Heart Of Arizona - Congress, Arizona - Running

About The Heart Of Arizona

The Heart Of Arizona is a Running race in Congress, Arizona consisting of a .

The Heart of Arizona is a classic bicycle ride started in 1983 and resurrected twelve years ago by the Bullshifters Bicycling Club. This year the century route was changed to give participants the opportunity to climb Yarnell Grade, made famous by the Race Across America. It's a seven mile climb on wide, smooth shoulders that stays a steady 5% to 6% while giving spectacular views of Vulture Peak and the enormous valley that marks the end of the low lying Sonoran Desert in Arizona.

After leaving the small town of Yarnell, you will find the route mostly downhill with a few rollers as you leave theKeep Reading green pastures of Peeples Valley. After stopping at the first SAG at Kirkland Junction you'll make your way on the virtually unknown, low traffic Wagoner Road to the turnaround before climbing to the second SAG in the hamlet of Wilhoit. Then you will make your way back to Kirkland Junction and take a right up to the small village of Skull Valley, where the third SAG will be waiting for you. You will then return to the location of the first SAG, which will also be your last SAG. There's a climb to get back to Yarnell, but your reward is the thrilling 7 mile descent of Yarnell Hill! This is what you've worked for all day long. After the e-ticket descent, you'll have a couple miles of soft peddling and story telling with your riding buds as you cruise on in to the finish.