For 2026, Cocodona 250 was a 253.3 mile point to point trail running race from Black Canyon, Arizona (just north of Phoenix) to Flagstaff, Arizona. It has an elevation gain of 38,791 feet and loss of 33,884 feet across a mix of singletrack trails, fireroads, and pavement through Prescott, Jerome, Sedona, and ending in Flagstaff.
The 2026 race was my 3rd time running Cocodona 250 and my 9th 200+ mile race. I went into this one with some big expectations. My plan was to run it faster than I ever had before, aiming for a sub-90-hour finish. Well, my race did not go as planned. While it took me longer to reach Flagstaff this year than in any of my previous attempts, I am incredibly happy and satisfied with the race I ran.
I finished Cocodona 250 2026 in 104 hours 29 minutes 59 seconds without a crew or pacers. I placed 106th overall out of the 400 runners who started, and 267 who finished. During the race, I slept less than 6 hours, lost 13 pounds, wore 1 pair of shoes, endured temperatures in the mid to upper 90s and below freezing, missed 3 basketball shots, dealt with hallucinations that were actively trying to stop me from moving forward, and ran out of water at a hot, dry section of the race that caused my tongue to crack. If that sounds like a horrible time, it was (and I haven’t written about the worst moments yet) but the race and my experience was amazing.
With so many things that went wrong and missing my goals, how can I be so positive? Running over 250 miles on my own power without a crew or pacers is an incredible feat, but that is not the main reason. Every time something went sideways, it was replaced by something just as good, if not better. I also remembered to have fun and enjoy the moment along the way, whether that was taking pictures doing One Piece poses at aid stations, admiring the beauty of red trails on the side of a mountain, sharing advice from my ultra experience, or just really getting to know someone over difficult shared miles.
I went from chasing my time goal, to just making it to the next aid station, to chasing a new time, to conquering my own demons, to helping first timers finish, to helping another runner keep going, to finishing with flair and a smile on my face.
Will I be heading back to Cocodona 250? I sure hope so. I signed up for the lottery. If I get in, next year I plan to beat my best time, incorporate more One Piece into my race, and have the most fun I can.
Like many of my other race reports, this will be about my view point and experience. If you are looking for specific details on the trails, check out the Runner’s Manual and the Cocodona 250 site. Those will give you much better, more detailed information than I could. If you plan to run Cocodona 250 and have questions or looking for tips, feel free to reach out to me.
A Couple of Quick Race Stats
Cocodona 250 started in 2021 run by Aravaipa Running. It describes itself as
The Cocodona 250 is the most diverse point-to-point 200+ mile footrace in America. The course is challenging, rugged, steeped in history, and stunningly beautiful. Some steps will be effortless, others will feel impossible, but each will carry you on a life altering adventure. So…welcome to Cocodona!
- 253.3 Miles
- 125 hour cutoff
- Elevation Gain: 38,791’
- Elevation Loss: 33,884′
- Surface Distribution: 45% Single Track, 46% Double Track, 9% Pavement
- 21 Aid Stations + 4 Water Drops
- 14 with Drop Bags
- 8 with Sleep Areas
- 400 people started
- 267 people finished
Preparation: Training, Spreadsheets, Notes, etc.
Goals:
I had multi-tiered goals for this race:
- Finish in under 90 hours.
- Finish under 92 hours 30 minutes (my 2024 time).
- Finish in under 96 hours (4 days).
- Finish in under 101 hours 23 minutes (my 2023 time).
- Finish the race
Training:
In October 2025, I had a bad fall during a trail race and broke my rib. This was a massive setback for my training. After eight weeks, once it finally felt fully healed, I overdid it with my running. I ran a 100-mile race followed by a 100K race just six days later. This caused multiple overtraining injuries in my legs and completely derailed a couple of weeks of training. Once I finally mended, I was determined not to repeat those same mistakes, so I dialed back the intensity of my training.
Leading up to Cocodona, I was definitely slower than I used to be, but my endurance felt rock solid. I knew I could go longer, but at a slower pace.
All in all, I felt physically prepared for Cocodona, though I definitely would have liked my training runs to be faster.
Planning and Preparations:
My planning and preparations were nearly identical to my 2024 plan (2024 race report).
Race Plan:
- Bag Strategy:
- 13 Drop Bags (1 moving between 2 aid stations) + 1 Finish Line Drop Bag
- All Bags had:
- Change of socks
- Blister Kit
- Batteries
- Buffs
- Various food & fuel
- Disposable toothbrush
- Shorts
- Caffeine options and Red Bull starting at Mingus Mountain (mile ~107)
- Sleep Plan:
- Kamp Kipa: Mile 60.8
- Mingus Mountain: Mile 107.2
- Sedona – Posse Grounds: Mile 159.1
- (If needed) Fort Tuthill: Mile 211
One Piece and “Naked and Afraid: Apocalypse”
This year, I wanted to add a little fun and playfulness to my race, so I decided I would take pictures doing One Piece poses at the different aid stations along the way. I recruited Cordelia, my daughter and the other One Piece anime fan in the house, to help me pick the poses. At first she thought it was a little too nerdy and responded with a “Seriously, Dad? Seriously?” She eventually came around and got into it, helping me track down images of iconic poses. I even debated getting a straw hat to wear during the race, but the one I wanted did not make it in time.
