ARAVAIPA RACING TEAM

Meet the Aravaipa Racing Team Powered by HOKA! These individuals are mountain runners, record holders, trail blazers and on top of it all represent the ideals and mission of Aravaipa Running as trail stewards, environmentalists, and community-builders.

Special thank you to Athletico Physical Therapy for your support!

Click Here to apply for the 2026 Aravaipa Racing Team

Meet The Team

This is my second year on the racing team! I have been running since I was about 10 years old. I ran my first 5k at age 11 and really haven’t stopped since. My favorite race is Javelina! It was my first hundred miler, and I had the most magical day in the desert! My favorite place to train is at South Mountain here in Arizona. My favorite piece of gear is my trusty, old ice bandana. It has saved me through many Arizona summers. My favorite thing to do outside of running is spending time with my rescue pup. A fun fact about me is that I have been teaching K-3 students for 11 years!

@llyssa_lou_runs

I started running ultramarathons in 2016, just after graduating medical school and a week before starting my family medicine residency! When I learned about the Aravaipa Racing Team, my goal was to join the team, which I did in 2019. I’m currently in my 7th year on the team and love training with and supporting my teammates! I live in Tucson, and the 5 mountain ranges surrounding the city are my favorite places to train. Steep climbs and descents are my preferred terrain! When racing, I enjoy a variety of distances from sub-ultra to 100+ miles. Outside of running, I love to backpack, camp, ready fantasy novels, and cook delicious food.

@drbri_runningmd

I started running in my mid-twenties and it's been a wild journey from the track to the roads to the trails. I currently live and train in Flagstaff, Arizona where I also work as a bartender. I love the diversity of terrain and being able to access trails from the mountains to the canyon to the desert. It's hard to imagine a more adventurous place to run, though I also enjoy running and racing in Colorado when I get the chance. I've been loving the longer mountain ultras and have recently been exploring FKTs. I think what I love most about running is how it can be an incredible avenue to explore and learn more about myself and the world around me. Other than running, I spend my time white water rafting, camping, singing and playing guitar, and dancing.

I’ve been running since I was 9 years old—27 years now—and it’s been a lifelong passion. I’ve been part of the Aravaipa team for one year, and my favorite race so far has been the Hot Foot Hamster. It was my first fixed-time race, and I really enjoyed the experience—especially since both my husband and I had great races that day.

My favorite place to train is really anywhere, since I live in the running capital of the world: Flagstaff, AZ. But one of the best runs is heading out on Schultz with my dog, Beau—he absolutely loves it out there. As for gear, I’d have to say my headphones are my go-to; I enjoy listening to music while I run. A running quirk about me? I love to have my nails done in bright colors for races—it makes the day more fun.

Outside of running, I love spending time with my kids and dogs.

Fun facts about me:

Born and raised in Arizona

11-time high school state champion

Ran track and cross country for Arizona State University

Qualified for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials

Recently qualified for my first world championship team in the 50k

@linds_kostelnick89

I have been with Aravaipa Racing Team for AZ the past 3 years yet I have been participating in their events since I graduated college back in 2016. My favorite place to train is South Mountain in Arizona or on the Waterfront in Washington. I recently have moved to the PNW to pursue my passion with physical therapy. The primary focus being able to treat athletes, especially runners, for strength, agility and providing education on activities to achieve their athletic goals! It has been a blast being part of Aravaipa’s racing team. My plan is to represent the team no matter where I go. They are the community that helped get me stoked about racing on the trails!@mkupres22

@mkupres22

I’ve been running for as long as I can remember and racing competitively from my teenage years through college. Over the past four years, I’ve embraced the challenge of ultrarunning, finding joy in long training miles and adventures in the mountains. My favorite places to train are the beautiful trails around my home in Flagstaff and the desert singletrack of Phoenix’s regional parks. Outside of running, I love listening to audiobooks, studying psychological research, and going on gravel bike adventures. My running quirk? Absentmindedly downing 100+ grams of carbs in five minutes, which is great for fueling but not always for my stomach! A fun fact about me is that I was once a collegiate pole vaulter and middle-distance track athlete. I had never raced longer than 800 meters before discovering the ultra scene and falling in love with a slower pace.

