You will experience some of the most beautiful and rugged country in Southern Arizona and get a taste of the old west. Please be sure you are well-trained for the hills, rocks and remote nature of the event. The detailed map included with your packet, should be studied before race day and carried with you during the race.
Refunds or transfers of your entry are not permitted. If for some reason you cannot participate after you have entered we can defer your entry one time to the following year. There is a 5-person limit to this rule. First come basis. Deferment requests must be received prior to close of registration.
Both the 50 Mile and 50k races begin together at 6:00 a.m. Each distance follows its own marked course and has separate cutoff times. Please review the cutoff table below for the requirements that apply to your race.
50 Mile runners must return to Kentucky Camp by 1:45 p.m. and begin their second loop in order to continue. Runners who do not meet this cutoff will not be permitted to continue on the 50 Mile course and will receive a DNF.
If you anticipate that you may not reach Kentucky Camp by the 1:45 p.m. cutoff, you may request an early start at 5:00 a.m. The 1:45 p.m. cutoff at Kentucky Camp still applies, regardless of your start time. Early starters are not eligible for overall or age group awards. If you plan to start early, you must notify Race Management at least one week before race day. Your total elapsed time will be listed in the official results. Dropping down from the 50 Mile to the 50K is not permitted. Runners who do not complete the 50 Mile will receive a DNF.
Bib numbers must be visible. Runners must announce their arrival and departure from every Aid Station. We want to make sure you have a fun and safe race. Knowing where you are and what time you left goes a long way in ensuring that happens.
This is a TOUGH trail race. We can take care of you at the Aid Stations but you are mainly responsible for taking care of yourself. Eat and drink often. Refueling is extremely important. Please understand that if you run into trouble out on the course we will do whatever we can to get to you in a timely fashion. But timely is relative to location and terrain.
Packet Pickup & Race Day Check-In
Pre-race packet pickup will be held on Thursday, March 4th from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM at The Running Shop 3055 N. Campbell Ave #153, Tucson, AZ 85719
Race morning packet pickup will be held at Kentucky Camp from 4:45 AM to 5:45 AM.
If for some reason you can not continue the race, please report to the nearest aid station captain. They will remove your wristband and have the radio operators notify race management. Do not leave the race without letting a race official know.
Aid Stations & Cutoff Times
Aid stations are located throughout both the 50 Mile and 50K courses. Some aid stations are visited more than once, while others are unique to a particular distance. Please refer to the aid station tables below for aid station locations, mileages, cutoff times, crew access, and distances between aid stations.
When arriving at and departing from each aid station, please check in and check out with race volunteers so we can accurately track your progress on the course. Be sure to call out your bib number upon arrival and departure.
The course travels through remote desert terrain where temperatures, sun exposure, wind, and elevation changes can make conditions challenging. Aid stations are spaced several miles apart, so runners should carry adequate fluids, nutrition, and any other essentials needed to safely reach the next aid station.
50K runners must finish by 4:00 p.m.
50 Mile runners must return to Kentucky Camp by 1:45 p.m. to begin their second loop. Remaining cutoff times are listed in the aid station table below.
| 50 K | |||||
| Visit | Aid Station | Mileage | Cutoff | Crew Access | Distance to Next Aid |
| 1 | Melendrez Pass #1 | 5.00 | N/A | No | 5.50 |
| 2 | Box Canyon | 10.25 | N/A | No | 5.00 |
| 3 | Melendrez Pass #2 | 15.25 | N/A | No | 6.00 |
| 3 | Cave Creek | 21.25 | N/A | Yes | 6.50 |
| 4 | Gardner Canyon | 27.75 | N/A | Yes | 4.75 |
| 5 | Finish | 32.50 | 4:00 PM | Yes | – |
| 50 Mile | |||||
| Visit | Aid Station | Mileage | Cutoff | Crew Access | Distance to Next Aid |
| 1 | Melendrez Pass #1 | 5.00 | N/A | No | 5.50 |
| 2 | Melendrez Pass #2 | 10.50 | N/A | No | 6.25 |
| 3 | Cave Creek | 16.75 | N/A | Yes | 6.50 |
| 4 | Gardner Canyon | 23.25 | N/A | Yes | 4.75 |
| 5 | Kentucky Camp | 28.00 | 1:45 PM | Yes | 4.75 |
| 6 | Gardner Canyon | 32.75 | 3:15 PM | Yes | 6.25 |
| 7 | Melendrez Pass #3 | 39.00 | 5:15 PM | No | 6.00 |
| 8 | Melendrez Pass #4 | 45.00 | 7:30 PM | No | 4.75 |
| 9 | Finish | 49.75 | 9:00 PM | Yes | – |
Aid Station Fare
Aid Stations will be stocked with water, electrolyte drink, Scandinavian Swimmers (sour or non-sour), potatoes, oranges, bananas, chips, m&ms, pretzels, pb&j sandwiches, Coke, and ramen. Electrolyte tablets WILL NOT be available.
Kentucky Camp – Start/Finish: Hamburgers and other food items will be available from noon on.
Drop Bags
Drop bag service is available to 50 Mile runners only. Drop bags are not available for the 50K.
All drop bags must be placed in the designated drop bag area no later than 5:30 a.m. The drop bag area is located in the parking lot before you walk through the gate and descend to Kentucky Camp.
Runners are responsible for placing their drop bags in the correct aid station bin.
Please clearly label each drop bag with your name, bib number, and destination aid station
Pacers
50 Mile runners aged 60 years or older are allowed a pacer on the second loop. Pacers must inform race management and begin their pacing duties at Kentucky Camp.
Other Serious Stuff
In order for this run to continue in the future, it is very important that you pack out all your trash. “Leave No Trace”. Bury all human waste and pack out the toilet paper.
Adobe Walls
Kentucky Camp Historic District (#95001312) is on the National Register of Historic Places. Please respect the surroundings and do not touch or lean against any adobe walls. Damage to the adobe structures can cause substantial damage and will jeopardize the future of the OP Endurance Runs.
Gates
This is cattle country and you will encounter fences and gates. Please close all gates as you pass through, don’t assume the runner behind you will close them.
Course Marking
This course will be well marked with flour and Pink and Black striped flagging tape to show the correct route. Blue flagging tape will be used to show the incorrect route. Sometimes folks with nothing better to do have removed sections of flagging. Please study the map and take it with you for reference.
Camping & Fires
You may camp alongside of FR 163 within the national forest or other primitive camping is also allowed in other areas of the national forest. NO FIRES PLEASE.
Weather
The past several years brought a mix of race day conditions. Be prepared for conditions ranging from rain, snow or warm Arizona sun. Normal March High 66°F, Normal March Low 33°F Average March Precipitation 1.10 in. It is always cold, typically below freezing at the start. Please come prepared for anything.
NOTE: In 2014 we had a monsoon storm park itself over the Santa Rita Mountains for at least 20 hrs. Even though 100% chance of rain was predicted for race day all week long, we still had folks show up wearing only t-shirts. They paid a price. This is a high desert / mountain run through remote areas. Be prepared for anything Mother Nature can throw at you. We strive hard to ensure your safety, but we can only do so much. Be responsible for yourself.