What Changed for Finn Melanson in His Second Cocodona 250?

After 66 hours, 29 minutes, and 40 seconds on the trail, Finn Melanson crossed the finish line of the 2025 Cocodona 250 with a nearly 4-hour improvement over the previous year—despite tougher weather and a course that was 6 miles longer. In this interview, he shares what changed the second time around: how becoming a father shifted his approach to training, the gear that got him through snow and sun, and the moments that made this epic journey unforgettable.

1. Let’s start at the finish line—what was the very first thing that crossed your mind when you wrapped up Cocodona?

The sense that I could finally relax. The hardest part about multi-day is needing to mentally be “on” for such a long period of time. I find that to be a bigger challenge than the physical aspects.

2. How did this race compare to your first Cocodona event—physically, mentally, and emotionally?

The lack of mystery made things easier. But I think most people who are in this space would say that too. Going in this time, I knew what would be required of me on multiple levels - so there was less anxiety. I had plenty of time in the leadup to make peace with all of it. Whereas the first time, I was confronting all of it ad hoc, in the moment. Because of the experience I had, there was more opportunity to soak in the experience, the scenes around me, the people, etc. I really appreciated that. I could be more of a tourist this time, instead of the subject of a weird experiment.

3. You’re now a dad—congratulations! Has becoming a parent changed the way you train or approach ultras like this?

I have to be more strategic about everything, and really have to make every training mile count. I trained less (in terms of overall volume) for this year’s race. For example, from early February through late April, I averaged 40-60 miles per week (or about 7-9 hours per week time on feet) and then sprinkled in some key races (a 50K and a 50 Miler) to get ready. I had to emphasize quality over quantity. I would guess that my peers at the top of the race were putting in way more work than me. But that was all I could do. Sometimes, constraints aren’t so bad. As a result, I came into the race feeling very fresh and eager to dig deep - I think that’s key in multi-day.

4. Who was on your support team for Cocodona, and how did they help shape your experience?

My brother Ned and cousin Jerry led to the on-site crew team. My friend Joey Campanelli was lead pacer. My friends Fyn Kynd and Brianna Karboski were hybrid crew members and pacers. And my wife Jules was our lead on overall logistics and race monitoring. It was basically the same crew from last year, which was great because everyone knew what to expect, had learned lessons from the previous year, and was excited to incorporate a more experienced plan.

5. The ultrarunning community is tight-knit. Did you share any special moments on the trail with fellow runners?

Oh yeah. When I look back at key sections of the course, I was always sharing the moment with someone else. Jeff Garmire helped get me weather a snow storm (yes, these can happen in May in central Arizona) through the second half of the climb up to Lane Mountain and the Crown King Aid Station early in the race. Max Jolliffe was there with me on the Senator Highway to Camp Kipa and then again on the descent into Jerome. Around Fain Ranch, I got to share inspiration with Harry Subertas. Similarly at Kelly Canyon, I got to see DJ Fox. All these encounters felt like affirmations that we were on a shared, valuable pilgrimage (in addition to being in a race environment).

6. Nutrition-wise, what did fueling look like over such a long distance? Any favorite go-tos or weird cravings along the way?

I typically use Nääk nutrition. They have a high-carb drink mix called “BOOST” that I was using for the first 8 hours. After that, I switched over to their recovery mix for the rest of the effort. At aid stations, I would eat instant mashed potatoes and ramen. I’d also be drinking milk (weird, I know) and pedialyte. It worked! Never had any stomach or hydration issues.

7. Were you listening to music out there? If so, what was on your playlist to keep your spirits high?

My brother made a Cocodona-specific playlist for me that was over 26 hours long. A lot of jam bands - Grateful Dead , Phish, etc. However, my pacers were such good company that I hardly used the music.

8. Let’s talk gear—what pieces from GOREWEAR made the biggest difference during Cocodona?

On the gear side of things, I relied heavily on GOREWEAR products again. During the days out there, I was using the Everyday Tech Hoodie. It did a great job at covering me completely from the sun and keeping me relatively cool. During the nights, I would throw the CONCURVE jacket over the hoodie for an additional layer (and protection from the snow and rain) and also change out of shorts into the CONCURVE tights for just a bit of added warmth. GOREWEAR apparel kept me comfortable from start to finish at Cocodona. And in multi-day, comfort equals performance so it was a huge deal.

9. What was your favorite section of the course, and what made it stand out?

I’ve always appreciated the moments of transition on course - when you’re leaving the desert and climbing further into the Bradshaws on day 1, when you’re dropping off Mingus Mountain into Jerome and that whole Cottonwood valley, and when you’re climbing out of Sedona up onto the Coconino Plateau. These transitions really demonstrate the gravity of your travels and how much can transpire over 250 miles. It also revealed to me how geographically diverse central Arizona is - wow!!

10. Looking back, is there anything you would approach differently next time?

I would be more efficient at aid stations - treating them more like Nascar pit stops, instead of drawn-out reunions with friends and family. Maybe my chill approach to aid stations kept my energy levels high, but all I know after the fact is that I spent a lot of hours in those transitions. It would be fun to see what happens if I was more intentional and urgent in those spots.

11. Will there be a next time?

It’s hard to say. Cocodona definitely has my heart and (in my opinion) there aren’t many other compelling multi-day arenas out there. If I was to do something else, it would be the Spine (over in the United Kingdom) or the entire Appalachian Trail. But every time the window for Cocodona rolls around, I feel the energy to get back in the mix. We will see…

Read about Finn's first Cocodona 250 and follow him on Instagram