@nicoles.meanderings

Multisport athlete whose career highlights in the world stage of long-course triathlon include professional wins at Ironman Sweden and Ironman Vitoria-Gasteiz and over 15 pro Ironman podiums across Europe and North America. With over two decades of experience racing at the highest level, Pedro has transitioned his passion for extreme endurance into the world of ultra-running. Blending his Ironman durability with a love for trails and the unknown, Pedro now chases finish lines measured in ultra-distances - from rugged 50Ks to 100K mountain slogs. Known for his steady grit, tactical pacing, and curiosity for pushing human limits, he brings the same discipline that carried him through sub-8:10 Ironmans to every mile of dirt, heat, and darkness on the ultra course.

@pedrogomestri

This is my fourth year on the racing team, but running has been part of my life since I was nine. I started out riding my bike while my dad ran—though it wasn’t long before we switched roles. Lacking the coordination for traditional team sports, I found a natural talent for distance running that helped me excel as the top runner on my high school team in Fargo, ND, and later at my alma mater, St. John’s University (MN).

In 2013, I moved to Phoenix for a Teach for America position and have called Arizona home ever since. My favorite training spot is Flagstaff, where the crisp mountain air, endless running routes, and speedy company make it a runner’s paradise.

Outside of running, I enjoy writing, videography, and traveling the world. My signature running quirk? I can’t stop coming up with “runner remixes” of popular songs mid-run...a habit that’s fueled my creative side hustle, Trail GangstAZ!

@lilrunnerboiii

@trailgangstaz

Selena is a mountain and trail runner living in rural Arizona with her two livestock guardian dogs, her ever-growing flock of chickens, two barn cats, and her husband. She first started running as a way to connect people, places, and ideas. She loves to explore. When she's not running, she likes to make things. She makes found object art, folk art, furniture, and music. She is a professional writer, and has worked in fields ranging from network ecology to sustainability and astrobiology. In particular, she loves when her running intersects with environmental science and sustainability.

@selena_inthesticks

How long you've been on the racing team/how long you've been running:
- been on the racing team 3 years. Been running for 22 years with ebbs and flows of commitment. The last 6 years have been the most focused.

Favorite race/place to train
- Favorite race might be either Houston Marathon for the fast course and awesome crowd or Mad City Ultras for the hometown support, beautiful loop through the Madison Arboretum, and really encouraging competition - everyone seems to always want the best day for everyone they’re competing against.

My favorite place to train locally is Rollinsville road above Nederland CO, but I also love taking our van to Moab to run.

Favorite piece of gear
- favorite piece of gear is a Salomon running belt. Pair that with a pair of 1/2 tights with side pockets and you can bring a ton of snacks on long runs without needing a full vest.

Favorite thing to do outside of running/biking
- Also love taking the van into the mountains and exploring with my wife and dog.

Running Quirk
- I live in one of the most dense towns of runners and spend 99% of my time running solo.

Fun Fact about you
- I’m a volunteer fire fighter in Lyons CO 🧑‍🚒

@adam_vadeboncoeur

This is my 4th (I think 😉 year on the Aravaipa Racing Team! I’ve been running since I was 12, though I took about six years off in my 20s to start my family and raise my two sons. Since diving back in around 2017, trail and ultra racing have been my happy place.

My favorite training grounds are the Indian Creek Wilderness near my home in Castle Rock, CO, and the San Juan Mountains where I grew up. I love racing in all kinds of places from the French Alps to the Arizona desert. Honestly, if there’s a great community around a race, you’ll probably find me there.

My go-to piece of gear is a buff. Wear it on your arm to wipe sweat, on your head if you’re cold, wrap it around a leg if you fall, use it as a cooling towel. The possibilities are endless. Outside of running, I’m happiest spending time with my family, listening to music, or watching a good movie. Add in a little clothes shopping or a trip to Target or Trader Joe’s, and I’m golden.

I also have an extremely low running cadence—something that’s both a sneaky advantage and something I’m super self-conscious about (Corinne the Loper). And fun fact: you’ll never catch me without a secret stash of fruity or gummy candies.

@corinne_shalvoyage

I have been on the Araviapa Racing Team for 3 years and have been running for almost 20.

My favorite place to train locally is Indian Creek in the foothills of Colorado. But, my favorite destination training ground is the San Juans.

My favorite piece of running gear is Shokz headphones. I love listening to music and podcasts on solo runs.

Outside of running, my favorite outdoor activity is skiing in the winter. Either skimo or downhill it's a way to have big adventures in the winter.

