2021 Cocodona 250 Preview | The Inaugural

by Chase Parnell — April 27, 2021

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Just when we thought our sport couldn’t get any more niche, we twist the screw and become obsessed with multi-day 200+ mile runs. For me, 100 miles was the distance that always captured the imagination, it always felt so far, like the perfect challenge to stretch you right up to that physical and mental breaking point. But then, as things tend to go, you do a handful of 100s and start to consider what lies beyond. If 100 miles makes you feel good, what will 200 miles do? How about 250? Everyone will hit their ceiling eventually, but how do we know we’ve hit it until we try? We need events that allow us to explore all our perceived limitations.

Enter Cocodona 250.

Really long ultras are not new. From the Tor de Geants (205 miles) to Candice Burt’s 200 series, or we can even go back to the era when there was a literal footrace across America, but I have to say that something feels different about the Cocodona 250 and I think it boils down to Aravaipa Running’s ability to not only facilitate incredible experiences for the runners themselves, but also how they inspire and bring those on the sidelines into the event through storytelling and live coverage. These efforts move an event such as this from an outlandish, absurd, contrived, masochistic death march (in the the eyes of the general public) to a place of understanding. When people see, and hear, and experience what it is that’s happening out there–immersion in the landscape, the community, the growth–they can begin to see the utility and value of such a huge objective. Every single person that has finished an ultra was whisked away by some sweet song so inspiring that it convinced them to hit the register button. Just watch, the frenzy from the 2021 Cocodona race is going to spread like wildfire and everyone and their mother is going to want to toe the line in 2022. How could they not? The stories will be legion.

Someone recently posted a nice comment about me. They said I, “…have a finger on the pulse of ultrarunning.” I’m not sure if that’s even a little bit true. My tastes can’t be representative of such a varied and disparate group. But if I do have any sort of leg to stand on in that regard, I’ll use it to make this claim: the Cocodona 250 is here to stay and there’s going to be a before and after phenomenon where we’ll be able to point back to this moment in time and say that’s when ultrarunning became more than just an obsession to run Western States, Hardrock, and UTMB. There’s a new show in town.

The Course, Live Tracking, Materials, Everything

If you were paying attention, Aravaipa Running revolutionized live ultrarunning coverage in the USA at the Black Canyon 100k earlier this year and they’re planning on doing something similar for Cocodona. I try to wrap my head around the logistics of covering a 250-mile foot race and my brain gets all cloudy and my eyes glaze over like I just had one too many imperial IPAs. But Jamil and his team seem to see these obstacles as opportunities and instead of taking the easy route, they take a big swing and try to pull it off. I don’t know what it’s going to look like, and I imagine it will get better each year, but they’re trying, they’re going big, and I’m stoked to follow along.

A couple quick stats on the race:

• Start Time: This upcoming Monday, May 3rd, 2021 at 5am.
• Start Location: The Rock Springs Cafe in Canyon City, AZ.
• Finish Location: Heritage Square, Flagstaff, AZ.
• Distance: 255.8 Miles
• Surface: 48% Single-Track, 44% remote Double-Track, 8% Pavement
• Cutoff: 125 Hours (5 days, 5 hours)
• Elevation Max: 9,013′
  Elevation Min: 1,898′
• Estimated Cumulative Gain: 42,313′
  Estimated Cumulative Loss: 37,445′
• Trail Systems: Black Canyon National Recreation Trail, Prescott Circle Trail, Arizona Trail, Flagstaff Loop Trail
• Journey Through Mainstreet (communities the runners will pass through): Crown King, Prescott (Whiskey Row), Jerome, Clarkdale, Sedona, Flagstaff

Resources:

• Link to live tracking. Note: all the runners will carry SPOT trackers and you can already view their names in the live tracking app. They are the chosen ones. May the Lord have mercy on their souls.
• Run Steep Get High Youtube channel with multi-part film series on the Origins of the race. Follow Jamil and company as they scout the route to get a feel for this really unique terrain and the immensity of the undertaking. At least make sure to watch Episode 1 to get an understanding of the high-level concept.
• Link to the 29-page runner’s guide.
• Link to the Cocodona 250 website.

