2/7: Agassiz Uphill: When a run just isn't enough

So, running isn't hard enough for you?

How about running uphill? Still not enough?

Well, what about running or skiing uphill in the snow to 11,500 feet in elevation?

About 350 hardy souls, including ultradistance star Rob Krar, are expected to tackle that very challenge at 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, in the Kahtoola Agassiz Uphill at Arizona Snowbowl northwest of Flagstaff.

For the first time in the event's eight-year history, competitors will go to the top of Snowbowl's Agassiz chairlift, a 3.5-mile round trip that tops out at 11,500 feet.

In past years, racers went to Midway, which is a 3-mile course with about 500 fewer feet to climb. That option remains this year, along with a Fun Climb of about 1.5 miles.

Contestants have several options to attack the terrain. They can wear traction devices on their hiking or running shoes, skis with "skins" for climbing, hiking crampons or snowshoes.

The catch is that whatever they wear going up the mountain, they must wear on the way down. So a shoe-traction setup will have an advantage going up, but skiers can remove the skins and ski down the mountain, where they gain the advantage.

"We have a lot of serious racers, but we wanted to make sure that whether someone is a runner or a hiker or just somebody who supports our charity, Camp Colton, that they can have fun doing it," said Hilary Childs, associate for marketing and event direction at Kahtoola, a Flagstaff company that makes snow-traction products for hiking, running and skiing.

Last year, Childs said, about 20 of the top 25 finishers wore traction-type footwear. Krar has won the race multiple times wearing skis with skins.

"When people ask what works best, we always like to say whatever Rob is doing is the fastest way," Childs said.

Krar is a 37-year-old Flagstaff pharmacist who burst onto the ultrarunning scene by finishing second at the 2013 Western States 100 — his first 100-mile race. He won Western States and the prestigious Leadville Trail 100 in 2014.

"He's all signed up and ready to race," Childs said.

So-called uphills are gaining in popularity among endurance runners, and the Agassiz Uphill has grown from 25 racers in the first year. Four times that many contestants may run the course this year.

"It's our local home-grown baby," Childs said. "It was a morning race when it started, and now it's an evening race. We didn't go past Midway because we wanted to build trust and make sure we knew what our competitors can do.

"We didn't want anybody signing up for a course that they shouldn't attempt. That's why we've kept the Midway course and added the Fun Climb.

"Everybody felt confident to take it to the top, and we've done some awesome training runs to give people a chance to run up there. We're all excited to see what happens."

Individuals can enter any of the races, and there are team divisions in the two longer races. Arizona Snowbowl staff will monitor the course, and entrants must meet cutoff times at various points to continue.

Childs said Flagstaff ski shops have limited rental equipment available, and Kahtoola has some demo traction systems to lend. But she said traction systems are inexpensive enough that most entrants purchase them. A decent set can be had for about $50.

"We also have a great party at Hart Prairie Lodge for everybody after the race," she said.

Kahtoola Agassiz Uphill

When: 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7.

Where: Arizona Snowbowl, 14 miles northwest of Flagstaff off U.S. 180.

Admission: $75 for Agassiz Climb, $55 for Midway Climb, $40 for Fun Climb. Register online.

Details:kahtoolaagassizuphill.com.