2021 Black Canyon Preview

Ashton KanstrupRace Preview

Guest Post written by Andrew Veeder https://twitter.com/aveeder Andrew Veeder (@andrewveeder) • Instagram photos and videos One of Aravaipa Running’s premier events, the Black Canyon Ultras presented by HOKA, is set to take place on February 13-14 in the desert of Arizona. Competitors in the 100K event will be competing for two Golden Tickets, guaranteeing entry to the iconic Western States Endurance Run. While there are no Golden Tickets for the 60K, there are 2 points available for UTMB. Expect strong competition in this “classic Arizona foot race.” Last year’s event proved to be as competitive as ever for the coveted Golden Tickets. Hayden Hawks snagged the 1st place finish with a staggering time of 7:55:33. …

Desert Runner Trail Series Final Standings!

Noah DoughertyCommunity, Race Preview

I mentioned it in our thank you email to the runners who came out to our Mesquite Canyon Trail runs this past weekend but it’s hard to believe we’ve already closed the books on another season of the Desert Runner Trail Series. A lot can happen over the course of the series beginning in October and this series always seems to find a way to bring these changes to the forefront. We had a couple runners finish in first place following their Mesquite effort despite entering the race off of the podium. We had some of our largest races to date in the DRT Series and we’re so grateful to have had you join us …

Desert Runner Trail Series Points Standings

Noah DoughertyCommunity, Race Preview

Alright people, it’s time. Mesquite Canyon- the grand daddy of them all- is just over a week away and you’re on the cusp of bringing home some hardware in our Desert Runner Trail Series. Or are you? The DRT Series spans seven races from October through March as it carves its way around the Maricopa County Regional Parks, culminating with the Mesquite Canyon Championship at the White Tank Mountain Regional Park. While the first six races are based on a total of 1000 points, given the toughness of our courses winding up and around the White Tanks, it was determined that the final race would award 1250 points for the winner. Plus, it just makes …

Why Black Canyon 100KM?

Hayley PollackCommunity, Race Preview, Race Report

Guest Post by Eric Senseman The Black Canyon 100k takes place on the Black Canyon Trail in Arizona, a north-to-south, point-to-point trail through the foothills of the Bradshaw Mountains. It starts about 75 miles south of Flagstaff and ends just north of Phoenix. Like most any point-to-point trail, the elevation at one end isn’t the same as the elevation at the other end. In the case of the Black Canyon Trail, the north trailhead sits at about 4,200 feet above sea level and the southern terminus rests around 1,900 feet. The 100k itself runs north-to-south, so the course accumulates a net downhill. Flowing downhill through the Black Canyon is the Agua Fria River, a roughly …

Desert Runner Trail Series Final Standings!

Noah DoughertyCommunity, Race Preview

I mentioned it in our thank you email to the runners who came out to our Mesquite Canyon Trail runs this past weekend but it’s hard to believe we’ve already closed the books on another season of the Desert Runner Trail Series. A lot can happen over the course of the series beginning in October and this series always seems to find a way to bring these changes to the forefront. We had a couple runners finish in first place following their Mesquite effort despite entering the race off of the podium. We also had runners fall victim in the other direction finding themselves out of podium contention despite strong finishes at Mesquite. Here are …

Desert Runner Trail Series Points Standings

Noah DoughertyCommunity, Race Preview

The 2017-2018 Desert Runner Trail Series is once again coming to a close just in time for the weather to really heat up here in Phoenix. The 7th and final race in the series is the Mesquite Canyon Trail Runs on March 17 at White Tank Mountain Regional Park. We thought it would be fun and beneficial to update everyone on the current point standings. Since the final race in the series is worth more points (1250 instead of 1000) this one can really shake things up. In addition to overall awards, we will also have a masters category for runners 40 years of age or older. New in 2018, we are awarding our top Grand Master’s Division …

Desert Runner Trail Series Points Standings

Jamil CouryRace Preview

The 2016-2017 Desert Runner Trail Series is coming to a close just in time for the weather to really heat up here in Phoenix. The 7th and final race in the series is the Mesquite Canyon Trail Runs on March 18 at White Tank Mountain Regional Park. We thought it would be fun and beneficial to update everyone on the current point standings. Since the final race in the series is worth more points (1250 instead of 1000) this one can really shake things up. The full point standings are currently on Ultrasignup for both the Ultra Series & Trail Series (they have been calculated through Elephant Mountain). We are recapping the top ten men and women in …

desert solstice

2016 Desert Solstice Preview

Melia CouryPress Release, Race Preview

On Saturday, December 10th, Central High School’s track in Phoenix, Arizona will again be the stage for some record breaking runs. Aravaipa Running presents the 6th annual Desert Solstice Track Invitational. This year nearly 30 talented athletes will chase after national and world records. Many of the runners this year are vying for a spot on the coveted US National 24 Hour Team which requires minimum 140 miles for men and 125 miles for women within a 24 hour time span. Previous years have seen 41 national and 10 world records on this fast 400 meter red track. Some familiar faces to the track at Desert Solstice include: Courtney Dauwalter, 31 years old, is 6th on …

running at night

Javelina Jangover Night Run 2016 Race Preview

Melia CouryRace Preview

Javelina Jangover has always felt like the gateway race into our fall racing season. It sits on the edge of the scorching desert heat months and you definitely still want to be prepared for warm temperatures throughout the night. Javelina Jangover is held during a full moon and has changed dates each year to accommodate the lunar schedule. This race is held in the McDowell Mountain Regional Park. The trail for the 75K, 50K and 25K will be on the Pemberton Trail, same as the Javelina Jundred course. Jangover is our party in the desert before our even larger party in the desert, Javelina Jundred. Since it shares the Pemberton Trail loop it allows for …

white tank mountain trail

Mesquite Canyon Evolves

Jamil CouryRace Preview, Ultra Thoughts

I’ve been camping and backpacking in the White Tank Mountains east of Phoenix most of my life. It all started with a couple of trips a year with my Boy Scout troop. We’d do day hikes with fully loaded backpacks as training prep leading up to our annual trip to Havasupai Canyon. Our packs which back in the day were upwards of 40 or 50 pounds, you know, the ones with big metal frames that you’d bungee down a sleeping pad and bag. We’d head straight up Ford Canyon, attempting to scramble up the famed “white tanks” and find a nice lunch spot high up in the range. I remember the trip back down Mesquite Canyon to …