Very cool desert run for a great cause. I was in Scottsdale visiting family and of course I always have to see if I can run a local run. Found this one and it’s a heart racer, but fun, slightly dangerous. Pros: I loved the terrain and the view. You get to run through the Sonora desert with huge cacti and rock formations. It was real neat, especially being from the Bay Area. Also, the town of Cave Creek is the cutest thing. I loved driving through it to get to the race and exploring it after. They give you cool little deals as a participant, so we definitely checked some places out. If you’re into funky stores and small towns, this is the place you have to go. It was a small, intimate run and well organized for the most part. Lots of incline, but I enjoy a good hill climb so no complaints here! Cons: I am use to running train runs on single track, but it would be nice to have a little warning of the terrain. The only concern I do have is that this run can be slightly dangerous. I witnessed A LOT of people fall, tripping over rocks and such. The run is primarily on an equestrian trail so it’s not exactly ideal for running. Not a run you want to do to hit a PR. You have people riding your tail because the trail is narrow so you do feel pressured to keep up the pace. It’s not really a con, but just a warning I guess. Overall, if I were ever back in Arizona, I’d probably do it again. Also cool thing — all the proceeds go to open space preservation. Thumbs up to that!
