As the first light from the sun started to rise over Arizona’s Bradshaw Mountains, 278 runners huddled near the Cocodona 250 starting corral at the Deep Canyon Ranch. A cooler start than previous years gave runners a bit of a break during the infamously rugged and exposed first section through the Crown King Saloon. The first section winds through the Sonoran Desert via the single-track Black Canyon trail, with over 10,000 feet of climbing across 36 miles. The field was stacked with both first-time runners and returning Cocodonians including names like Michael McKnight, Jeff Browning, Michael Versteeg, Mika Thewes, Rachel Entrekin and Kylee Drugan-Eppich.
The Cocodona course is as difficult as it is beautiful and leads runners up and over the Bradshaw Mountains, to Whiskey Row in Prescott, through the stunning Granite Dells along Watson Lake, where a misplaced foot could result in a rolled ankle (or two). The weather cooperated as runners made their way through Fain Ranch and ran among the steer grazing in the rutted pastures. After playing with cows, runners continue along a fence line next to highway 89A with Mt. Mingus, the next formidable climb, looming in the distance. The fence line gives way to country roads and single track as runners push up a few quick switchbacks on the side of Mingus. After a quick respite and possibly a nap at Camp Mingus, a technical descent and meandering single track welcome runners into the town of Jerome. A rocky slide out of Jerome leaves some questioning their decisions. After saying hello to excited locals in Clarkdale and a quick splash in the Verde River, a rest awaits at Dead Horse Ranch State Park. Runners then traverse the Lime Kiln Trail and make their way to the red rock monoliths of Sedona, with more elevation. The route winds in, out and around these geological monuments, and runners cool themselves (hopefully during the day) with a dip at the Oak Creek water crossing. Some runners choose to dry their feet on the other side, while others trudge on and encounter the technical climb up Schnebly Hill with wet feet. The views at the top of the Schnebly Hill plateau are among the best on the course and runners are encouraged to take it all in. A winding fire road leads to Munds Park, prior to a climb and winding tour of the Coconino National Forest. This year, a prescribed fire in the surrounding area greeted runners with smoke and ash as they ran down out of the forest towards the historic Fort Tuthill aid station, leaving many smelling like a campfire for the rest of the race. One more push through a deceptively tough Walnut Canyon and runners were rewarded with a 2,000-foot climb to the top of Mt. Elden, with about 33 switchbacks to keep the minds of runners occupied. It’s all downhill to Flagstaff where runners can taste the finish line, with a quick left on Birch and a celebration in Heritage Square.
To say that the Cocodona 250 pushes runners to their limit would be an understatement. With its varying terrain, drastic temperature fluxuations and challenging sections, runners have to lean on their “why” to get through. As the race director says at the start of the race every year, “It changes you.” Runners just have to allow themselves the freedom to be changed and embrace every difficult step. This is a relatively new race, but it brings participants back over and over with a handful that have finished every incarnation (four), and a few two- and three-time finishers.
Jeff Browning pushed to the front and led for most of the race on the men’s side, while Mika Thewes led the women. Mika would later leave the course for hours to receive medical attention after she fell on the trail and took some damage to her jaw. Browning was forced to walk it in, placing second after some bronchial issues crept up after his Mt. Elden climb. Haraldas Subertas passed Browning and was able to break the course record with a first-place finish of 59:50:55. Arlen Glick rounded out the podium with a third-place finish of 61:46:57. Rachel Entrekin took advantage of Thewes’ absence and finished first for the women in 73:31:25, and Manuela Vilaseca placed second in 78:04:35. Thewes was able to re-enter the field after medical attention and held onto third place in 79:30:12. Among the finishers was 17-year-old Brody Chisholm, the youngest finisher ever with an outstanding time of 75:49:52. Brody was one of three in his family to have finished this year as his brother, Ben, and mother, Jennie, also finished the 2024 race. Michael Koppy held the record for oldest finisher, with a time of 106:06:16, at age 73, until Terry Gardiner finished in 117:30:28. Terry is 15 days older than Michael and now holds the record for oldest finisher at the Cocodona 250. These runners are proof that it’s never too early or too late to start doing hard stuff.