i'm looking for some 3-5 mile trail runs at 4k-7k altitude because i enjoy inflicting pain upon my frail body. i did one on the bug spring trail but i'm not ready for quite so much pain yet so something flatter would be nice. does anyone know of some nice such trail runs?

There's some nice stuff down here on Ft. Huachuca if you're up to making the haul down here. Brown and Blacktail canyon are both real nice for running and go up around the altitudes you're talking about.

The Phoneline trail in Sabino Canyon is probably only around 3000 to 3500 feet(?), but seems popular with trail runners. Call the Sabino Canyon Visitor Center to see if it's open though, the road itself is closed above milepost 1 so that may also affect the Phoneline.

Plus with your climbing skillz Jon, you can probably take a quick detour to the Acropolis and solo the Black and Red dihedrals in your tennis shoes.

meh, i'd prefer oxygen deprivation if i can get it.

also i don't know about soloing in my tennis shoes. it's not the death i'm worried about, it's that Approach Shoes Christian is your name. Approach Shoes Jon just doesn't have the same ring to it.

Jon- The trail that leads to Wilderness of Rocks: 9000ft. Did it a couple weeks ago by headlamp with a 40lb pack and my crash pad on my back. Loved it! There was still snow on the ground in spots, but I'm sure that's gone by now. -Tiffany

i like hurting myself, but not quite that much.

Jon -
Here are a few suggestions for you. The Az trail linking Molino Campground with Gordon Hirobayashi (Prison Camp) is quite runable, and I think it's about 6 miles out and back. You can do it either downhill out/uphill back (from Prison Camp), or vice versa. I think elevation averages about 6000.
If you'd like to go higher, the Aspen Loop area is quite nice and very runable, if you're used to the altitude (about 8500).
I've also run the Green Mountain trail in both directions - I think it's about 8 miles out and back, and again, you can do it either uphill or downhill first, as there's parking at both ends.
I don't know what your trail running experience or ability is, but while you may find that some trails are unrunable right now, that will quickly change...it's like climbing that way. The trails I mention above should be runable (mostly) by novice trail runners....as you get looking for harder trails, let me know - I've got plenty of suggestions for that. I've run several 50 mile, 70 mile and 100 mile trail races, and I've found Tucson to be a great 'toughness' training ground.
Good luck,
Eric

The Douglas Spring Trail at the east end of Speedway is one of my favorites. From the TH to Bridalvail(?) Falls (usually dry or just dripping)is 6km round trip and from the TH to Douglas Spring Campground is about 13mi roundtrip.

I will second the Douglas Spring Trail. It finishes at 4700 feet at Douglas Spring. It is uphill most of the way in, then you get the 6 mile downhill on the way back. If you want a shorter loop run of 6.5 miles, you can take Douglas Spring Trail to the Two Tanks Trail and come back on Bajada Vista for a nice loop.

thanks for the info guys. i did try the prison camp-molino trail yesterday and i made the mistake of going downhill first. for a stronger runner this wouldn't have been a problem but as it turned out i couldn't even do the 3.5-mile round trip without a few stops. long story short, i could stand to be in better cardiovascular shape.