 150 miler. I ran the 50K in 2023, ugh, after a 50K the day before. This year I needed to finish to continue my quest for 100 x100 miles and I had only just completed the Sedona Canyons 125 two weeks prior so it was definitely going to be a challenge. I was confident I could do it but it might take me a bit longer on tired legs. Surprise!
The Pigtails Challenge is run at Lake Youngs reservoir. It is a 9.4 mile loop around a lake that you only see once, barely and you run along side a 7-8 ft tall fence the entire way around. There are some hills and so you get 900 ft gain each loop, ten loops plus an out back section add up to 100 miles and 9000 ft gain.
I knew my toes were not quite recovered from Sedona canyons because there was still dead skin coming off of them right before the race. I had some blisters two weeks ago and it takes two weeks for them to heal. So tender toes went into this race. I taped them up and hoped for the best. I also knew my legs were still tired and overall I was kinda wiped out. Go figure. I usually like minimum of three weeks between big events and prefer 4-5 weeks. Tough. You didn’t finish Badger Mountain 100 mile, only the 100k, so now you get to run Pigtails. Suck it up buttercup.
Knowing this I recruited some friends to pace me. I really haven’t used pacers and prefer to run on my own, but what the heck, this was a local race and decided to invite people to join in the fun of running along a fence. I ran the first ten miles catching up with Amy. She then sped off to win the race, we now have matching stuffed pigs. Congrats Amy.
Brenda was the first to volunteer to pace as she is training up for her first 100 miler. I was still running some and so we had an enjoyable loop and the sun came out to heat us up. Next up was Sue who dragged us around the loop. It is always good to catch up with Sue and gosh golly she can power walk fast.
I say we and us, because me and my shadow ended up running the last seven loops together. Lia joined me after the third loop. She just ran right behind me. She asked if she could and I said no worries as I was listening to a book. As it turns out this worked well. She didn’t want to be alone in the woods especially as it got dark and I was perfectly fine having a buddy in the dark as well.
So Lia was contemplating quitting at 100K and I kind of guilt tripped her into coming with me in the dark. I told her I would stay with her for the two loops in the dark as I had another pacer coming in the morning. I thought for sure she was going to stop but she decided to stick it out for four more loops. We ran, we walked, we talked a little but mostly we just endured the night. It wasn’t too cold and we saw some cool stuff, like an owl on the fence.
A peppy Emily joined us for the last two loops. She brightened our spirits although Lia hadn’t been eating because of nausea. So for the last loop I wasn’t going to leave the aid station until she ate something, nothing sounded good and then mashed potatoes to the rescue. No matter how bad you feel you can always get some taters down. And off we went for the final loop.
I was moving well on the loops and if you compare my times to last year I was even faster on some loops. But my times at the aid station was longer. So overall I was only 3 minutes slower than last year. That is the surprise. On tired legs I done good. Happy to be at 91 events of 100 miles or more. I think having company on the loops was the key to moving faster. Maybe I should have tried pacers sooner. Always learning. Grateful I can still do these “things” with friends.
Numbers, I like numbers…
Loop times 2025 - 2:06. 2:15, 2:22, 2:24, 2:27, 2:38, 2:49, 2:54, 3:12
2026 - 2:06, 2:09, 2:17, 2:28, 2:35, 2:34, 2:56, 3:04, 3:10