2024 October 12th Soulstice Mountain Trail Run

While Soulstice registration opens New Year's Eve at https://runsignup.com/Race/AZ/Parks/SoulsticeMountainTrailRun, I am pushing back the usual March 31st Soulstice lottery/legacy registration deadline until April 30th. Why? Well, I'd like to encourage even more runners to take the FREE guaranteed entry through the Arizona Tax Credit donation to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flagstaff (BBBSF). Those who do so can also attend the free April 6th BBBSF brunch at Twin Arrows Resort.

Prior to the pandemic, those of you who regularly attended the BBBSF fundraising brunch did so in mid-November. By switching it to April 6th, donors who designate their Arizona Charitable Tax Credit of $421 (or $821 per couple) and expect a refund from the state won't have to wait long to get their money back. Of course if you owe state taxes, you can get the credit instantly (dollar for dollar) when you do your taxes. You can learn more at https://www.flagstafftaxcredit.org/about

I hope to fill 25 seats at NATRA tables at the event! This year donors will also get $100 in raffle tickets for the Soulstice post-race party. If you'd like to take the FREE guaranteed entry through the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit and attend the April 6th brunch (or take the credit and not attend) please respond to this 30 second poll with your name and email at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WJGRCPN.

With regards to Soulstice, our venue in Government Prairie will stay the same as I have been given no guarantees about an opening date for Schultz Pass Road. If you have been reading the news lately, while work on the Waterline Road is ahead of schedule, it is not even expected to be reopened until 2025. I am looking forward to the year when we can safely host Soulstice on the traditional course, but in the meantime, we will have even more surprises on October 12th.

For those of you that attended last year's magical race and post-race party that went later into the afternoon than ever, I was very touched how the Government Prairie community has fully embraced Soulstice in ways that I never could have imagined. One local lined the access to our staging area with a flock of pink flamingos and signs welcoming runners to the race. Then as I stood at the finish line, the land owner adjacent to the starting line introduced himself and excitedly offered to allow parking next year on his ranch. Chris also said he would break out his griddle and flip pancakes as runners finished. So now you can have breakfast just past the finish line ahead of the post-race party at the Langner's LIttle Pup Ranch.

Next year, we will also have fun highlighting the historic Beale Wagon Road that is adjacent to the north end of the course. My Pal Eric Souder's camels Rakuda and Gamal will be at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flagstaff Aid station, and at the post-race party so folks can get up close and personal pictures with them. To learn more about the role camels played in the construction of the Beale Wagon Road between 1857 and 1859, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/kaibab/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=11675&actid=50

There are now 142 legacy runners who have raced Soulstice seven or more times. If you are one, you are guaranteed entry as long as you register before the April 30th deadline. I will continue to randomly draw refundable guaranteed entries each month, so the earlier your register, the more chances you will have to get your entry fee refunded. And of course if you don't get in through the lottery, I will refund your money after May 1st. Registration will open New Year's Eve at 6 PM at https://runsignup.com/Race/AZ/Parks/SoulsticeMountainTrailRun or complete the poll above, that you'd like to take the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit.

• Neil Weintraub
  Organizer
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