My first experience racing the desert trails at Catalina State Park turned into one of my favorite race weekends yet.
I recently had the opportunity to spend a long weekend in Tucson, Arizona, and decided to do something a little different with my racing. Rather than another road race, I signed up for a 5K trail race at Catalina State Park.
I’ve raced plenty of miles on the roads, but racing through the Arizona desert was a completely new experience. Between the incredible mountain views, towering saguaro cacti, and challenging trails, this was easily one of the coolest race settings I’ve experienced.
And to make the weekend even better, I walked away with a 2nd place overall finish!
A Challenging Start on the Desert Trails
Going into the race, I knew the terrain would be different from what I’m used to. What I didn’t fully anticipate was just how challenging some sections would be.
Recent rain had washed out portions of the steeper trails, leaving loose, uneven footing on both the climbs and descents. It definitely wasn’t a course where you could just settle into your normal 5K pace and cruise.
The race started with an almost immediate uphill climb that continued for roughly the first three-quarters of a mile.
I started near the front but quickly lost some ground on that climb. I knew I needed to be smart about my effort. Push too hard early and I’d risk burning out, but back off too much and I’d give the leaders too much advantage.
By the time things started leveling out, I was sitting in fifth place.
One Runner at a Time
Once the terrain became a little more manageable, I started picking up the pace. I still had to be cautious with my footing, especially on the downhill sections, but I felt strong enough to start closing the gaps.
At that point, my strategy was pretty simple: focus on the runner directly in front of me.
Rather than worrying about how far ahead the leaders were, I concentrated on catching one person at a time. Close the gap, make the pass, and move on to the next.
That approach worked out pretty well!
I continued moving up through the field and crossed the finish line in 22:00, taking 2nd place overall.
Not a bad way to finish my first desert trail race!
More Than Just a Finish Time
One of the things I love about racing is that every course presents a different challenge. Sometimes it’s about chasing a personal record on a fast, flat road course. Other times, it’s about adapting to the conditions, managing your effort, and competing with the runners around you.
This race was definitely the latter.
I’ve been putting a lot of work into improving my speed and overall running performance, and it was exciting to see that training pay off in a completely different racing environment.
But beyond the podium finish, this was just a fantastic event. The scenery was incredible, the people were great, and the entire experience reminded me why I enjoy running and racing so much.
I’m already looking forward to getting back to Arizona for another one.
Until then, it’s back to training, getting faster, and seeing what I can do at the next race.
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