Desert Twilight Review

This review will be short. We encouraged most runners to race at our home Copper Mountain Cup because of the date conflict this year. 

(I've since learned that Desert Twilight is on the last Friday in September, which means there will be a conflict next year, too. I'm searching for a solution, which could be, unlikely, moving the date of the Copper Mountain Cup. More likely we will chose another race for an out of state, fast and competitive experience.)

Only Dom and Josh raced at Desert Twilight this year and it was on a new course. All reports are that the course was long, resulting in times about 30 seconds slower than expected. So although Dom ran the exact same time as last year, and Josh 5 seconds slower, they actually raced much better, as clear from their placings. Dom moved up from 25th last year to 13th this year, while Josh improved from 85th to 61st. Both raced in the most and very highly competitive Sweepstakes division. Both Dom and Josh would have been close to if not running PRs if the course wasn't long.

WHEN:  Friday, 30 September 2022

WHERE: Coyote Run Golf Course, 1548 Leisure World, Mesa, AZ 85206

WHAT: Desert Twilight moved the race back a week this year. So this year it is the night before our home race. Therefore, I strongly discourage SHS runners from racing at Desert Twilight this year. (Plus, I have some apprehension about the new course.) I understand however if Seniors want to go to Arizona for their last chance to race the Desert Twilight.

For all others (and Seniors on the fence) realize we have multiple opportunities to race fast and competitive races this year, including 3 big races in a row at the beginning of the season:

• Cheyenne Mountain Stampede - fairly fast, fairly competitive

• Liberty Bell - very fast, very competitive (several of our racers were faster at Liberty Bell than Desert Twilight last year)

• St. Vrain - new race for us this year. Quite fast, very competitive

• Nike Cross Regionals - also in Arizona, very fast, perhaps the most competitive race (besides Nike Cross Nationals and Running Lane Nationals) of the season.

• East Bay Regionals - tough course, not so fast, very competitive

• Running Lane National Championship - extremely fast course, extremely competitive

True, none of the above are raced at night under the lights. But those are six opportunities for very fast and/or very competitive races. Plus State, of course! Thus, I strongly encourage supporting the Copper Mountain Cup and not racing Desert Twilight this year. Hopefully next year our race and DT don't conflict.

RACE TIMES: tbd

2021 Desert Twilight Results, Stories and Photos

Map to Coyote Run Golf Course