The Soulstice Mountain Trail Run was originally conceived when William Ring, Wiley Addis, and Paul Brinkmann returned home from the Imogene Pass Run believing it could be Flagstaff's version of the famous run from Ouray to Telluride.
First directed by Bill Ring's Soulstice Racing Company with $500 sponsorship from the Pay n' Take in 1997 and again in 2001, Soulstice is a high-altitude footrace (7400 feet) held within the Kaibab National Forest's beautiful and historic Government Prairie.
In 2002, NATRA LLC took over the event and added a 6 mile "Short Course" to encourage beginners to try competitive trail running. The race is limited to 225 entrants, and since 2003, has been a sellout.
Entry is done through a lottery system, now held on May 1st.
In Spring 2011, Runners World listed Soulstice as one of the top 32 trail races in the United States, and calling it "one of the best post race parties anywhere." Today the race could not happen without the generous support of the Pay n' Take, Aspen Sports, David McKee, Fratelli's Pizza, Run Flagstaff, Coconino Amateur Radio Club, Northern Arizona University's Recreation Management Program students, and NATRA's many friends who continue to volunteer every year. The race is permitted by the Coconino National Forest and most recently raised $16,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flagstaff mentoring programs.
Runners often face adverse conditions, with snow periodically on upper reaches of the course, and has been held in torrential rains and the tail end of a tornado even flipped over a tent!
2024 Soulstice Short Course Strava
2024 Soulstice Long Course Strava
Soulstice Runner History 2002-2023
© Northern Arizona Trail Runner's Assocation | 2015
