Episode 89: Cocodona 250

This past May a new ultra race was born in the desert of central Arizona. They call it the Cocodona 250, a combination of the names Coconino and Sedona. The Cocodona takes runners on an epic point-to-point course from Black Canyon City to downtown Flagstaff leading runners through desert, canyons, pine forests, up and over mountain ranges, down Whiskey Row, and through historical mining towns. 42,313 ft of elevation gain across 255.8 miles with a 125-hour cutoff, Aravaipa Running is calling this a life-altering ultramarathon and we think they are spot on. In its inaugural year, Ryan Birkemeyer decided to run the thing. Being fairly new to ultra distances, having only done a single one hundred miler himself, and the epic scope of the challenge, Ryan asked friends Sketch Ditty and John Banister to support his racing through crewing and pacing. They eagerly accepted the opportunity. I was fortunate to meet all three gentlemen at the aid station I volunteered at around mile 127 in Jerome, again at an after-race breakfast in Flag, and now, here, on today’s podcast. Ryan, John, and Sketch discuss what it took to cross that finish line in Flagstaff and collect the buckle of Arizona copper to join the ranks of the few brave souls who have tackled the 200-mile + division of trail and ultra running.