Couple notes:

A few things before I jump into previewing the cast of characters. This is Arizona. I hope you’re not scared of the heat. I’m imagining lots of long stretches of exposed dusty singletrack in the heat of the day, parched and squinty-eyed. Clint Eastwood’s chapped lips. But that may just be me projecting my own fear. I love this Journey Through Mainstreet idea of not side-stepping the towns along the route but integrating them and building bridges. It sort of feels like you’ll be strolling through a theme park or something; these rustic Arizona towns serving as unique attractions. And really, that’s what I’m getting at with the Cocodona 250. They’ve gone the extra mile to inject a storyline into the experience, something beyond you’re heading out to run really far and it’s really going to hurt!

Okay, enough with the foreplay, let’s talk competition.

2021 Cocodona Men’s & Women’s Field Preview

Note: I’m combining male and female entrants because at 250 miles, in my opinion, gender provides very little discernible advantage.

Maggie Guterl – Tailor-made for this race. Maggie has a wide variety of ultra experiences, from traditional 100 milers on trail to 24-hour timed events to multi-day adventure runs and FKTs. She won the 2019 Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra, finished 4th at the IAU 24-hour World Championships and nabbed a top-10 finish at Western States. She also ran big portions of the Colorado Trail in 2020 when Courtney Dauwalter attempted the FKT, so she probably received a master class on how to manage an undertaking such as this. Maggie has been logging solid efforts this spring, including a 52-mile jaunt with 28,000 feet of climbing at Barkley Marathons. Maggie lives and trains in Durango, Colorado and works for Tailwind Nutrition. Here on the gram.

Coree Woltering – Proud midwesterner, cornfield cowboy, team no sleep. Is it just me or is Coree everywhere these days? With his participation in the Eco-Challenge Fiji show and all his long trail FKT efforts, I feel like he’s on that celebrity trajectory; hope he doesn’t forget about us when he reaches Goggins-level fame and fortune. In 2020 Coree set the FKT on the Ice Age Trail, covering 1147 miles in 21 days 13 hours through the hinterlands of Wisconsin. In February of this year he hopped in the Black Canyon 100k on Saturday AND the 60k race on Sunday, apparently just for kicks. And most recently, on April 7th to be exact, Coree set the FKT in the 349-mile Pinhoti trail in 5 days 7 hours. Have to think that effort might still be lingering in his legs, but he said he bounced back from that one much quicker than his Ice Age trail. My prediction is that Coree shreds the final 100 miles.

Jamil Coury – Mastermind behind the event itself! This is his brainchild. He knows the course better than anyone and he’s done a lot of gnarly running adventures over the years. The only problem is that he is just as ambitious in his professional life with Aravaipa Running, Steep Life Media, Run Steep Get High, Mountain Outpost, and more, that he likely just doesn’t have enough time in the day to log that big big volume required for optimal performance. But that won’t stop him from getting out there and doing his best and having a good time. With a lifetime base like his, anything is possible if he gets things rolling. Is there anyone else that’s done more for the Arizona ultra community than Jamil? How many races do they put on down there? That’s a pretty cool legacy. Congrats on Cocodona 250 and making the call to run the inaugural event! Jamil was 5th at the Tahoe 200 in 2018 and is a three-time Barkley Marathons fun-run finisher. Legit!

Jessi Morton-Langehaug – Run Hard Mom Hard podcast alum (episode here)! Jessi is no stranger to long suffering. After going undiagnosed with Lyme disease for 10 years and finally discovering what her chronic ailment was, her doctor told her she would never run a marathon again because her body was too damaged. Well, that must have been just the motivation she needed! Jessi would go on from there to work her way through the ultramarathon distances, all the way up to the 2020 Moab 240, which she WON! Jessi is a living inspiration for anyone on the comeback trail. She’s proven she can handle the rigors of multi-day racing and there’s no doubt she’ll run with gratitude and give it her all. Rooting for her! Check out her book, Defying the Odds.

Michael McKnight – If there’s a true 200+ mile specialist, it’s McKnight. In 2019 he won all the races in the Triple Crown of 200s (Bigfoot 200, Tahoe 200, and Moab 240). Still don’t know how he pulled that off. Sure, 200s are getting more and more competitive with each passing year, but the guy just seems to have figured out the distance. After that magical year, he backed it up in 2020 by setting the supported FKT on the Colorado Trail, covering 500 miles in 7 days 13 hours. Lots of history on that route so for him to show up and nail it on his first try shows how committed and tough he really is. He’ll definitely have competition out there but I’m thinking he might be the favorite. My only concern for him is that he’s coming out of spring time conditions in the mountains of Utah. If it gets real hot down in the southern sections of Cocodona, the more heat-acclimated runners might have an edge. Either way, it’ll will be fun to see Michael take on this course and field!

