My New Best Race at San Tan Scramble Trail Runs

Jen LaughlinRace Report

San Tan Mountain Regional Park and my house literally could not be father apart. Folks joke that I live in Southern California because of just how far west of Phoenix I am, so it’s no surprise that I rarely go as far as Queen Creek to run a race, but since I had recently had a taste of its sweet trails at Sinister, our night race that we host at San Tan and loved it, I figured it was time to explore San Tan some more, so I signed up for San Tan Scramble 17k back in January 2021. January 2021 was still the “Covid Era”, so things at races were still a bit different. …

It’s All a Blur at Cave Creek Thriller 50K

Bryce BrooksRace Report

The Cave Creek Thriller 50K is the third race in the Desert Runner Trail (DRT) Series. It is unique in that it has the only point to point courses in the entire 7 race Series. Last year’s event was my third 50K (after running the Pass Mountain and McDowell Mountain Frenzy 50Ks). The 50K course, the longest distance at Cave Creek Thriller, begins out of the Agua Fria Trailhead and follows the Maricopa Trail most of the way to Cave Creek Regional Park.  50K runners who are taking the shuttle will need to be at the finish line in Cave Creek Regional Park prior to 5:30AM. If you can talk someone into driving you to …

The New Desert Runner Trail Series!

Noah DoughertyCommunity

As we continue to evolve as a running company and do our best to bring you the greatest events around, we have created all new logos for our Desert Runner Trail Series (DRT) that will begin on October 10th at the Cave Creek Regional Park and concludes in March with our Mesquite Trail Runs at White Tank Mountain Regional Park. The series passes have refreshed design as they’ll encompass their own Sonoran Desert bird, specific to each distance level. We’ve even added an Evolution style pass for the fall (and spring) series called the Phoenix Pass that will give you the opportunity to build from an 11 Km to 25 Km to 50 Km! The …

white tank mountain trail

Mesquite Canyon Evolves

Jamil CouryRace Preview, Ultra Thoughts

I’ve been camping and backpacking in the White Tank Mountains east of Phoenix most of my life. It all started with a couple of trips a year with my Boy Scout troop. We’d do day hikes with fully loaded backpacks as training prep leading up to our annual trip to Havasupai Canyon. Our packs which back in the day were upwards of 40 or 50 pounds, you know, the ones with big metal frames that you’d bungee down a sleeping pad and bag. We’d head straight up Ford Canyon, attempting to scramble up the famed “white tanks” and find a nice lunch spot high up in the range. I remember the trip back down Mesquite Canyon to …

costume run

2011 Cave Creek Thriller Report

Jamil CouryRace Report

As the subtle glow of dawn appeared off to the west, runners bustled about the ramadas of the group picnic area; some checking in, others placing their drop bags along side the trail, and some catching some warmth of the umbrella heaters while chatting with friends.  The morning was cool, but not quite brisk, ensuring a warm day ahead.  At 7am, 41 runners headed out on their first loop of the 50 kilometer course led by Ian Torrence, Jay Danek, Scott Bajer and Michael Carson. They would first head out on the newly added out and back section along the Slate and Flume trails before completing the main Go John and Overton loop used at …

ultra

2011 Cave Creek Thriller Preview

Jamil CouryRace Preview

    The 2nd annual Cave Creek Thriller will once again jump start the Desert Runner Trail Series.  The race is nearly a sell out, with over 190 runners currently registered.  Although the distances are the same as last year, the 30 Km and 50 Km courses have been changed up to include some of the other trails within the park. An out and back spur along the Jasper, Slate and Flume trails will take runners to the southern reaches of the park and reduce the total number of loops.  There will also be a new remote aid station (Flume) at the turn-around on the out and back. The main 10 Km loop of the …