Christiansen Trail Run.
The Christiansen Trail Run bills itself as the original Phoenix trail run, covering fourteen miles along Trail 100 from Mountain View Park. None of its climbs is long, but steep ramps and loose rock leave little room for rhythm, so good preparation centres on staying sure-footed downhill once the legs are tired.
Christiansen Trail Run 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
Start and finish are at Mountain View Park on North 7th Avenue. The ground along Trail 100 is rugged, with steep ups and downs and loose rock underfoot, and that is what gives this race its character: only about a seventh of the course is flat, the rest split evenly between climbing and descending. There are seven climbs, and not one reaches a kilometre in length.
The first five kilometres rise moderately and run well. Around kilometre 6 that changes: just over 50 metres of gain arrive in under a kilometre, the course reaches about 480 metres and then drops away again until kilometre 11.
Between kilometres 11 and 14 comes the second block. Three climbs in close succession lead to the highest point of the day, followed at once by a loss of nearly 60 metres in under two kilometres. One last climb around kilometre 16 lifts you to just above 450 metres before the course rolls downhill back to the park.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 1.1 | 0.7 km | 4.1 % | 6.8 % | +26 m | — |
| km 4.2 | 0.7 km | 3.1 % | 6.2 % | +21 m | — |
| km 6.1 | 0.9 km | 6.2 % | 23.5 % | +53 m | — |
| km 11 | 0.6 km | 6.2 % | 12.5 % | +35 m | — |
| km 11.9 | 0.8 km | 5.9 % | 13.3 % | +46 m | — |
| km 12.9 | 0.4 km | 3.8 % | 8.9 % | +14 m | — |
| km 16.3 | 0.7 km | 4.7 % | 7 % | +31 m | — |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
How to pace Christiansen Trail Run.
Start under control
Pace by effort, not by kilometre splits: on loose rock the watch says little about how well you are moving. The four-hour limit leaves room to hike the steepest pitches, and here that is the plan rather than a concession. Those short ramps cost far more at a run than they return.
Hold your rhythm
The race is decided between kilometres 11 and 14 and on the descent that follows. Three climbs with barely a gap land on legs that have already done the block around kilometre 6, and the rock on the way down demands full attention. Arrive there with control left and the last kilometres are still runnable.
Spend what is left
The trap is the gentle start. The first two climbs are mild enough to make you feel quick, and every minute overspent there is missing later on the rocks. Build the fuelling into the plan too: the gels at mile 4 come at roughly the point where the first hard ramp begins, and those at mile 10 just ahead of the final climb. Take both rather than running past.
Training plan for Christiansen Trail Run: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect to be out for roughly 2:30 to 3:45 hours. Much of that is aerobic work, but it is not a steady run: short hard spikes on the ramps alternate with stretches where the heart rate falls while the legs keep working on the descents.
Train race pace
The decisive phase arrives once the climbs start stacking up from kilometre 11, well into the effort. So build long runs on rocky paths with the harder half at the end, saving the hilliest sections on purpose for the back of the session. Short hill intervals of two to five minutes match the length of the ramps; add brisk uphill hiking as a skill of its own.
Rehearse the course
The biggest gains are downhill. Loose rock asks for short, quick steps and quads that tolerate repeated braking. Practise that regularly on similar ground, including at the end of longer sessions, and add strength work for the legs and ankles.
Arrive fresh
The race falls in early January, so the last weeks of preparation run into the holidays: place your longest runs before them and keep the taper simple. Rehearse your fuelling as well. All aid stations carry water and Gatorade, with gels only at miles 4 and 10, so your stomach should know both under load.
Courses
Download the Christiansen Trail Run course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Christiansen Trail Run dynamically
Ben connects your goal, the course, current load, recovery, and calendar. Your plan stays pointed at race day even when real life is not perfectly plannable.
Everything about Christiansen Trail Run.
How long is Christiansen Trail Run?
Christiansen Trail Run is 22.53 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does Christiansen Trail Run have?
Christiansen Trail Run has around 414 m of elevation gain over 22.53 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Christiansen Trail Run?
Christiansen Trail Run is classified as Hilly, averaging 19 vertical metres per kilometre. 15% of the route is flat, 38% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 4% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Christiansen Trail Run have?
The hardest climb of Christiansen Trail Run starts at kilometre 6.1, runs for 0.9 km at an average of 6.2% and gains 53 metres. 7 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Christiansen Trail Run a loop course?
Yes, Christiansen Trail Run is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Christiansen Trail Run course?
Yes. The Christiansen Trail Run course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for Christiansen Trail Run?
Preparation for Christiansen Trail Run should account for 22.53 km, 414 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for Christiansen Trail Run?
The pacing strategy for Christiansen Trail Run should reflect 22.53 km, 414 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does Christiansen Trail Run take place?
Christiansen Trail Run takes place on January 2, 2027.
Where does Christiansen Trail Run take place?
Christiansen Trail Run takes place in Phoenix, United States.
How do I register for Christiansen Trail Run?
Registration runs through the organiser: trail100run.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