Over the years, I usually have a survival reality show playing on the TV while I prep my drop bags and pack. This year, it was Naked and Afraid: Apocalypse. I never really thought much about that until this year. I realized it may actually be part of my mental prep for the race. My logic was that if the people on these shows can survive for weeks in the middle of Africa drinking muddy water and eating insects, surely I can handle long stretches of the race without immediate food or water. I mentioned this realization to AJ, to which she responded, “I don’t think you should base your race strategy on the actions of participants of a reality show.” She is not wrong.
The 4L Water Carry Requirement for Section 1
Just like in 2024, I planned to use one hydration pack with two 2L bladders plus an 800mL bottle for the first section, before switching to my main race pack, with all the required gear already packed, at Crown King. Since I was running without a crew, this was the most efficient way to reduce the weight on the first section and ensure a speedy stop and re-gear at Crown King.
Race Cheat Sheet
I always make a little laminated cheat sheet of the aid stations for my 200-plus mile races. It has the list of the aid stations, total distance, distance to the next aid station, cut-off times, if the aid station has drop bags and if it is a sleep station. Since my goal this year was to beat my 2024 time, I added my 2024 times, based on the timestamps on my 2024 aid station food pictures, along with an abbreviation of each planned One Piece pose.
Pre-Race
I arrived in Phoenix, AZ the Saturday before the race. I went shopping for supplies and had plenty of extra time in case there were any last-minute issues or delays.
On Sunday, I checked in for the race. It is amazing to see how much Cocodona has grown over the years. There were so many more people, sponsors, famous and elite athletes. I met up with Marion, a runner friend from Austin who was also running the Cocodona 250. We chatted for a bit, walked around the village, and then she and her husband helped me carry my drop bags over to the drop site.
After dropping off my bags, I went back to the hotel. That night, I went to Mad Greens for a dinner salad. Then I taped up my feet, laid out my gear for the morning, and went to bed early.
Day 1: Zoro’s Nothing Happened
I arrived at the race at 3:45 am when the gear check and SPOT tracker pickup were scheduled to start. I dropped off my Flagstaff (finish line) drop bag and picked up my SPOT tracker. There was a lot of excitement in the air, but I felt pretty relaxed. After a bit, I lined up in the starting corral. Brandon, another runner friend from Austin who started the 2024 Cocodona 250 race, found me. We wished each other a good race before he grouped up with the folks he was running with. Marion also found me in the starting corral. We shared some words of encouragement before she went to find the spot she wanted to start in.
At 5 am, we were off. I was a bit further back than I realized and was stuck going pretty slow for the first little while. That wasn’t a bad thing, it helped keep me from letting the excitement and nerves take over and go too fast.
Before long, we were moving at a comfortable pace. The section to the first aid station is about 7.4 miles of rolling singletrack and a bit of fire road. It is a nice start, not too hard, not too easy.
At the aid station, I topped off my water, filled my extra bladder, and topped off my bottle with Tailwind. It was pretty busy, since every runner had to stop there to fill up. The aid station and the volunteers did an awesome job of handling the volume of runners coming through.
I ate some of my fuel gummies and pulled out my poles. The sun was up but it was an overcast day with a little wind. I thought to myself, “these conditions are great.” It was still very hot but the cloud cover meant we had some natural protection from the sun. I was stoked and had high hopes of finishing this section faster than I had previously. I may have celebrated prematurely.
Even though the conditions were better than previous years, I still had trouble ingesting calories. I was gagging on the gels I took, only able to get a little down, and I could not get more than half a gummy down. Luckily, I had my SaltStick chewables which I could use to replenish the sodium I was losing.
Unfortunately, my leg muscles were beginning to seize up. Without the calories and limited sodium, there was not much I could do about the situation. Somewhere along this section, Marion caught up. She was running a strong pace. We chatted for a short bit before she took off.
When I made it to the 24.6 mile water station, I felt good about the amount of water I had left. I filled my bladder with the rationed amount allowed. Unlike previous years, there was no water around that could be filtered.
As I started the next 8-mile stretch to the Lane Mountain aid station, I felt good about the amount of water I had but was very worried about my calorie and salt intake. I tried another unflavored gel. No luck. It made me gag and I had to spit it all out.
I ate the last serving of salt tabs I had left, but less than 20 feet later, I started vomiting. I threw up the salt tabs and a whole lot of water. It was rough, and I knew I was in a dangerous state. There was still a lot of climbing to do, it was hot, and now I was throwing up.
I slowed my pace, took super short breaks, and drank water in small amounts. The good news was the water was staying down. It felt like I was moving in slow motion. Then I heard a friendly voice, it was Brandon and the group he was running with. He asked how I was doing and I was honest with him, I was having a rough time. I told him how I couldn’t even eat my salt tabs. One of the members of his group offered me a salt pill and I decided to take him up on the offer. I figured that if I could just swallow the pill, I might avoid vomiting.
