Colossal Vail 50/50
Always double-check with the organizer's website! This page may contain affiliate links.
Colossal Vail 50/50 - Colossal Cave Mountain Park, Vail, AZ
The Colossal Vail 50/50 is a trail running event organized by Arizona Trail Events on a high desert section of the Arizona Trail east of Tucson, on the ancestral lands of the Tohono O'odham. Distances offered include:
- 50 Miler
- 55K
- 13 Miler day course
- 13 Miler night course
The course begins at La Posta Quemada Ranch in Colossal Cave Mountain Park and follows trail segments along the boundary between the Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts. Runners reach northern ridges of the Santa Rita Mountains and return to the ranch; the ultra courses use two out-and-back segments. There are five aid stations along the routes, four of which are encountered twice. Skratch Labs is the official hydration sponsor.
The event is cupless at aid stations; collapsible reusable cups from HydraPak are available for purchase at packet pickup and runners may use their own. Awards are given to the top three male and female finishers in each event. Every ultra finisher receives an engraved railroad spike and half marathon finishers receive a wooden finisher award. A 50 Miler entrant may stop after the 55K segment and receive that event's finisher credit and award.
Discounts apply for Arizona Trail Association members, military veterans, Native Americans, and youth under 18. A pre race dinner is offered at Charron Vineyards with pasta, salad, and a beverage for $25 per person by advance reservation. No refunds are given; cancellation at least two weeks before race day can generate a 75% credit toward other events in the series, and cancellations within two weeks generate a 50% credit. Africanized bees can be prevalent in some years, so people allergic to stings should carry appropriate medication or consider other options. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
