The Louis Tewanima Association is a non-profit grass roots organization who, since 1974, has sponsored the annual Louis Tewanima Memorial Footrace held each year on the Hopi reservation. This race is held in honor of , the first and only Hopi Olympian to represent the United States in the 1908 and 1912 Olympic Games. He won a Silver medal and set an American record for the 10,000-meter race in the 1912 Games that stood until broken by Billy Mills in 1964. We continue to commemorate his desire to promote the physical, health and well-being of Native American peoples.
Join us for a fun and challenging footrace on the Hopi Reservation. The 10K and 5K races will test your endurance and stimulate your mind and spirit. You will run on flat, level trails as well as steep mesa trails with beautiful panoramic views, being cheered on by spectators as they watch from the top of the mesa. Experience the thrill of completing one of the toughest races in Arizona.
Attention all participants:
As Navajo County (where the race is held) had become a regional hotspot for the spread of the Coronavirus, the Louis Tewanima Footrace Committee examined all options for the 2021 Tewanima Footrace. For the safety, health and well-being of the local community and the many runners who come to run in this prestigious race from all over the nation, region, and locally, this year's event was again a Virtual Race Experience!
What is a Virtual Race experience? A virtual race is a race that can be run (or walked) from any location you choose. You can run, jog, or walk on the road, on the trail, on the treadmill, at the gym, or on the track (or even at another race). You get to run your own race, at your own pace, and time it yourself. Once you register, we will mail you a race shirt via snail mail.
We wish we did not have to cancel the live, physical event due to COVID-19. As much as we want you on our trails, we cannot place our people of Shungopavi at risk. The memory and honor of Louis Tewanima lived virtually again this year and we hope to have you back on the amazing trails in 2022!
Thank you. Kwa kwa.
NOTICE: This year we will implement a cut-off time for the 10K race.
Any 10K participant not arriving at the 5K/10K split within one hour of the 10K start time will be diverted up the mesa on the 5K trail and will not be allowed to complete the 10K course.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us.
Don't Run? Become a Volunteer...
The Louis Tewanima Footrace Committee is always seeking volunteers to help with the race.
Each Volunteer receives a Race T-shirt in recognition and appreciation of their service to the Footrace.
If you would like to help, contact us by email at
volunteer@tewanimafootrace.org.
Thank You!
Race T-shirts for Sale.
- T-shirts from past races are on sale:
- 44th Annual (2017).........$20.00
- 43rd Annual (2016)........$10.00
- Before 2016.......................$ 3.00
Past Participant Comments
Thank You!