with Coach Greg Veregin

Have you heard of the Across the Years (ATY) Ultra? If not, you’re about to learn about the coolest running place to spend New Year’s!

Across The Years is a fixed-time 6-day running event that takes place around a 1.4108 mile loop of the Peoria Sports Complex in metro Phoenix, Arizona. It’s put on by Aravaipa Running. The race is over the last week of December, spilling over into January of the following year… hence the moniker Across The Years.

There are a variety of events including fixed-time and fixed-distance including 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hour races, 100k, 100 mile, 200 mile races, daily marathon for each of the 6 days, and a Last Person Standing event which ran for over 48 hours (204.5 miles) in 2025-26.

There is a lot going on for 6 days.

But why is it worth attending?

1. Easy travel access. Sky Harbor International airport is a major center and regional hub, with numerous direct daily flights. Rental cars are easy to come by, Ubers are everywhere (there are even driverless Waymo cars!), and Phoenix is a rental RV hub. The race venue is walking distance from hotels, restaurants and even Trader Joe’s!
2. It’s easy to crew. The 1.4108 mile loop passes by both tent city and an RV parking area. You can set up your table, tent, trailer or camper van right on the course for your race, whether it’s 6 hours, 200 miles or anything in-between. There are showers available 24/7 near the aid station and you can park your vehicle right on course! Sleeping options include tent, cot and even sleeping bag rentals from Aravaipa Running, bringing your own tent, sleeping in your vehicle or RV in the parking lot, or hotels and AirBnBs. Phoenix being a major city means multiple options at a variety of price points.
3. 24 hour aid station with hot food options. One of the highlights of the ATY event is the food. Each day, aid station staff and volunteers serve a cooked breakfast, lunch and dinner. Meals have included oatmeal bars, breakfast burritos, pancakes, soups, chili, burgers, pizza, sandwiches and more. The standard aid station fare is always available, plus there are gluten- free, vegan, vegetarian options. You can contact Aravaipa directly with questions about the different options at aid stations for this and all of their races.
4. It’s a short loop. You are less than a mile and a half from aid at all times. You’re frequently passing your tent or the crew area for clothing or shoe swaps, naps, your own nutrition. It can get monotonous but you’re never far for support, making it a great way to ease into running overnight, trying new nutrition strategies, and more.
5. The different events and looped course give a different vibe than other ultras. The nature of the looped course means that you will see a lot of people. Runners have the option to start many events at 9am on any of the days the race is being held; the 6-day, Last Person Standing, 100k have fixed dates and times. So, on the first day, if you choose to run a 12 hour race, you’re on the course with the 6 day competitors plus anyone in any of the other distances or times who choose to start. There is a lot of time to chat in the longer races. Many crews and competitors become friends out on course, or sharing stories in the camping areas. Many people return each year, chasing personal records, lifetime achievements such as 1,000 mile jackets, and to reconnect with old (maybe last year) friends. It’s a supportive environment, particularly with the longer events. Top competitors regularly surpass 300 miles in 6 days, but others are out to raise money for charitable endeavors, honor someone or achieve their first buckle. What’s fun is that for fixed distance races, buckles are awarded but there is no fixed cutoff: an athlete completing 100 miles in the 6-day event would get a 100 mile buckle. Completing 200 miles in the 6-day would get you a 200 mile buckle. For fixed time, running 100 miles in 48 hours would also get you a 100 mile buckle, and running it in 24 hours, a 100 mile sub-24 hour buckle.
6. The community. There are so many events, and so many people, it’s easy to make friends and share laps with people. At the longer distances and times, many people spend a lot of time walking, making it easier to chat. Many of the competitors have been coming back for years, and enjoy the time to connect. Being at this race, whether running, walking, volunteering or crewing offers so many chances to meet people.
7. Last Person Standing. These events are booming in popularity, with human limits being pushed seemingly more each race. This year’s final two participants both crossed 200 miles, smashing the former course record by nearly 50 miles and 12 hours. The crazy part? This format is completing one 1.4108 mile loop every 20 minutes until only one person can continue. That’s just over 100 miles in a 24 hour period, meaning they continued for more than 48 hours without stopping for more than 7 minutes! It’s inspirational to see how far people can go, and more inspirational to hear the support of other runners as those two pushed themselves.
8. New Year’s Eve celebration. There is a sparkly apple juice toast and community celebratory lap for midnight as the clock hits midnight and the new calendar year begins. You can walk the New Year’s lap with your phone open to UltraSignup and register for some races while you’re on the course.
9. Guest and memorial bibs. There are a number of guest bibs so that runners can have someone join them for one or a few laps during their race. There are also memorial bibs for anyone in the community that passed away in the previous year. Community members will come out to do some laps in memorial, with an informal goal of getting those bibs to 100 miles so that the family or next of kin get one more buckle from community support.
10. Volunteer credit. Aravaipa Running has a volunteer credit program, so if you go out to volunteer you get a break on your next registration for an Aravaipa race. With the event being spread out over 6 days of race, plus setup beforehand and breakdown after, there are heaps of slots to fill. If you’re curious to see what an ultra is like it’s a great way to see what the fuss is about. It’s also a great way to make new friends, and maybe, just maybe, find crew or pacers for your future goals while you support those pacers and crew in theirs. As mentioned, lifelong friendships have been forged at this race!

So, if you’re curious to try hour hand at a race with most variables controlled, want to test your mental endurance in Last Person Standing, want to meet some Team RunRun coaches and athletes, or if you’d like to share laps with legends in the sport, come out to Peoria in December 2026 for Across the Years!

Coach Greg Veregin is a coach with Team RunRun. To learn more about him or to work with him, check out his coach profile.