Cool-country races where Arizonans can beat the heat

This is the time of year when we have one eye on the thermometer and the other on the calendar, so we can make plans to get out of the heat at the first opportunity.

That's especially true for those who love to get outside for heart-pounding fun.

It's hard to beat a long bike ride, run or scramble over obstacles in the mud in Flagstaff, Mogollon Rim country, the White Mountains or Prescott once Memorial Day passes and the mercury spikes.

Whether it's trail running, mountain biking, road cycling, running or some combination of those, there are ample opportunities to pursue your favorite activities in the high country this summer.

Plus, many events benefit worthy causes, such as the Yarnell Fire District Memorial 10K/5K, the Taylor House Bike Ride in Flagstaff and the Arizona Trail North Rim Half Marathon.

Here is a summer's worth of events where you can beat the heat and have fun.

Running

Sacred Mountain 10K/5K Prayer Run: 7:30 a.m. June 6. Thorpe Park, 191 N. Thorpe Road, Flagstaff. $30-$40. nacainc.org/smpr.

Yarnell Fire District Memorial 10K/5K: Various times, June 6. Yarnell Assembly of God Church, 17125 W. Fountain Hill Lane, Yarnell. $20-$50. yarnellfire.com.

Bucket of Blood Half Marathon/10K: 6 a.m. June 11. 100 E. Arizona St., Holbrook. Event also includes two bike races. $45. 928-600-0553, holbrookcommerce.org.

Dave McKay Memorial Half Marathon/5K: 7:30 a.m. Aug. 8. Wheeler Park, 212 W. Aspen Ave., Flagstaff. $35-$75. bbbsf.com.

Hopi 10K/5K/2 mile: 6 a.m. Aug. 8. State Route 264, Old Oraibi, Hopi Reservation. $15-$30; free kids dash. runhopi.com.

Glow in the Bowl Family Fun Run: 8 p.m. Aug. 8. Green Valley Park, 1000 W. Country Club Drive, Payson. $25. paysonrimcountry.com.

Sweet Corn Run/Walk 10K/5K/1 mile: 7 a.m. Aug. 16. Mortimer Family Farms, 12907 State Route 169, Dewey. $5-$20. go-ar.com/sweetcornrun.html.

Jerome Hill Climb: 8 a.m. Sept. 6. Jerome Firehouse, Perkinsville (Gold King Mine) Road, Jerome. $26. arizonaroadracers.com.

Trail Running

Big Pine 108K/54K/27K/13K: 7 a.m. June 13-14. Fort Tuthill County Park, 2446 Fort Tuthill Loop, Flagstaff. $35-$140. aravaiparunning.com.

Blackout Night Runs 13K/27K/54K: 7 p.m. June 13-14. Fort Tuthill County Park, 2446 Fort Tuthill Loop, Flagstaff. Yes, same location as the Big Pine runs. Real die-hards can tackle the 162K Challenge by finishing the morning 108K in time to start the evening 54K. $35-$140. aravaiparunning.com.

Summer Nights Trail Series: 6:30 p.m. June 17 (7K), July 15 (5K), Aug. 5 (3K). Flagstaff Nordic Center, 16848 U.S. 180 north of Flagstaff. $30 per race or $80 for all three. teamrunflagstaff.com.

Gheral Brownlow Memorial 10K/2 mile: 6:30 a.m. June 27. Pioneer Park, 1300 Commerce Drive, Prescott. $15-$25. runprescott.com.

Hearts 911 10 mile/10K/5K: 7:30 a.m. July 11. Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy, 3401 N. Fort Valley Road, Flagstaff. $25-$55. shadowsfoundation.org.

Snowbowl Hill Climb: 7 a.m. July 19. At Snowbowl Road and U.S. 180 north of Flagstaff. $40. teamrunflagstaff.com.

Machine Solutions 10K/5K/2K: 8 a.m. Aug. 1. Fort Tuthill County Park, 2446 Fort Tuthill Loop. $30-$45. flagstaffmedicalcenter.com.

Gaspin' in the Aspen: 8 a.m. Aug. 22. Flagstaff Nordic Center, 16848 U.S. 180 north of Flagstaff. $35-$45. flagstaffnordiccenter.com.

Arizona Trail North Rim Half Marathon: 9 a.m. Aug. 30. DeMotte Campground, 7 miles north of the entrance to the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. $70. aztrail.org.

Lewis Tewanima Footrace 10K/5K/1 mile: 6 a.m. Sept. 6. Baseball field, Village of Shungopavi, SR 264. $15-$30. tewanimafootrace.org.