I was able to swallow it without a problem. Over the next 15 to 20 minutes, Brandon’s group and I were leapfrogging each other. Then suddenly out of nowhere, I started to feel sick. I could tell my stomach was rejecting the salt pill. I stepped to the side of the trail and started vomiting again. All the water and the salt pill were gone. Brandon and his group passed me and continued on.
My goal was just to make it to Lane Mountain, the next aid station. I was hoping that I could maybe eat some watermelon and make another Tailwind drink. It took me a while to make it there. I was being very conservative with my water, afraid that drinking too much might cause me to throw up again.
I was thrilled when I made it to Lane Mountain. It was pretty busy. My plan was to get out of the sun, drink some water, drink some Tailwind, and eat some salted watermelon. As I entered the aid station, I heard someone say, “Hey Ed.” It was Wes Plate, a fellow ultra runner I have known for years through these 200-plus mile races. He was volunteering at the aid station, and it was great to see a friendly face. He helped me out with salted watermelon and filled my bottle with Tailwind. I asked how it was going, but I was so out of it that I don’t remember a thing he said.
After two pieces of watermelon and not gagging or vomiting, I had another two pieces. I knew I needed to avoid the trap of staying there too long. The next aid station was Crown King. That was where I planned to take my time to eat, switch my packs, take out my contacts, etc. After I finished my watermelon, I got back to my feet, thanked Wes and the other volunteers, and was on my way.
The next section was an easy fire road to Crown King. A great place to bomb the downhill if you have most of your senses about you, which I did not have. I took it easy and started up a conversation with another runner. His name was Sean Humphrey from Dayton, Ohio. My best friend lives in Dayton and I usually visit him every year, so it was easy to chat. Sean and I spent a couple of miles together until we made it to Crown King.
As I entered Crown King, I saw Mehdi, Marion’s husband. He gave me a fist bump and said that Marion had just left the aid station. I may have been feeling better, but I was still a wreck from the first major section of the race. I was dehydrated and running on a major calorie deficit.
I found a place to sit and a volunteer brought over my drop bag. I got an Impossible burger and some potatoes from the food area. I was still having a hard time eating. Luckily, this station was sponsored by Tailwind and they had their vanilla protein drink available. I was pretty sure I would be able to drink it without issue. When I went over to drink, I must have looked like I was just going to put my mouth under the spigot, because the volunteer asked if I wanted a bigger cup. I absolutely did. I drank one full cup right there, refilled it, and went back to my spot.
Inside the flap of my drop bag on a piece of bright yellow duct tape, I had a checklist of items I needed to transfer from my pack. I tried to limit how much time I was at Crown King. I ate about half the burger, a couple of mini potatoes and about 4 cups of the protein drink. It was all my stomach felt like it could handle.
Before continuing with my tasks, I asked one of the volunteers to take my One Piece pose picture. For Crown King, I decided on the Zoro “Nothing Happened” pose. If you are familiar with the story, you know that Zoro had just gone through intense pain and suffering. When he was asked what happened, he stood tall, arms folded, and said that nothing happened. It felt like the appropriate pose for the moment and aid station.
I took out my contacts and went to clean my feet and change my socks. For socks, I use Injinji toe socks as a base layer, then an ankle-length wool or synthetic sock over them. I took off the first shoe and socks, cleaned my foot, and put on new socks. Switching to the other foot, I removed my shoe and socks, and went to put on the new Injinji sock only to find out it was for the wrong foot. I somehow packed two right-foot socks instead of a left and right. I had to dig my used, sweaty sock out of my pack and put it back on. I knew that at some point in the future, I would inevitably find a pack of two left Injinji socks.
After I had completed all my Crown King tasks, it was time to head out. Checking my time, I estimated I was about an hour behind my 2024 pace. I was doing better than I thought, but I also knew I had a major calorie and sodium deficit to overcome.
I knew the next section was relatively easy, mainly fire roads until the tough singletrack climb into Kamp Kipa. As much as I wanted to eat my gels or gummies, just looking at them made me nauseous. During the 24.2 miles from Crown King to Kamp Kipa, all I managed to eat was a cup of vegan broth at the Arrastra Creek aid station. As the night wore on and the elevation increased, the temperature plummeted.
By the time I made it to Kamp Kipa, my hands were so cold that I had lost all fine motor function. I even had to ask one of the volunteers to turn off my headlamp. My plan was to sleep there for about two hours before continuing on.
I asked one of the volunteers where the bathroom was and where I could sleep. She led me toward the bathroom and asked if I was going to be quick. I paused and replied, “I don’t know.”
“Okay,” she responded, “Are you going number 1 or number 2?”
“I don’t know,” I replied. “I wish I knew, but I don’t know what’s happening in my body right now.”
