A trip to the desert to start off 2025 conquering a half marathon with zero training? Hell yeah.
“It feels like a weird time to be doing this amidst all of the Los Angeles fires,” I wrote in January, “and with 0% training at all. But it feels good to get out for a bit. Until then, I may be unplugging a bit for the weekend. Stay safe y’all!”
Sometimes I think, are we all just crazy deciding to run 13.1 miles straight together?
Yeah, I think there is a bit of craziness to decide you want to put your body through this. Phoenix was my third half marathon and most painful run of my life (probably due to pulling my legs hiking Sedona two days prior and bracing through my period, ha), but when I look at my footage running through the race with all the on-track entertainers and locals cheering us on, it just makes it all that much more fun.
Day one: Flying into Phoenix and Sedona, AZ
We flew early Thursday morning from LAX into Phoenix, seeing the morning sun a week after the fires had started to engulf all of the Palisades and Altadena on January 7. There was a deep gloom to the city. The air was thick and heavy, city full of uncertainty and anxiety, as the air and debris was unsafe for our lungs, bodies and sanities to leave home. I isolated myself for more than a week in Playa Del Rey, where the air was cooler and the breeze picked up, apart from my apartment on the east side covered in smoky air. Everything in LA paused as productions stopped. And I was getting the hell out of there for the fresh airs of Arizona.
Thursday afternoon we picked up our rental car, grabbed brunch at a cute cafe and restaurant in Phoenix called Valentine, which featured cactus and desert-inspired drinks and bites. We drove two hours out to Sedona, reaching up to its 4,350′ feet in elevation, completely unplugged. We checked into our cozy cottage and went out to the local Sedona Beer Co. brewery for a couple beers, vegan nachos, burgers and Thai-inspired coconut soup to call it a night.
Day two: Conquering Sedona
As we awoke early Friday morning to some overnight showers and clear, brisk, cloudy skies, I stared up at Chimney Rock just behind our little Airbnb. “This feels like a winter’s day in the Bay,” I reminisced to myself, remembering times arriving to grade school in the early morning in my Catholic school uniform, breathing in that chill morning air. We woke to catch our shuttles into Sedona’s main hiking trails. Devil’s Bridge was on our eye, and we hiked our way on up to it, and was amazed.
We caught a midday overpriced taco plate at Tamaliza for lunch, then went on to hike up Cathedral Rock — a beast, might I add — that afternoon. I climbed up that mountain like Spiderwoman, as slightly slanted sheets of red rock laid against tunnel-like inclines to wedge yourself between on up, with more and more steps and inclines and rocks to climb up. I might’ve pulled my right leg muscles (thigh, calf and all) as I excitedly crawled on up, with no caution to slowing down because I wanted to get all our hikes done before sundown. “This is so fun!” I said, only later regretting the pain that ensued. Yet, the views atop Cathedral Rock were incredible. The wind tunnel gushed us right in, as a huge brush of wind came in when we got to the top (which slightly freaked me out). Alex foolishly crawled across the side of the rock, onto a tiny looking outlook which freaked me out. But it was all absolutely breathtaking.
We decided to catch one more trail before sundown, so we drove to Airport Mesa for a more scenic, leisurely trail next to a Vortex, which had a bunch of other visitors and casual strollers admiring views of the red rock valley. We popped open a local Hazy Angel IPA beer we picked up at the grocer beforehand, and took it all in.
“I fell in love with Sedona 🏜️ — the red rocks, desert vibes, fresh air, open trails, and grandiosity of it all,” I wrote. “There’s a reason they say this place can be a spiritual and creative oasis. Native American tribes have inhabited this land, and their legacy is preserved here. I loved it and felt all of it.”
We grabbed a huge homestyle Mexican meal at a nearby spot, with sizzling fajitas, shrimp, homemade tortillas and oversized margaritas and all, and recovered from the day’s adventure.
Day three: Road trip to Phoenix
Saturday morning we checked out and explored a few local Sedona shops for souvenirs and knick-knacks. We had brunch at a sustainable eco-conscious cafe ChocolaTree, with conscious lentil soup and lattes. We picked up a superfood latte from a hipster cafe from Wildcraft Kitchen downtown, then made our 2-hour drive back into Phoenix. We made it to the convention center for bib pickup by 3pm, eyeing a few race vendors and merchandise. We decided to grab a late lunch/dinner at The Fry Bread House, trying Native American fry bread (which was so fluffy and unique and good). We dropped our luggage at our new Airbnb in a suburban part of Phoenix, and prepped for race day the next morning.
Day four: Race day and speakeasy train bar
Sunday was race day! And oof, if I couldn’t say anything more about that… We survived. And made it. We made a pitstop for Alex to use the bathroom about 6 miles in which slowed my momentum, and my pulled leg just gave in as I ran the rest of the 6 or so miles with a pulled leg, enjoying the race entertainment and performers getting us through! After race, we went to the local Arizona Wilderness Brewery with some great local beers and a burger, and absolutely knocked t-f out after. Something about race day absolutely takes you out, as we made it back to our Airbnb to refresh and rest. We caught one last late night dinner at the Italian spot La Locanda (which I shamelessly saw influencer Matt James had recommended on Instagram). We then caught our reservation at Platform 18, this very cool speakeasy train bar that was the highlight of our trip. The theatrics and hospitality of Disneyland characters meets a speakeasy train bar? I am so down. They were some of the nicest, animated bartenders with unique, innovative, and creative drinks with food pairings to match. I’d definitely go back if I were in the area!
Day five: Check-out and fly back home
Early Monday morning we arose to check out and board on our flight at 10am. We caught Joker 2 on the plane back (which honestly wasn’t that bad, albeit it being very weird).
Overall? There’s no one else I’d wake up at 6am with to spontaneously do 3 hikes in 1 day to Devil’s Bridge, pulling my leg muscles climbing/crawling up Cathedral Rock, and ending it at a Vortex, where its energy was felt all through my mind and body, only to run an entire half marathon a day later. I’m grateful to do this all with someone just as crazy as me. 🤪
I’d love to make it back out here. There are so many more trails and hikes and places I’d love to immerse myself in throughout Sedona. The sights are truly one-of-a-kind and a natural wonder. And, the spirit of the land was felt throughout, and I’d love to breathe it in all over again.
With love and honesty,
Rachel
beauty within 
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