Paatuwaqatsi Run for Water 50K/10mile/4 mile: 6 a.m. Sept. 12. Follows trails of the First Mesa Villages and visits seven natural springs. SR 87 and SR 264, Polacca. $15-$65. waterisliferun.org.

Cycling

Bucket of Blood Half Century/20-mile: 6 a.m. June 11. 100 E. Arizona St., Holbrook. Event also includes two running races. $45. 928-600-0553, holbrookcommerce.org.

White Mountain Tour: 7:30 a.m. June 27 and 8 a.m. June 28. Two-day tour has a choice of distances. Hon-Dah Resort Casino, on State Route 73 east of Pinetop. $75. pmbcaz.org.

Taylor House Century Ride: 7 a.m. July 18. Flagstaff Medical Center, 1200 N. Beaver St. Choose from scenic rides of 30, 45, 65 or 95 miles. All rides $60. absolutebikes.net.

Flagstaff Tour: Various times, July 17-19. Three rides ranging from 17 to 55 miles over three days, beginning and ending at Mormon Lake Lodge, 1991 Mormon Lake Road, Mormon Lake. Includes a Saturday-night spaghetti dinner. $10. pmbcaz.org.

Pedal the Petrified: 7 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 19. Painted Desert Visitor Center, Petrified Forest National Park, 25 miles east of Holbrook off of I-40. Non-competitive bicycle tour of the Painted Desert and Petrified National Forest is limited to 200 riders. $80, includes park entrance. npc.edu/pedal4scholarships.

Mountain Biking

Old-Fashioned Mountain Bike Race: 9 a.m. Aug. 22. Fort Valley Trail System, U.S. 180 and Forest Road 164B north of Flagstaff. 1-, 2- and 3-lap races on 10-mile loop. $40. absolutebikes.net.

Barn Burner 104: 7 a.m. Aug. 29. C&C Ranch, at Forest Road 171 and Forest Road 793 north of Flagstaff. 26-, 52- and 104-mile options. $55-$145. barnburnermtb.com.

Fire on the Rim: 7:30 a.m. Sept. 12. 6000 Bradshaw Drive, Pine. 15-, 30- and 45-mile options. $50 before July 15. fireontherim.com.

Triathlon

Deuces Wild Triathlon Festival: Various times, May 30. Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area, 1500 Fools Hollow Road, Show Low. Long course is 1.2-mile swim, 56.2-mile bike ride and 13.1-mile run. Olympic course is 1,500-meter swim, 40K bike ride and 10K run. Youth courses for ages 5-12. $140-$215; $30-$45 for youth courses. deuceswildtriathlon.com.

Deuces Wild Triathlon Festival Xterra: 7 a.m. May 31. Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area, 1500 Fools Hollow Road, Show Low. This Xterra USA Championship qualifier event has an 800-meter swim, 24KM bike ride and 8KM run. $105. deuceswildtriathlon.com.

Prescott Racquet Club Triathlon: 7 a.m. June 7. 1 Kingswood Drive, Prescott. Mini (75-yard swim, 6-mile bike, ¹/₂-mile run) and Maxi (150 yards, 15 miles, 2.5 miles) events are perfect for beginners. $70-$79. trifamilyracing.com.

Payson Sprint Triathlon: 6 a.m. June 20. Taylor Pool, 504 N. McLane Road, Payson. 500-yard swim, 15-mile bike ride and 5K run. $55. paysonrimcountry.com/parks-rec/races.

Mountain Man Sprint Triathlon: 7 a.m. July 12. At mile marker 333 on Lake Mary Road southeast of Flagstaff. 750-meter swim in Upper Lake Mary, 20K bike ride and 5K run. $85. mountainmanevents.com.

Mountain Man Half Iron/Olympic triathlons: 6:10 a.m. Aug. 12. At mile marker 333 on Lake Mary Road southeast of Flagstaff. Half-Iron (2,000-meter swim, 56-mile bike ride, 13.1-mile run) and Olympic (1,500 meters, 40K, 10K) distances. $90-$185. mountainmanevents.com.

Mud/obstacle

Mogollon Monster Mudder: 9 a.m. June 6. This 5K route includes 30 obstacles, some natural and some man-made, plus trail running. Payson Events Center, 1400 S. State Route 87. $60 by May 22; $70 day of the event. $5 for kids course. paysonrimcountry.com.

Flagstaff Extreme Terrain Mud Run: Various times, July 25. Fort Tuthill County Park, Fort Tuthill Loop Road, Flagstaff. Flaming logs, cargo nets and barbed wire are among 20 obstacles. 5K, 10K and 20K courses, plus kids race. From $45-$55, increasing as race date gets nearer. terrainracing.com.