3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
Mostly flat. Nice views.
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
They can’t / won’t send out bib package in advance, even with a fee.
Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
Its’ at 5200′
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
There’s a big hill at mile 10.5 of a half marathon. Big group of people cheering. That was great. You get to run mile 4 thru the Zoo. Mile 8 is thru a firestation and the firefighters do a great cheer.
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
There’s an ample number of water stations and bathrooms before, during and after. They do have corrals roughly based on expected time.
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
My pacing in first three miles could have been better.
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
NA. It’s all paved and really straight forward.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
You run thru downtown, along cherry creek, and thru city park. You can see the mountains for much of it.
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
I think the half marathon had 200′ of elevation gain. Pretty easy.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
It’s well organized.
Competition – Is there a strong field?
I don’t think so, a 1hr 58 time was in top 20%.
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
I live in Denver, so not sure on lodging. I think it’s approx 20,000 people for full and half marathon, 10K, etc. I’d bet 80% live in Denver. If 4,000 people need rooms, it’s no problem to handle that many guests in a big city. It’s easy to sign up.
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
All standard and efficient. nice job.
Weather and typical race conditions
Typical Denver in May, 50-55 degrees, low humidity, bright sun, not much wind in morning. About perfect.
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?
None needed. This is an easy race.
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
Yes! There’s lots of spots where your friend could catch up with you.
How’s the Swag?
OK.
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
If you want a flat, high altitude course, this is a great choice. If you live at sea level, bring extra sun screen and drink more water for the altitude!
Location: Start – Black Canyon City, AZ Finish – Flagstaff, AZ
Results: 108 hours
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
The course. What an amazing adventure in some of the most beautiful areas of Arizona.
The community. I’m from Arizona and might be biased, but I loved interacting with the aid station volunteers, employees and fellow runners.
The organization. Aravaipa does an amazing job at all of their events.
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
There was one section across Fain Ranch that was the only part of the course I really disliked. But in a 250 mile race having a small section like that, which was required to get us to Mingus mountain, is a very minor thing.
Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
Maybe the white couches at the Satisfy aid station? lol I just can’t seem to get over how strange that was to me.
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
I paced myself well on the first day of the race, which gets a lot of people. I kept a positive mental attitude for the vast majority of the miles. I also almost got pulled by medical at mile 150 and made a comeback to finish the other 100 miles.
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
Expect the first day to be very difficult and very slow. The first 37 miles took me over-double my best 50k time.
Take care of yourself. Feeling good is way more important than moving fast in this distance.
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
I will never ever do a 200+ miler again. There is video proof of me saying this.
I do think that this is going to shift my mentality when it comes to 100 milers.
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
It’s been said before, but people continue to underestimate that first 37 mile stretch. I would suggest doing the training run if you can. The most important thing you can do is get to Crown King still feeling good.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
Beautiful. Gorgeous. Amazing.
Photo: Laura Mathis
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
Yes, in a way that is sometimes difficult to describe. It’s slow going, and the temps during the race range from below freezing overnight to 95+ during the day.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Aravaipa does an amazing job at all of their events. They plan well, and have been doing this long enough that when unexpected issues beyond their control come up they can deal with them without it impacting the runner experience.
Competition – Is there a strong field?
I feel like the field at this one continues to grow. This year both field had some well-known names, as well as some repeat competitors that are really getting the race down.
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
Right now you can register up until right before the race, as the popularity of 200+ milers grows this may change. My crew managed to book a cheap motel same day during the race. Expect pricey rooms in Sedona and Flagstaff. Also plenty of options to camp. The first section is pretty remote up until mile 71, after that your crew will have plenty of easy access to civilization. The biggest logistic challenge is finding crew and pacers who can take time off work during the week to come support you.
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
All the standard fare plus an amazing spread for all types of dietary needs. Breakfast burritos, burgers, tacos, etc.
Weather and typical race conditions
The race varies in elevation, so the weather is a real challenge. The weather during the day closer to Phoenix and through parts of Sedona can be in the 90s and 100s. Overnight at elevation it gets downright cold. Make sure you have a plan in place of when to switch gear and carry layers as needed.
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?
I have never used poles before and I got them for this race. There is a required race gear list, follow it. They’re not kidding about the 4 liters of water for the first day, trust me you need it.
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
After that first 71 miles there are plenty of access points. And the finish is amazing. Plus, they do an amazing job of live coverage during the race that includes mid and back of the packers.
How’s the Swag?
Really cool swag, including a nice backpack. The belt buckle is made in AZ with AZ copper and has a bunch of cool accents that call out different parts of the course.
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
If you want to do a race of this distance I would 100% recommend this race.
Des Clarke is a coach with Team RunRun. To learn more about her or to work with her, check out her coach profile.
I always thought 200+ milers were crazy, and I never had any interest in doing them. Then Jamil from Aravaipa Running introduced the world to his plan for the Cocodona 250, and I knew I was in trouble. I had moved to Arizona in 2017, and it immediately felt like home. Cocodona provided the opportunity to explore some of the most amazing places in Arizona by foot, and the adventure of it drew me in. I wasn’t quite ready for the 2021 edition of it, but I captained the Lane Mountain aid station. Somehow witnessing the carnage there made me even more interested, I think it fascinated me that people could look so wrecked at mile 33 and go on to finish another 217 miles.
A fall on the trail in May of 2021 resulted in a torn meniscus and knee surgery, which meant I wasn’t ready for the 2022 edition either. I decided that if I didn’t get into the Hardrock 100, 2023 would be the year of Cocodona. I said it over and over, to myself and others. Then lottery day came and I, unsurprisingly, didn’t get picked for Hardrock.
Shit, I guess I’m doing Cocodona.
Going into the race I took the mindset of it being a big adventure, a chance to explore the unknown both with new trails and with what my body and mind might do when I over-doubled my distance PR. I knew I did well with 20, 30 or 90 minute sleep sessions, and decided to start there and make decisions about sleeping longer as the race unfolded. I also vowed to stay on top of nutrition and hydration, which becomes even more important in a race like this. I had a crew chief, Lauren, who would be with me for the entire week, and pacers that would come and go. My pacing plan started to come undone even before the race started, but Lauren did a great job tapping into the community and finding people to fill in the gaps as the race was underway.
On May 1st I woke at 3:30am at Lauren’s house to put together our last few items and head to the start line of the Cocodona 250 in Black Canyon City, AZ. To be honest I still had no idea what to expect, but I was ready for the start so that I could begin the process. We drove up the I-17, and the first wave of nervousness didn’t hit until we crested a hill on the highway and the start line lights became visible.
Start
We checked in and got my spot tracker, and I greeted fellow runners, crew and Aravaipa staff who I knew. Finally, the time arrived and we lined up and started off along the Black Canyon trail. I had run this section before in training, so I knew to take my time and enjoy these first easy miles before things really got interesting. The runners were fairly bunched up and I lead a group along, listening to their stories. We had a river crossing at mile 2, giving everyone wet that trail grit stuck to as we went.
Cottonwood Creek 8.5
At Cottonwood Creek I filled all four of my required liters, refueled, and then started on what is arguably the most difficult section of the course. It is hard to describe exactly what makes the section so difficult, and maybe that’s because it’s a bunch of little things stacked together. It’s steep and the footing is terrible, so much so that even the downhills are difficult. I knew the trick was to stay positive and not worry about time, to keep my effort within a reasonable range. Relentless forward progress.
Mile 11 was a water stop, which also had frozen grapes and popsicles. I was able to share some good company going up the mountain, talking about life and running and motherhood. One woman, Elle, had her 14 month old son meeting her at some of the aid stations during the race. I also passed some runners already struggling on the course, running out of water, being battered by the heat. I shared some water with one of them. Mile 25 provided another water stop. I was being smart about my effort and hydration and feeling good at this point. The trail soon turned even gnarlier as we started the final section to Lane Mountain Aid. This is a section I struggle navigating during the training run, but for race day the course marking was on point. At certain vantage points I could look back and see Lake Pleasant far below us.
