Five Marathon Training Tips

Matt FeldhakeRunning Tips

December will be here before you know it!Our goal is to make your experience at the Tucson Marathon as enjoyable as possible and the training you put in now will have a direct impact on you overall experience come race day. Here are some tips from our very own Matt Feldhake which will help point you in the right direction when it comes to approaching your race training plan. Training Tips: (1) Develop Your Why Arguably the most critical initial step to take when deciding to train for a marathon is to find a “why”.What is the deep, underlying reason for wanting to train for this marathon? Finding the answer to this question will give you a …

Tucson Marathon’s Most Accomplished Athlete: Bassirima Soro

Bryce BrooksUncategorized

I first learned of Bassirima Soro while searching through some of the history of the Tucson Marathon. Soro’s name came up frequently regarding his 6 wins from 1999 to 2004. I figured Soro was an elite runner, but what I would come to realize is that he is a man of many talents. Bassirima Soro is also a Licensed Practical Nurse and Afro-Pop/Reggae vocalist and song writer under the stage name K-Bass residing in Tucson, Arizona. Soro was brought up by a loving but poverty-stricken family of musicians on the Ivory Coast of West Africa. In a “true example of the strength of the human spirit, [Soro] overcame severe economic hardships, obtained a hard won …

If It Comes Easily, It’s Worthless

Kelly PattersonUncategorized

A profile of ultrarunner, Keith Munch We often meet people at our races or group runs who inspire us, and whenever possible, we aim to share their stories with you. Meet Keith Munch, a member of the Aravaipa running community.  A recent transplant from Arizona to Colorado, he recently finished the inaugural Royal Gorge Groove 60K (finishing with a grotesquely broken pinky finger thanks to misplaced footing on the technical trail early on in the race).  He is preparing to toe the line at Ring the Springs 100 Mile in June, sandwiched by two more 100 Mile races in May and July.  Without further ado, meet Keith. 1. Tell us about yourself!  I was born …

DISCOVER FLAGSTAFF X ARAVAIPA RUNNING

Kelly PattersonUncategorized

COCODONA 250 Discovering Flagstaff Through the Cocodona 250 By Sarah Ostaszewski It’s no secret that Flagstaff is one of the country’s top high-altitude running meccas. Especially over recent years, Flagstaff has shifted from sleepy mountain town and seasonal training grounds for professional runners and Olympians to full-blown trail running destination with a thriving outdoors community. World-class track athletes and elite-level marathoners are no longer the only one’s training year-round in Flagstaff. Some of the world’s best ultramarathoners have made the high-altitude hub their home. More and more trail runners are considering their own move to Flagstaff, and not without good reason. Easy access to a variety of trails and terrain makes for stellar year-round running. …

The Sleep Deprivation Puzzle of Cocodona

Kelly PattersonRace Preview, Running Tips, Ultra Thoughts

By Jeff Garmire Cocodona isn’t only a long race; it is a commitment to days of racing. Last year the winner, Michael Versteeg, took over three days to finish. At 250 miles, a sleep strategy is as essential as a nutrition strategy. It is the one thing I entered the 2021 Cocodona with the confidence that I could navigate. The race starts early, but this works in our favor. With a 5 am start, runners can show up after a full night of sleep. The batteries are fully charged, and days of racing don’t seem so bad. But, as the first night comes, the miles of pounding dirt through the first 10k feet of gain …

2021-2022 Desert Runner Trail Series Final Standings

Noah DoughertyCommunity, Race Report, This Week In Aravaipa Running

As promised, here are the winners of the 2021-22 Desert Runner Trail Series and a few fun stats mixed in. This was the 11th year for some of these races and a nice little milestone for Aravaipa Running and how far we’ve come. As you all know, a lot can happen over the course of the seven race series, beginning in November with Pass Mountain. Pulling from your three best races keeps things interesting and opens up the top spots to a lot more runners then you may see on a typical race day. You don’t have to win a single race to make the podium in the series. Here are a few fun facts …

If I can finish a 250-mile race, then so can you.

Kelly PattersonImage, Link, Post-Race Interview, Quote, Ultra Thoughts

Written by Jeff Garmire I signed up for the Cocodona 250 only a couple of weeks before the actual race. I had never run a 250-mile race. I had never even run a 100-mile race. My racing background was a series of fun runs, middle school track meets (fastest time in the district for hurdles!), and one 50k race. I had no idea what I was doing. My world was FKTs, hundreds of miles of self-sufficient adventures, and untimed long days in the mountains. A 250-mile race was something totally new. That is why I signed up. I entered the race with the fitness and training but lacked knowledge about how the event would unfold …

What’s In a Sticker?

Erin McKnightCommunity

Written by Aravaipa Social Media Manager, Jen Laughlin. There is certainly no doubt that stickers are a simple expression of their owner’s personality, but they are so much more than that. Allow me to explain… For one, they are a conversation piece. Have you ever walked into a coffee shop and seen a familiar logo stuck on the side of a hydro flask and immediately bonded with that person over it? Have you ever passed a car on the highway, glanced at their bumper stickers and thought to yourself that if you knew that person you’d 100% be friends with them? Have you achieved a goal that you were so proud of that you immediately …

IT’S PARTY TIME! – Days Away From Starting Cocodona 250

Ashton KanstrupRace Preview, Ultra Thoughts

Guest Post by Shelby Farrell | Follow her Cocodona 250 training journey at @shelbzzf & shelbzzf.com The work is done. It’s time to play. All of the energy you’ve put into the past however many weeks of Cocodona 250 training now gets to be unleashed. Let it ROAR! It’s a powerful feeling. Yes, there are more unknowns than known at this point. Especially for me and others that are new to this distance. Get ready to dance with them. I know I am. I’m going to keep this blog short because the taper crazies are for real. It’s a week of trying to leave my work, my apartment, and my cat wrapped up with a shiny bow on top so …

Treading Lightly: Some Earth-Friendly Etiquette for Trail Runners

Ashton KanstrupRace Preview, Running Tips

Guest Post by Shelby Farrell | Follow her Cocodona 250 training journey at @shelbzzf & shelbzzf.com The funniest question that I have been asked in regards to running Cocodona 250 came from one of my CrossFit coaches. He’s excited for me, but I saw his facial expressions turn from enthused to contemplative… “Where do you poo?” he asked with a smile and edge of concern. In honor of Earth Day this week, let’s talk about it! I think one of my biggest trail pet peeves is dog poop bags and humans leaving exposed piles of TP. I mean, do you really need toilet paper if you only did a number one?! It seems excessive… (ladies, lookin’ at you.) Going to …