Silverton Alpine Marathon & 50K 2013

Jamil CouryRace Report

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 …

CSU Fullerton Study

Nick CouryUncategorized

We are excited to work with two researchers from CSU Fullerton on their study of the impact of creatine  on endurance running performance.  The study will be held at our two upcoming events in September, the Flagstaff Endurance Runs on September 14 and the Javelina Jangover Night Runs on September 21.  We encourage all runners planning to attend these events to consider participating in the study. What is involved in the study? There are two parts to participating in the study.  The first part is administered pre-race, and involves filling out a short questionnaire and taking a 10 minute cognitive ability test.  The second part is administered post-race, and involves taking another 10 minute cognitive ability …

Mesmerized at the Hypnosis Night Runs

Nick CouryRace Report, Uncategorized

The Estrella Mountains stand as looming giants south of Phoenix, the rugged peaks jutting high in the sky.  nestled below the majestic giants are the single track trails located in the Estrella Mountain Regional Park, not as daunting but not to be underestimated.  Like the rest of the night series, the temperatures were warm but manageable as the sun sunk in the sky.  Runners who had participated in Sinister, Adrenaline, and Vertigo had an idea of what lay ahead.  With options of 15k, 31k, and 62k, over 175 runners arrived planning to run between one and four loops. The loop’s elevation profile. The course rolls through the foothills of the Estrellas, climbing gradually for the first …

Hypnosis Race Report by John Kruelle

Nick CouryRace Report, Uncategorized

I’ll start by saying there were two things I failed to execute on this run…  I needed two water bottles (only had one) and needed to fuel at a higher level, in spite of a good finish.   PRE-RACE All week the monsoon effects were drying out and temps were looking favorable for better conditions than Vertigo two weeks prior.  Check; great.  This holds up to be true.  The start temp is lower and the air is drier.  Compared to Vertigo, a 6.5 mile loop, this is 9.5ish.  Each had an aid station midpoint or so.  Check; great.  I’ve run the course before with Xterra, and while this is backwords of Xterra, this is still …

White Tank Mountain Regional Park Master Plan

Jamil CouryCommunity

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 …

Vertigo 10k Report by Chad Palmer

Nick CouryRace Report

I had two completely different experiences between running the Adrenaline middle distance race and the Vertigo shorter distance 10K race. At Adrenaline, I felt great through the first 8 miles, not so great at miles 10-12, and then ended up jog walking miles 12 through 16 due to stomach cramps, dizziness, and exhaustion. The only thing that worked for me was consuming ice cold water. After I finished, drank a ton, and drove home I felt so much better. I realized that I must have had mild heat exhaustion. I had focused on eating a lot prior to the race and didn’t drink enough before the race and during the race. I also did little …

Vertigo Night Runs 2013

Nick CouryRace Report

The sun sets as the races begin. Storms brewed in the afternoon to the East of White Tank Mountain Regional Park.  But as runners begin to arrive the weather dissipates, leaving a light breeze and cooler than expected temperatures to run in.  After the mild-mannered Sinister and the constantly rolling Adrenaline, the course at Vertigo promises a good mix of flat and smooth trails coupled with a short but steep climb and rugged descent halfway around the 10k+ loop.  Runners choose between the 10k, 31k, or 63k races run through the starry night. The Surprise Running Club made a strong showing. The pre-race atmosphere is electric, with a village of runners, crew, and volunteers assembling …

Tips for Night Trail Running

Jamil CouryRunning Tips

If you are running your first night trail run this summer as a part of the Insomniac Night Series, we have a few tips that should help make your experience fun and memorable. Running at night poses some unique challenges that you should prepare for.  Take note of these tips and you should be able to enjoy your experience out on the trails at night and successfully finish your run. Lighting The runs take place in the dark on naturally unlit desert trails. Be prepared with a quality headlamp or handheld flashlight to light your way (cell phone apps just won’t cut it!). A headlamp can be a good choice if you like to keep …

Aravaipa Running Shop – Grand Opening and Sale

Nick CouryPress Release

Aravaipa Running is proud to announce the opening of our new web store!  The Aravaipa Running Shop will feature a variety of running apparel and gear, including past race shirts, bags, hats, and much more!  The shop will provide 24/7 access for ultimate convenience, and a slick interface to navigate the store by category or search term. Race director Nick Coury is excited to offer the new store.  “The new Aravaipa Shop will provide a place for runners to find the latest Aravaipa Running apparel, replace their favorite race shirt with a new one, or stock up on all of our race-branded offerings.”  Coury says the store will be frequently updated with old and new …

Perfect Day at 36th Annual Kendall Mountain Run

Jamil CouryRace Report

Over 150 runners lined up on Saturday for the 36th Annual Kendall Mountain Run and 4th Annual “K2” Double. Both races start at 12th Street and Greene and follow the Kendall  Mountain Road 6 miles up to within 250 vertical feet of the 13,066 foot summit of Kendall. Runners then scramble up a steep trail to tag the summit marker before flying back down to town the way they came up. K2 Doublers make the ascent to the top twice for a little more than 24 miles. The race was first held in 1978, started by running enthusiast Bill Corwin who modeled the race after a famous bar bet made back in 1908 which sent …