Lane Mountain 33 and Crown King 37
Coming up on the aid station I was excited to see some volunteers I recognized. I also realized I had fairly bad chafing in my nether regions. As I applied Squirrels Nut Butter in the middle of the aid station I looked at the videographer and joked “You’re getting this on camera right?”
The next four miles were smooth and largely downhill into Crown King. The aid station is hosted at the Crown King Saloon, and I hit my first goal of the race by making it there in good spirits. I remember seeing AJW and greeting him on the way to my crew. Overall I felt good, which had been the plan for the first section. My shoes were gritty and I had some small blisters started so we switched shoes and applied Happy Toes. I ate what I could, repacked my pack, and started out again, this time headed up to Towers Mountain. On the way out of town I got to spend some time with Sally McRae, on whom I have an incredible girl crush. We talked about the race and our kids. I pulled away from her a bit on the up, and then we crested and she quickly left me on the downhill. I was feeling a bit of a low, although a wilderness pit stop helped a little. We got into Arrastra Creek, which I have very vague memories of, and then started the climb up Mt Union to Kamp Kipa.
At this point it was full night, and I was starting to feel the effects of a less than stellar night of pre-race sleep, an early wake-up and lots of hard miles. I was literally falling asleep while running, with vivid dreams popping into the lapses in consciousness. I laid down on the trail for a 5 minute nap, and when I got up started down the trail again. Very quickly I met a guy coming towards me and told him he was going the wrong way. ”Again?!? Man, I just got lost and added two miles a little bit ago.” he said. Then my brain slowly pulled all the pieces together and I said “Oh, wait, I think I’m going the wrong direction.” I was thankful I hadn’t gone too far. As we climbed higher up the mountain the wind was really strong and the temps were cold for a girl from the Valley. There was also a section of trail that was super narrow, rutted and filled with rocks that made things slow going.
Kamp Kipa
I got to Kamp Kipa and was told there was a cabin where I could sleep. I texted my crew and attempted a nap, but instead lay shivering like crazy for 30 minutes, listening to the sounds around me, including a conversation between a runner and the medics, and eventually just got up to leave. I grabbed some coffee and food, looking back I wish I had just done this originally and skipped trying to sleep. I was concerned about the cold as I had forgotten to bring a jacket and gloves in my pack, but I ended up putting on my emergency blanket like a toga, picking up a trail buddy who was also about to leave, and heading on towards Friendly Pines and my crew.
Friendly Pines 71.2
I rolled into friendly pines in the early morning hours, and heard about a javelina raid on the crews’ food that had happened. This was the first official sleep station, and I decided to try for a 90 minute nap. However, the bunk room was next to the kitchen where all the action was happening, and people kept coming in to use the extra bathroom, so I slept very little. Looking back, I should have used the sleep setup my crew chief had in the 4Runner, which is what I did for the most part going forward. I ate breakfast, brushed my teeth and headed out with my first pacer, Paul, who is also one of my coaching clients. It was fairly smooth trails leading into Prescott and Whiskey Row, and I decided to leave my poles with my crew for a while.
Whiskey Row 78.3
At Whiskey Row I was feeling good in the new day. I re-upped on my nutrition. We also noticed that my shoes were getting fairly snug and switched to half size up, which I think was one of the smartest decisions of my race. We continued on, and there was quite a few road miles leading through Prescott. One of the funny things about this was that I had hit a period where I suddenly had to pee every few minutes. Paul and I strategized and I would kneel as though I was tying my shoe, shimmy my shorts to the side and pee. Paul would stand pretending to check his phone and blocking the view from the road. We repeated this routine multiple times. Finally, the roads spit us out onto a trail, and it was at this point where we were passed by Mike McKnight. For those of you who hadn’t followed the race, McKnight was as far back as 62nd in the first day or so of the race, and then recovered from his issues and ended up charging hard to win the race.
Soon this trail switched to the granite dells around Lake Watson. The rock formations were gorgeous, but hard on quads with the steep ups and down and the unforgiving surface. Near Watson Lake park, which is the start/finish of Aravaipa’s Whiskey Basin run, we encountered an older couple who had come out to support the runners. The wife had a triangle she was ringing as the husband handed out Twizzlers. It was perhaps my favorite moment of the race. The dells finally gave way to another flat section of trail taking us into Iron King.
Iron King 92.2
The Iron King aid station seemed more like a stop along a road at this point in the race. I did crawl into the back of the 4Runner for a 20 minute nap. We checked my feet, switched out my shoes, and I used my muscle scraper to work on my quads a bit before moving on. Much of this part of the course was fairly tame and forgettable, and it was good to have Paul there with me to provide conversation and keep me moving towards my goal and in a positive mindset.
Satisfy 97.5
Satisfy running hosted the aid station at Fain ranch, and I was not necessarily a fan. There was a carpet and white couches – WHITE COUCHES. There was catered food and massage stations. Perhaps it’s something that some people really appreciated, but during these events I tend to lock into a mindset focused on the task at hand and the wilderness around me. I grabbed my poles and quickly moved on.
Crossing Fain Ranch was perhaps my least favorite section of the course. It was flat and should have been runnable, but it went straight across a field with hoof ruts and grass tufts that made footing difficult. It also followed along Route 89 the entire time. I also noticed that something in the grass created a rash on the backs of my calves, something that would feature later in the race. It was another example of how inexplicably slow this course was. Paul and I made the best of it, and I joked with him that if he ever decided to run Cocodona I would pace him on any section he liked – except this one. There were also wooden ladders over sections of fencing that I did surprisingly well at. Mingus mountain didn’t seem to get any closer, until finally it did. We exited the ranch land, ran along a road for a bit and headed back onto the trail and up the climb.
At this point I had had almost no sleep, as the time I spent at Kamp Kipa and Friendly Pines had not resulted in any productive sleep. I like uphills and can easily motivate myself to grind up them. For this climb my motivation was that I just wanted to be at the top and try to lay down again. I passed some runners. I dropped Paul. I had my closest hallucinatory experience of the run as I neared the top and thought I saw aid stations nestled in the trees several times before I finally did get to the aid station. I looped around the camp, found my crew in the main area, and went to lay down.
Mingus 110
Compared to the previous sleep stations Mingus was amazing. Each cabin had a carpeted common area with couch and TV, and then several bunk rooms. I set my alarm for 4 hours but woke up after 3. During that time my next pacer Sally showed up, the runner she had planned to pace had dropped and my crew chief had connected with her on social media. She drove from LA to meet a complete stranger in a mountain camp in the middle of the night and pace her towards a crazy goal – ultra-running is amazing. Paul shuttled cars after I had profusely thanked him for keeping me positive and moving all those miles, allowing me to be strong for the final push up Mingus. Upon waking I realized there was a shower in the cabin and took a few extra minutes to rinse off the grimy layers of dirt and sunscreen. Then I ate, gathered my things, and Sally and I started down the other side of Mingus Mountain towards Jerome.
Again, the smooth downwards slope on the course profile belies the narrow path littered with loose baby head rocks that are not conducive to fast running, these eventually gave way to some runnable dirt roads closer to town. Despite the sleep I started to fall asleep while running again, and Sally and I had a 90’s hip hop party to keep me awake, in addition to a 5 minute dirt nap. As the sun rose I felt more alert and we enjoyed the view descending into Jerome. We passed by the start of the Sedona Canyons 125 where runners were gathering, and exchanged some words of encouragement with eventual winner Jeff Browning who was warming up. We snaked through town where some police officers and a random guy seemed amazed at what we were doing, and finally into the Jerome aid station. Here I did my morning breakfast and toothbrush routine, used the porta potty and headed out.
