There has been an update to the recently announced “Last Chance” spots available through the Montrail Ultra Cup races including Aravaipa Running’s Black Canyon 100K. The social media voting requirement has been removed, meaning all finishers of each Ultra Cup race who were not selected in the 2015 Western States 100 Lottery will be eligible for the 1 extra spot. You will still need to register through Montrail and submit a photo. Here is the official update from Montrail brand manager Eron Osterhaus: “The ultra trail community spoke, and we’ve listened. Effective immediately there will be no voting in the Last Chance Lottery, and all eligible applicants that register through the registration page that will go …
Last Chance Entry to 2015 Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run
Runners who complete the 2015 Black Canyon 100K will be eligible to earn a spot in the 2015 Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run. In addition to a finish at the Montrail Ultra Cup race, eligible runners must have entered in the 2015 Western States lottery and participate in an online social media campaign showing your “Western States toughness”.  See below for the full release! FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Western States 100 Last Chance Lottery 2015 Portland, Oregon – December 10, 2014 – Montrail, and the Western States 100 are excited to announce that for the first time ever Western States 100 applicants who did not get their name drawn in the lottery will have an …
Black Canyon Ultras – Training Run #1 (Nov. 23)
This upcoming Sunday, November 23 will be the first of three training runs in lead up to the February 14 Black Canyon Ultras. We will be breaking up the 100K course into three sections on November 23, December 21 and January 18. Each run will be minimally supported, minimally marked and point to point. We will have shorter options at each. Here is information for those of you wanting to join on this first training run: Date: Sunday, November 23, 2014. Distance: Mile 0 – Mayer High School Track Mile 7.7 – Antelope Mesa Aid Mile 12.9 – Hidden Treasure Mine TH (Water) Mile 19.5 – Bumble Bee (Finish) Miles from Mayer High School to Bumble Bee …
Black Canyon Trail 100K Training Run #3 (Jan 19
This Sunday, January 19 will the the third and final preview run for the upcoming Black Canyon Trail 100K which will take place February 15. This section will resume from the Black Canyon City Trailhead and continue to head south towards New River & Phoenix. We’ll head back into the canyons and across several more creeks before the trail generally becomes flatter towards the finish at Emery Henderson Trailhead. The course will be minimally marked with orange ribbon and some flour arrows at key junctions, but we make no guarantees. Be alert and carry a map. Maps | Black Canyon City TH to Table Mesa Road | Table Mesa Road to Emery Henderson TH GPS …
100 Km & 50 Mile Spring Track Invitational – Phoenix, Arizona
100 Km & 50 Mile Spring Track Invitational – Phoenix, Arizona Aravaipa Running is seeking ultra marathon runners to compete in a 100 kilometer / 50 mile track race at Central High School in Phoenix, Arizona. The race will take place on the same 400 meter all weather track that is used at the Desert Solstice 24 hour / 100 mile invitational in December except geared towards top performances at the 50 mile and 100 kilometer distance. This event will only happen if we get enough serious interest by competitive athletes. We need a minimum 12 to 15 qualified runners in order for this event to take place. The deadline for applying and receiving enough …
Black Canyon Trail 100K Training Run #2 (Dec 1)
This Sunday, December 1 will be the second of three training runs along the Black Canyon Trail 100K course. We will be running approximately 18 miles from Bumble Bee to Black Canyon City Trailhead. There will be two on course water / aid stops at approximately mile 4.4 and 11.4. This section is mostly single track trail winding through saguaros and breathtaking views of the Bradshaw Mountains. There are also several stream crossings in the latter miles of the run! The course will be minimally marked with orange ribbon and some flour arrows at key junctions, but we make no guarantees! Please download and bring these maps and pay attention on the run. Maps |Â 1st …
Black Canyon Trail Training Run #1 (Nov 10)
This upcoming Sunday, November 10 will be the first of three training runs along the Black Canyon Trail. We will be breaking up the course for the inaugural BCT 100K race to be held February 15, 2014 into three sections on November 10, December 1 and January 19. Here is information for those of you wanting to join on this first training run: Date: Sunday, November 10, 2014. Time: 7:00am Meet at Bumble Bee or 7:30am Meet at Mayer High School. Directions to Bumble Bee (end of run, park here to carpool to run start): 1. Drive north from Phoenix on the I-17 Freeway 2. Take exit #248 towards Bumble Bee / Crown King 3. …
2013 Javelina Jundred Men’s Preview
This year’s Javelina Jundred men’s field has shaped up in the past couple weeks to be quite impressive. We’ve got the Javelina men’s course record holder, the course record holder of The Grand Slam of Ultrarunning, and a past winner of the Badwater 135. Hal Koerner Set the course record on this course in 2011 at 13:47 and is a veteran 100 mile runner with numerous wins and records. He recently set the FKT on the John Muir Trail. Ian Sharman Smashed the course record for the Grand Slam of Ultrarunning this summer – finishing Western States, Vermont, Leadville and Wasatch 100 milers. He also won Leadville and has a 100 mile personal best of …
Silverton Alpine Marathon & 50K 2013
Heading over to Memorial Park on race morning of this year’s Silverton Alpine Marathon & 50K, I was hit with a few drops of rain. The skies were cloudy and dark in the pre-dawn hours leaving me wondering what the runners would be in for during the race. As darkness gave way to light as runners checked in and prepped for the day’s event, the skies looked ominous, but were holding out. Nineteen 50K runners took off at 7am for the short out and back on the last part of the course. The first runner, Dennis Pollow Jr. was back through the start/finish line in Memorial Park at 7:32 and was off to complete the …
White Tank Mountain Regional Park Master Plan
I was asked at the beginning of the year to be a part of the White Tank Mountain Regional Park Stakeholder Advisory Group. A group of 4 was selected and our task was to help represent avid park users to provide feedback to Maricopa County Parks and Recreation staff (specifically Leigh Johnson, park planner and Raymond Schell, park supervisor) about improvements to the park master plan. The current master plan for White Tank Mountain Regional Park was written back in the 1960’s and doesn’t currently reflect the values or realities of today’s park users. The park staff was interested in updating the plan to current needs and expectations from visitors, resource protection and to provide …