ENVIRONMENT SPORTS TRANSPORTATION / Modified apr 11, 2025 2:40 p.m.

Going the Distance!

Meet Bruce Gungle, an ultramarathon runner, bicyclist and mountain climber; hear from University of Arizona triathlete Laura Holanszky; and Michael McKisson on what it's like to bike almost every street in Tucson.

Bruce Gungle in Nepal Bruce Gungle has completed multiple marathons, ultramarathons, bicycle races and mountain climbing challenges. This is during a trip to Nepal.
Courtesy: Bruce Gungle

Arizona Spotlight

April 10, 2025

NPR
(Download MP3)

Featured on the April 10th, 2025 edition of ARIZONA SPOTLIGHT with guest host Tony Paniagua:

  • Many people would like to complete a marathon someday as part of a bucket list, but others frequently go way beyond the 26.2 miles required to accomplish that goal. Tucson resident and retired scientist Bruce Gungle is an example. From biking to running or hiking, he has finished multiple challenges in various locations. Among these is the Badwater ultramarathon, a race in California that includes running in Death Valley in the middle of the summer, Cocodona 250 in Arizona, and the Western States Endurance Run which consists of covering 100 miles in one day!

bruce cocodona hero Bruce Gungle at the starting point of Cocodona. Cocodona is a 250 mile race from Black Canyon City to Flagstaff, Arizona.
courtesy of Bruce Gungle

bruce gunnel AZPM hero Bruce Gungle in AZPM's studio.
Sophia Hammer / AZPM

bruce cocoon finish unsized VIEW LARGER Bruce Gungle after completing the Cocodona race.
courtesy of Bruce Gungle
  • University of Arizona student Laura Holánszky was born in Hungary, where she discovered swimming at the age of three. By age 16, she had won 11 national championships in her age group. In 2023, Laura joined the University of Arizona women's triathlon team, where she continues to excel as an athlete and a student. The UA women's triathlon team won the national championship in 2024.
Laura biking triathlon hero VIEW LARGER Laura Holánszky getting ready to bike in a triathlon with the University of Arizona women's triathlon team.
courtesy of Laura Holánszky
Laura holánszky running unsized VIEW LARGER Laura Holánszky running a triathlon with the University of Arizona's women's triathlon team.
courtesy of Laura Holánszky
  • And, most people can live in a city for decades and only explore a percentage of all the possible streets, avenues, lanes, and other roads that can spread like a concrete web over a massive amount of acreage. Tucson takes up more than 200 square miles, which is bigger than some of the smaller countries. For Tucson photographer and University of Arizona associate professor Michael McKisson, this presents a wonderful opportunity to learn and explore. He is on a quest that he calls "Every Street Tucson" attempting to bike every part of every street in Tucson.

McKisson bike ride hero Michael McKisson during one of his many bike rides. Michael hopes to bike every street in Tucson.
courtesy of Michael McKisson

mckisson azpm hero Michael McKisson in AZPM's studio.
Sophia Hammer / AZPM

McKisson completed bike hero All the streets Michael McKisson has biked in Tucson.
courtesy of Michael McKisson

Michael McKisson incomplete bike hero Streets Michael McKisson still has to complete.
courtesy of Michael McKisson

Arizona Spotlight
Arizona Spotlight airs every Thursday at 8:30 am and 6:00 pm and every Saturday at 3:00 pm on NPR 89.1 FM / 1550 AM. You can subscribe to our podcast on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, or the NPR App. See more from Arizona Spotlight.

Webpage by Sophia Hammer.

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