This is a preview of the race – click here to read about an historic overall victory for Rachel Entrekin.
The Cocodona 250 is an epic point-to-point ultramarathon through central Arizona, linking historic towns and trails off the beaten path – from the Sonoran Desert Saguaros to the red rock monoliths of Sedona and then on to the Ponderosa Pine forests and big volcanic peaks of Flagstaff, not to mention all the mining towns and history along the way.
The 250 is the flagship race and actually covers 253.3 miles – the other four options are 125 miles, 100 miles, 80 miles and 40 miles.
Set up by Aravaipa Running, a runner-driven organisation that promotes trail and ultra-running and mountain biking events, it’s made a big impact in a short space of time since the inaugural edition in 2021 and is now firmly established as one of the highest-profile events of its kind.
Read on to find out all you need to know about what promises to be an epic edition…
Date, start time and how to watch live
The 250 started at 05.00 local time on Monday 4 May – that corresponds to 08:00 Eastern and 13:00 UK, 14:00 CET.
The time limit for competitors is 125 hours, so 10:00 on Friday 9 May.
The race is livestreamed by Mountain Outpost, a monumental effort which requires no fewer than 16 streams in total of eight hours each and you can find all of them here.
We’ve also embedded the one featuring the moment Rachel Entrekin made history below.
Course guide and live tracking
Live tracking of the runners can be accessed here.
There is a staggering elevation gain of 38,791 feet over the course of the 253 miles, with a loss of 33,884 feet.
In terms of the surface, it’s 45% on single-track, 46% on double-track and the remainder on pavement.
The maximum elevation of 9,241 feet comes close to the finish and there are 21 aid stations en route – the runners are allowed crews and pacers.
Starting in Black Canyon City, the finish line is in the popular town of Flagstaff with stunning scenery and likely hot temperatures en route.
Who’s racing
The headline acts are American stars Rachel Entrekin and Courtney Dauwalter.
Ultrarunning GOAT Dauwalter has won the sport’s biggest races multiple times but suffered a rare DNF here last year after 108 miles so this is unfinished business or a “fun experiment” as she labelled it beforehand.
She comes into it on the back of a victory at Chianti Castles by UTMB in Italy over 120km / 75 miles.
Entrekin was third that day in Tuscany but her record at Cocodona is incredible, winning the women’s race the last two years and shattering the course record in 2025 when she was also fourth overall in 63 hours, 50 minutes and 55 seconds.
Former pro IRONMAN triathlete Heather Jackson adds further intrigue in what will be her debut over 200 or more miles.
On the men’s side we have three former winners – Michael Versteeg from the debut 2021 race, Joe McCounaghy (2022), and Michael McKnight (2023).
And also racing is last year’s 200 Triple Crown winner Kilian Korth so it could well be a record-breaking year.
Click on the links below to see how the race unfolded:
- 24 hours: Entrekin on record pace and in overall lead
- Race hit by tragedy as runner dies following a “serious medical emergency”
- 48 hours: Entrekin on course for incredible win
- History made as Entrekin takes overall victory and shatters course record