Apparently, I eat gels differently than most people. I tend to eat a whole gel in less than three seconds which is efficient but can be a little tough on the stomach. My fun fact is that my wife is also on the team and we run at least a couple of times per week together and call them run dates.

@runningwhilecorporate

Megan is a mountain running beast who’s been on the racing team since 2023. She specializes in vert-heavy races in a range of distances from 6 miles to 50k. She’s also been known to tear it up at a road marathon occasionally! Outside of running, Megan enjoys bagging peaks, mountaineering, and backcountry skiing. A fun fact about Megan is that she LOVES bananas. During her first race (a Ragnar in high school), she ate 17 in one day!! Megan is also a coach at NextPeakRunning and enjoys helping other athletes increase distance, break into trail running, or improve their performance.

@meg.drake

I have been graciously honored to be a member of the Aravaipa racing team for 3 years! I have been running for... oh goodness...24 years! My favorite race(s) are San Juan Solstice and Tushars 100k. My favorite place to run is high in the mountains... my favorite ranges are the Elk and San Juan ranges. My favorite piece of gear is my old school Salomon pack, I just can't let it go. I'm primarily a runner but have rekindled my love for mountain biking in the last year. I also really enjoy hiking and exploring with my family. A quirk about my running is that although I run mostly to explore the outdoors, I love punishingly hard, pain cave style treadmill workouts. A fun fact is that I used to be a punk rocker with short, spkikey pink hair... I'm still her inside and rock out during workouts!

@mtncrusher16

I’ve been running ultras for a couple years now and my favorite race so far, even though I DNF’d, is the Mogollon Monster 100 because the course is both beautiful and challenging. My favorite places to train are Mount Laguna and Cuyamaca where I get a mix of smooth California carpet and some technical singletrack. My go-to piece of gear is my Raide belt since it is so convenient and can carry everything I need for up to three hours. Outside of running I love snowboarding and if you catch me in a rough patch during a race you might hear Mambo No. 5 as my hype song. A fun fact about me is that I used to be on a worship team as a singer.

@100milebrown

My name is Stella Springer, I’m an ultra runner lives in Los Angeles CA. This is my first year on the team and super excited that Araivapa expanded to include California.

I have been running since 2016 and started doing ultra distances in 2020. I love all kinds of ultra races: trails, road, track, pretty much any surface presents unique challenges to me. I love the mountains (but suck at techy trails) and my favorite distance is 100 miles, I found it long enough to push all the limits I have but still have fun.

I am currently holding 6 American age group (W50) records including 12hrs, 100 miles, 200K and 24hrs between track and roads. I competed in 2023 24Hrs World Championships as part of the Team USA and that was the best experience I had as a runner. I also won 2025 USATF 100 Mile National Championships and set new AG record there.

I have some big goals set for 2026 - let’s chase those dreams!

@stella_springer0534

I joined the Aravaipa Racing team in 2025, but have enjoyed running since I could pretty much walk. I completed my first ultra at the Aravaipa Fat Ox 12 hour event in 2021 and was instantly hooked! Running on the trails around Park City, Utah is always my favorite place to be - you never know what kind of wild animal you’ll quite literally run into. Since running deep in the mountains is my go-to, some solid leki trekking poles are a must for me (along with lots of snacks). Anytime I’m not running, I enjoy spending time with my dogs and reading a good book at home.

@jess.schiller01

I’ve been on the race team for three years now! 🙌 I got into trails and running after I completed a PCT thru hike in 2018. Seven years later and I still love stepping foot on old and new trails and even the roads. Movement, consistency, and exploration are some of the words that come to mind when I dream about trail running.

My favorite running race has been Western States 100mi and favorite regions to train in are Lake Tahoe and Mt Charleston.

My favorite running gear is a good o’l Ball Cap.

My favorite thing to do Excluding running/training is playing music with others: violin, piano, singing, dancing.

My running Quirk, I like stopping my watch just before the whole mile, like 5.98mi… I actually don’t do it on purpose, I just don’t check.

Fun Fact about me. I’m from a large family, so family reunions are a huge party. 🎉 32 nieces and nephews!