“Okay. Here is a blanket. Go to the second cabin over there,” she said, pointing to the two cabins. “Take one of the open beds, but please be quiet since there are other runners sleeping.”
I thanked her and headed to the bathroom. While I was washing my hands, I started to dry heave. If there was anything in my stomach, it would have all come up. Once the heaving stopped, I headed to the cabin. I found an empty bed, curled up under the small blanket with my feet still sticking out, and fell asleep shivering. I woke up to my alarm two hours later.
Day 2: A Slow and Uneventful Day
When I woke up, I grabbed my gear and headed to the aid station building. My stomach was still not fully settled, but I was very hungry. I decided it was best to try to eat some oatmeal. I managed two pouches of purposely watery oatmeal without any issue. Once I returned my drop bag, I was back on the course headed to Camp Wamatochick. My plan was to stop there and eat some pancakes. I was moving pretty well, but missed a turn and added about an extra ¾ mile.
When I arrived at Camp Wamatochick, I ordered vegan pancakes and some tempeh. Unfortunately, the pancakes were raw on the inside, so I just ate the cooked pancake skin, the tempeh, and some maple syrup before heading out.
I was making decent time, but I could feel that I was significantly behind on my calories. As I entered Prescott and got close to Whiskey Row, I was looking forward to having a little real food.
The energy and vibe coming into Whiskey Row is always awesome, with crew parked all along the streets cheering on the runners. As I crossed the row, I heard someone call out, “Go Ed!” and turned to see Dave Stinchfield.
I entered Whiskey Row and grabbed some watermelon. I asked if they had any vegan pizza, which is a staple at Whiskey Row, but they told me I would have to order it. I didn’t want to wait for the pizza or eat a fresh, hot pizza, so I skipped it. I had some Tailwind from my drop bag and grabbed a pack to take with me. Then I heard my name again; Dave had stopped by to say hi and see how I was doing. I told him all about my rougher-than-usual start. He assured me that I was not alone; quite a few runners had experienced something similar. It was good to see him and have a quick chat.
Before heading out, I asked a volunteer to take my One Piece pose photo. I decided on the “Brook” pose because Whiskey Row is one of the most lively and musical aid stations on the course. The volunteer lent me her hat for the photo since mine was too floppy for the pose.
I was back on my way, moving through the Granite Dells and on to Fain Ranch. I definitely felt the heat on this section, but I was still making decent time. My goal was to get through the fields after Fain Ranch before it got dark.
This year, the Fain Ranch aid station had been moved and was about two miles farther than it had been in the past. When I arrived, I still felt good about my pace, tracking about an hour and a half behind my 2024 time as best as I could tell.
I had some tofu and potatoes with ketchup, changed my socks, applied KT Tape to my arches, and removed my contacts. Then, I asked a volunteer to photograph my Nico Robin “Cien Fleurs” pose before getting back on course.
I was a little behind where I wanted to be, but I found navigating the fields after Fain Ranch much easier than in previous years. That was a relief since this year I was navigating them on my own. It didn’t feel like too long before I started the Mingus Mountain climb. While it is a difficult singletrack climb, it never felt like a struggle, and I made it up into Mingus.
Mingus always has a vegan pasta dish and lemonade, and I was looking forward to both. However, this year was not the best experience. The lemonade was mixed a little too strong, but it was easy to dilute. They had run out of the vegan pasta bake. They offered to make me some gluten-free pasta with marinara sauce instead, and since I was pretty hungry, I decided to wait for it. Unfortunately, the pasta was not very good. I only ate a little before finding a blanket and a place to sleep.
The sleeping area was pretty busy, but I found a bed and was able to sleep for about two hours. Mingus is usually one of the aid stations where I spent a bit more time, using the stop to sleep, change into fresh clothes, and eat.
Before leaving, I stopped back in the aid station to check what hot vegan food they had. It was the same as before, so I decided to skip more food and head out.
On the way out, I ran into Kevin Goldberg. He was running the Mingus Basketball Association challenge with the Distance to Empty Podcast. He asked if I was going to take the challenge. I said why not, but explained that my basketball shooting skills “are embarrassing.” He told me that everyone was pretty terrible. I thought he was being kind until I watched the videos later. Ultra runners cannot shoot baskets.
If you have not seen the videos of the Mingus Basketball Association, check out @distancetoemptypod Instagram page.
It must have been around midnight and it was below freezing. I took three shots from the 5-point spot, missing all of them, before I signed the game ball and was on my way.
Day 3: My Own Private Pity Party
It was all downhill from Mingus to Jerome and this year the trail seemed easier. I don’t know if they directed us down a different route, if the trail had improved, or if I remembered it being worse than it actually was. I knew I was still running a decent amount behind my 2024 time because the Sedona Canyons 125 race had already begun before I made it there.
As I was running past their starting line, I heard someone yell out my name and start running with me. It was Christa Meck, who was crewing Bryan for the Sedona Canyons 125. Christa ran with me for a bit, and it was really cool to see her and catch up.
