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 to provide a ‘full nutrition array’.” Extreme indeed, as the Crown King Scramble traverses a four-wheel drive only road from the outskirts of Phoenix in the Sonoran desert from 1700 feet elevation along the way climbing close to 7000 lung busting feet all the way up to the finish in the old mining town of Crown King nestled in the Bradshaw Mountains at 5500 feet elevation (yes, there are ups and downs along the way). In addition to the rugged nature of the course and mountains, runners will be faced with possible scorching temperatures in the deep mountain canyons (past editions of the race have reached over 100 degrees Fahrenheit) as they make their way from the spines to the pines. Snow has even fallen on the upper reaches of the course, making for an uncertain end to this historically tough footrace.
Race director and ultra marathon runner Jamil Coury is excited to bring GU Energy Labs on board. “I know the importance of having many nutrition options available during an ultra marathon. Sometimes switching between GU gels, liquid drinks and GU Chomps allows my stomach to keep the variety I crave in a race. We are excited to be able to offer GU Energy Lab products on the race course for this premier event.”
The GU products will be stocked at 5 different aid stations located on the course which will also serve runners water, fruit, salty foods, sweet snacks, and ice. These are located between 3 & 8 miles apart along the route, becoming more frequent as the run gets more remote and steeper in the second half of the race. Co-Race Director James Bonnett adds, “they say there is only one hill in the race, but it starts at mile 16 and goes until mile 29, climbing over 5,000 feet in the process.”
The Crown King Scramble was held for 20 years between 1986 and 2007 by the Arizona Road Racers running club based out of Phoenix. Aravaipa Running, an ultra marathon event company that currently organizes 20 events in Arizona & Colorado will be reviving the Crown King Scramble after a 5 year hiatus.
Crown King Scramble Athletes can find GU products to train with leading up to the race locally in Phoenix at iRun at 48th Street & Indian School.
About GU Energy Labs: From 1991 until today, athletes the world over have come to the same conclusion: GU works. Our Berkeley-based sports nutrition company started with our original GU Energy Gel, a revolutionary and more effective method to keep athletes fueled during exercise. Since then, GU has continued to improve the recipe, incorporating the latest scientific research into its products. In 2001, GU Electrolyte Brew (formerly Gu2o) was launched as the perfect hydration companion to GU Energy Gel. 2008 saw the introduction of Roctane Ultra Endurance Energy Gel, followed by Chomps Energy Chews and GU Recovery Brew in 2009. Every product is formulated to further GU’s mission: to help athletes go faster and longer than ever before. Online: http://guenergy.com/