There are those who love running. There are those who love running—a lot. Then there are those who not only run but promote the sport, organize races, and inspire others. Jamil Coury is one those people.
For the fourth-generation Arizonan who grew up in Glendale, graduated from Arizona State University, and still lives nearby, trail running is more than a pastime. It’s a way of life.
We recently sat down with Coury to talk about trail running, ultramarathons, and how his company, Aravaipa Running, which he founded in 2009, is bringing attention to and helping others enjoy the rapidly growing sport.
How did you get into running?
I got into running [at Ironwood High School]. I tried out for the golf team, then the soccer team, and I didn’t make either. So I joined the track program and stayed with it for all four years. Then I did cross-country during my sophomore, junior, and senior years. I didn't run collegiately, but I continued recreationally and eventually stumbled across a local group that did road races. Then I found a local trail-running group that also happened to run ultramarathons. At first, I couldn't believe people would run for 24 hours straight or for 50 miles or 100 miles in the mountains, but it sounded like fun. I knew it was the right fit for me.
A traditional marathon is 26.2 miles. What is an ultramarathon?
Technically, anything longer than a marathon is an ultramarathon. The next standard distance is 50 kilometers, about 31.1 miles. Most people who have run a marathon can use that same exact training and run a 50k ultra. The next big benchmark would be 50 miles, 100 kilometers (62 miles), then 100 miles. A 50k is pretty close to a marathon experience. If you do a 100-miler, you're now running through the night and probably into the next day, so that creates a whole new challenge.
How do you physically and mentally prepare for running 100 miles?
Most people who participate in an ultramarathon are not running every step. Sure, the people at the front of the pack likely are, but they're well-trained. The majority are going with the flow of the terrain. They’re hiking a lot, especially later in the race. Mentally, you have to break it down into smaller pieces. It's even hard for me to conceptualize some of the things. Oftentimes, it’s just going from aid station to aid station. If you break it up into more manageable sections, the day kind of floats along.
Do you participate in races across the world?
I've done some in Mexico’s Copper Canyon, in China and Hong Kong, and even in the Alps in Europe. It’s a great way for me to travel and see different areas while doing something I love.
What are some of your personal achievements as a runner?
Just finishing a lot of these races is a huge achievement. But there’s one called the Barkley Marathons in Tennessee, and it’s almost impossible to finish. There are no course markings, and the route is revealed the day before the race. There's a ton of climbing, up and down mountains, and going off trail. I've attempted this race six times, and I’ve only completed three out of the five laps, three different times. They call that a “fun run finish.” But just getting that far is probably one of my proudest achievements. Only 20 runners in the 30-year history of the race have ever finished it.
What does Aravaipa Running do?
Our core business is organizing endurance events, such as trail runs and ultramarathons. We also do the Tucson marathon, and we've got some mountain bike races. We do events in seven different states. Our goal is to put on excellent events that provide people with amazing experiences in the endurance space. We also do a lot of media. We have some YouTube channels, and we live-stream some of our events. We even have a clothing brand (Run Steep Get High), and about a year ago, we acquired Ultra Running magazine and its accompanying website, ultrarunning.com.
You put on the Javelina Jundred and the Cocodona 250. Tell us about them.
The Javelina is the largest 100-mile ultramarathon in the U.S. We had 491 finishers and close to 800 starters this year. It’s five laps of a 20-mile loop at McDowell Mountain Regional Park. A lot of people come out to help—crew, pacers, aid providers. It’s a big party vibe. Some people say it’s like the Burning Man of ultramarathons.
The Cocodona 250 is our crown jewel of races. We created it in 2021, and the whole idea was an epic journey across central Arizona, connecting historic towns with incredible mountain ranges and canyons along the way. It starts in Black Canyon City and finishes in Downtown Flagstaff. The winner will do it in about 60 hours, but participants have up to 125 hours, or a bit over five days, to finish. I did it the first year, and it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I was sleep deprived; I was in so much pain. But finishing was so worth it and such an achievement.
How can Aravaipa help people get involved in trail running?
Not all of our organized events are ultramarathons. We have a weekly run group that you can come out for. Details are on our website (AravaipaRunning.com) or the Aravaipa Group Trail Run Facebook page. We have something to meet every person where they’re at. We have 5k and 10k runs. And you don’t have to run. A lot of times we’re hiking. We just want you to get outside and enjoy yourself.