Arizona Series Season Finale Set for March 25

New course at Black Canyon to provide numerous challenges

The last chance to race in the 2011-12 XTERRA Arizona Trail Run Series will come at a first-time event.

The inaugural XTERRA Black Canyon Trail Run is scheduled for March 25 at Rock Springs, Arizona, and it will serve as the series finale for the 2011-12 season of the XTERRA Arizona Trail Run Series.

Race director Shannon Lindner said the course at Black Canyon is relatively new and unexplored, and runners who have never been there will be treated to unique views as well as challenging terrain.

"This is a fairly new trail, and parts are still under construction," Arizona Series director Shannon Lindner said. "It most likely will not be as familiar to the average metro trail runner from Arizona, and to the best of my knowledge, this is the first trail run event held on the trail."

The event will feature two course options - a 21-kilometer long course for distance runners, and a 9-kilometer course for sprinters and less-experienced runners. The long course will take runners on numerous twists and turns, including several descents down to a river bed, and subsequent challenging climbs.

"The water is usually pretty low, definitely below the knees, and the sandy river bed is mostly exposed," Lindner said. "There's some good river rock hopping, and there's a large climb that has a few rollers to give a little reprieve. The descent is fast, but it's not straight down … and the views are absolutely amazing going down to the river."

The best part is anybody can participate. The race is open to runners of all ages and skill levels, even those who have never competed in a previous Arizona Series race.

The Black Canyon Trail Run is the fourth, and final, race of the season. The overall age-group standings for the series will be determined after this race. Each respective age-group champion will receive a free entry to represent Arizona at the 2012 XTERRA Trail Run National Championship at Utah in September.

As added incentive, the awards and post-race party will be hosted by Rock Springs Café - a famous destination in Arizona for pies and other desserts.

To register for the race or learn more about it, please visit www.aztrailrace.com.

The XTERRA Arizona Trail Run Series will take the summer months off due to the extreme heat in that area. However, the races will return in October for the 2012-13 season.

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