Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona will heat up next week as hundreds of runners will converge on the spring training baseball home of the Dodgers and White Sox. This fixed-time multiday running event celebrates the New Year. Each racer is free to walk, stop, eat, and sleep whenever they wish, but the clock is always running on these ultra pedestrians.
16 different races begin at 9am on Monday, December 28, 2015 with the 6 day runners starting simultaneously with the first group of 72, 48, and 24 hour participants. The last group of racers will finish at 9am on Sunday, January 3rd. The route is a 1.05 mile loop that consists of 90% dirt paths with 10 percent asphalt. The course meanders through the scenic grass, trees, and ponds in between the baseball diamonds. The track averages ten feet in width and is six feet at its minimum.
Over 60 racers will attempt to run the 6 day event. The course record was set in 2013 by 48 year old Joe Fejes of Georgia in an epic battle with Greek legend Yiannis Kouros. This year’s 6 day will feature a race between 43 year old Sue Scholl of Tennessee and 55 year old veteran Martina Hausmann of Germany. In 1999 the Bavarian ran 428.75 miles at this event. Last year the Volunteer state’s representative set the female course record with 437.769 miles. Last year’s mens winner Dave Johnston of Alaska will be returning to defend his title and go for big miles. He ran over 551 miles at last year’s event.
New Years Eve and Day will see close to 200 runners on course in the multiple events. Canadian Dave Proctor is cautiously optimistic for his 72 hour race that begins on Tuesday, December 29th. He collapsed at the start of a 100 mile race in Colorado in September but doctors have cleared him to run. Former 24 Hour Team USA superstar Debra Horn of Ohio headlines the 48 hour race that begins on Monday, December 28th while speedster Bret Sarnquist of Flagstaff will look to go slow but long in the 48 hour race that begins on Tuesday, December 29th.
Mike Bialick, 34, of Minnesota will look to return to the cold winter on fire as he attempts to run over 160 miles on New Year’s Day and secure a place on the 2016 24 Hour Ultra Marathon Team USA that will compete at the World Championships. This North Star State resident won the USA 100K Road National Championship in April and recently ran a very fast 12 hours, 52 minutes, and 53 seconds 100 Miler.
The close of the festivities could see big miles as Sung Ho Choi, 39, of Florida laces up his sneakers for the final 24 Hour race on January 2nd. The sunshine state resident just won the Ancient Oaks 100 Miler.
Race founder Harold Sieglaff passed away in April at age 80. He founded the race in 1983 and Aravaipa Running will be honoring his memory by allowing runners to check out a special bib that is in his name. Miles run with this bib will be combined in his name over the 6 days of Across the Years.
Live coverage will be available through the Aravaipa Running website (www.aravaiparunning.com) and social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) using the hash tag #aty2016. Jamil Coury is Race Director and can be reached at jamil@aravaiparunning.com