Mika Thewes – Goodness gracious, at just 29 years old, Mika has already completed six 200+ milers! And she’s getting better and better at them, finishing second at the Tahoe 200 in 2018 and 2019. She ran her first 200 at Bigfoot in 2015 at the age of 24 and finished 6th. I can’t even begin to imagine how mentally tough you’d have to be to finish a 200 at that age. With no Strava profile or social media presence that I could find, she’ll have to stand on her results alone, as it should be. She resides in Royal Oak, a suburb of Detroit, Michigan. Must be a trip telling Detroiters you’re flying to Arizona to run 250 miles through the mountains. Cool story. Watch for Mika to move well late in the race as her experience kicks in.

Michael Versteeg – Alright, this guy might have the full package. Speed to compete in fast 100 milers, but also some long haul experience on the FKT side of things. Michael was 4th at the uber-competitive Run Rabbit Run 100 in 2019, running under 20 hours on a challenging course at altitude. He was 7th at Canyons 100k and won the Mogollon Monster 100 in 2017. Michael also held the supported FKT on the Arizona Trail for almost five years, until Joe “Stringbean” McConaughy took it down earlier this year. Michael lives in Prescott, AZ so he’s about as local as it gets. He’ll handle the terrain and conditions comfortably without the paranoia that can surface when you’re from a different land. This photo made me laugh, but only because I used to work at Little Caesars. Who knows, it might be a battle of the Mikes out there!

Taylor Spike – Definitely Oregon’s best shot at the podium. Taylor is one of those guys who progressively excels as the distance increases. What is that? It can only be mental toughness, right? He might not have the turnover to win flat 100 mile races, but he’s tough enough to weather the storms as the competition is peeled away. He’s a family man, van guy, and huge advocate and inspiration for people in recovery. Taylor was 3rd in 2019 and 2nd in 2018 at the Tahoe 200 so he knows how to string it together for a few days on the feet. He spent some time training in Arizona this year on the course and managed to be one of the first runners to complete the 62 mile Corvallis to the Sea trail with Ashley Nordell in March. So he has some training in the legs, a lot of experience, and an attitude of gratitude. Let’s GO!

Elle Spacek – Here’s my dark horse pick. Elle finishes what she starts; I don’t see a single DNF on her resume and she’s taken on some hard 100s: Mogollon Monster (1st place, 2019), Run Rabbit Run (6th, 2018), Black Hills (1st, 2018), UTMB (42nd, 2017). She posted this little message on the gram saying, “the hay is in the barn!” And while she doesn’t appear to have any 200+ mile experience, some people just give you the sense they’ll make the jump well. A hardy Coloradan snowshoe racer with a bunch of quality mountain hundred finishes… watch out!

–Others to watch–

Witt Wisebram – Wilderness EMT (run with him if you’re scared of dying); past AZT unsupported FKT holder, 5th Moab 240 (2020).

Jordan Wirfs-Brock – Has a shot at winning the whole thing. 1st Badger Mountain 100 (2019); 1st Orca’s Island 100 (2018); 1st Fat Dog 120 (2014).

Tod Bachman – Won the 2018 Triple Crown of 200s; 1st IMTUF 100 (2015).

Brianna Grigsby – Tuscon dweller; runs ALL the Arizona races; 12th Black Canyon 100k (2021); 3rd Georgia Death Race (2020).

Sean Nakamura – Big time streaker… run streaker. 3,700 days and counting. Ten 200-mile and 51 100-mile finishes. WTF?! I need to meet this man.

Anthony Tadakewski – Mostly a 50k/50m guy, but did win the 2019 Across the Years Last Person Standing event with 135 miles, so he at least has a little crazy in him.

Andy Pearson – Lots of solid performances. 7th Fat Dog 120 (2019); 7th Bigfoot 200 (2018); 1st Crewel Jewel (2018).

