Start time:

7:00 AM

Date:

October 18, 2025

Race Day Registration:

There will be no race day registration

Link to Course Map:

Strava: https://www.strava.com/routes/3352060379908752208

Sponsors:

Thanks to our community sponsors Pizzicletta (Flagstaff) for providing some gift cards for some of top finishers!

The Course:

Starting at Sandy Seep trailhead racers will begin with serene open views of meadows dotted with ponderosas. You’ll head into the shade quickly as you cross a power line access road and start your journey on Christmas Tree trail by taking a left, we will have a volunteer ensuring you make this turn. Enjoy the gentle rolling trails as you near the climb!

Christmas Tree trail intersects with Elden Lookout trail. Dig deep! This is the climb! For some this may all be runnable, for others this may be a steady power hike pushing your legs and lungs to their limits. Before you know it you’ll be at the summit of Mt. Elden! From here you’ll begin the ridge running portion of the race down the fire road off Elden and over to Sunset trail. Watch your feet, but make sure you get to enjoy the sweeping view of the peaks to your left and a panoramic of flagstaff and the surrounding area to your right!

The one and only aid station is near! Located approximately 5.6 miles into the race and a little over 1 mile from the Elden Lookout/Sunset intersection, we will have water along with some other fuel. After taking in the beautiful views from the Sunset trail prepare your downhill legs for a gradual but relentless descent on New Heart trail with the beautiful red/orange cliffs of Little Elden in your sight most of the way. Racers will experience a combination of excellent single track, several tricky speed checks with some tech, and classic Arizona chunk. Just the right amount of little rollers towards the bottom to make you wonder why you signed up for this race.

After finishing the descent we will have another volunteer pointing you in the right direction. This is a crucial intersection! Racers will run around a little knob on Little Elden trail grabbing one last view of Flagstaff in the backdrop of a meadow. After, you will link into Old Little Elden where you will remain until your final turn off. DO NOT get onto Sandy Seep trail. Follow signs to Christmas Tree trail. The remainder of the course although mostly flat, will help you understand the start/finish lines namesake Sandy Seep.

Racers will take a left to the finish, at the same spot they entered onto Christmas Tree trail. We will have the same volunteer here waiting to direct you to the final push!

One more mile! The last bit is a perfect way to end the race. The last mile will allow racers to really open it up with a gradual descent to the parking lot with just enough rocks and reaching pine branches to keep you honest. Exit through the old wooden trail entrance swing a quick right back to where you started and you’re done!

Cutoff(s):

Cut off(s): At approximately 5 miles at the summit of Elden there will be a strict 2 hour cutoff. We will have a volunteer stationed there tracking every racer, you will not be allowed to continue on in the race if you are not at this intersection after 9:00am race day. The cutoff is generous, but it requires you to have a reasonable level of mountain fitness to achieve it. Total race cutoff 4 hours. The remaining 8 miles or so are mostly downhill. Get those downhill legs ready!