# Zane Grey Highline Trail 50 Mile Run

The Zane Grey Highline Trail 50 mile Endurance Run, known commonly as the Zane Grey 50, is a 50-mile (80 km) ultramarathon that takes place on the Highline Trail in the Tonto National Forest just below the Mogollon Rim in central Arizona. The race is typically held on the 4th Saturday in April. The race starts at the Pine Trail head on the far west end of the Highline Trail, just south of the Town of Pine. The race travels east and finishes at the 260 Trailhead, just east of the town of Christopher Creek. Runners climb cumulative total of over 10,000 feet (3048m) and descend a total of over 9000 feet (2743m). The actual distance is closer to 55 miles. The race begins at 5:30 AM and continues through the day with the last runners finishing around 9:00 PM.

## History

The race was founded in 1990 by Pat McKenzie and was first completed by Scott Modzelewski in a time of 12 hours, 55 minutes. The course record is held by Dave Mackey in a time of 7:51:07 Set in 2004. The women’s division course record of 9:14:24 was set in 2004 by Nikki Kimball.

## Results

Seventeen runners signed up for the inaugural Zane Grey 50 mile run in 1990, only 6 finished. The following year, the course was rerouted because of the Dude Fire which burned down Zane Grey’s cabin, located just off the Highline Trail. From 1993 to 1995 the race was shortened to a 50-kilometer distance. Runners had the option to run the race on one of the two days the weekend it was held. Some runners opted to run both days. In 2007, the course was run in reverse, starting at the 260 Trailhead and travelling West to Pine. The race has an average finishing rate of 71%, making it one of the most difficult 50-mile ultra marathons in the country.
| Date | Starters | Finishers | Percent | Winner | Time | Winner | Time | Notes |
| April 27, 2024 | | 52 | | Nick Coury | 8:20:00 | Julie Henk | 12:00:30 | Starting and finishing in Christopher Creek, 50 miles wet, muddy conditions |
| April 27, 2024 | | 98 | | Cordis Hall | 4:16:13 | Abby Hall | 4:40:24 | Starting and finishing in Christopher Creek, 28.5 miles |
| April 22, 2023 | 39 | 24 | 61.5% | Jeffrey Arbeir | 12:59:15 | Jessica Huppenthal | 15:42:24 | Point to point. Pine Th to Rim Top TH (100K distance) |
| April 23, 2022 | 83 | 57 | 68.7% | Frank Pipp | 11:04:20 | Darla Askew | 14:08:15 | Point to point. Pine Th to Rim Top TH (100K distance) |
| April 24, 2021 | 47 | 42 | 89.4% | Charlie Ware | 7:47:42 | Jade Belzberg | 8:55:38 | Out and back route from Rim Top TH (50 miles) |
| April 25, 2020 | - | - | - | | | | | Cancelled because of COVID-19 Pandemic |
| April 27, 2019 | 128 | 106 | 82.8% | Jake Lawrence | 8:38:12 | Nicole Bitter | 9:24:06 | Out and back route from Rim Top TH (50 miles) |
| April 28, 2018 | 140 | 97 | 69.3% | Charlie Ware | 7:30:42 | Lauren Coury | 9:32:19 | Out and back route from Rim Top TH (50 miles) |
| April 29, 2017 | 147 | 111 | 75.5% | Karl Meltzer | 9:32:38 | Amber Reimondo | 10:56:57 | 55 miles |
| April 23, 2016 | 133 | 96 | 72.2% | Charlie Ware | 9:24:48 | Bethany Lewis | 9:56:26 | 52 miles |
| April 25, 2015 | 150 | 121 | 81.3% | René Rovera | 8:28:28 | Amie Blackham | 11:29:40 | Unusually cool weather. Rain after 12 hours. |
| April 26, 2014 | 132 | 93 | 70.5% | Ryan Smith | 5:13:12 | Kerrie Bruxvoort | 6:15:11 | *33-mi. due to hazardous cold weather |
| April 27, 2013 | 124 | 95 | 76.6% | James Bonnett | 8:40:18 | Kerrie Bruxvoort | 10:03:58 | |
| April 21, 2012 | 126 | 84 | 66.7% | Catlow Shipek | 8:32:30 | Paulette Zillmer | 10:13:07 | |
| April 16, 2011 | 128 | 91 | 71.1% | Geoff Roes | 8:13:35 | Andi Felton | 10:36:28 | |
| April 24, 2010 | 94 | 74 | 78.7% | Scott Jamie | 9:40:55 | Jane Larkindale | 10:52:16 | |
| April 25, 2009 | 111 | 76 | 68.5% | Jamil Coury | 9:34:52 | Nikki Kimball | 9:58:18 | |
| April 26, 2008 | 134 | 70* | 52.2% | Anton Krupicka | 8:02:33 | Anita Ortiz | 10:45:25 | *+64 finishers of 50-km distance |
| April 28, 2007 | 129 | 91 | 70.5% | Kyle Skaggs | 8:25:30 | Emily Baer | 10:33:31 | Course ran in reverse |
| April 29, 2006 | 131 | 101 | 77.1% | Josh Brimhall | 8:51:43 | Tania Pacev | 11:07:02 | |
| April 30, 2005 | 125 | 96 | 76.8% | Scott Creel | 8:17:20 | Nikki Kimball | 9:34:52 | |
| April 24, 2004 | 117 | 83 | 70.9% | Dave Mackey | 7:51:07 | Nikki Kimball | 9:14:24 | Course records! |
| April 26, 2003 | 147 | 108 | 73.5% | Nate McDowell/Chad Ricklefs | 8:11:44 | Anthea Schmid | 10:12:28 | |
| April 27, 2002 | 54 | 49 | 90.7% | Karl Meltzer | 8:07:00 | Petra Pirc | 9:54:00 | |
| April 28, 2001 | 75 | 65 | 86.7% | Dennis Poolheco | 8:47:53 | Ruth Zollinger | 10:25:51 | |
| April 29, 2000 | 55 | 46 | 83.6% | Ian Torrence | 8:34:33 | Valerie Caldwell | 11:17:47 | First repeat winners |
| April 24, 1999 | 52 | 41 | 78.8% | Ian Torrence | 8:31:55 | Mahieu/Caldwell | 11:01:39 | |
| April 25, 1998 | 34 | 25 | 73.5% | Scott Jurek | 8:48:50 | Julie Arter | 12:41:02 | |
| April 26, 1997 | 22 | 15 | 68.2% | Scott Devlin | 10:29:52 | Judy Overholzter | 19:22:43 | |
| April 27, 1996 | 20 | 10 | 50.0% | Dana Miller | 10:26:38 | Joanne Urioste | 12:46:28 | |
| May 13, 1995 | 36 | 27 | 75.0% | John Loeschorn | 4:48:26 | Sherry Kae Johns | 5:34:01 | 50-km distance |
| May 14, 1994 | 43 | 39 | 90.7% | Steve Christian | 4:57:29 | Tracey Varga | 6:17:51 | 50-km distance |
| May 15, 1993 | 30 | 23 | 76.7% | Doug Griffen | 4:53:51 | Kathy Bricliffe | 5:22:15 | 50-km distance |
| April 25, 1992 | 20 | 9 | 45.0% | Krik Apt | 11:36:00 | N/A | N/A | First sub-12 hour finish |
| April 27, 1991 | 20 | 15 | 75.0% | Dow Mattingly | 8:25:00 | Lorraine Gersitz | 10:54:00 | Course rerouted to FSR |
| May 5, 1990 | 17 | 6 | 35.3% | Scott Modzelewski | 12:55:00 | N/A | N/A | First running of Highline Trail |