Arizona Trail Runs (A To-Do List)

Before this whole pandemic thing, I was working on a list of trail lists in AZ that I'd like to do. I've done the Colossal Vail AZT 50K (twice), the BoulderDash 30K, the Fleet Feet AZ Trail race, the Oracle Rumble 12K, and maybe one or two other very short trail races. I do like the shorter races—the two times doing the Colossal Vail 50K where absolutely miserable experiences because of the heat, but I will definitely try to build my fitness up and do a 50K again, this time properly!

Here's the list. I tried to narrow it down to one for each month, prioritizing those that are closest, and that wouldn't require an overnight trip.

• January: Oracle Rumble in Oracle, AZ (1 hour drive). I'll probably do the half marathon next.
• February: Copper Corridor 50K in Superior, AZ (2 hour drive).
• March: Old Pueblo 25-miler (about a 1 hour drive). I volunteered one year at this race but have never run it.
• April: The Texas Canyon Trail Run and the Vail Scramble Half Marathon. These are both a short drive away; I was signed up for both in 2020—Texas Canyon is currently re-scheduled for September and this year's Vail Scramble has been canceled.
• May: The Pine Trail Run in Pine AZ (looks like about a 4 hour drive). There's an 8-mile event and a 50K but nothing in between, which makes for an interesting choice.
• June: Steep Camp Sunrise in the White Mountains (about 3 hours away).
• July: About all I could find is the Gherel Brownlow Memorial 10K in Prescott, AZ. Maybe there are some Flagstaff races that aren't well advertised? Aravaipa Running puts on some races in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado in mid-July. Typically, I'm vacationing with family in Montana during mid/late July, and there are a few options there as well as many things on my 'bucket list'.
• August: There's the North Rim Ramble Marathon (and half), but that's a very long drive (about 8 hours) though maybe I could plan it into summer vacation traveling. And Flagstaff Running has a series including the Gaspin' In The Aspen 15K. 
• September: The Stagecoach 100 is something I've wanted to do (as a relay) for a while. But the Mogollon Monster 35K is a closer, better option.
• October: Probably the best option would be the Cave Creek Thriller 24K. There's also Sky Peaks (Flagstaff). This one has a variety of distances from 5K to 50 miles. Also the BoulderDash 30K (again, new course).
• November: I'd love to do the Grand Canyon Trail Half Marathon in Tusayen AZ (about a 6 hour drive). And there's always the Colossal/Vail 50K. If I could train well enough, my goal would be breaking 6 hours. It's actually more like 55K. I've done the first half of it in around 3 hours, but never come close to maintaining that pace through the second half.
• December: The Estrella Mountain Trail Fest Half Marathon near Phoenix (about a 2-hour drive) appeals to me more than the runs in the Desert Runner Trail Series.