Rough going off Mingus in the middle of the night
Sunrise above Jerome
Jerome 126.5
The Sedona 125 had gone off and most people had passed by the aid station while I resituated myself, we caught a few of the final runners as we headed out of town. We also ran into someone from Aravaipa who informed us that the gate leaving Jerome onto private land, Aravaipa had an agreement with the land owner, had been closed and locked by a disgruntled neighbor. She was going to try to contact the land owner to get it re-opened, in the meantime we would need to climb over the gate. The gate had barbed wire across the top and on the posts on either side. As I awkwardly made my way over on legs that had gone well past their mileage PR I concentrated on not putting my hand on the barbed wire on top of the gate, and instead ran my knee into the rusty barbs to my right on the post. I was bleeding and Sally asked if one of the other guys had hand sanitizer or wipes that we could clean it out with. “I have brandy” was the answer. We used a capful of the airplane bottle, and then he said “It’s open, I might as well just drink it.” Nothing like a shot a few miles into your 125 mile race. We ran some dirt trails and then eventually hit Cottonwood. We had some road miles as we were unable to pass through Tuzigoot National Monument due to fire damage and the high levels of the Verde River. We also spent some time on the Jail Trail which was like beach running and I attempted not to get grit in my shoes as they were the only ones that fit at that point and I wanted to keep my chance of additional blisters low. We then entered Dead Horse State Park, ran down past the aid station and back up to it.
A cap full of brandy saves the day after a run-in with some rusty barbed wire (I got a tetanus shot after the race)
The wild west is a dangerous place folks
Dead Horse 135.6
At Dead Horse I saw my friend Tracy at the aid station. I can’t explain why but I was feeling a bit of a low. I got calories and caffeine into me, and Sally partook in some tacos. We then headed out. The first small section we were behind a line of horses that kicked up dust, but I didn’t want to pass as horses on the trail make me nervous since they can sometimes be skittish. They eventually split off and we began a slow run. I had done this section before in training, it’s fairly runnable with beautiful views. We were hitting it in the heat, and usually I do pretty well in the heat. However, I didn’t bargain for how my body would handle heat after 135+ miles. I could feel myself overheating, and the sun on my calves turned the rash from Fain into patches of fire. At one point I talked Sally into a nap under a bush for 5 minutes of respite. I was stuck in a sort of catch-22. If I pushed the pace I was taxing my body more, if I went slowly I would be out in the exposed sun more. Sally was amazing, encouraging me to run when I could, making sure I was drinking and taking electrolytes. At one point a 125 runner was passing us and asked how long it was to the aid station, Sally said about 4 miles and I could feel myself mentally implode. It felt impossibly far. Sally kept me moving “Can you run to that next tree.” “Can you run to that cairn?” and each time I would grit my teeth and make myself follow her request. Finally the aid station came into view. Sally asked one more time “Can you run to that cairn?” and I croaked back “NO”. She gave me a pass. We hiked into the aid station, the wheels were off the bus.
Before things got really dicey between Dead Horse and Deer Pass
The full glamor of long distance trail running – lying in the dirt trying to get some respite from the sun
Deer Pass 148
I crawled into the back of the 4Runner and out of the sun as quickly as possible. Looking back I think my concern for myself was magnified by the concern I saw in the faces of my crew. The skin on my calves were burning and my ankles were swollen over the sides of my shoes. I shivered uncontrollably, but I could feel the intense heat radiating off my body and gathering under the blanket they had covered me with. Because of the swelling in my calves Lauren was worried about compartment syndrome and asked for the roving medic to stop and check on me. When they arrived I had been laying down for about 35-40 minutes and my heartrate was 95. My blood pressure was 114/63. When they initially did a 2-lead EKG it showed an abnormality, but luckily a full 12-lead showed everything to be fine. The medic told me I should go to the ER. He said he could give me an IV here but then I’d be out of the race. In true ultra-runner fashion I asked if I’d have time to go to the ER and come back to finish. It turns out a trip to the ER would also mean I was out of the race. I lay in the back of the vehicle crying, and Sally crawled in next to me to rub my back. We managed to bargain with them that I would drink a bunch of electrolytes and rest for at least 4 hours and re-evaluate. I still had to sign a form saying I understood they had told me to go to the hospital and I had chosen not to. I had also had to text my husband to get a copy of my insurance card in case I had to go to the hospital, which made the whole thing seem worse since the last thing I wanted to do was have him worry. I drank a whole bottle of LMNT which has 1,200mg of sodium and didn’t taste salty at all to me. Then I took some CBD and laid down.
I awoke to the medics returning to check on me. My heart rate had dropped to 75, but as soon as I stood it shot up to 120. The medic said it was because my body was working so hard just standing. He did say that I could continue and told me to do 2 bottles of electrolytes to every 1 of water. My friend Colleen had showed up to pace me. After the entire ordeal I felt utterly defeated and didn’t know if I wanted to try to go on. How could I possibly go 100 miles when my body was struggling to keep me upright?
This is the place folks where it’s important to have the right people by your side. I found out later that as I went to the bathroom Colleen asked Lauren what the plan was, and Lauren said “She’s going back out.” I came back out and announced that with the way I felt I didn’t think I could cover 100 miles in 60 hours. “That doesn’t matter, you just need to get to the next aid station.” Said Colleen. “But you have to leave by 4am, I don’t think I can make it to the next aid station by then.” Collen replied “It doesn’t matter. I’ll find a way to get back to my car and you’ll finish the section, and your next pacer will be there. We just need to start hiking.” The put my pack on me and started into the dark with Colleen.
Colleen and I had a lot of catching up to do as we hiked through the desert. And then a funny thing happened, I started to feel a little better. I even ran. It was dark through Sedona and I probably missed out on some beautiful scenery, actually I know I did because I had done this section in training as well, but it didn’t matter. I was moving again and all I had to do was keep doing that.
We got to Sedona Posse grounds which I just remember made me think of an alien dance party. I thanked Colleen and laid down for a 90 minute nap in the car.
Sedona Posse Grounds Park 163
I woke up and again repeated my morning routine. I now had Laura with me, another of my coaching clients. We left the aid station and it wasn’t long before it was light out. We got some great views of Sedona, in fact this might be my favorite section of the course as far as scenery was concerned. We passed through Midgely Bridge park with some awesome overlooks of Oak Creek, which we eventually descended to and crossed. There was a rope at the crossing as some parts of the creek were mid-thigh to waist deep. The rope was loose and it required a lot of concentration for me to make it across without getting a bath.
We then climbed Casner Mountain, which provided more amazing views. There was a water stop at some point that I didn’t really need given the cool temps. Then there was a long, dusty stretch of road into the Schnebly Hill aid station.
Even when you’re exhausted Sedona is gorgeous
Crossing Oak Creek
Making our way up Casner Mountain
Schnebly Hill 180.1
Lauren had crew backup now as our friend Jesse had arrived to help drive and take care of me. I took a quick 20 minute nap, refreshed my food and water, checked my feet and I was out again. I honestly remember very little of the next section, I do remember being grateful for Laura being there and that I had an opportunity to get to know her better as a person.
Munds 191.7
I arrived in Munds park aid station and my friend Bri was waiting for me. I took another 20 minute nap. I was still well ahead of cutoffs, but at 6 hours I was closer than I ever thought I would be. For some reason it worried me and in my mental state I had the feeling I was chasing cutoffs. Again I don’t remember a lot of the next section. It was overall fairly runnable, although there were some downed trees for our wet and snowy winter that added some interesting obstacles.
Even tree huggers have their low moments
Kelly Canyon 202.8
One of the interesting things I noticed throughout the race was how you could be alone for hours at a time, but then runners tended to bunch at the aid stations. At Kelly Canyon I laid down for 10 minutes in the medical tent, and then got some hot tea and ramen. There were a few other runners, and one had an odd sense of humor, but my tired brain couldn’t discern if he was joking or serious.
Leaving Kelly we had some more fairly easy trails and then some dirt road. It was cold at this point and I was thankful for every layer I had on. Eventually we crossed under the highway through a tunnel and I started to feel the familiarity of the trails around Fort Tuthill, where I had at one point run the Big Pine 54k. And then at last there was the aid station.
