MOG 100 As Your First 100? Survey Says: YES

Jen LaughlinPost-Race Interview, Race Report, Ultra Thoughts

The Mogollon Monster 100 mile is not only a notoriously tough race, it’s also Arizona’s only Hardrock 100 qualifier. With around 18,000ft of total elevation gain on mostly technical and exposed trails, this race challenges the most seasoned mountain runners who throughout the point-to-point course will trudge up and down the rugged and steep escapement known as the Mogollon Rim a total of six different times. In a nutshell, the Monster is not for the faint of heart, and certainly not known for being a popular choice for a “first 100 mile”, but there are a handful of runners who beg to differ, and four of them just happen to work here at Aravaipa Running: …

Abby Bennett on Racing The Cog & What’s Next

Bryce BrooksCommunity

Abby Bennett is a Western Maine / Mount Washington Valley local who’s been tearing up the trails up in the Northwest. Last week Abby toed the line at Race The Cog to the top of the Mount Washington Railway. We connected with Abby to ask her about her experience at Race The Cog and what else she has coming up on her 2023 racing calendar! 1) Tell us a little bit about yourself? I’m a runner and conservationist born, raised, and currently living in Western Maine! I’m currently working on my master’s thesis in ecology with a focus on conservation science. I’m passionate about rural community well-being (human, economic, and ecological) and how conservation can …

Trail Safety in the White Mountains of New Hampshire

Kristina FolcikRunning Tips

It’s always wise to be prepared when entering the mountains but in the White Mountain Range this is especially true. Kristina Folcik, Trail Runnner, East Coast Local and White Mountain Endurance Race Director is no stranger to the unpredictable conditions of the White Mountains. Here are Kristina’s 3 most important tips for being prepared and staying safe on your next trip to the Whites! Tip 1: Always check the weather.  The weather in the White Mountains changes rapidly and there are a few things to know before heading out.  It can snow any time of the year, yes, people have died in snowstorms during the summer months.  Lightning can come quickly and winds can be …

Ram Party Course Change Due To Winter Weather

Jamil CouryRace Update

Important Updates About Ram Party Trail Runs [This went out to all Registered Runners for the Ram Party Trail Runs] Hi Runners:  We have an important update for this weekend’s Ram Party Trail Runs. If you weren’t aware a winter storm moved through the mountains above Colorado Springs today (and will be continuing into the night). Our team was out on the course today starting our course marking and setup.  Due to hazardous winter conditions above 8000 feet on the upper parts of the Ram Party course (specifically around the Rampart Reservoir which sits above 9000 feet) Aravaipa Running has decided for the safety of runners, volunteers, staff, spectators and our venue hosts (Pikes Peak …

Colorado Community Spotlight: Erika Kooda

Jen LaughlinCommunity

Although a fresh face to the Colorado trail and ultra running scene, 27 year old Erika Kooda is more than ready to dive head first into all of the beauty that her new home has to offer.  A 10 day trip to the Centennial State last spring was all it took for her and her partner Stephen to realize a relocation was necessary in their near future, and just 10 months later the duo made the move from Chicago to Broomfield and haven’t looked back. Keep reading to get to know Colorado’s newest transplant and trail lover in a little Q and A!  Where did you move to Colorado from? Erika: I moved from Chicago, …

Desert Runner Trail Series 2022-2023 Final Results

Scott TraerCommunity

  HUMMINGBIRD SERIES: Women Overall Camryn Castillo Rose Stewart Darvina Ventura Men Overall Drew Carson Jeff Beaty Andre Lee QUAIL SERIES: Women Overall Kiona Ogle Francesca Ferri Lyndsey Cunningham Men Overall Matthew Hamilton Sam Lev David Santiago Women Master (40+) Trina Weniger Tina Dahlmann Tracey Heath Men Master (40+) Cliff Puckett Rob Britt Kevin Morris Women Grandmaster (60+) Karen Weller Men Grandmaster (60+) Tim Young Women Junior (17-) Molly Micetic Men Junior (17-) Davis Micetic ROADRUNNER SERIES: Women Overall Alicia Morton Kalene Wells Joan Meiners Men Overall Kevin Ahler Geoff Coulston Nik Brocato Women Master Denim Bond Jillian Harvey Brooke Preston Men Master Jason Miller Jeremy Weiss Joe Labrie Women Grandmaster Nancy Freeman Men Grandmaster …

Heart & Sole: Coping with Loss through Running

Jen LaughlinCommunity

Here at Aravaipa Running, our community means everything. At events, at group runs, and virtually on social media. The passion, kindness and heart of our trail running community continuously motivates and inspires us because there’s usually a reason far beyond fitness for why folks do what they do, and subsequently, a story to tell. West Valley resident Andee Arrom is an example of one of those community members who has a story to tell. Continue below to read more about Andee, her “why” for running, and how she’s successfully blended her career with her passion for exercise and how running and community was imperative to helping her cope with two devastating losses. My name is …

Lessons in Life at Mesquite Canyon Trail Runs

Jen LaughlinRace Preview

I decided last year to sit Mesquite Canyon Trail Runs out and immediately regretted it. It was the first time I had missed that race since I ripped of the endurance band-aid and became an “ultra runner” back in 2014 when I barely finished the 50k. Every year since I had gone back to take on a different distance, eventually repeating a few, improving on previous year’s finishing times or having a different race experience entirely because you see at Mesquite Canyon, you never know what you’re going to get.Mesquite Canyon Trail Runs is the final race in our Desert Runner Trail Series. It happens each year in March, and if you’re competing in the …

My New Favorite: The 2022 Crown King Scramble 50K

Bryce BrooksRace Report

2022 was my first time running Crown King, so I’ll begin by saying the Crown King Scramble is the most fun 50K race I’ve participated in. Everything from the course itself to the history along the route, to the finish line atmosphere in Crown King all fits together perfectly for this unique point to point uphill 50K. A little background on the history of the race: First ran in 1981, this route was devised by Bruce Wise as a training run for Western States. At the time it wasn’t an official race, but it would soon gain in popularity until 1987 when the official race was first held. Put together by AZ Road Racers, the …

Humbled by My First 50 Miler at Ram Party

Bryce BrooksUncategorized

Ram Party Trail Runs take place out of Colorado Springs, Colorado in May and includes distances from 5K to 50 Mile. The races are split between Saturday and Sunday with the 50 Mile starting from  Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort on Saturday. The “shorter distances” begin at Rainbow Gulch Trailhead and run around Rampart Reservoir before returning to the finish line, where the real RamPart[y] begins. Anyway, last year around April I was coming off a string of 50K races and was looking to jump up in distance so I decided to sign-up for the Inaugural Ram Party 54 Mile race. This was putting myself out of my comfort zone for a few reasons. 1) This was …