Stefan Fiandeiro – 20 years old! Ran 156 miles on a treadmill in 48 hours; finished a 100 miler at 17 years old.

Jodi Semonell – 2nd Moab 240 (2020); 1st Across the Years 200 (2020).

Jeff Garmire – Looked at this guy’s ultrasignup and thought he was crazy for registering. But then checked him out on FKT site (thanks Jamil): Vermont Trail unsupported FKT, self-supported Triple Crown of Thru-Hiking FKT (PCT, CDT, AT), Colorado Trail unsupported FKT, and on and on.

Anthony Culpepper – No, not the legendary CU Buff, Alan Culpepper. ANTHONY is the guy in the Cocodona 250 Origins films, helping scout the course. He likes the 6-day+ timed events… clearly crazy.

Drew Frehs – 1st Coldwater Rumble 100 miler (2020); 8th Javelina Jundred (2018).

Tracy Denbleyker – 0 for 3 at Ouray 100. She’s going back again this year. I like it.

Dave Krupski – 1st Miami 100 (2018); 5th Badwater 135 (2015).

Van Patterson – Another dude who runs ALL THE ARAVAIPA RACES. Including him because he ran the Ultra Caballo Blanco Copper Canyon 50 miler: sense of adventure… check.

Jeri Ginsburg – 3rd Moab 240 (2017); 2nd Bigfoot 200 (2016); 8th Tahoe 200 (2014).

Carrie Stafford – 4th Leadville 100 (2019); 3rd Tahoe 200 (2018).

Sarah Ostaszewski – Oregonian!!! 6th Mountain Lakes 100 (2019); 1st Bristow 24 Hour Run (2019).

Joseph Meyer – 8th Triple Crown of 200s (2019); 5th Lone Star 200 (2020).

Peter Mortimer – 2nd Georgia Death Race (2020); 6th Rocky Racoon 100 (2020).

Holly Hovious – 6th Old Cascadia 100 (2019); 4th Mogollon Monster (2017); Prescott, Arizona.

Dax Hock – 2nd Triple Crown 200s (2019) behind only Michael McKnight.

*Updates:

Becki Lynn Bauer – 2015 LeadWomen champ and 3-time Leadville 100 finisher (4th in 2014 and 6th in 2015).

Andrew Glaze – 1st 2018 Beyond Limits 72 hour (230 miles); 1st Coldwater Rumble 100 miler (2017).

–Lifetime Achievement Starters–

Karla Kent – Nine-time Badwater 135 finisher; 5th 6 Days in the Dome with 373 miles (2019).

Pam Reed – Just crossed the one hundred 100-milers barrier earlier this year. Drop the mic.

Danny Westergaard – Blisters barely healed from a 100 miler on April 9, 2021. Counted 13 Badwater finishes and 10 Western States finishes! LEGEND.

Gene Dykes – 73 years young. Completed the Triple Crown of 200s at age 69. If I’m jogging around the block at 73, I’ll be a happy man. Wow, you go Gene.

Stan Fortuna – Also 73. I just spoke with God and she told me he would finish, but she didn’t tell me if he would beat Gene.

Todd Scott – 10-time Leadville 100 finisher.

Roger Pynappel – 10th Triple Crown of 200s (2019); 61 year old with epic 2021 racing calendar. Side note: what do you call it when someone does the Triple Crown of 200s plus Cocodona 250? Clever answers in the comments below!

Kirk Apt – Ummm, 24-time Hardrock finisher. That takes the cake, folks. I am deceased.

There you have it! What an incredible community of humans. I’d love to be in Flagstaff to greet all the finishers with a hug (or even just a covid-friendly fist bump). I want to see the journey of 250 miles in their weather beaten faces. Every single person that gets this done will get the Treeline Journal hero stamp. But even those that have to drop will still have street cred because they are still the rare few brave enough to try. Can’t wait to root everyone on. Sending nothing but love and good vibes from Oregon!

May you overcome all the weary valleys, relish the proverbial peaks, and quest your way to whatever result you desire. Enjoy the inaugural Cocodona 250.

Please let us know in the comments below if we missed someone or included someone who isn’t going to make it to the start and we’ll update the article. If you enjoyed this preview, please consider signing up for our free Rise & Grind weekly newsletter or supporting us via Patreon for as little as $2 a month. We really appreciate your support!