Fort Tuthill 211.3
I was determined for this to be my final night out. It was cold, and I was concerned about the early morning sleepiness because it was too cold for trail naps. I slept for 90 minutes in the 4Runner. Apparently when Lauren woke me I tried to kick her. I then argued with her about how long I had slept and accused her of timing it wrong. I remember none of this. I do remember her offering me different types of food to which I replied with a grunt. It actually is amazing to me looking back that this was the only time I was a terrible person to my crew. I picked up Mandy, one of Bri’s friends, and we headed out. The next section was overall fairly runnable with a few climbs mixed in. I did get to a point where I started to drift off and Mandy talked to keep me awake. Going up some of the final climbs to the Walnut Canyon ais station I dropped Mandy. I was on trails I recognized and I could smell the barn.
Left to Right: Bri, me and Mandy at Walnut Canyon
Walnut Canyon 228.5
Coming into Walnut Canyon two women cheered me into the aid station. When one of them said “Des, Lauren isn’t here yet” my brain finally processed that it was Bri. “It’s fine” I said “Get me food from the aid station and caffeine. If she’s not here by then I’ll just go. Oh, wait, I need to wait for Tracy to pace me.” The other woman looked at me and said “Des, it’s me”. Until that moment I hadn’t even recognized Tracy. My brain was DONE.
Lauren came rushing into the aid station moments later. It seems I had requested a Starbucks oat milk mocha, and all three stores they visited were out of mocha. The gave me a chai latte, which I didn’t want. I decided on one final 20 minute nap. I drank some caffeine, ate breakfast, and then Tracy and I headed out. The next time I would see my crew would be the finish.
Not long after the aid station I ran into another runner I had spent some time with earlier in the race. He had stopped to use the facilities and when he did his cell phone dropped out of his pocket. He was now working backwards searching bush to bush looking for it.
The next section was fairly runnable, and Tracy and I shuffled along and caught up on life. We were now mixed in with some of the Elden Crest runners that had started that morning from Walnut Canyon. Then came the climb up Elden. I had been up Elden before and honestly don’t remember it being this gnarly. Maybe it was the effect of the cumulative miles, or maybe this was a different trail. There was nothing to do but put my head down and grind again. At some point I dropped Tracy. There were rocks and snow piles to navigate, and then finally we hit the towers at the top. Due to the snow blockages the aid station was set a little ways down the access road from the summit, and Tracy caught up to me easily.
Mt Elden 241.5
At the aid station there was a sign declaring that the finish was 8.5 miles away, when I saw it I cried. I think it was the first time that it hit me I was actually going to finish this thing. I greeted some friends at the aid station, and then started down the mountain. Normally a downhill on an access road would be an easy cruise, but my quads and feet screamed at me and I alternated between an awkward shuffling run and a walk. There was a small section of rougher trail, and then I saw the sign stating .9 miles to Buffalo park.
I felt like I was booking it through the park, I’m sure that was not the case. I made a stop off at the bathrooms, and then it was just a matter of making the last couple miles through downtown Flagstaff. Tracy ran ahead of me pushing buttons at cross walks and stopping traffic. Some drivers looked on perplexed while others cheered out the window. As we got closer and closer to heritage square the enormity of the journey hit me. My chest started to hitch and then the tears came. At mile 150 I thought I was headed to the hospital, and somehow here I was 100 miles later running into the finish with over 16 hours to spare.
I turned down the final stretch and saw Lauren, Jesse, my work wife Chris and her husband Scott waiting for me. I hugged all of them as I continued to cry. I turned around to find Tracy to hug her and thank her. There is now video proof that I said I would never ever do this again. And then I sat in a camp chair listening to a drumming circle that was sharing the square with the race finish. I know I greeted some people, many of them Aravaipa staff that I work with, it all seemed like a blur. And then as many ultras end, I got up and hobbled to the car, stopped at a friend’s house for a shower, and headed back to the real world.
Post-race thoughts
Following the race I knew I’d be tired, but I don’t think I anticipated how tired. I felt skinny and weak the following day, I slept 12+ hours every day for the first week, plus naps, and the first day after the race I ate an entire bag of granola for breakfast and never slowed down putting calories in my mouth. It also took me several days to feel like I was connected with reality again. Looking at the race as a whole, here are some of my tips for people thinking about taking on the race:
Take care of your feet! I’m sure you’ve seen some of the pictures from people who didn’t do this. I made sure to check my feet frequently, pop and tape blisters, and clean off as much grit as possible. Even if you’ve never sized up shoes in a race before (I hadn’t), plan on it. This saved my feet. I don’t wear socks, but if you do bring extras and maybe a variety. Oh, and if you sleep take your socks and shoes off to give your feet a rest.
Naps. I think I had a good plan but could’ve improved the execution. The first night I wasted time laying there frustrated. If you can’t sleep for whatever reason, I would suggest taking caffeine and moving on. The 5-minute trail naps in the wee hours where I was falling asleep running were perfect. Also, if you have a place you can lay down that’s not in the sleep station, like the back of your crew vehicle, you’ll get more restful sleep.
Crew and pacers. There are people who do this without crew and pacers, and I have no idea how it’s possible. I would’ve never made it past mile 150 unless my pacer and crew chief pushed me. The company on the trail in low moments is invaluable. And having someone who can organize your stuff while you rest and make sure you don’t make stupid mistakes because you’re tired in priceless. One thing I noticed is Lauren and I got better at the aid station stops as we progressed. I’m not sure what I could’ve done to set us up for success in the first few aid stations, and she did a phenomenal job, but if the first 3 aid stations were as efficient as the rest we might have saved time.
Hydration/nutrition. Stay on top of these, especially hydration. Even overnight. Even when you don’t feel like you need electrolytes. You are asking a ridiculous amount from your body. And for food, I made sure to eat at least 200 calories an hour, and then get more in at the aid station if possible. This slid to about 200 calories every 90 minutes to 2 hours towards the end of the race as I got more tired and my mouth hurt. I also packed what looked like too much, but it ensured that if I decided I didn’t want certain things I had plenty of others to fill in. I drank Gnarly vegan protein recovery every 20-30 miles and it really helped. I also used caffeine throughout the race.
Take care of yourself. I witnessed a runner headed backwards into Crown King as I was leaving. They had gone out too fast, their legs were toast, and they were going back to drop. The same runner passed me around mile 100. They had slept for 6 hours and felt better and were moving quickly again. However, I found out after the race that they dropped at Jerome. This isn’t to pass judgment, but it illustrates that at an event like Cocodona speed doesn’t always equal success.
Anything can happen. I still don’t understand how I went from dying in the back of a vehicle to finishing 100 more miles and making time back. Things will go wrong. When they do you problem solve, and no matter how hopeless it seems you keep moving forward.
Expect recovery to take a while. Maybe you will be a superhuman who can do multiple 200+ milers in a season, but maybe plan for a long recovery just in case.
Des Clarke is a coach with Team RunRun. To learn more about her or to work with her, check out her coach profile.
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
The fanfare and lively spectators around town, and from their driveways in some residential areas toward the end.
Easy, straightforward logistics and parking
The course!
Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
At one water station, I seemed to grab the small water cup a little too aggressively from a volunteer teenager and I basically smashed the cup too much, spilling water everywhere! But still got enough water for what I wanted. I remember this happened during a half marathon in 2019 too, so I seem to have a problem in grabbing water cups gracefully : )
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
Overall pace management over the hilly terrain and race execution. Started fairly comfortable and smooth, then gradually floated away into the lead later in the 1st mile. Then started to work harder heading into the 2nd half including letting it fly for the final downhill mile with ~5:00-5:05 split. Hilly, road courses plays into my strengths as an experienced trail runner and my track/speed background, so I didn’t mind the hills!
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
Be prepared for a few good hills and not exactly the best course if you’re seeking a PR! The last mile is a consistent, steady downhill which is an absolute blast!
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
Not bad! A nice mix of some city running but also more rural, countryside streets too. Toward the end, you run through some residential streets and it seemed like everyone came out to cheer (and party!) from their front yards and driveways!
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
I’d say fairly harder than the average half-marathon course with 500′ of elevation gain. I felt that the toughest section is a constant uphill from about Mile 9.0-10.5.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
All good here! Very well-organized, no snafus. They have a bag check fairly close to the start too, which was very convenient.
