Now that the dust has settled and I can move around without any fear of the tendons in my feet ripping apart, I think the time is right for a Black Canyon 100k race report. A little background: I am not an elite runner. I am a hobbyist who started running a little over two years ago, and entered the trail running and ultra scene a year ago. Black Canyon 100K would just be my second 100k race. I am what Ben Gibbard (of Death Cab For Cutie fame) jokingly referred to as an “elite mid-packer.” Also, I spent much of November and December with a nagging IT band issue, so my training was not …
Crown King Scramble: Course Preview and Updated Course Record Information!
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
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
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 …
This Week in Aravaipa Running – Dec. 29 to Jan. 4
I’ve often dreamed of writing regularly but with so much “busyness” I never seem to make the time. I enjoy sharing bits and pieces of my racing and training, but it is challenging to keep momentum for writing with so much going on. I’d like to change that in 2015 and therefore will be publishing a weekly article right here on this blog about the happenings at Aravaipa Running. This will not strictly be an article about what races are coming up or a race report from last weekend’s training runs, but instead a forum for me to share my thoughts about anything related to Aravaipa Running and even some bits and pieces of my personal life. After …
Nick Coury Steps Down as Co-Race Director
From Nick Coury, co-race director at Aravaipa Running: Today I announce that I am stepping down as co-race director and CTO of Aravaipa Running. The last five years have been incredibly rewarding for me, watching the small trail running community in Phoenix explode into one of the largest and most vibrant in the country. I have nothing but gratitude for all the people I have met, experiences I have shared, and lives I have been a part of. I am excited to move in a new direction with my own career, and look forward to watching the continued success of Aravaipa. With my brother Jamil in charge, I have no doubt he will continue to …
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 …
Last Chance Entry to 2015 Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run
Runners who complete the 2015 Black Canyon 100K will be eligible to earn a spot in the 2015 Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run. In addition to a finish at the Montrail Ultra Cup race, eligible runners must have entered in the 2015 Western States lottery and participate in an online social media campaign showing your “Western States toughness”. See below for the full release! FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Western States 100 Last Chance Lottery 2015 Portland, Oregon – December 10, 2014 – Montrail, and the Western States 100 are excited to announce that for the first time ever Western States 100 applicants who did not get their name drawn in the lottery will have an …