Our Commitment to the Trails We Love

Hayley PollackCommunity, News, Press Release, Uncategorized

Aravaipa Running was born out of a deep respect and love for nature: exploring it, finding and overcoming limits within it, and embracing the pain and euphoria it can cause. One incredibly important aspect to this is understanding that the same nature is home to creatures that allow us to share their habitat. While wilderness areas can be roadblocks to creating the ‘ultimate’ event and certain times of the year are ruled out immediately for conservation purposes, even as race directors, we not only respect these limits but know how important the preservation and protection of these lands and animals are to our continued enjoyment of nature as we currently know it. With that said, …

A Tribute to Volunteers

Jamil CouryCommunity, Ultra Thoughts

The whole reason I’m now a race director of trail running events is all because of volunteering. I started helping at events as soon as I started running. I was inspired by the performances and drive of the athletes I was helping. In some small way I felt like I was making a difference for them. As a runner myself, I benefit greatly from the hours of dedication of countless volunteers at every race I attend. Just this last weekend I was helped by hundreds of volunteers at the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc in Europe. They filled my bottles, fed me pasta and were sure to make sure I was OK in my lowest moments. Some …

Javelina Jangover Night Runs Recap – 2015

Hayley PollackCommunity, Race Report, This Week In Aravaipa Running, Ultra Thoughts

I hope to never lose my sense of wonder in dramatic Arizona skies. Our sunsets are unreal, our sunrises too. Monsoon season brings a whole new set of beauty (and, sometimes, destruction) with massive thunderheads and lightning shows to rival 4th of July firework finales. Thankfully, this past weekend at Javelina Jangover, we got the show but not the destruction. All day long, while setting up, the weather was stiflingly hot and oppressive. Not long before runners were due to arrive at the course the cumulonimbus clouds were building higher and higher over the mountains surrounding McDowell Mountain Regional Park. However, we were ready for them! Our experience hosting events in the Arizona summer has …

silverton

Silverton Alpine Marathon & 50K 2015 Recap

Jamil CouryRace Report

The 10th running of the Silverton Alpine Marathon & 50K took place today on the Alpine Loop jeep roads surrounding Silverton, Colorado. This “low key” but spectacular running event rivals the Imogene Pass in beauty and toughness but leaves the crowds behind. The marathon course features a clean, single loop tour of some of the most iconic mining ghost towns in the San Juans: Howardsville, Eureka, Animas Forks and Gladstone. The 50 Kilometer ultra version adds an out and back to the beginning of the route. With the staggered start times, the two fields are completely mixed together by the finish line. 27 runners started the 50K at 7:00am and made their way reverse up …

2015 Silverton 1000 Recap

Hayley PollackNews, Race Report, Ultra Thoughts

The first words I ever wrote about Silverton, Colorado were: “Everything is either magnificent or quaint in a great visual contradiction that immediately makes sense.” And while, At first glance, Silverton meets all the requirements to be called a ‘quaint mountain town’ a little longer look reveals that utilizing ‘hardy’ as the description is nearer the truth. The same adjective can be applied to the runners who showed up to compete in this past week’s Silverton 1000. It was amazing to have a front row seat to this year’s event and the performances that unfolded. I had heard the passion and the stories of the race’s creation from Jamil all year long and I was …

Kendall Mountain Preview

Hayley PollackCommunity, News, Press Release, Race Preview, Ultra Thoughts

If you can believe the write-up about Kendall Mountain on summitpost.org then you “[shouldn’t] feel too proud when you reach the summit of this one.” However, we disagree. The basis for their argument is this race, Kendall Mountain Run: because runners run up Kendall Mountain it is brushed aside. Standing in Silverton, looking up at Kendall as it towers over Greene Street you get your first sense of the injustice done in that one sentence. It is not hard to image how that 1908 bet started… seeing Kendall looming over their town the locals were sure that no one could possibly reach the summit and return within 1.5 hours and the bet was made. Although …

Race Report: FLGX Big Pine 54K

Amber FifieldRace Report, Uncategorized

**Flagstaff Extreme Big Pine 54K Race Report from Aravaipa Ambassador, Amber Fifield** I am sitting on my couch, still sporting the slightly-stiff-muscles hobble indicative of a good tough running effort; in this instance that effort was Aravaipa’s Inaugural Flagstaff Big Pine 54K. The events of the race, and indeed, of the weekend, are still so fresh in my mind that I feel the need to put them to computer immediately. Even though I have other adventures still begging to be written, I feel this one must take precedence. In the month after my Grand Canyon Rim to Rim to Rim crossing, I took it very easy with my running, just doing a couple of easy …

Adrenaline Night Runs Recap

Hayley PollackCommunity, News, Race Report, Ultra Thoughts

Adrenaline Night Runs are over, the course de-marked, and the truck all packed up ready for the next adventure. However, the performances of last night are still playing over in my mind. At a wedding reception today, with a table of runners, the conversation quickly turned to Sion Lupowitz’s domination of the course and his progression as a runner. It was a performance of strength and beauty watching him power through all 54K with no one in his rear view. With the new shorter distance (from 64K to 54K) there was no mark besides the “W” on which to set his sights; yet, he left the bar high in his wake running 4:00:09 (7:09/mile). Daniel …

2015 Insomniac Night Trail Run Series

Hayley PollackCommunity, News, Race Preview, Ultra Thoughts

What happens when you are forced to ignore heat training advice? You know, the articles where they give varying degrees of heat and what you are supposed to do in each scenario. Invariably there is a section that tells you to cut back once it gets too hot or stick to running indoors for faster recovery. There was a Runner’s World article I read not too long ago that described racing in 80° as “gruesome conditions.” However, as many of us know, living in the desert, trying to train for a fall race, and being morally opposed to spending hours on a treadmill leaves you with little choice about braving the heat. I could listen to the …

A Ramble

Amber FifieldUncategorized

“So how does a 50K work?” I was asked this question the other day and it completely confused me; I didn’t understand what was being asked. “Well, I mean, you don’t run it all at once right?” Oooohhhhh. Me: “Well, yes. You do.” I think there was confusion on their face. It’s mind-boggling to me that there are people who haven’t heard of ultra-marathons; it is what I breathe. All I seem to be able to talk about is either geeky immunology or microbiology (or some other “ology” entirely), or running ultras and the best trails. Everybody I know is the same… well, at least regarding the latter part. I’m always wanting to hit that …