Soon enough, I was through the town of Jerome. There was another 250 runner there, Trish Corbett, asking a police officer where the fire station was. I did not hear the whole conversation, but I thought she said she needed someone to reset her fingers. I thought that was a strange request and continued to the Jerome aid station. When I got there, I saw Marion again. She was about to head out with her pacer.
I wanted to make this a quick stop to put my contacts back in and get some food. They had a taco bar and made me a delicious tofu and avocado taco. While I was eating and putting my contacts in, Trish arrived at the aid station, asking if there was a medic available.
There was no medic at this aid station, but a nurse practitioner happened to be there as part of someone’s crew, and Trish asked her to reset her fingers. Trish explained that she had tripped and fallen at the very beginning of the Mingus descent. She used her hand to protect her head on the fall and thought she had dislocated two fingers. I saw them; they were compressed and bent sideways. There was definitely something wrong with them.
After a brief discussion, Trish’s crew convinced her that there was still plenty of time on the clock for her to get checked out, fixed up, and be back before the cutoff. They left her tracker at the aid station and headed to the ER.
Trish did make it back to Jerome before the cut-off and finished Cocodona 250. I actually saw her cross the finish line with her hand and fingers bandaged, and I was able to congratulate her on a hard-fought finish.
I set out from Jerome at a decent pace. I still felt weak from the lack of calories, but I hoped I had overcome the gagging and stomach issues. As it started to heat up, I was still having trouble eating gels and gummies. I only managed to get down a single gummy brick.
When I got to Dead Horse, it was fairly empty. I took the time to change my socks, eat a couple of slices of orange, drink a Tailwind, grab some different gels and gummies to try, and pose for my Jinbe “Fishman Karate” picture. It was getting hot, and I knew the next section could be rough. The trails themselves are not too tough, but you are completely exposed in the desert for 14 miles.
About 10 miles into the next section, I found myself rationing my water and completely unable to eat any gels or gummies. I thought to myself, “I don’t know if I will write a race report this time. The race was not going well, and it honestly feels uneventful.”
About a mile later, I ran into Bala Subramanian. I had met Bala two years earlier at the Cocodona Crown King aid station where she was volunteering. She is a fan of my race reports. This year, she signed up for Cocodona 250. “Hi Ed, how are you doing?” she asked.
“I’m doing okay. You?” I replied.
“I am doing well,” she said with a smile. She seemed to be doing fantastic, super positive and full of energy. “I am looking forward to reading your report on this race. I love reading your reports.”
“Thanks,” I replied. In my head, I told myself, “You can’t not write up a race report. Just because a lot of this race has sucked or been uneventful doesn’t mean you shouldn’t write about it. Hell, Bala is expecting you to write it up.” Bala, if you are reading this, thank you. Hearing that you were looking forward to this report was exactly the push I needed in the moment to promise myself I would write it.
Coming into Deer Pass, I was running very low on water, even after conserving it by only taking two small sips every half mile. When I arrived, nearly every runner seemed beaten down. The area looked like a refugee camp, with people occupying any available bit of shade. I took a quick break from the sun and refilled my water before going on my way.
The next section was more hiking in the sun with some amazing views of the area. For me, this is where my dark patch truly began. I was feeling beat down from the sun and heat. I was calorie deficient, somewhat dehydrated, and still unable to eat any of the food and fuel I packed in my vest. I was getting real down on myself and flooded with negative thoughts.
I envisioned myself as a video game character whose health and stamina bars were cut in half. The max health and stamina I could fill was only 50 percent of my total. “Here I am trying to run Cocodona 250 and I am stuck at 50 percent of my abilities … at best.”
“Wow. You are just having your own pity party,” I told myself. “Does that ever, EVER help anyone? No, it doesn’t.”
“You took the moment to have your pity party. Now, knock it off,” I thought. “You at 50 percent is still better than like 80 percent of people on this planet. Fuck! After everything that has happened, you are at 50 percent. That’s pretty damn good. Own that and get this race done.”
At that moment, I snapped out of it. I left my negativity behind on that stretch of trail and focused on what was next.
I made it to the water station in a much better mental place. I refilled my water and tried to eat a gel, only to start gagging on it. There was no point fighting to get it down, so I started on my way to the Sedona aid station. As I exited the trails and stepped onto the streets, I teamed up with another runner and his pacer until we hit the aid station.
It was around 8:30 pm when I got into the Sedona – Posse Grounds aid station. This was one of my planned long stops. The plan was to sleep, eat, change socks, change clothes if needed, and restock on supplies. Before all that, I wanted to get my One Piece pose picture. For Sedona, I had packed an extra set of poles in my drop bag, and a volunteer helped take the photo. I used the extra pole for Zoro’s “Three Sword Style” pose.
It was time to get some sleep, and the plan was to set my alarm for 11 pm. When I plugged my phone into the battery, it forced me to enter my passcode to unlock the device. I don’t know what went wrong, but I entered the wrong passcode too many times and my phone locked for one minute. “What the hell?” I thought. “How is my passcode wrong?”