@outdoorweightlifter

Born and raised in Las Vegas, and as a former Division I women’s soccer midfielder at UNLV this carried my competitive drive from the field to the trails. As a Trauma nurse for nearly two decades I thrive under pressure which developed my resilience. Running has been a passion of mine for over a decade—11 years ago I completed my first ultra, and this year I embraced an entirely new challenge with the Cocodona 250, sparking my love for 200+ mile races. Now in my third year as a member of the Aravaipa Racing Team, I’m proud to represent both Nevada and Aravaipa, on and off the trails.

@maia_detmer

How long you've been on the racing team/how long you've been running - I’ve been on the team for 2 years now and I’ve been running since 7th grade and I am 35. (Started as a mid-distance track athlete now race up to 100 milers).

Favorite race/place to train - Badwater 135/Death Valley

Favorite piece of gear - Mount to Coast running shoes or my naked belts.

Favorite thing to do outside of running/biking - If not sightseeing outdoors or traveling, relaxing at home.

Running Quirk - Really bad at keeping pace on a training run sometimes. If there is no workout or prescribed pace.

Fun Fact about you - I love cats and I am a midwesterner born and raised from Michigan originally.

@sdegroff

I've been running for five years and recently joined the racing team. My favorite place to train is the same place I call home, the mountains of New Hampshire and Maine. I love nothing more than a steep scramble up a gully, and in the winter I love exploring these places on skis. I also just love running on rolling gravel roads - the movement and flow of running is addictive. Outside of sport (running, skimo, and gravel cycling), I love creating photo and video content. I'm a professional photographer and social media manager. My favorite piece of running gear is the Janji long bra. The phone pocket is amazing!

@abby.j.bennett

2 years with the team and been running since I was 4 years old.

Favorite place to train is the North South Trail of RI
Favorite Piece of Gear is my pack.

Favorite thing to do is test out craft beer anywhere I travel to

Running Quirk- I love my drinks during a race sometimes having 6 different types of drinks at an aid station with my crew

Fun Fact---I played the French Horn in High school and was all-state 2nd horn.

I started running in 2020 when I started working in New York City, but I did train a lot when I was a teenager as I was playing rugby at an elite level in France.
Favorite race: OSR underground and unsanctionned racing in New York, if you get the chance this will blow your mind
Favorite place to train: The treadmill... I'm a bit crazy about this but I do feel like this is a perfect way to control your pace, and when you can't train uphill in the city you simply learn to love it!
Favorite piece of gear: Heart rate monitor arm band from Coros, very seamless to use and rather practical on the arm.
Favorite thing to do outside of running/biking: Doing research, whether in Quant Finance or on a new dataset/topic I haven't explored yet.
Fun Fact about you: I'm French and I don't LOVE Paris

@00cyril.garica00

Ferdinand-Clovis Airault, known as The Magic Runner, is a French ultra-trail athlete whose journey weaves together endurance, exploration, and a relentless pursuit of human potential.
After years on Wall Street, he left the corporate world behind — transforming from a trader into a trailer. Today, he lives for his two greatest passions: magic and running — and often merges them to chase horizons on foot, redefine human capabilities, and challenge the very notion of the impossible. His path has taken him from the rugged mountains of Europe to the vibrant trails of Hong Kong, where he spent several years breaking records and setting FKTs.
Now based in the United States, he continues to travel the world to compete and perform. Despite his love for wild landscapes, Ferdinand has always lived in major cities — and is now proving that you can run UTMB and win races while calling New York City home.
Through his coaching platform, Trail Blaze, he helps city dwellers across the globe achieve their boldest (and often craziest) goals, reconnect with nature, and unlock their inner potential — with, of course, a little touch of magic.
@the_magic_runner

My name is Haley Heinrich, and I have been with Aravaipa for a couple of years. I live in New Hampshire and love playing in the technical mountains and trails here all year long. I work in mental health and social work, where I share how exercise and time in nature have supported my own mental and physical well-being, while helping others build connections and find their own coping mechanisms.
When I am not exploring the trails with my dogs, you can find me crushing everyone in Mario Kart, researching running shoes in depth, taking care of my millions of houseplants, finding the best bakeries, listening to horror podcasts, or hanging out with my amazing friends.
@probslost

I’m a trail and road runner who can often be found wandering around in the White Mountains or local trails of Concord, New Hampshire! I’m also a family physician, mother to my son (Owen) and my rescue dog (Pemi), and skier (when the trails are covered in snow instead of dirt). I absolutely love my running community in New Hampshire and am so happy to have expanded that community nationally since joining Aravaipa Racing Team in 2023!