Competition – Is there a strong field?
Not particularly but you never know who could show up!
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
All pretty simple and straightforward. You can register up until the week of the race. I stayed with a friend, so not sure on booking lodging. There were nearly 1,000 entrants for the half alone though, so you may want to secure lodging at least a few weeks in advance if you can!
Weather and typical race conditions
Mid-50’s and overcast… pretty ideal! The day before was very hot though too, so probably lucked out a bit this year!
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
I’d say so! The half is one big loop, so perhaps opportunity to see your runner somewhere in the middle before they reach the finish; however several roads closed off too. Spectating by bike could be a good option too.
How’s the Swag?
Pretty standard swag. A gray long-sleeve with thumbholes and a medal. For winning the race, I received a plaque in a fancy box and a dinner for two at the local Anthony’s restaurant.
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
4 out of 5 stars – Well-organized, great community event!
Keith Laverty is a coach with Team RunRun. To learn more about him or to work with him, check out his coach profile.
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
Pacers for this race were amazing! Very encouraging and you could tell they had plenty of experience. Shout out to pacer Jim from Pittsburgh!
I like that this course is relatively flat, the few hills that were in there were manageable.
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
Nuun and water was given at aid stations, but it was hard to tell which table had water vs nuun.
Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
At one point you run over a bridge and it felt very strange to run on. You could also see through the grate looking bridge and see water below.
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
We were lucky to have great running weather, so I surprised my self and did better than my goal!
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
Pro tip is to stay at the Westin hotel. It’s a one block walk to the start/finish line.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
There are parts of Cleveland that are very pretty! So yes! Running through the flats and a residential neighborhood that included the A Christmas Story house was very cool.
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
I would say it’s difficult. Hills were not bad.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Felt smooth to me, but it was my first half so I haven’t seen another!
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
Book hotel by April. (One month prior to race)
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
Stations has nuun, water, and Gu energy gels.
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
For sure! I saw a few groups of the same people about 5 times on the course, so it is easy for spectators to move around.
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
4.5/5 stars! Fun race and I would recommend to others!
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
Photo: Jeff Crosby
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
This race is so well organized, a well-oiled machine with the best aid stations, beautiful course and great swag!
At 10 months postpartum I was able to come within 4 minutes of my personal best at this distance. I was so pleasantly surprised in my ability to perform at this race with trying to navigate a full time job, training, and being a new mom.
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
Lots of hills, but not very technical for the 50K course.
Competition – Is there a strong field?
Very strong field, people come from all over to do this amazing race.
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
The registration fills up within minutes sometimes, you have to be sitting on your computer!
How’s the Swag?
Amazing. Cool keychain for 50K and belt buckles for the 50M.
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
Balsamroot! 360 views of the North Cascades! Pizza party and private beach on Patterson Lake at the finish line!
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
On an early season warm day one more aid station would have been nice.
Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
Dogs can run at Sun Mt now and I got beat by one this year!
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
I dialed my effort back a notch on the first 8 mile climb and was able to give a steady effort through to the finish line.
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
Don’t go too hard on the intro climb because there are a couple more 1-2 mile climbs, one of them at mile 15.
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
Pay attention! I got turned around and lost the trail – lucky for me another runner came up behind me and we parsed it out together.
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
A fair amount of exposure on the big climb, luckily you’ll hit this early in the day – unless you’re running the 50 mile!
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
Gorgeous, especially in May, nothing beats balsamroot blooming in the peaks of the Methow.
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
Well, it wasn’t easy, but I guess it’s in the eye of the beholder?
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Rainshadow Running has trail races down. They’re a little old school in that the race length is more a suggestion of minimum distance and there may be a few trees down on the course, but it’s all in the spirit of a good time on the trails – as it should be!
Competition – Is there a strong field?
Some fast folks as always, but it’s reasonable, i.e. don’t be afraid to show up.
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
This was the first year for the 20 mile and it didn’t sell out (104 registered), but I expect this distance might become as popular as the Sun Mountain 25k which requires a lottery.
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
Standard fare, fruit at the Woodpecker aid station was a welcome treat.
Weather and typical race conditions
Last year was cold and rainy, this year was sunny and 80 degrees – it’s spring in the Methow!
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?
I used a handheld, but also saw a lot of folks wearing vests. Given the paucity of aid stations and the heat, I was glad I carried my own fluids.
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
Maybe? Cheer squads can access the Woodpecker aid station and there are other places you could connect with your runner on the course if you wanted. The party at the finish was very family friendly – dogs, kids, and a lake!
How’s the Swag?
A high five from James Varner as you cross the finish line!
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
Is this a 5 star system? If so, I’ll give it 5 stars. Rainshadow Running knows how to throw a party and you can’t beat spring in the Methow.
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
Finally a breakthrough Marathon!
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
Nothing – what a perfect day!
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
Go conservative the first 10k, as 7-10 are some hills, and then light it up last 16!
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
Replicate effort from last time, maybe start a little faster to improve time, and hydrate better after 16
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
HUGE elevation drop last 16, so train running downhills, or your quads will be toasted!
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
Extremely, runs right next to a river that gets runoff from the ski resort
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
Can be if you aren’t trained to run downhills
Competition – Is there a strong field?
Yes, usually sub 230 winner, and top 100 are around 3 hours.
Photo: David Colby Young
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
Book lodging well ahead of reg opening, as it is a top 15 fastest course in the US, and a BQ course
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
Every 2 miles, with porta johns peppered throughout. Gatorade/water available at every station, and gu at 9&17.
Weather and typical race conditions
Never know what you’ll get. have run this at high 20’s, and low 60’s.
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
Tons of scenic pulloffs for spectators.
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
Very nice location and gorgeous views!
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
Mile 4-6.5 was off road and very muddy and slippery!
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
Crushed my 1:30h time goal, even with all the difficulties during the race
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
Don’t waste too much energy on the uphill, there’s a nice downhill later on to make up that time again!
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
They had to change the official route this year since the road got washed out. The original route was supposed to be a downhill race! For the new route you should save your energy on the uphill and hope for dry weather so the off road section doesn’t get as slippery and muddy
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
Amazing views on Bass Lake
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
One big climb at mile 4, other than that very runnable rolling hills
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
It was pretty well organized and more than enough aid stations around!
Competition – Is there a strong field?
It’s a mixed field. Strong runners are competing but some people also simply walk the race
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
You’ve to be there early to catch the shuttle to the start line! A hotel close by makes it way easier
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
A bunch of aid stations with water and Gatorade available
Weather and typical race conditions
Weather during the race was perfect! But they had a lot of rain the night before which caused the off road section to be very muddy!
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
There’re shuttle busses to get the spectators to the finish line
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
8/10! Beautiful route and well organized. Would have been better without the off road section!
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
The challenge: As a runner who specializes in technical high alpine and traditional desert, I found running on outstandingly flat terrain to be an exciting (and intimidating) endeavor. There aren’t many courses that offer miles of flat and featureless topography.
The spontaneous friendships: There were many enthusiastic and stoked runners on this course of all ability levels. Everyone was friendly and excited to be running the event. I ended up spending just over a marathon with another 50-mile racer who, as it turns out, took a mountaineering class with me 12 years ago!
The location: Calling the Bonneville Salt Flats Speedway a unique landscape is an understatement. The terrain consists of a wide open, white expanse that seems to stretch on forever bordered on one side by a small mountain range known as the “islands” as they seem to rise up out of the sea of salt. The mirage is surreal and the endless visibility astounding. Often, I could see the next aid station from 45 minutes away on a course!
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
As much as I enjoyed running on the Salt Flats I can’t say I would repeat the effort (maybe I’ll change my mind). The repetitive motion and extended stride over the pancake flat landscape put a great deal of unfamiliar strain on my body. However, I might have at least somewhat avoided the extra stress if I’d specifically trained for this course. However, I registered for Salt Flats mere weeks before the start as a “tune -up race” in preparation for upcoming longer distance events in the mountains. Time was not on my side for meaningful specific training.