I waited a minute and tried again. Unfortunately, once your phone goes into that state, it reduces the number of times you can try again. I failed, and my phone locked for five minutes. I was super frustrated. To pass the time, I got ready to nap and prepped for when I would wake up.
It was time to try my passcode again. One chance and I failed. Locked for 15 minutes. At this point, I was getting super tired and did not know what the problem was. With my phone in lockdown, I could not call, set my alarm, or access the GPS map. This was bad.
I went over to see if the volunteers could help, but we quickly realized there was really nothing that could be done. While it might have been possible to wipe the phone remotely to unlock it, that wasn’t an option. The volunteers kindly offered to wake me at 11 pm since I could not set an alarm. I was nervous about having to depend on someone else to wake me up, but there was no other option.
I went back to my cot and lay down to sleep. I was so nervous that I woke up about 20 minutes later. My phone was available to try unlocking again, so I decided to give it a shot. This time, I cleaned the screen, practiced the code in my head, and then slowly and deliberately entered each of the numbers. It unlocked. I threw my arms straight up in the air and silently screamed out in joy. I set the alarm for 11 pm and fell asleep instantly.
A little before 11 pm, one of the volunteers woke me up. I thanked them and got ready to go out. My first stop was to thank the volunteers again and let them know I had successfully logged into my phone. My next stop was food. They had vegan black bean burgers and rice. I had a bean burger with lettuce and tomato and smothered it in ketchup, because those burgers tend to be very dry. I also had a cup of plain white rice and my first Red Bull.
I was feeling pretty good. I put all my gear together and was ready to head out when I saw that there were three guys also getting ready to leave.
Day 4: All Aboard the Party Bus
I went up to the three guys and asked if they would be cool if we headed out together. They agreed, so I quickly threw my gear together and checked out with the volunteers. As we started to move, I thanked them for letting me tag along.
“Not a problem. Welcome to the party bus!” one of them replied. “Let’s kick this off with some ’90s hip-hop, then how about some Beastie Boys,” another said as he fired up his Bluetooth speaker.
These guys were in a fantastic mood and clearly determined to have a blast. After we got through the short trail section and back on the road, they switched the music to Beastie Boys, and I had a chance to start chatting with them. Their names were Wes Neubeck, James Hesson, and Brian Thorn. Wes and James had been friends for about twenty years. Brian was new to the group. None of them had done the Cocodona 250 before, or any 200-mile race. They had done Sedona Canyons previously.
This part of the race was the Hangover Trail, a new addition from previous years. I was unfamiliar with it, so I was thankful to have other folks around to help navigate it, especially at night. Once we hit the Hangover Trail, they switched the music to EDM music.
We were making great time without overdoing it. We passed quite a few other runners, and with each group we passed, one of the guys invited them to join us on the “Party Bus.” The Hangover Trail was a great change to the race; it was way more interesting than the section used in previous years. To keep us all focused, I kept the conversations going. As I learned more about them and they learned more about me, I shared stories from previous years along with advice on how to complete the race.
When we hit the fire roads past the water station, I told them that it was possible for us to finish in under 96 hours. It would require real effort and some pushing, but it was doable. They were up for trying, so I pushed the pace and we made good time. When we got to the Schnebly Hill aid station, we decided to eat, and I took the opportunity to put my contacts in and change my socks. Christa was there and helped me out while updating me on Bryan’s progress. Bryan was also at Schnebly, taking a nap in their van.
After I had some very tasty vegan chili on pasta and got all my stuff done, I rounded up the guys and we were on our way. Now that the sun was up, I could actually see what they looked like, and given the gentle terrain, it was easy to chat and get to know each other. We bonded over those miles.
I told them that I was happy to stick with them and help them get to the finish line, noting that we just needed to be smart and deliberate about our pace. They were showing signs of fatigue by the time we hit the Munds Park aid station. They needed to get some food and get out of the sun, so we took shelter in the NeverSecond tent. We all grabbed a bite to eat and sat down for a bit.
The guys took a little more time and effort to get going out of the aid station onto the next section. This stretch was where the wheels started to come off the bus. Each of them struggled to keep a pace at different times; the sun and heat were zapping all their energy. I saw that the 96 hour finish was slipping away, but I told them I would stick with them as long as we kept moving.
When we hit the Kelly Canyon aid station, the mood of the group was low. They decided to sit and get more food. I had avocado on a tortilla; I wanted to get in and out quickly, but we ended up staying longer than I intended. Before we left, I went to use the bathroom, and when I stepped back out, they were gone. I spotted them not too far down the trail and was able to catch up. It turns out someone had mistakenly told them I already left.
The next section was rough for those guys. They were really feeling the fatigue and sunburn. I tried to push the pace, but they were struggling. I started to talk to them about pushing through the night. Given the heat and how much the sun was affecting all of us, I knew it would be best to knock these miles out at night and avoid as much of the sun as possible.
