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🌱 How a 253-mile Cocodona sufferfest ended at a Flagstaff finish line
Flagstaff, Arizona Patch AM: a 4 min readGood morning Flagstaff! We're back again in your inbox, keeping you updated with what's happening in and around town. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- How a 253-mile Cocodona sufferfest ended at a Flagstaff finish line
- How did Flagstaff become Route 66’s unexpected gateway to outer space?
- Which lesser-known lakes near Flagstaff are worth your next weekend drive?
Today's riddle: what do you call a rabbit with fleas? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Wednesday: Windy and not as warm, with a high of 77 and low of 40 degrees.
- Thursday: Sunny and pleasantly warm, temps: high: 77, low: 44.
- Friday: Mostly sunny and pleasant, with a high of 76 and low of 44 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Former Vestal gym owner completes 253-mile ultra marathon across Arizona (wbng.com) — An ultra-endurance runner just wrapped up the 253-mile Cocodona race by crossing the finish line in Flagstaff early Friday morning after nearly 97 hours on the course. The former Vestal gym owner climbed over 40,000 feet with almost no sleep, and now hopes his Flagstaff finish inspires more people to try big, health-focused challenges of their own. 
2. Route 66 centennial highlights cosmic sites across Northern Arizona (foxnews.com) — Flagstaff’s role on Route 66 takes center stage as the highway’s centennial highlights the city as a gateway to both the Grand Canyon and outer space. The story traces Lowell Observatory’s discoveries, Pluto’s identification, and NASA’s Apollo-era training at nearby crater fields, underscoring how northern Arizona’s terrain and dark skies shaped America’s cosmic exploration.
3. 11 Hidden Lake Escapes In Arizona Everyone In Your Family Will Love (everafterinthewoods.com) — If you’re looking to cool off near Flagstaff, this guide spotlights nearby escapes like Ashurst Lake and Upper Lake Mary, where pine forests, trout fishing, and lakeside camping offer easy weekend getaways. It also highlights other family-friendly lakes across Arizona, from Prescott to the White Mountains and the Navajo Nation, all focused on cooler temperatures, simple camping, and low-key water fun.
4. Massive and made of fiberglass, Muffler Men are a Route 66 classic - and they're multiplying (mercedsunstar.com) — If you’ve passed the towering lumberjack on NAU’s campus, you’ve seen “Louie,” widely regarded as the original Muffler Man and a classic Route 66 landmark in Flagstaff. A road‑tripping writer traces these fiberglass giants from Illinois to California, highlighting how Flagstaff’s Louie anchors their quirky history and ongoing revival.
5. More Arizona UFO sightings revealed in new documents. What they show (azcentral.com) — Newly released federal UFO files show that Flagstaff, along with several other Arizona cities, appeared repeatedly in investigations from the 1940s through the 1960s. The documents highlight mysterious Grand Canyon sightings and a strange Phoenix-based “Bender Affair” inquiry, revealing how seriously federal agents once probed unexplained aerial phenomena across the state.
📸 Around Flagstaff
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🗓
Upcoming Events in
Flagstaff
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
-
2026 Overland Expo West - Friday →
Fort Tuthill Bike Park, Flagstaff
9:00 am
Friday May 15
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
-
New FACTS times
Thomas Elementary Flagstaff, AZ 86004
5:00 am -
Indigenous Commission Meeting →
Flagstaff Calendar Flagstaff, AZ 86001
11:00 am -
Airport Commission Meeting →
Flagstaff Calendar, 6200 S Pulliam Dr., Flagstaff
1:00 pm -
Regional Plan Chat →
Flagstaff Calendar, 211 W Aspen Ave, Flagstaff
4:00 pm -
Orchestra Concert (@ MEMS)
Sinagua Middle Flagstaff, AZ 86004
5:00 pm -
New FACTS times
Thomas Elementary Flagstaff, AZ 86004
5:00 am -
Thomas Awards Assembly
Thomas Elementary Flagstaff, AZ 86004
7:30 am
Thursday May 14
Friday May 15
📣 Flagstaff Shout Outs!
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🗓 Events Nearby
-
Bands, Guitar, Rock Band Concert
Sinagua Middle Flagstaff, AZ 86004
5:00 pm -
Struggle Jennings →
Yucca North, 15 N WC Riles St, Flagstaff
7:00 pm -
Struggle Jennings at Yucca North →
Yucca North, 15 N WC Riles St, Flagstaff
8:00 pm -
New FACTS times
Thomas Elementary Flagstaff, AZ 86004
5:00 am
Wednesday May 13
Thursday May 14
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Flagstaff PatchAM possible:
- Mend Medical Care — (928) 220-6363
Modern Medicine for Longevity, Energy, and Focus
Click here to show your appreciation! 💚
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- FOUND CAT ALERT!
is this your pet? Pet was found on May 07, 2026 near Flagstaff, AZ For more details about this pet or to contact the finder, click here: https:/… (Nextdoor Fort Valley / Baderville) - I see a gentleman a couple of times a week when I have cross to the west side Flagstaff.
He is usually in the vicinity of McConnell and Beulah. He must be homeless, living on the street somewhere and he appears to be older (hate to guess… (Nextdoor Country Club Dr)
- Raley's Supermarkets posted a job opening for 067 - Bashas' Scan Team Member - Flagstaff in Flagstaff. Apply here.
- Fry’s Food Stores posted a job opening for Grocery Clerk in Flagstaff. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Flagstaff here.
Ok Flagstaff! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Bugs Bunny ! (Thank you bruce A. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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