There are several Navajo runners rolling through the 253-mile Cocodona race course right now, one of them, attempting to make history by securing his 4th Cocodona 250 Finish. Greg Secatero, a Diné (Navajo) runner, from Kayenta, Arizona, is going for this 1000-mile buckle in this year’s Cocodona. I had the pleasure of running with and meeting Secatero, at Cocodona in 2024 when he was on his way to becoming the first Indigenous runner to complete the Grand Slam of 200’s. The Grand Slam of 200’s includes the Cocodona 250 in May, followed by the Tahoe 200 in June, the Bigfoot 200 in August and the Moab 240 October. That’s over 900-miles of racing and approximately 150,000ft of climbing, in less than 6 months. It’s like ascending Mt. Everest once a month while running 200 miles at the same time.
Secatero, is a U.S. Army Veteran, a high-ranking officer for the Navajo Nation Department of Justice and the father of 4 children, two of whom are currently serving in the Armed Services. He is on the Cocodona 250 course right now, which goes from Black Canyon City, all the way to Flagstaff, Arizona, going for his 4t finish. If he completes this year’s 253-mile race, he will be the first Indigenous runner to have received the 1000-mile Cocodona belt buckle. This is an achievement that only a handful of people have accomplished.
While I had met Secatero while we were both running the Cocodona 250, I was able to learn much more about him in a riveting and inspiring podcast interview on the Back of the Pack Ultra Guy Podcast, Episode 9. hosted by ultrarunner, Christian Barratt. In this interview, he talks about taking his ancestors with him on the trail, how his grandmother taught him about the importance of running at a very young age for a healthy body and spirit. He talks about growing up on the reservation with no running water or electricity and yet feeling like he had everything he needed and more. He has a quiet confidence and a deep humility. But within that is a fierce determination to set and achieve enormous goals. As you listen to Secatero talk, you can’t help but be moved and inspired by who he is and what he’s done.
When we were along the course and I was struck by his fortitude and clam demeanor as we made our way from aid-station to aid-station deep in the race. His crew would wrap him up in a woven blanket, get him refueled and then he set out with a pacer from his community.
Secatero has inspired many other Native runners to train for, and attempt ultramarathon distances. One of them is Brandan Boxie, also a Navajo runner, who lives and trains in Phoenix, Arizona. Boxie, like his mentor, recently completed the Grand Slam of 200’s in 2025 capping it off with one dramatic, muddy, stormy race at the Moab 240. He is also out there, on the 253-mile course, going for his 3d Cocodona finish. After completing the Grand Slam of 200’s in October of 2025, Boxie did not rest for long. In the first few months of 2026 he has competed in the Coldwater Rumble 100 and the Zion 100-mile race. He’s always crewed by one of his sisters, who often volunteers at the races her brother is running in between crewing him at the aid-stations. I had the pleasure of running with Boxie in the Bigfoot 200 and the Moab 240 and sharing some miles with him. He’s a huge ultrarunning fan and can list of Indigenous runners at all distances who are lighting up the trails.
There are more Native runners on the Cocodona course including Harold Bennally. He is from LaCee, Arizona is another accomplished Navajo runner who is attempting his first Cocodona 250 self-supported, which means he’s going without any pacers or crew. It’s just Benally, the course, the other runners along the trail and the volunteers at the aid-stations. All three men have been updating their Instagram accounts (or their crew and pacers have,) as they make their way from Black Canyon City to Flagstaff—a wild, 250-mile pilgrimage through the mountains and the deserts, the red rocks and the Coconino plateau in Arizona.
Native Runner Missy Hendricks, is also making her way along the trails of Sedona right now and heading towards Flagstaff. Several of them must have pacers running their social media accounts to help keep family, friends and supporters updated. Bennally must be doing most of it himself. You can follow them on the live-tracker as well as Instagram and cheer them into Flagstaff. The last stages of this race can be hard fought. You can also follow them on their social media platforms listed below.
Greg Secatero Bib #323 @secateroendurance
Branda Boxie Bib #295 @bmxbowie
Harold Bennally Bib #285 @Harold-Bennally
Missy Hendricks Bib #265 @ellicul_lucy
Native Women Run @nativewomenrun
–Erin Quinn
***Author’s Note– While she is not currently running the Cocodona 250, Diné (Navajo) Runner, DeShawna Joe, finished the Cocodona 250 in 2024 and recently became the 1st Indigenous Woman to ever complete the 2025 Grand Slam, which included the Arizona Monster 308-mile race, followed by the Tahoe 200, Bigfoot 200 and Moab 240. She’s also a force of nature and someone whose connection to the trails is much deeper than any one race. She’s a warrior of love on those trails and if you’re lucky enough to meet her, you will not soon forget her. I’m grateful that our paths crossed.
Pictured below is Joe with Andrea Moore, another female phenom who is racing Cocodona right now. Moore has ran 9, 200+mile races in 2025 and started out this year with the Arizona Monster 308-mile race in April and then just rolled right into Black Canyon City to run through another 253-mile spin around Cocodona.
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