As we got close to Fort Tuthill, Wes and I were chatting about the plan. He said that while he agreed with the plan, he knew James was going to crash and sleep at Tuthill. I explained that once we had some food and caffeine, we would be good to go. I asked if he thought we could get everyone together to have some food. Wes explained that he had known James for about 20 years. There was no way James was not going to crash and sleep for a couple of hours. I said that we should at least try to sit together and eat before we parted ways. He agreed to try.
In the final stretch before we reached Tuthill, Wes and I said our goodbyes. I wished him luck, giving him one of my aid station cheat sheets along with some pointers for making it through to the end.
When we got into Tuthill, Wes went to see the medic to deal with his bloody nose. I found a table to sit at, got my drop bag, and plugged in my devices. It was a little while before James and Brian arrived, and both were clearly struggling. It took some effort to rally them for a quick group picture, but we managed to capture the moment. Afterward, Wes and James headed to the cots to sleep, while Brian decided to stay up and have some food with me.
Brian and I chatted for a little bit, and I offered some advice on how to make it through to the finish. He took my One Piece Trafalgar Law pose picture before heading off to the sleep area. As we said our goodbyes, I told him, “You didn’t come this far to only go this far. Make sure you finish this race. You’ve got this.”
I checked in on the guys after I finished my race. The three of them finished together on Friday.
After he left, I gave AJ a quick call to update her. I was preparing to tackle a section on my own that has always been difficult for me mentally. I grabbed some food, gathered my gear, finished my medical check, and got ready to leave. I saw a runner and his pacer also heading out, so I asked if I could tag along. They said yes.
Day 5: The Final Push
As we left Fort Tuthill, the runner and his pacer were moving very slowly. I decided to push ahead, taking my chances of staying on course. Well, it wasn’t long before I missed a turn and had to backtrack. I had veered so far off that by the time I got back on track, I ended up passing the couple I had left earlier.
As I mentioned before, this section has always been one where I struggle. This time was no exception. I am not sure how the trouble began, but at some point I basically lost my mind. I was seeing people blocking my path, requiring me to answer questions in order to continue. I would stop moving and start to answer them before realizing these figures probably did not exist. I eventually resorted to just running straight toward them, closing my eyes right before impact with the hope they were not real, and then opening them to push forward.
If this had been just one instance, it would not have been too bad. Instead, it felt like it was happening every 50 feet. I would stop, start to answer their questions, and then run right through them. It was taking forever to make progress, and with the temperature dropping, every time I stopped, I got very cold.
Then my lights started to act up. I guess I had turned them on high to help me determine if the people I was seeing were real. This was draining the power rapidly, and I had to change the battery in my headlamp more than once. To be honest, I am not sure if I actually drained the battery, had a defect, or was just imagining the whole thing.
I started to get nervous that I would be stuck on this trail, constantly having my path blocked, freezing, and running out of light. Then, a runner and his pacer showed up behind me without any warning. They were moving quickly. I was pretty sure they were real, so I asked to tag along. They said sure.
Even if they were not real, at least I was running again. By focusing entirely on keeping up, my hallucinations disappeared. When they started to slow down, it made me nervous that the people blocking my path would reappear, so I just kept running.
Eventually, we made it to the aid station and I can confirm the runners were real. They went to get food while I grabbed my drop bag, sat down in a chair by the fire pit, and changed the batteries in my headlamp. There were two others sitting by the fire. I asked if they were heading back out soon and, if so, if I could join them.
One of the guys said he would head out soon. I did not recognize him at first, but it was Jason Garcia. I had met Jason at previous ultras and shared some miles with him at the Arizona Monster 300. I finished up my Red Bull, used the bathroom, dropped off my drop bag, and we were on our way.
It turned out that Jason was stuck at the aid station. My asking to join him was exactly the motivational push he needed to get back on the trail. Over the next section, we talked about all sorts of things, ranging from the live action One Piece to other ultras and the various difficulties we were both experiencing at this late stage of the race.
We made it to Wildcat Hill, the last aid station before the Mt. Elden climb and descent. Jason’s fiancée met us there. We had some snacks, and I grabbed some potato soup, which was literally just potatoes in vegan broth. A volunteer helped me take my final aid station One Piece pose; for this one, I chose Luffy’s “Second Gear,” which really helped me get pumped up for the final stretch.
Right before dawn, we left. This section was a change from the previous year; this time we would head up the trails to the top of Elden and take the steep path down. The climb up was stunning. It was long but not too difficult, and Jason and I continued to talk about all sorts of things, mainly discussing our families and family life. They were some great conversations.
Soon enough, we were at the top of Elden. I didn’t conserve my water as I should have and was running a little low. As we started to descend, Jason asked if I would mind if he picked up the pace and went ahead. I didn’t mind at all, telling him I was going to stick to my slower pace. I had already missed all my time goals, so I felt no urgency and did not want to trip or injure myself.
The climb down took way longer than I anticipated. I ran out of water before getting to the bottom, which was problematic because it was really heating up. The next couple of miles were torture. My mouth was so dry that my tongue swelled up and cracked, and I swear I was going in circles on the trails at the base of the mountain. I was not the only one; I came across another runner who was also struggling and out of water. Feeling completely lost, I took out my GPS navigator to find the right way to go.
