Inspiration is all around us. Sometimes, it is staring us right in the face and we don’t even realize it. I spent the majority of the past week in Tucson, Arizona, for work. I quickly found myself inspired by a cactus – of all things. Running in Tucson is inspiration in and of itself.

The saguaro cactus is native to Tucson and the Sonoran Desert region. Every time I come to this little corner of the world, these giant cacti never cease to amaze me. They grow as tall as 60 feet high and blanket the roads and mountainsides. To gaze out across the breathtaking Catalina Mountains and surrounding canyons and see hundreds and thousands of cacti is a sight to behold. To run among them is equally as breathtaking.

I feel something deeper every time I find myself surrounded by these intriguing plants that are so foreign to my everyday life back east. The saguaro cactus is the ultimate symbol of what it means to be successful in running and in life.

Be the Cactus

I recently talked about patience being one of the keys to running success. This week, I learned that saguaro cacti can live 150 years, but it typically takes them 75 to 100 years to grow their first side arm. Some never grow one, while others grow many.

What a powerful representation of patience and perseverance. Sometimes progress and growth feels like it takes forever. Sometimes it does. Sometimes it takes trying over and over again – failing and learning from our mistakes or shortcomings. Sometimes we’re the mighty saguaro with 10 arms, and sometimes we’re the lonely spear (saguaros that never grow any arms). But eventually, change happens. Like these special cacti that store water inside them to face harsh temperatures and lack of rain, we prepare, we train, we practice, we grow. We strengthen our insides – our minds and our hearts – to strengthen our bodies. Eventually we get stronger.

I want to be the saguaro cactus. The runner who is patient, who overcomes adversity and difficult conditions, who stays strong for the long haul and who inspires others around me.

Running in Tucson

Running in Tucson is magical, with these inspiring cacti filling every mile. I woke up before sunrise each morning to experience the beauty of this part of the world. Runners and cyclists would smile, wave and share a “good morning” greeting. If you find yourself in Arizona, be sure to explore these spots for a run.

The Rillito River Path
There is a flat trail that runs along the banks of the Rillito River from I-10 to Craycroft Rd. You can easily run 10 miles along this path. The hotel I stayed at was right on the trail (near the intersection of Campbell and River Roads), which made it incredibly convenient for a 5-mile mid-week morning run. The path on the north bank is paved and is ideal for runners, walkers and cyclists. The mountains are all around you, and there are lots of flowers and cacti lining the trail. (The river is completely dried up.) The south bank is not paved and is ideal for equestrians and/or runners/walkers. Bathrooms and water fountains can be found along the trail. Parking can be found near bridge crossings and nearby shopping centers that are not far from the path.

The Sabino Canyon
The Sabino Canyon is located in the Coronado National Forest and is hands-down one of the most beautiful and inspiring places I have ever run.

There is a paved road that winds from the Sabino Canyon Visitor Center by the parking area up through the park. It offers stunning views of the Catalina Mountains, as well as my beloved cacti and a few creeks/streams. It is 3.5 miles to the top, for a total of 7 miles up and back. The run is uphill the first half, with a very steep (challenging) section between miles 3 and 3.5 to the turn-around point. The run back is like flying. My Garmin showed that I climbed 1,000 feet during the run.

There are bathrooms and a water fountain along the path. One thing to note is that the little creeks can flood very easily with rain. Only one of the bridges I ran across had water across it and I had to step on some rocks to get by it without getting my shoes wet. Be sure to go early as the sun is rising or has just risen to get the best views and to avoid crowds. The Southern Arizona Roadrunners host a race along the path in April, and the Coronado National Forest also offers excellent options for hiking.

For more information on running in Tucson and Arizona, check out the resources from Southern Arizona Roadrunners.

Have you done any running in Tucson? If so, what did you think? Did you have a favorite running spot there? If not, what places are on your running to-do list?