“Stick it : Why Quality Stickers Matter”

Jen LaughlinCommunity, Ultra Thoughts

Where do you put your stickers? Here at Aravaipa, we put them everywhere. From coolers to hydroflasks, the back of our laptops and the back of our vehicles. A quick drive through our office’s parking lot will quickly let you know you’re at Aravaipa Running headquarters because our stickers are everywhere!  We love our races, so why not show the world? But there’s more than just race stickers on our personal items. Looking a bit deeper you’ll see logos of favorite bands and brands, places we love to visit and the schools where our littles were student of the month at. Stickers are so much more than simply a badge of honor that displays a …

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 …

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 …

2021-2022 Desert Runner Trail Series Final Standings

Noah DoughertyCommunity, Race Report, This Week In Aravaipa Running

As promised, here are the winners of the 2021-22 Desert Runner Trail Series and a few fun stats mixed in. This was the 11th year for some of these races and a nice little milestone for Aravaipa Running and how far we’ve come. As you all know, a lot can happen over the course of the seven race series, beginning in November with Pass Mountain. Pulling from your three best races keeps things interesting and opens up the top spots to a lot more runners then you may see on a typical race day. You don’t have to win a single race to make the podium in the series. Here are a few fun facts …

What’s In a Sticker?

Erin McKnightCommunity

Written by Aravaipa Social Media Manager, Jen Laughlin. There is certainly no doubt that stickers are a simple expression of their owner’s personality, but they are so much more than that. Allow me to explain… For one, they are a conversation piece. Have you ever walked into a coffee shop and seen a familiar logo stuck on the side of a hydro flask and immediately bonded with that person over it? Have you ever passed a car on the highway, glanced at their bumper stickers and thought to yourself that if you knew that person you’d 100% be friends with them? Have you achieved a goal that you were so proud of that you immediately …

2020-2021 Desert Runner Trail Series Final Standings

Noah DoughertyCommunity, Race Report, This Week In Aravaipa Running

As promised, here are the winners of the 2020-21 Desert Runner Trail Series and a few fun stats mixed in. This was the 11th year for some of these races and a nice little milestone for Aravaipa Running and how far we’ve come. As you all know, a lot can happen over the course of the series, this time beginning in November with Pass Mountain. Pulling from your three best races keeps things interesting and opens up the top spots to a lot more runners then you may see on a typical race day. You don’t have to win a single race to make the podium in the series. Here are a few fun facts …

DRT Series Wrap-up

Noah DoughertyCommunity, This Week In Aravaipa Running, Ultra Thoughts

The 2020-21 Desert Runner Trail Series, or DRT Series as we like to call it, was a wild ride. Aravaipa Running as an organization went through some real challenges with the abrupt arrival of COVID-19 in 2020 that essentially shut everything down. As an event company, the idea of holding large groups of people in one space was daunting to all. Heck, being in a grocery store with a lot of people was daunting for many as we tip-toed through the Spring and Summer.  Our Cave Creek Thriller Trail Runs, typically held on the second weekend of October as the DRT Series kickoff, was pushed back to December 19th. Our Pass Mountain Trail Runs in …

Thank you, Scout

Hayley PollackCommunity, News, This Week In Aravaipa Running

I often walk away from conversations with Scout deeply moved by his integrity of character. Over the last 2.5 years he has provided me and all of us at Aravaipa Running with many other takeaways: mostly lessons in dedication, hard work, integrity, passion and following your heart. Scout brought his innumerable strengths to the Aravaipa Race Directing team and while he will be leaving the team on Friday, he is leaving it significantly better than he found it. Scout’s continued impact can be found in our transition to reusable cups, composting at the warehouse, and better recycling company-wide both at events and behind the scenes. Scout spearheaded our relationship with The Maricopa Trail & Park …