Races

Flagstaff to Grand Canyon 100

Flagstaff to Tusayan, ArizonaSeptember

Hotshots Ranch to Tusayan on the Arizona Trail. Stagecoach history. Grand Canyon views at the rim. High country all day.

100 mi+4,462 ft-5,286 ft31 hours6,281 ft to 8,880 fttech 5/10Checkpoints per race bookArizona Trailstagecoach routeBabbitt RanchesSeptember
Distance100 mi
Gain+4,462 ft
Loss-5,286 ft
Altitude6,281 ft to 8,880 ft
Technicality5/10
Air25°F to 75°F
Gradient profileCalTopo course map
  • Start7,461 ft
  • High8,880 ft
  • Low6,281 ft
  • Finish6,637 ft

Field, 2019 · 7-year samplescraped

Starters53
Finish rate100%
Median25:48
Sub-2411

Geometryderived

Steepest drop623 ft-4.2% over 2.9 mi
Time over 8k ft17%

Course records

Men16:53:00Michael Bursum2018 scraped
Women17:56:00Colleen Lingley2018 scraped

The cruxHumphreys shoulder and Babbitt Ranch openness (near mile 65)

Course DNA

The Course

Flagstaff to Grand Canyon 100 runs 100 mi through Flagstaff to Tusayan, Arizona. +4,462 ft gain and -5,286 ft loss. Surfaces skew 70% trail / 30% dirt road. Humphreys shoulder and Babbitt Ranch openness. High point near 8,880 ft. Low near 6,281 ft. September temps run 25°F to 75°F. The course rewards patience early and punishes rushed descents after mile 50.

The Work

Train for 4,462 feet of climbing across 100 mi. Back-to-back long runs on trail. Practice power-hiking grades above 15 percent. 31 hours total means limited margin: rehearse fueling every 45 to 60 minutes and downhill eccentric work weekly. Technicality 5/10. Build a block that simulates the crux near mile 65.

Kit

September in Flagstaff to Tusayan, Arizona: plan for 25°F to 75°F. Mandatory shell if rain is in forecast. Headlamp with spare batteries if 31 hours pushes past dark. Poles help on sustained climbs above mile 25. Vest capacity for 2 liters minimum. Shoes matched to 70% trail: lugs for mud, rock plate if the course turns technical after mile 50.

Race Day

Hold effort through mile 25. The field often splits on the first big climb after mile 50. Humphreys shoulder and Babbitt Ranch openness near mile 65 is where time is won or lost. Walk the steep pinches. Run the flats and gentle downhills. Crew at major aids: socks, calories, ice if hot. Transitions under 5 minutes when possible. Final third is 33 miles of fatigue management. Finish with reserve for the last descent.

Results

Flagstaff to Grand Canyon 100 finish lines.

Flagstaff to Grand Canyon 100

100 MilerFlagstaff

Sources (2)

Flagstaff to Grand Canyon 100