Additionally, I think I would have struggled to maintain focus in the flats if I didn’t have a running partner. I usually rely on rocks and other technical features to keep my mind sharp. Unchanging terrain underfoot is difficult for me mentally for long durations.
Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
The location! Running in a giant basin of electrolytes (aka salt) is pretty weird! Another usual fact is dogs can register (bib and all) for this event and run with a racer; even the 100M distance!
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
I knew going into this race that the speedy course would be challenging for me as a technical trail runner. Without specific training I would need to rely on grit, experience, strategy and tactical risk taking to be successful. I would also need to “run my own race” and not get swept along with the pack on the salt flats without intention.
Looking back, I believe I took the right amount of risk (for me). I knew this race favored fast runners, so I went out fast. Risky move, but I did it as part of my plan. I figured I’d move with the front of the pack for a bit and see what happened. If it was unsustainable, I would back off. It should also be noted that it was impossible to know who I was competing against since the 50k, 50M and 100M divisions all start together. This ensured that I would run my own race and not hesitate to back off if needed. Had the field only been composed of racers of my distance I would not have used this tactic. Too much risk of becoming competitive to a fault.
As it turns out, I began chatting with another 50-mile runner. I was able to keep a brisk pace while having a causal conversation with him which made me confident that our speed would be sustainable for me. However, soon after we departed the flats and moved onto the dirt road my left leg began to bother me a bit. This was the result of the repetitive pounding on the flats with no technical terrain for reprieve for a long duration. The problem was localized to my left side because it is markedly more “lazy” than my right (working on resolving this!). I began to walk intermittently at this point hoping that it would alleviate some of the issue. It would dissipate for a bit, but kept returning. At around a marathon I decided that I needed to focus on my own pacing and technique instead of keeping up with my partner. It was hard for us to part ways as we really enjoyed each other’s company, but our pacing wasn’t syncing anymore. I was happy with my decision to run alone and listen to my body, but even more proud that I kept fighting.
I was ahead of cut-offs and likely could have walked it in making for an easier day. Instead, I went to work figuring out how I could move as fast and efficiently as possible without exasperating my leg problem. I began experimenting with my gait, foot strike and stride length. Through these trials I discovered that I could still run pretty well and without much discomfort if I shortened my stride, stayed on the most technical parts of the dirt roads and power-hiked the inclines. Instead of obsessing about my now slower speed I switched focus to efficiency and using the now more technical terrain to my advantage. I was lucky enough to also encounter another running partner and we enjoyed the windy hill climbs together. However, I continued on alone instead of stopping longer at the aid station to keep the company. “Run your own race and keep fighting” became my mantra.
“Keep fighting” became extra challenging to adhere to during the last five miles of the course. These miles are back on the Salt Flats. I did not want to run flat anymore! I wanted to walk! However, I gave myself a pep talk and ran until my gait felt off. Then I reset with a short walk before picking up running again. I repeated this cycle to the finish.
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
As previously mentioned, I didn’t specifically train for the race as I signed up weeks before the start as a “tune-up” race for longer events later in the season. This led to the repetitive motion over flat and featureless terrain being incredibility brutal on my body during the event. Luckily, I recovered quickly, but I would have likely felt better during the race if I had the time to put in miles on a very flat surface. Salt Flats aren’t exactly easy to come by unless you happen to live near Bonneville Salt Flats Speedway or Badwater. I think doing long runs on a track would be a comparable and more accessible venue. Time would also be well spent on gently rolling dirt roads to address the second portion of the race. Additionally, I recommend a heat training intervention for this event as it is extremely exposed and can potentially get very hot.
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
Specific train for flat and featureless!
Photo: Sean Wetterberg
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
Wear gaiters to keep out the salt and also don’t let salt get into any open wounds! Also, thoroughly wash your shoes and any other gear that comes into contact with the salt as soon as possible after the race. Salt can damage textiles and rubber.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
Absolutely! I’ve always been one to believe that there us beauty is simplicity. The first portion of the race involved running across a massive, white, flat stretch of white. Aid stations could be seen from 2+ miles away! The next portion of the race in the “islands” is the total opposite. Nothing but brown tones of rock, dirt and the first hints of green sage.
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
It wasn’t tough in the traditional sense. The course doesn’t have a ton of vert or technical, rocky terrain. However, flat is an underdeveloped area for me (and likely many other mountain runners) so I found this course difficult! I also believe the barren, featureless landscape could pose a mental challenge without a running partner/pacer.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Wow this race was dialed! The RDs and volunteers executed the event flawlessly. They even have a secondary course all laid out and ready to go in case the salt flats are not in running condition (flooded).
Competition – Is there a strong field?
This is a small race with multiple distances: 5k, 50k, 50M and 100M. I’m surprised the Salt Flats Endurance Runs aren’t more popular considering their vicinity of Salt Lake City and the unique venue of the Bonneville Salt Flats Speedway. Looking back on race results, I think it’s fair to say that although elites don’t run the course often, runners consistently post impressive times. I was certainly looking over my shoulder!
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
I registered for this race weeks before the start as a last-minute tune-up. In 2023 the race did not fill, but other years may vary as this was a light year per the RDs. Folks can car camp on the Salt Flats for free. There are also standard accommodations in nearby Wendover.
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
All the aid stations were stocked with water, drip drop electrolytes and the standard aid station fare.
Weather and typical race conditions
This year was delightfully cool with a high of about 60F, wind from 10-30mph and partly cloudy! There were very brief periods of rain as well. The course usually has varying degrees of wind as it is a big, open expanse. The flats and “islands” are also extremely exposed and temperatures can and do soar this time of year. We just got lucky! I completed a sauna intervention in preparation for this race in anticipation of the heat.
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?
I would wear gaiters for sure. Salt gets kicked up on the flats and will end up coating the back of your calves. Salt can then work its way into your shoes and become abrasive. This can cause blisters which hurt on their own… but salty blisters are extra heinous!
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
The Start/Finish is extremely accessible and located at a landmark location: the Bonneville Salt Flats Speedway. Crewed Aid stations require some dirt road driving.
How’s the Swag?
A tech shirt and optional sun hoodie are provided to racers. Both are good quality and will see use! Finishers are also awarded a metal.
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
5/5 stars for this well-organized race! The event is unique not only in its location on Salt Flats of the Bonneville Salt Flats Speedway, but in the challenges runners face in this barren, salty landscape. Highly recommend the experience!
Dandelion Dilluvio-Scott is a coach with Team RunRun. To learn more about her or to work with her, check out her coach profile.
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
The energy of the runners – most of the participants, such as myself, are frequent flyers of this particular race, and it’s always a great way to kick off summer!
The race is well orchestrated, and everything flows nicely, even with thousands of participants of all skill levels.
The supportive spectators/race entertainment along the course – such a fun experience for a tough race!
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
The one thing I don’t love is the way the first part of the race is very crowded while individuals are getting their paces in check.
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
I really enjoyed running the course with my coach, Jodi O’Shea! She pushed me through the race to do way better than I would have done on my own. Since I’m still in a recovery of sorts from a muscle injury in my leg, I wasn’t even sure I’d be able to go through with the race at all! I was able to complete the run in my second-best time, so I very much exceeded my goal for the race.
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
The first mile or so can take some maneuvering skills because it is very congested in the beginning of the race. Although start times are staggered based on estimated finish times to prevent a lot of crowding, it doesn’t work out that way. I’ve tripped on people in my early days of this race, and wound up with scrapes and bruises.
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
Don’t let yourself think the end is close when you see mile mark 7! You still have further to go than you want to imagine.
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
Be ready for some hills – this course is well-known to be tough, particularly Doomsday Hill between mile 5 and 6.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
Yes
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
It’s moderately hard, yes. Hilly, although elevation changes are nothing extreme.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
I believe this was the 47th Bloomsday – it’s well-organized and I hope it stays that way in years to come!
Competition – Is there a strong field?
Very strong – this year there were nearly 26,000 participants.
