Mesquite Canyon 2015 – Scorching Tough Year

Jamil CouryNews, Race Report

As a few of us sat around Friday night preceding the 6th annual Mesquite Canyon Trail Runs finalizing a few details for the race, drinking a couple of beers, we would usually be sitting around a campfire. With warm temperatures already greeting the Phoenix area in mid-March there was no need. We sat around in short sleeve shirts and took in the night. The race starts on the Eastern end of the White Tank Mountains, a range that marks the Western boundary of the metropolitan Phoenix area. Looking towards the peaks we could see hundreds if not thousands of stars, constellations and more. Gazing back towards Phoenix, the stars slowly give way to a soft …

Insomniac Night Trail Run Series Announces Official Charity Partner – Team Red, White & Blue

Jamil CouryNews, Press Release

Team Red, White & Blue’s mission is to enrich the lives of America’s veterans by connecting them to their community through physical and social activity. Team RWB members from the Phoenix chapter have been running alongside Aravaipa Running for a couple of years now. Our organizations typically cross paths the first Wednesday of each month at our Aravaipa Group Trail Run whenever we host a location at Papago Park in Tempe. Team RWB is easy to spot with their bright “eagle” logo shirts and positive attitude. Team RWB had a large presence at last year’s night run series and it is only natural to increase our partnership with them in 2015.   Aravaipa Running is …

Aravaipa Running Announces Big Pine & Blackout Night Runs

Hayley PollackNews, Press Release, Race Preview

Aravaipa Running is incredibly excited to announce the 1st annual Big Pine 108K to be held June 13-14 in Flagstaff, AZ! We will also be offering a 13K, 27K and 54K that morning and hosting the Blackout Night Runs as a new addition to the Insomniac Series that evening! In scouting race courses we are always on the lookout for something new and exciting and a location that allows us to make the race a community affair. We have found just that with Big Pine and its location at Fort Tuthill County Park. All runners will get to experience the Soldiers Trail and Highlands Trail Loop. The course is mostly graded wide forest paths within …

Ultimate Direction & Black Canyon 100k Photo Caption Contest

Holly MillerNews, Uncategorized

Thanks to our friends at Ultimate Direction, we have some hydration packs and bottles to give away to the winners of our Black Canyon photo caption contest. “How do you stay hydrated on the trail?” We asked followers to use their creativity to tell us what these runners are saying as they are “running” at mile 39 of the Black Canyon 100K. Here were text submissions on Instagram & Facebook: coffeeandtrails “Training for Arizona Ironman?” “Sure beats tempe town lake” wandering_coconut “They said tubing down the Salt river would be fun” fleetfeethkry “So, I asked for a bottle of Perpetuem to be ready at mile 23, and I get Sustained Energy! I mean, how do …

Crown King Scramble: Course Preview and Updated Course Record Information!

Hayley PollackNews, Race Preview

I’ll start this post by being honest.  There was pretty much nothing about Crown King Scramble that ever interested me. I had no desire to run uphill on jeep road for 31 miles. That was until today. I’m not sure my preconceived notions about a race course have ever been so wrong. Jamil and I spent the day driving the Crown King Scramble course so I could learn the layout and we could post signs reminding users of Aravaipa’s race on March 28th. My contribution to the outing was to exclaim “Unbelievable!” or “Stop! I need another picture!” at almost every turn. It was love at first sight. The race begins at Lake Pleasant and winds …

Hayley Pollack Joins Aravaipa Running

Jamil CouryNews, Press Release

February 20, 2015 – Phoenix, AZ – Aravaipa Running is pleased to announce the hiring of Hayley Pollack as Director of Events & Operations. Hayley comes to Aravaipa with a background in retail management & operations at Best Buy for the past five and a half years. She brings an education in Strategic Leadership and experience in management to help lead and improve Aravaipa’s existing and future events. Hayley has been transitioning into this role for the past month, but will now be working full time along side Jamil & the rest of the Aravaipa Running team to continue to produce top notch events in Arizona and across the Southwest. Don’t be surprised to receive email correspondence …

Ultimate Direction Black Canyon Caption Contest

Jamil CouryNews

Thanks to our friends at Ultimate Direction, we have some hydration packs and bottles to give away to the winners of our Black Canyon photo caption contest. “How do you stay hydrated on the trail?” Use your creativity to tell us what these runner are saying as they are “running” at mile 39 of the Black Canyon 100K this last weekend. Best submissions will win! Create your own and post to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with the hashtags #udhydrates & #bc100k to enter. Winners will be chosen based upon Aravaipa Running favorites and most likes or shares.

Black Canyon Ultras – Training Run #3 (Jan. 18)

Jamil CouryNews

This Sunday, January 18 will the the third and final preview run for the upcoming Black Canyon Trail 100K which will take place February 14. 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 where the 100K, 50K & 18K all end. Date:  Sunday, January 18, 2014. Distance: Mile 0 – Black Canyon City TH (Start) Mile 13.3 – Table Mesa Road TH Mile 24.5 – Emery Henderson TH (Finish) Time: 7:00am Meet at Emery Henderson TH to carpool or …

Black Canyon Ultras – Training Run #2 (Dec. 21)

Jamil CouryNews

  This upcoming Sunday, December 21 will be the second 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, December 21, 2014. Distance: Mile 0 – Bumble Bee Mile 4.5 – Gloriana Mine TH (we may have water here) Mile 12.8 – Soap Creek (Aid) Mile 18.0 – Black Canyon City TH (Finish) Time: 7:00am Meet at Black Canyon City TH. or …

“Last Chance” WS100 2015 Spots – Montrail Ultra Cup **Update**

Jamil CouryNews, Press Release

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 …