Thrasher Night Runs

Thrasher Night Runs is held in Cave Creek, Arizona, on October 16, 2026. Put on by Aravaipa Running, the evening program sends off four trail distances in sequence: the 33K (20.5 miles) at 6 p.m., the 22K (13.7 miles) at 6:15 p.m., the 11K at 6:30 p.m. and the 5K at 6:45 p.m. Every race is run in the dark.

Night running changes the calculation more than the distances suggest. Your world shrinks to the beam of a headlamp, footing takes more concentration, and most runners find their pace drops on ground they would handle easily in daylight. Bring a light you trust and a spare set of batteries. The 5K and 11K are approachable for anyone who runs regularly and wants a first taste of desert trail after dark, while the 33K rewards a few weeks of evening training runs on similar terrain.