For most runners, a marathon feels unimaginable. Even a 100-mile ultramarathon sits far outside the limits of what most people think is possible. But for Bozeman, Montana-based runner, coach, and Paradis athlete Dalton McCurdy, the challenge of going even farther was impossible to ignore.
This spring, Dalton took on Cocodona 250 — a legendary point-to-point ultramarathon across Arizona that covers more than 250 miles and climbs roughly 40,000 feet from start to finish. Equal parts adventure, endurance test, and mental battle, the race pushes athletes into entirely new territory.
Fresh off the experience, Dalton shared what drew her to the race, the hardest moments out on the course, and why comfort and simplicity mattered most when choosing gear for an effort this long.
“Cocodona is a point-to-point ultramarathon in Arizona that starts in Black Canyon and ends in downtown Flagstaff. The course is about 254 miles long and gains about 40,000 feet of elevation from start to finish. It’s a crazy adventure that definitely tests both physical and mental limits.”
Photo: Howie Stern
“I have been Coco-curious for a few years now. I have done quite a few 100-mile races, but never anything longer. The extended distance terrified me, but also completely intrigued me.
I wanted to do something that stretched my comfort zone not only for myself, but also to model for my kids the importance of taking on new and scary things. Also, as a running coach and a student of the sport, I felt like it was important to experience this new distance as a learning exercise as well.”
“The sunset on the first night navigating through the Bradshaw Mountains all alone before picking up a pacer. It almost felt otherworldly and just such a beautiful and quiet moment to soak in the weight of the experience that I was undertaking.”
“There were so many unknowns going into this new distance. I didn’t know how my body would handle the additional miles as well as the sleep deprivation. I knew some tough times were going to come up, and I was really curious how I would respond in those moments when all the layers were stripped away.
Climbing out of Sedona at around mile 170, I started having some pretty debilitating back spasms, to the point where I could only hold myself up with poles. This was pretty disappointing as, up until that moment, I was running the race I knew I was capable of.
When I met my crew at the next aid station, they helped me reset and I got a little sleep. There was never a moment I thought about quitting, but I knew my race was going to have to look different from that point forward. It was hard to shift my mindset from competing to completing.
Photo: Howie Stern
With the help of poles, though, I was able to keep power walking and then just pause to stretch every hour or so. As my gait and pace changed, I also started developing some edema, which I’ve never experienced before. By the end of the race, I had gained about 20 pounds of water weight, which was definitely disconcerting.
Photo: Chris Gerber
It’s a very weird thing when you push yourself to a place where you’ve never been and the consequences start to feel out of your control.
I’m proud of the person I saw when the wheels came off a bit. I didn’t panic or pout; I did my best to manage, stay positive, and honestly just stay grateful. It wasn’t the lesson I was hoping to get out of this race, but it was an important reaffirmation that I could show up the way I hoped I would when things got dark.”
“I am still processing this one. I am proud of what I had to overcome out there and how I stayed in control of what I could to just keep moving forward.”
“The reason I chose this sports bra was initially because of fit and feel. The bra is incredibly comfortable and honestly makes you almost forget that you are wearing it — in a good way.
Chafing is usually something I experience in longer races with sports bras. That was not the case with the Paradis bra. I also went in thinking I would change it each night. That also did not end up being the case.
I changed all my other layers to keep my temperature regulated, but the bra remained a constant. It dried incredibly well, so when other layers were still wet from long days in the sun, the bra had already dried. It was incredible — I literally never thought about it once out there.”
“The most important thing to me about gear is that it’s lightweight, feels good, and is functional. Especially for these longer efforts, it’s really important to make sure everything you wear and/or carry has minimal extra impact on the experience.
Little irritations — rubbing, extra weight, uncomfortable material — all add up over time.”
“I was surprised by what a time warp the experience was. It truly felt like one long day out there with a sole focus on just getting to Flagstaff.
Photo: Anastasia Wilde
“Being back home in Montana with my family. It was the longest time I’d been away from them all, and it’s so good to be back with them — and on the other side.”
“Wild.”
Cocodona is the kind of race that leaves a mark long after the finish line, and Dalton’s experience captures exactly why. Beyond the miles, elevation, and physical toll, it became an exercise in resilience, adaptability, and staying grounded when things don’t go according to plan.
For Dalton, the race wasn’t just about finishing 250 miles across Arizona — it was about discovering who she could be in the hardest moments, and continuing to move forward anyway.
Cover image: Scott Rokis
