
From the Organizer
Sunday, September 13, 2026
8am Start
Welcome to the Navajo Code Talker 10K!
REGISTRATION – Online registration for the Code Talker 10K is now open through September 13th at the NavajoYES website: www.navajoyes.org Registration is $35 for all runners to cover costs of the event and to support the Code Talker Poster Project. The race fee will increase to $40 on September 1st. The race distance is 10K (6.2 miles). Registration will include an event t-shirt featuring a unique Code Talker, a unique Code Talker medal/ribbon, race bib, post-race snacks and your choice of posters from the Navajo Code Talker Poster Series.
LOCATION – The Navajo Nation Museum and Navajo Zoo are located in the capital of the Navajo Nation of Window Rock, Arizona, just off Hwy 264 on the south side of Window Rock. There is ample parking at the Museum.
PACKET PICK-UP – Packet pick-up will be available on Sunday at the Navajo Nation Museum parking area beginning at 6:30 a.m.
COURSE – The main course is a 6.2-mile loop. The course heads out of the NN Museum, circling the Museum once before heading out on the Museum Trail. The course heads up on the Museum Trail to the WR Dam and on to the Fish & Wildlife trail system, dropping into the historic tribal government complex and then back to the WR Park. From the Park, the route heads back toward the Museum. The course is subject to slight variation at the discretion of race organizers and tribal officials.
AID STATIONS – There will be two aid stations on the course, both with fluids and gels. They first aid station is near the half-way point of the course at the Fish & Wildlife Trailhead. There will be a second aid station near the Education Center building. There will be pre-race breakfast bars and bananas, along with fluids and gels at the start line. This is a cupless event so runners should plan to bring their own hydration system.
WEATHER – September weather in Window Rock can be cool, mild or very warm, so keep eye on the forecast prior to the race. The threat of thunderstorms (generally in the afternoon) always looms in the early fall.
PROFESSIONAL TIMING – Rocky Mountain Timing is the timer for the Code Talker 10K. Overall and age-group awards will be presented.
LODGING – Lodging is available at Quality Inn in Window Rock and Navajoland Inn in St. Michael’s. There are ample lodging options available in Gallup, New Mexico.
The Navajo Parks Race Series are co-sponsored by the Navajo Nation-based nonprofit organization NavajoYES and Navajo Parks & Recreation. Navajo Zoo and NN Museum are also key supporters of this event, along with Navajo EMS and Fire & Rescue.
CONTACTS
Tom: 928.429.0345
Josh: 970-394-6561 (Registration/Timing Questions) info@rmtimimg.co
chuskaman@yahoo.com – www.navajoyes.org – www.facebook.com/NavajoYES
Events
Weather
It's too far out for a forecast, so here's what weather on this date is normally like in the area. A 7-day forecast will replace this as race week approaches.
Typical High
80°
Typical Low
44°
Chance of Rain
25%
Based on US Climate Normals data from Window Rock Ap, 1 mi from the venue.
Host City
Elevation
6,701 ft
Nearest Airport
GUP
Gallup Municipal Airport · 20 mi
Major Hub
ABQ
Albuquerque International Sunport · 146 mi
Time Zone
Mountain Time
From Endurance Grid
Line up lodging and travel early to lock in your race weekend.
Race Location
Coming Up
From Endurance Grid
Endurance Grid is here to help you understand the sport, decide if it's the right fit, and learn how to prepare. For course distances, logistics, and race-day specifics, always defer to the race organizer's event page.
The 10K is the distance where running stops feeling like a starting point and starts feeling like a sport. Long enough to require a real training block. Short enough that race day is fully manageable for a first-timer who's put in the work.
Race day energy at a 10K is community at its best — strangers cheering you by name, people moving toward the same goal, an atmosphere that solo training can't replicate. It's fast enough that you'll spend the whole race pushing rather than managing your effort.
This is also the distance that builds the base for everything else. Most athletes who go on to run half marathons, do triathlons, or compete in HYROX started here. What you need: running shoes fitted to your stride, a training plan, and the race on your calendar. The registration is what makes the deadline real.
How long to train: 4–8 weeks for most fitness levels.
From 5K to marathon, running races are the most accessible entry point into endurance sport. There's a distance for every fitness level and a community at every start line.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Navajo Code Talker 10K
Sep 13, 2026