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
It’s great to get everything booked in advance as you get better prices, but last minute registrations still take place! Since the race takes place in downtown Spokane there is a lot of lodging available in walking/jogging distance to the race start. The race entry costs are a lot less than so many races out there, even small local races.
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
There are a lot of aid stations available along the course. When you sign up they provide a map of all water/medical stations along the course.
Weather and typical race conditions
Since it’s springtime in Eastern Washington State, it’s a tossup of what weather you may come across. Some years are hot and sunny, others are mild and overcast… once in a while you get a bit of rain. This year was perfect, about 64 degrees with some clouds
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?
No special gear. I’ve seen people dressed as bananas and I’ve seen people without shoes on. Just depends what your race goals are I suppose.
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
Definitely! Find a great band to park near for a fun experience.
How’s the Swag?
Minimal swag – you can purchase extra gear when you sign up for the race, and there’s a great expo when you pick up your race packet. But it’s only a cotton T-shirt at the end of the finish line.
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
The course was marked very well.
Aid stations were great. We went roughly 5-6 miles between aid stations.
Great communication before race.
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
5:30am start. If I had a choice, I would start at 6:30 or 7am.
Lots of creek beds we ran through. Just need to watch footing. It was OK but a little technical to run through but the challenge was good.
Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
Email before the race was a little weird. The race director talked about the weather and that it could be really rainy and cold. I guess he was trying to gear anyone up (Ha, good punt there!) for it to be cold. The weather was predicted to be rainy and cold but we ended up have incredible weather. Unfortunately, many racers decided not to race due to his email.
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
I ate well and stay really hydrated. I think I got enough training hours in before the race. I had no issues with my feet or body. I took it slow, hiked when I needed which was a lot, but I just took my time and kept my goal in check which was the finish. I think the best decision was to bring poles. I saw so many runners using sticks as poles. There were many creek crossing so the poles came in handy. Be prepared to have your feet wet for 75% of this race. I will say the cold water felt amazing on my feet. I stood in the creek multiple times to give my feet some cryotherapy!
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
If you think you may use poles, do some training runners before your race.
DO NOT do anything new on race day.
EAT, DRINK, PEE, repeat.
If you think you may have issues with blisters, use vasoline or something similar to prevent blisters. I didn’t use anything. I stayed in the same shoes and socks for the entire race.
I did not upload the GPX to my watch. The course was marked really well and the racers I spoke to about it and that uploaded the maps on their watches said it was wrong.
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
My rule of thumb is if the temps start with a 3, wear tights or capris. If it starts with a 4, wear shorts. Don’t overdress at the start. I did but luckily my amazing hubby met me at 5.5 mile water station and I changed into shorts. Think about how you will feel 20 minutes in the race. Study the course.
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
Stay alert. Just make sure you see course markings every .25 mile or so.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
Beautiful course. Amazing views. The wild ponies were awesome to see.
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
9500 ft of climbing and lots of rocky sections. It’s true trail race. But they give you a pretty generous cutoff. 17.5 hours.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Very well organized and all the volunteers were super great.
Competition – Is there a strong field?
No clue and I didn’t do this to win. This was my first 50 miler so my focus was to stay healthy and to finish strong.
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
No, you don’t need to find a book and pull out a page to bring to the aid station. Ha!
Registration did not fill up but if you wanted to drop from 50m to 50k, you may not be able to because they have a certain number of permits so you may not be able to. Just need to ask.
We stayed at an Air B&B that was 20 minutes from the start for $98 a night. Old cottage but very comfortable.
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
Nope. All aid stations had quesadillas which hit the spot for me, and with bacon!!!
All the volunteers were great and very helpful. Luckily, I had my hubby and kids out there for me but you could do this race unsupported, as long as you are a somewhat experienced ultrarunner.
Weather and typical race conditions
Weather was amazing. Mother Nature truly gave us the best weather. I heard last year it was rainy, cold, and windy. No bueno. Prepare for lots of creek crossing and for your feet to get wet.
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?
Hiking poles were a race saver for me.
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
Yes.
How’s the Swag?
Nice, simple, and usable pieces. We got a t-shirt and a winter hat. Both I will use.
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
The Trails
The Swag
The People
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
Bolinas Ridge Trail is always so tough, but you’re running in redwoods, so it can’t be that bad!
Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
5am start, and not much warning! And the 15:30 cutoff makes things exciting!
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
Paced the early climbs well, unless you are going for top 20 or 25, then you can power the punchy climbs early. Otherwise the Cardiac 2 climb and Bolinas Ridge can chew you up.
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
The Crux is Bolinas Ridge and the climb out of Randall…be mentally ready to grind!
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
Practice the up down up down up down of the Ridge, always tough for me!
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
Course marking is NOT overdone. Know generally where you are going!
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
Just about the prettiest
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
I would say so, but it is also a runner’s course…can be fast!
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Its all about the people, old school race for ultra runners by ultra runners
Competition – Is there a strong field?
Usually lots of tough locals, doesn’t draw the legends consistently anymore, but 350+ people is a big fun field
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
Sign up early! Sells out pretty fast. Rooms in Stinson and Bolinas are really hard to get and pretty pricey. Way better to stay out there than drive through Muir Woods for the 5am start!
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
Roctane and Water for drinks, fruits and the usual plus GU Gels
Weather and typical race conditions
Sunny and warm my first two times, rained for 8 hours this time!
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?
Leg sleeves to help ward off the poison oak? Sunscreen 🙂
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
Yeah, its awesome. You hit Muir Beach and Tennessee Valley a couple of times, and then Randall is great with 13 miles to go. Make a friend pace you in!
How’s the Swag?
Awesome. Great shirts usually, this year was a hoodie!
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
The atmosphere. The people volunteering for the race are absolutely phenomenal. Then the cheering squads along the way really pump you up. The race organizers make sure there’s live music and lively energy all along the way.
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
The hill up Colvin Street!
Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
It’s weird because Syracuse can be known for not being “cool,” but then you run this race, and you realize (or, in my case as a native, it’s reinforced) that this city is full of fun, funny, ambitious, talented people. I’m so proud to live here.
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
The BEST part of this race this year for me (and there were a few highlights to choose from) is that my Team Run Run coach, Andrew Dionne, and I ran the same race at the same time. He WON THE ENTIRE RACE with an average time of 5:17/mile. With his help, I achieved my goal of finishing under 90 minutes. He waited for me at the end, and we got to chat and congratulate each other for a bit. He’s wonderful— such a good coach but (more importantly) a really kind, generous, and humble person. Loved that we could run this race at the same time!
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
Know the course and practice for the hills.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
Yes, it highlights the best parts of Syracuse proper. I love that we run through so many parts of the city!
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
It’s hard! But I’m not a terribly experienced runner so maybe you should ask Andrew Dionne (my Team Run Run coach!)
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Oh yeah. The Syracuse Track Club folks know how to operate a race.
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
YES! This is the best part. Friends and family can find you easily in friendly city neighborhoods.
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
Scenery: beautiful 5k route along the water and through a gold course.
Size: small and local (350ish runners total)
Options: 5k, 10k, kids’ fun run
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
It was cold and rainy.
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
I ran this race because my sister in-law wanted company as she ran her first race postpartum. I knew nothing about it and just sort of threw it into my schedule for fun. I wound up coming in first in my age group!
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
Get there on the earlier side to park. Parking is right near the start but there is no bag check so you want to be able to access your car easily.
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
I need to run some smaller races more often. They’re fun!
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
Nothing crazy. Mike 2 has some inclines but I really went in just looking to enjoy a brisk run and support my SIL.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
Yes
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
No
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Pretty well-run and friendly. Nice refreshments and freebies at the end.
Competition – Is there a strong field?
If I came in first in my age group then no :).
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
You can register the day of but can only get there by car.
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
There was one water station on the course. Food at start/end as well as bathrooms.
Weather and typical race conditions
It was 50 and rainy but anything goes in late April!
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?
None
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
Yes
How’s the Swag?
Free t-shirt and good snacks
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
4/5 – This is a fun, friendly low-pressure race in a lovely area of CT. I wouldn’t have known about it if my SIL hadn’t asked me to join her and I’m glad I did!