@lindsayweigel

Hey, I’m Max and 2025 is my first season on the Aravaipa racing team! I’ve been running almost as long as I can remember, interrupted for a few years by a foray into road bike racing before discovering trails and falling back in love with running.

Most of my trail racing has been sub-ultra but I’m really excited to dip my toes into some longer distances in the near future! I live in Boston so most of my local trail days are spent at Middlesex Fells which has some fun, techy trails just outside the city. On weekends I try to get up to the White Mountains as much as possible and the Presidential range in particular is home to my favorite trails in the world.
@m_perozek

This is my first year on the team, however, I’ve been running for about 16 years now (hot diggity, it doesn’t seem like that long)! I discovered my passion for the ultra/trail world about 6 years ago after watching the Barkley Marathons documentary. I was hooked and signed up for my first 50k that night. My favorite distance is the 100 mile, but I have dreams of going further! Outside of running, I have probably too many hobbies including gravel biking, skiing, woodburning, flower pressing, cutting wood (they call me Chainsaw Sam), gardening, and wearing out our 3 dogs! I’m from northern Wisconsin, but now live in rural Vermont and I love training in the Whites. I’m a physical therapist and enjoy helping people get stronger and back to living life!

@sam_stimac

Interested in joining the newest Aravaipa Racing Team region in the Great Lakes?

Fill out our Interest Form today! Applications officially open this October, but we’d love to hear from you now and will be in touch this Fall.

MTB

2025 is my third season with the Aravaipa Racing Team. Weekdays usually mean miles at Papago or South Mountain, while weekends take me to trails across Arizona. I love long-distance challenges and bikepacking adventures—my favorite so far being the Tassie Gift, an epic 1,800 km ride through the wilds of Tasmania. When I’m not on the bike, I’m competing in Adventure Races: team-based, multi-sport navigation events that mix endurance, teamwork, and a healthy dose of bushwhacking in the backcountry.

@andy_wentz

Hi, I’m Marion Cholieu (@world_rideuz). I’ve been racing with the team for about three years now (with a little break in between), and I still get the same rush every time I pin on a number. My favorite races are the Prickly Pedal, I love the point-to-point adventure through the desert, and the Tour of the White Mountains by Epic Rides, which is always a perfect mix of big climbs and fun singletrack.

If I had to pick a favorite piece of gear, it’s honestly just my bike (Orbea Oiz), nothing fancy, just the tool that keeps me smiling mile after mile. And sometimes it has to do double duty, because my dog Kujo likes to come along for the ride… on my back!

Off the bike, I like to keep things active and outdoors. You’ll usually find me hiking, paddleboarding, playing guitar, or working on my non-profit, Clean Up Papago, where we restore and care for trails near my home in Tempe, AZ.

I grew up in the south of France and fell in love with mountain biking at age 12 with the help of a local cycling club and a sturdy steel frame. These days, I’m still chasing that same joy, just now with my wife, my dog, and a little more gravel mixed in.

@world_rideuz

My mountain biking journey began in 2014 with the San Tan Shredders in Queen Creek, Arizona, where I quickly fell in love with the sport. Just a year later, I entered my first race with the MBAA in the beginner category and took 1st place. That race marked the beginning of a competitive career filled with passion and success.

I went on to win the overall series and multiple State Championships, establishing myself as a rising talent in Arizona’s mountain biking scene. In 2019, I competed in my first Aravaipa race at San Tan Mountain Park, placing 2nd in the 3-hour solo category. I continued racing in that category throughout the season and ultimately won the overall series.

Over the years, I raced both locally and out of state, consistently pushing my limits and refining my skills. In 2023, I joined the Aravaipa mountain bike race team, continuing to compete in all local Aravaipa events and representing the team with dedication and grit.

I have continued to be a stable in the mountain biking community, over the past few years I have been a level 3 coach for both NICA and the ACA. I have truly enjoyed passing along my mountain biking knowledge to the next generation of riders.

Some fun facts about me:

I was a participant in Super Bowl 42 halftime show with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

I appeared on an episode of Pawn Stars (filmed in Phoenix Arizona)

My one race superstitions is I always race with Specialized brand socks

@red_rocket_mtb

Thank You to out Sponsors!

The Aravaipa Racing Team is managed by Bryce Brooks. Please contact [email protected] for any media requests or general inquiries.