100,301 Ft [Vertical Gain] - Limitless Challenge - Aravaipa Running

Aug 13, 2025

Intro

This is a quick summary of “100,301 Ft [Vertical Gain] - Limitless Challenge” from Aravaipa Running. It’s an inspiring watch — we’ve broken down the key ideas so you can try the vertical‑gain workout today. Be sure to check out the full video for all the details.

Key Points

Daily vertical target: Jim aimed for roughly 15,000 ft of elevation each day after his first successful run. He kept the number as a personal benchmark.
Training volume: Around 78 mi per week (≈200 mi during the challenge week) with 10‑15 k ft of elevation in regular training, then ramped up to >100 k ft in the challenge week.
Hill‑repeat strategy: Use a steep hill (≈25% grade) for short, hard repeats; later switched to a gentler but longer climb (≈13% grade) to accumulate more vertical in less time.
Mix of trail running and hiking: Combine short uphill bursts with longer trail sections on the Appalachian Trail to keep the effort varied.
Community support: Having friends drop off food, share rides, and run together helped combat loneliness and keep motivation high.
Listen to your body: Start slow, avoid pain, and adjust volume based on how you feel.

Workout Example

“15k‑Foot Daily Vertical Challenge” (adaptable to your own paces in the Pacing app)

Warm‑up: 10‑15 min easy jog on flat ground.
Hill repeats: Choose a hill with a noticeable grade (12‑25%).
- Run up for 2‑4 min at a hard effort (≈80‑85% max HR).
- Jog or walk down for recovery.
- Repeat until you’ve accumulated ≈12‑15 k ft of elevation (track with a GPS watch or Strava segment).
Trail cooldown: 20‑30 min easy run on a nearby trail to add extra vertical without extra intensity.
Stretch & refuel: 5‑10 min of stretching and a protein‑rich snack.

Tip: If a 25% grade hill feels too steep, switch to a longer, milder climb and increase the number of repeats to hit the same foot‑gain.

Closing Note

Give this daily vertical‑gain routine a try and tailor the distance, hill grade, and total foot‑gain to match your fitness level. Log your runs in the Pacing app, adjust the paces, and watch your climbing strength soar. Happy climbing—and don’t forget to watch the full Aravaipa Running video for more inspiration!