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)
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)
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**
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 …
Black Canyon Trail 100K Training Run #2 (Dec 1)
This Sunday, December 1 will be the second of three training runs along the Black Canyon Trail 100K course. We will be running approximately 18 miles from Bumble Bee to Black Canyon City Trailhead. There will be two on course water / aid stops at approximately mile 4.4 and 11.4. This section is mostly single track trail winding through saguaros and breathtaking views of the Bradshaw Mountains. There are also several stream crossings in the latter miles of the run! The course will be minimally marked with orange ribbon and some flour arrows at key junctions, but we make no guarantees! Please download and bring these maps and pay attention on the run. Maps | 1st …
Black Canyon Trail Training Run #1 (Nov 10)
This upcoming Sunday, November 10 will be the first of three training runs along the Black Canyon Trail. We will be breaking up the course for the inaugural BCT 100K race to be held February 15, 2014 into three sections on November 10, December 1 and January 19. Here is information for those of you wanting to join on this first training run: Date: Sunday, November 10, 2014. Time: 7:00am Meet at Bumble Bee or 7:30am Meet at Mayer High School. Directions to Bumble Bee (end of run, park here to carpool to run start): 1. Drive north from Phoenix on the I-17 Freeway 2. Take exit #248 towards Bumble Bee / Crown King 3. …
Fluid Sports Nutrition to be Liquid Nutrition Sponsor of Insomniac Night Series
Fluid Sports Nutrition is partnering with Aravaipa Running to provide the liquid nutrition for the inaugural Insomniac Night Trail Running series. Fluid will supply Fluid Performance at the aid stations throughout the night series, along with samples to runners at the race. Fluid Performance Drink combines ingredients that work in unison together and provide more benefit than taking them individually. When consumed during exercise training and competition, Fluid Performance provides the stable energy, electrolytes, and taste you need to perform. Fluid Performance Drink is also easy to digest thanks to its gluten-free carbohydrates, it is dairy free, and contains no unnecessary ingredients. What are the benefits of Fluid Performance Drink? Energy Delivery – Simple & complex carbohydrates …
Black Diamond to Sponsor Insomniac Night Run Series
Black Diamond Equipment has stepped on board to sponsor the inaugural Insomniac Night Trail Running series. Black Diamond will be offering discounted pricing on two of their headlamp units that may be purchased with registration or on-site at each Insomniac events. Lighting is important for all types of night running whether it be on the streets around town or hitting the local trails. Not only is it critical to light your path while running to avoid rocks, curbs and other obstacles, being seen is something that shouldn’t be brushed off. Trail and road running safety at night is as much about being seen as being defensive and a good light will go a long ways …
2013 Crown King Scramble
The 2013 resurrection of the Crown King Scramble did not disappoint in either fast times nor good times. With registration opening just 6 weeks prior to race day, a field of 147 runners signed up for the race from Lake Pleasant to Crown King up the old Crown King Trail 4×4 road. With a total of 6,750 feet of climbing along a point to point course from the Sonoran Desert to the ponderosa pines of the Prescott National Forest, this is a classic and tough ultra. The starting line was moved to the shores of Lake Pleasant, giving runners at the starting line a nice view of the Bradshaw Mountains they would be climbing to the …
The Resurrection of the Crown King Scramble
The road to the 2013 return of the Crown King Scramble was a long one. I ran my first ultra in 2005, the first year the Crown King Scramble wasn’t held since it’s inception in 1987. For some reason it was never on my radar to enter the race when it made its return in 2006 and 2007 under the direction of Gary Culver and the Arizona Road Racers, so I never toed the line. I did run the Castle Hot Springs “fun run” a couple times and even directed it one year, so I was familiar with the first 9 miles of the course. I remember having a conversation with Gary Culver in 2007 after he …