12 Hours of Asaayi Endurance Race

12 HOURS OF ASAAYI ENDURANCE RACE
12-hour, 6-hour and 3-hour Endurance Races
Saturday, June 8, 2024
 

REGISTRATION – Online registration for the 12-hour, 6-hour and 3-hour events is now open through Thursday, June 6 at www.runsignup.com. Registration includes major support throughout the race, including a wide variety of food and drinks.  All participants also receive a performance t-shirt, additional swag, available camping, professional timing, overall and age-group awards.  

FOOD & SUPPORT – Your registration includes food throughout the day, including Honey Stinger products, sweet and salty snacks, fresh fruit, Coke, Ginger Ale, Mountain Dew, Gatorade, water, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, hot soup, noodles, quesadillas, pickles, sandwiches and more.  You may have a drop bag at the checkpoint on each lap if you have food/drink items or gear/clothing that you want to access or exchange.   

At the checkpoint, you will have access to medical support, live music, portable toilets, your drop bag and your vehicle.  We will have massage available for runners in the latter part of the race day.

COURSE – The 2.2 mile loop route is predominantly singletrack route, with about ½-mile dirt road.  The route is very challenging and scenic.  Asaayi has the largest population of bears on the Navajo Nation, and runners should be aware of rattlesnakes, cougars and other potential wildlife on the remote sections of trail.  Runners will log as many laps/miles as possible on the course during their 12, 6 or 3-hour time period.

CAMPING – Rustic camping is available at Camp Asaayi on Friday and Saturday night.  There will be portajohns at the site. There is no power, running water, modern restrooms or wi-fi at the camp, and very limited phone reception.

PACKET PICK-UP – Packet pick-up and on-site registration will be available an hour before each race on race morning at the ramada The start/finish location for each lap and the aid station ramada are all located at the same location as packet pick-up. 

AWARDS – There will be overall and age-group awards.

CONTACTS:  Tom:  928.429.0345; chuskaman@yahoo.com  

Josh/Rocky Mountain Timing  (Registration, timing questions and results)  970.403.2794

The 12 Hours of Asaayi and the Navajo Parks Race Series are co-sponsored by the nonprofit organization NavajoYES and the Navajo Parks & Recreation Dept., with major support from Navajo Rangers, Honey Stinger, Osprey and the Navajo Trails Task Force.

DIRECTONS – Camp Asaayi is located in Bowl Canyon Recreation Area in the Chuska Mountains.  Access is easiest on the new paved road, just north of Navajo, New Mexico. A good graded dirt road on the north side of the lake, begins off NM Hwy 134 near Crystal, New Mexico.  The start, finish, parking and camping are at Camp Asaayi, not Lake Asaayi (which is about ½ mile away).  Camp Asaayi is just east of the Lake.

From east (if travelling from Shiprock, Newcomb, etc.)  Travel over Narbona Pass from Sheep Springs, heading west.  Travel ½ mile west of Crystal on NM Hwy 134.  Turn left (south) at the large Bowl Canyon sign and travel south seven miles on the graded dirt road to Lake Asaayi and Camp Asaayi, which is located at the “Group Campgrounds” on the map below.

From south (Window Rock, Ganado, Gallup, etc.)   Travel 20 miles north from WR to the newly paved road 8000, about three miles north of Navajo, New Mexico.  Head east on route 8000 about eight miles up to road 311.  Turn left (north) on 311 and travel three miles to Camp Asaayi, which is located at the “Group Campgrounds” on the map below.

From north (Tsaile, Chinle, Lukachukai, Red Valley, Rock Point, Kayenta)  Head south past Wheatfield to NM Hwy 134 at NHA housing and turn left (east).  Travel four miles on 134 until you see the large Bowl Canyon sign.  Turn right (south) and travel eight miles to the Camp. Turn right (south) and head eight miles to Camp Asaayi.