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
The views, the surrounding area, the challenge
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
Having to board busses at 3:30am then wait around a few hours after getting to the start with nowhere to warm up due to the crowding. Catching up to the 21 miler and 11 miler runners who were walking, possibly in a line, and having to navigate around them.
Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
Strict time cutoff.
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
For a first marathon, it was certainly challenging. The hills were challenging but I was proud I powered through.
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
You have to catch the busses early. There isn’t any room to warm up once you get to the start. I brought a hoodie to toss away at the start line but I wish I would have brought sweat pants as well as we were sitting on the ground in the cold for a few hours. Bathroom lines got very long, even 1+ hour prior to start time.
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
Wind had gusts up to 40mph. I lost a race bib magnet (I usually run with 3) with the wind gusts and had to hold onto my bib for fear of losing another one. Found someone with extra pins a few miles later. I’ll likely run with 4 magnets in the future and in high winds I’ll stick with race pins.
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
Knowing where the hills are located. There’s a few other race distances including 11 miler and 21 miler so you may catch up to those runners and have to navigate around them.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
One of the most beautiful you’ll ever find.
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
The official website says the elevation gain is over 2,100 feet. The wind made that even harder.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Well run. They’ve been running it for over 35 years.
Competition – Is there a strong field?
Results lists over 5,000 for the marathon.
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
Have to enter a lottery. We booked a house for our group within hours of the lottery results coming out but some of the homes we were looking at got rented out from under us during those few hours.
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
Seemed sufficient
Weather and typical race conditions
Clear skies but was very foggy with no views of the ocean the day prior. Wind was outrageous.
Temperature was high 40s to low/mid 50s.
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?
I carried an 11oz bottle in my running belt with electrolytes and didn’t make it halfway through it.
There were 12 aid stations which had water and Nuun. Many runners had full hydration vests which seemed like overkill as it wasn’t warm and there were plenty of aid stations.
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
No where for spectators until the end.
How’s the Swag?
Hand made medal.
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
Seeing as it’s my first marathon, it gets all the stars.
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
Part USATF National Masters Championship series
Separate championship start
Championship competitors are given age/gender back bibs (so you know who you’re racing)
Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
Being James Joyce themed, there are people in costume reading from his works throughout the course.
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
Went out boldly in the first 3 miles … gave myself a shot at a great day. The 4th mile was tough. Steep punchy hills. Constant up and down. Stopped paying attention to the watch, and just tried to keep pushing in that section. I made a real mental effort not to let that mile be the “story” of my race. With the wind and the hills in my legs, the last 2 mi were hard. Happy with how I responded. Competed well, and reengaged with the race. Kicked it in at the end.
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
The fourth mile, on the Noble and Greenough School campus, is hard. Lots of turns, and 90ft of elevation gain and loss in non-stop quick ups and downs. It will knock you off your rhythm, but know that the course gets easier for the last 2 miles.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
It is a pretty course. Much of it is on rolling tree-lined streets.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
The event was very well organized. This was the 38th running, and the 9th consecutive year as the masters 10k championships (it’s possible that they have hosted the championships more times than that.) The race starts and ends at the Endicott Estate. It was was a wet/rainy day this year, but the post-race festivities on the lawn (food, live music) seemed like they would be great in better weather.
Competition – Is there a strong field?
Yes, as a national age-group championship there were athletes representing USATF clubs from across the country. There is also a “Citizens Ramble” (open race) that starts 5 min after the masters. The fastest runners form that field get to chase down, and move through, the age-group competitors.
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
The championship and open races start 5 min apart. There are also separate check-in locations for each race, so make sure you’re standing on the right line.
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
Standard. It’s a 10k, so even though there are ample water stations, you probably won’t need them unless it’s an unusually hot day.
Weather and typical race conditions
Spring in New England can be anything. This year it was rainy and in the 50’s. Next year … ?
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
The first and last 1+ mi of the course share the same roads, so it’s easy for spectators to catch both the beginning and end
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
Except for 2-3 hard sections, the course was mostly runnable. Given the wet spring in CA, the hills were very green and filled with wildflowers
The volunteers at aid stations were very proactive, helpful and motivational
Even though it was pretty competitive, there was a very fun bunch of runners
Not so much:
Mildly chaotic start that went up a road for a little too long, followed by a very narrow descent on a trail. If you were stuck behind someone, you were stuck for a while
Even though I knew to expect it, the final 3 miles were a brutal climb up that same descent in 85-degree heat
Weird factor: It was so much slicker than any other race I’ve been to – I guess that comes with the UTMB brand
Highlights: I controlled my inputs well – I handled the heat, ate sufficiently and drank enough. I felt strong and in control throughout – surprised I didn’t hit a mental block anywhere – and ran my fastest two miles (in ~13min) downhill at mile 26. That gave me confidence to push through the final, insanely hot, climb
Lessons for others:
Get out early if you can. The first bit is a climb up a road which quickly turns into a downhill down a narrow trail where it’s hard to pass
The heat is a killer. I was in the sauna 4x/week for a month before the race and hated it, but felt it really made a difference to my tolerance
The aid stations were very well stocked, and in hindsight I didn’t need to carry as much food as I did. YMMV of course
Lessons you learned:
Don’t fall :). I lost ~15 minutes (slowdown + first aid at aid station) because I took a big fall around mile 10 due to being distracted eating while running downhill, and that would have put me within spitting distance of finishing first in my AG (and an automatic entry to OCC)
Trust the prep and your coach. I was very nervous since this was my first race longer than 25k and so was very cautious going out. In hindsight I could have pushed myself a little harder and still had a fun race
Aesthetics: Yes, especially this year with the rains. Wildflowers everywhere, and some nice bits running by the river.
Difficulty: I have no baseline to compare it against, but it felt like a hard workout all through. The heat was the biggest factor since I was training in Seattle – the sauna prep helped
Organized?: Yes. UTMB knows how to run races 🙂
Competition: Yes. It’s the NA UTMB major, which means automatic qualification for OCC for AG winners.
Logistics: The 50k sold out, so yes, I’d recommend booking early. I stayed at a hotel in Roseville 20 minutes away, and it was very easy to get to and park across from the start line in Auburn.
Aid stations: Not much to compare against, but they seemed pretty well stocked
Weather: Hot hot hot! There’s an early, mostly-treeless climb that we luckily did before the sun fully rose, and the last 2.5-ish miles was a killer uphill
Gear: I had a 12L pack which was too much in hindsight – I’d likely have been ok with a 5L one, with most of the space needed for hydration.
Spectators: Yes. Spectators could come to two of the aid stations
Swag: Medal and tee – nothing crazy. There is a massive Hoka store if you want to stock up though 🙂
Overall: Definitely would recommend running this race. The big driver is the double UTMB stones, but with their seemingly adding a new race every week I’m not sure that it’ll help too much
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
Cracking morning, small event with a good community vibe, beautiful scenery as you run along the esplanade. Oh and a free beer at the local brewery is always nice.
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
A few to many hills for my liking!
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
Had a sniff at a PB, fell 90 second short, but with those hills it was not meant to be.
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
Road, with a few inclines to keep you on your toes.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
Reasonable course, well organized, great support
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
No complaints
Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
Bacon station in one of the neighborhoods you run through
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
I had a plan, followed it, and it worked!
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
If it is chilly, wear gloves.
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
I know I can complete a half without ending depleted, so next time I can push myself more.
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
There are hills. Kalamazoo is hilly.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
Yes
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
Hills this year were reasonable.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Very well organized.
Competition – Is there a strong field?
Not in the half in my age group but yes in the marathon and in other age groups. This race is a Boston qualifier.
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
Seemed easy to register.
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
Excellent liquid and energy support as well as medical aid and people cheering runners on.
Weather and typical race conditions
Was cold and overcast, which helps me do my best. Tiny bit of rain or snow. Windy.
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?
Mittens or gloves.
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
Yes, and a big festival at the end.
How’s the Swag?
Shirt and finisher medal.
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
5 stars and a hearty yes to recommend it to others.