Eventually, after an eternity, I came across a volunteer who was live-streaming. I asked him to point me in the right direction, and he did. He asked how I was doing and, well, I was miserable, completely out of water, and my body felt like a dried-out husk. When I finally came off the trail and into the parking lot, I spotted the final aid station on the far side of the blacktop. All I could think was, “You bastards! You just had to put it on the other side.”
When I got into the aid station, the volunteers were awesome. They got me water, a chair in the shade, a popsicle, and ice. They even poured cold water on my head. I let them know that there was at least one other runner I passed who was also out of water, explaining that I had gotten lost and felt like I was going in circles. One of them checked my tracker and said to me, “You went the exact right way.”
“Are you serious?” I asked.
“Yes,” she replied as she showed me the tracker data.
I looked at her and said, “That’s wild. I guess the markings are good.”
As I sat there, other runners started to arrive. All of them were like I was, dry and out of water. After a second popsicle, it was time to finish the race.
The last four miles went by quickly. Before I knew it, I was on the streets of Flagstaff. As the finish line approached, I saw a live-stream volunteer who had helped me by shouting out directions. Shortly after, I turned left on Birch and right into Heritage Square.
I crossed the finish line with a smile on my face, took off my hat, and did the Franky “Super” pose, my final One Piece pose, to the cheers of the crowd.
After the Race
After crossing the finish, receiving my buckle, and taking the post-finish photo, I found a place to sit in the shade and grabbed some of Tailwind’s protein drink from their finish-line tent. Knowing I was running on limited time before a massive crash, I quickly changed my clothes, consolidated my drop bags, ate a vegan burger and a slice of vegan pizza, and called AJ to let her know I was done.
I started to crash hard. I decided I would go take a two-hour nap in the sleep tent, then get up to hopefully see some of the people I knew finish and get a ride back to the start line. That did not go as planned. I ended up passing out, sleeping through my alarm, and waking up several hours later in the dark around 11:30 pm.
That kind of messed up my plans, but it all worked out. I got to see Wes and Dave again, as they were hanging out at the finish line, and I even got to see Trish finish and congratulate her. Realizing I was not going to find a ride, I booked my hotel for Saturday night, asked for an early check-in at 8 am, reserved a Lyft for 4 am, and went back to sleep in the sleep tent.
This time I did not oversleep. The Lyft driver picked me up and had lots of questions about the race and me. After about 30 minutes of answering questions and chatting about the race, his questions stopped and I started to doze off. I woke back up just as we were getting close to the starting line. He dropped me off right at my car.
I was off to my hotel with a stop for coffee along the way.
Final Thoughts
This year, I wanted to get my fastest time at Cocodona 250. The race did not go as planned. I would say it wasn’t until the Water Station before Sedona, about 153 miles in, that the race shifted from one I was simply grinding through to one I was actually enjoying. The lack of hydration and calories really took a toll on my body and my mood. It was like being in a fight that I did not want to be in, and one that I was actively losing. It took me to a very dark place of negative thoughts where I was doubting myself. Once I stopped focusing on what I couldn’t do and started focusing on what I could do and what I was doing, everything changed. I did what I always tell myself to do before a race or event: I became water. I adapted to my condition, and my goals became fluid, changing to focus on what mattered most in the given situation. Taking the One Piece anime pose pictures at aid stations also helped remind me how fun and silly running a 250 mile race is. Overall, it was amazing. I connected more with myself, made some new friends, got to know a previous race friend a lot better, and remembered why running 250 miles is such a special experience.
Thank Yous & Shout Outs
- To all the runners I met and ran with along the way: This is an amazing and supportive community. It is always a pleasure to run with all of you.
- Special thanks to the runners I spent extended time with along the way:
- Wes, James, and Brian: You guys were a ton of fun to run with. I hope our paths cross again at a future ultra.
- Jason: Thanks for teaming up at Walnut Canyon. I was absolutely losing my mind to hallucinations in the section before. If we had not teamed up, I am not sure how I would have made it from there to the top of Elden. Best of luck with the baby on the way. I hope you check out the One Piece anime, as it will make my pictures and poses make a lot more sense.
- Thanks to Christa Meck for providing support and chatting when the timing with Brian’s race worked out. It was always a pleasure to see you out there.
- Kevin Goldberg and the Distance to Empty Podcast: The Mingus Basketball Association was an awesome idea. Really hope you guys do it again.
- Aravaipa Running for putting on such a great race. The new sections added to this year’s race were great.
- The aid station volunteers who were always willing to help or take a silly photo. An extra shout out to the volunteers at the Trinity Heights station, thanks for the extra help and popsicles for the runners, like me, who were dehydrated and overheated.
- The photographers (Scott Rokis, Howie Stern, Anastasia Wilde) for capturing all those awesome moments. You’re super!
- AJ, my wife, for the support, pre-race organization and logistics, and for taking care of the kids, animals, etc. at home while I was running.