Once Arizona’s most competitive ultra, the Crown King Scramble is making a big splash in its first year back with a stacked field of runners on both the men’s and women’s side. Here we take a few minutes to highlight some of the amazing athletes that will be toeing the line this weekend. These athletes will be competing not only for the win at one of Arizona’s most historic ultras, but $250 in prize money going to the top man and woman to reach the finish in Crown King. In addition to the $250 to the winner, runners are eligible for a $500 course record bonus. Men will need to break Dermot McGonigle’s 1996 record …
Tips For Crown King Scramble Virgins
Ok, so you’ve heard the hype, caught the Crown King Scramble bug, somehow convinced by a friend this was a good idea and signed yourself up for this point-to-point monster of a course. Now you are just one week away from scrambling your way from the desert to the pines, driven forward by that elusive cold brew at the finish line. “Wait, did you just say one week away, holy crap!” With so many first timers taking on the race this year, we thought it would be a good idea to pass on some wisdom from those who know this race intimately, in the good times and the bad. James Bonnett has shared some tips he considers …
Prize Money For Crown King Scramble
March 28, 2013 (Phoenix, Arizona) – Aravaipa Running today announces prize money for the return of the Crown King Scramble 50K. The first place male and female runner in the April 6, 2013 ultramarathon foot race will each receive $250. The Crown King Scramble has a long history as one of Arizona’s oldest and most competitive ultra marathons. Jamil Coury, who is reviving the race after a 5 year hiatus talks about the reason for adding in prize money: “Back in the day, this race would attract many of the top names in the sport of ultramarathon running from across the country. Some of the battles at the front of the pack are legendary. We want to re-foster this …
Elephant Mountain Trail Runs 2013
The Elephant Mountain Trail Runs were born out of the unique nature of the Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area, one of eleven Maricopa County Regional Parks. Spur Cross Ranch is one of the newest Maricopa County Regional Parks and features almost 11.5 miles of trails including the steep and rugged Elephant Mountain Trail, connections with the Maricopa Trail and the Cave Creek trail system within the Tonto National Forest. Spur Cross is a perfect place for an afternoon hike and picnic along the Cave Creek, or a jumping off point for an all day rugged trail run in the Tonto National Forest. The original concept for the race had the start/finish at Spur Cross and …
Jump; Ailes Isnick Win San Tan Scramble 50K
February 2, 2013 (Queen Creek, Arizona) – Jay Jump made his Arizona ultra running debut at last month’s Coldwater Rumble 50 Mile, placing second to winner Dave James in a time of 8:03:45. Jump returned this weekend to take on the San Tan Scramble 50 Km, a three loop course in the foothills of the Goldmine and San Tan Mountains near Queen Creek. This year would be the course addition of a new trail – Dynamite which was installed by the park around the time of last year’s race. The original course featured an out an back trip over Goldmine Pass on each loop which is the most technical, steep and challenging climb in the …
GU Energy Partners with Crown King Scramble Ultra
January 24, 2013 (Phoenix, Arizona) – Aravaipa Running announced today a partnership with GU Energy Labs of Berkeley, California to bring nutritional products to the upcoming 2013 edition of the Crown King Scramble 50 kilometer ultra marathon footrace. GU will be providing their GU Brew Electrolyte Tabs in all participant goodie bags, GU energy gels on course, GU Roctane gels on course, GU Chomps on course, GU Electrolyte Brew on course and a serving of Chocolate Smoothie Recovery Brew at the finish line. John Wainwright of Gu Energy Labs is excited to sponsor the re-birth of the Crown King Scramble which has not been held since 2007. “This is a pretty extreme race so we want …
’13 Coldwater Rumble
Just days after a cold snap hit the Phoenix area, freezing pools and bursting water lines, we found ourselves with some beautiful above average temperatures in the mid to upper seventies for the inaugural Coldwater Rumble 50 mile & third annual 50 km trail runs. The races are located within the Saguaro cactus studded foothills of the jagged Sierra Estrella mountain range which rises to over 4500 feet in elevation above the sprawling suburbs of Phoenix. Estrella Mountain Regional Park plays host to this race which is also the 4th in Aravaipa Running’s Desert Runner Trail Series (7 race series with 50 km & 50 mile distances). Thirty hearty souls took to the trails in …
Jowl At The Full Moon – Javelina Night Run 2012
What began as an informal full moon night training run for the Javelina Jundred, has evolved into an event all its own. I ran the Javelina Night Run back in 2005 when it was a completely self supported affair, loosely organized by Javelina Jundred founder and race director Geri Kilgariff. It was my first true night trail run and I remember the magic and adventure of running around the Pemberton Trail under the full moon with friends. Coyotes were howling, I could shut off my headlamp halfway through the run and there was even a night mountain bike ride going on in the opposite direction we were running. That was back before I ran my first ultra, …
The Moments I Live For Part II – Mogollon Monster 106
All we could do was laugh out loud as we trudged and waded our way through a chest high sea of grasses which had completely covered up what was left of the eroded, rocky and deteriorated Highline Trail. It was dark and eerie, with a full moon overhead and who knows what types of creatures rustling in the bushes all around us. Any attempt at running was futile as we would either roll an ankle on a hidden rock, slip on a large tuft of grass or step on one overhanging stalk of grass and stumble as the other leg tried to lift through the tangled mess of vegetation. We would always be scanning for …
Flagstaff 50 Endurance Runs
Running in Arizona isn’t limited to hot, desert trails winding around saguaro cactus and ocotillos. Although that is the typical scene around the Sonoran Desert surrounding Phoenix and Tucson, just a couple hours north brings higher altitude and the dense Ponderosa Pine forest surrounding Flagstaff. The town itself is at 6,910 feet and is situated at the base of Arizona’s highest mountain range – the San Francisco Peaks which rise up to 12,633 atop Humphreys Peak. Flagstaff is well known in the running community as a hotbed Olympic caliber athletes looking for high-altitude training. Flagstaff also offers one of the best mountain trail systems anywhere, with a local urban trail system, trails in the Mount …