Earlier this month, I had the chance to take part in Aravaipa Operating’s Cocodona Coaching Run.
The run, which covers the notoriously tough first 37 miles of the Cocodona 250 Mile, is organized by race director Steven Aderholt and permits runners to preview the course with some support station help however with out course markings. All individuals should load the course GPX file onto their watches or telephones and carry a minimal of 4 liters of water to get them by means of the prolonged stretches between water stations.
After a couple of miles, I settled right into a small group of runners who had been going about the identical tempo as I used to be and proceeded to take pleasure in a full, sun-splashed day within the lovely Bradshaw Mountains. All day lengthy, I used to be struck by how relaxed and comfortable everybody was all through the run. Whereas it was a severe effort on an especially tough part of path, the shortage of race day strain was palpable and allowed everybody to not solely benefit from the unimaginable surroundings but additionally to share within the great camaraderie these distinctive occasions supply.
The group on the 2024 Aravaipa Operating’s Cocodona Coaching Run. All pictures courtesy of AJW.
Along with the latest Cocodona Coaching Run, I’ve been lucky to take part in three different noteworthy organized coaching runs hosted by race organizations over time.
The Virginia Glad Trails Operating Membership hosts a three-event collection known as the Massanutten Mountain Trails Coaching Academy every spring. These three runs, that are all freed from cost, traverse everything of the Massanutten Mountain Trails 100 Mile course.
Runners obtain a small quantity of support station help and detailed “flip sheets” that assist them keep heading in the right direction. I had the pleasure of attending a number of of those coaching academy runs once I lived in Virginia, and every time I left with drained legs and new operating buddies.
For a number of years, the Tahoe Rim Path 100 Mile organizers hosted a 50-kilometer run on the attractive trails round Lake Tahoe. Freed from cost and open to anybody who wished to run, the coaching run allowed runners to be on sections of the course which might be solely accessible on race day. Moreover, this coaching run let runners have an early season take a look at of the high-altitude circumstances they might face on race day.
Lastly, there may be the extremely common Western States 100 Memorial Weekend Coaching Camp. This three-day operating extravaganza provides individuals a chance to cowl the ultimate 70 miles of the enduring Western States 100 course with a 32 miler on the primary day, a 19 miler on the second, and a 20 miler on the third.
This coaching camp offers transportation every day, totally staffed support stations, and a well-marked course. At $170 to take part in all three runs in 2024, the price is kind of inexpensive. The camp can be open to all, no matter whether or not they’re entered within the race or not.
The low-key vibe of organized coaching runs make them an important alternative to make new operating buddies … and see the course.
As the game of path operating and ultrarunning has grown and occasions have grow to be increasingly more commercialized, it’s refreshing to see these homegrown organized coaching runs thriving. They supply runners with great alternatives to entry lovely locations, and their low-key ambiance is an opportunity to decelerate, take within the view, and luxuriate in one another’s firm. I, for one, sit up for taking part in lots of extra within the years to come back.
Bottoms up!
AJW’s Beer of the Week
This week’s Beer of the Week comes from the Brookeville Beer Farm in Brookeville, Maryland. Coppice is an English-style Further Particular Bitter (ESB) with robust notes of freshly baked bread and a deep malty end. Harking back to the traditional British bitters, Coppice is a singular tackle a timeless traditional.
Name for Feedback
- Does your native race group host group coaching runs related to their races?
- Have you ever participated in any of the race coaching runs talked about on this article?
- Do you suppose coaching runs like these can contribute to the wholesome improvement and help of the path operating and ultrarunning neighborhood?
