[Author’s Note: This is the fourth article in an 11-part series celebrating legendary aid stations. You can read about the series here.]
Excessive up within the Bradshaw Mountains north of Phoenix, Arizona, sits the tiny settlement of Crown King. First a dwelling and mining area for the Hohokam, Yavapai, and Apache Indigenous tribes, and later the location of an 1875 gold strike by non-native miners, the city has been a hub of exercise within the midst of a distant and difficult-to-access mountain vary. Dwelling to the oldest repeatedly working saloon within the state, Crown King can be the long run ending location for the long-lasting Crown King Scramble each March and, extra just lately, the situation of the 36-mile assist station on the Cocodona 250 Mile each Could.
A welcome sight for runners after traversing 36 rugged miles from the desert of Black Canyon Metropolis to the pine-crested ridges of the Bradshaw Mountains, the Crown King assist station on the Cocodona 250 Mile supplies runners with much-needed sustenance after almost 11,000 toes of climbing. The help station is situated on the grounds of the saloon, and the saloon itself supplies runners with hamburgers, black bean burgers, pulled pork sandwiches with all of the fixings, and typical mountain city hospitality.
The saloon on the Crown King assist station on the Cocodona 250 Mile. Picture: Carrie Setian
Crown King additionally marks the primary key transition level within the race as the recent expansive desert offers option to the cooler mountains. Since most runners take 10 to 16 hours to cowl the 36 miles from the begin to Crown King, the help station is the leaping off level for the primary night time of the five-night occasion. Whereas regrouping on the assist station, runners should acquire their obligatory chilly climate gear, which incorporates an insulated jacket, lengthy sleeve shirt, hat, gloves, area blanket, and sufficient energy for the following rugged 16-mile part to Arrastra Creek.
Again in 2023, I volunteered for a shift on the Crown King assist station and was struck by how heavy the runners’ packs had been. Between the obligatory gear for the quickly altering temperatures and the big hydration bladders vital for traversing lengthy stretches between assist stations, many runners’ packs I carried had been a minimum of 15 kilos.
The writer volunteering on the Crown King assist station on the 2023 Cocodona 250 Mile. Picture: Emily Flinn
Subsequent, probably the most important illness impacting the runners, even simply 36 miles into the race, was foot points. By the point the midpack converged on Crown King at about 14 hours into the race, the medical employees was treating a seemingly nonstop move of blisters and macerated toes. The mixture of moist toes and heat temperatures appeared to take an early toll.
In fact, in an occasion that may final so long as 125 hours for some folks, I used to be not all that stunned at how lengthy most runners spent within the assist station. It was a far cry from the pit stop-style gear adjustments at quick races like Western States 100. Right here on the Cocodona 250 Mile, with a lot time on the clock, the dearth of urgency was refreshing and made for a pleasing social expertise for runners, crews, and volunteers. It was merely enjoyable!
Lastly, by the day it grew to become clear to me how essential drop luggage are in these multi-day races. In reality, some runners spared no expense in packing their drop luggage with sufficient stuff to produce a small military. Along with the same old issues like footwear, socks, layers, headlamps, batteries, and extra, runners packed a few of their very own meals like pizza and tater tots of their drop luggage. In addition they stashed charging gadgets for his or her telephones and watches, and some good luck charms like small teddy bears to be pinned onto their packs.
Now, two years after my volunteer shift on the Cocodona 250 Mile, I’m making ready to run the race myself. Having been to Crown King many instances through the years, I very a lot look ahead to arriving there someday within the early night of Could 5, 2025, to get pleasure from for myself the straightforward pleasures of this legendary assist station.
Bottoms up!
Jake Jackson on the point of head again out on the course from the Crown King Help Station on the Cocodona 250 Mile. Picture: Mandie Holmes
AJW’s Beer of the Week
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Name for Feedback
- Have you ever achieved the Cocodona 250 Mile or the Crown King Scramble?
- In that case, what are your recollections of the settlement of Crown King itself or the Crown King assist station?