Oct 20, 2026 · 17 min · 10 segments
One thousand stairs, one injured hamstring, and six straight victories. A Bisbee runner battles through pain to keep his remarkable winning streak alive at Cochise County's most celebrated race…
Now, let's jump into today's feature story.
With winding streets, steep hills, and more than 1,000 stairs, it's a challenge that tests even the most experienced runners.
But for Bisbee's Jacob Rice Stewart, this year's race became something more than a competition against the clock.
It became a battle against his own body.
As Herald Review managing editor Matt Hickman reports, the 31-year-old runner overcame a painful hamstring injury Saturday to capture his sixth consecutive overall victory at the 35th annual Bisbee 1000 Great Stair Climb.
Rice Stewart finished the grueling course in 31 minutes and 29 seconds, leading a field that included more than 1,000 finishers.
But that winning time doesn't tell the whole story.
About three weeks before the race, Rice Stewart injured his hamstring.
He entered Saturday's competition knowing something wasn't quite right, but determined to defend his title on the streets of his hometown.
Early in the race, he had plenty of company.
Several competitors, including runners from Fort Huachuca, kept pace with him through the first mile and beyond.
Rice Stewart welcomed the competition.
knowing that strong runners can push one another to better performances.
Eventually, he began pulling away from the pack.
But just as he was establishing his lead, that troublesome hamstring started acting up again.
Near the Ironman portion of the course, Rice Stewart found himself struggling to generate power in his injured leg.
Going downhill became especially difficult, and at one point, he was actually limping.
Suddenly, the race wasn't so much about beating the other runners.
It was about reaching the finish line without making his injury worse.
Bryce Stewart later described the experience as one of the toughest physical struggles of his racing career.
He knew he had to make a decision.
He could push harder and risk a more serious injury or ease back and protect his ability to keep running in the future.
He chose to be cautious.
Even so, nobody caught him.
Now, let's jump into today's feature story.
With winding streets, steep hills, and more than 1,000 stairs, it's a challenge that tests even the most experienced runners.
But for Bisbee's Jacob Rice Stewart, this year's race became something more than a competition against the clock.
It became a battle against his own body.
As Herald Review managing editor Matt Hickman reports, the 31-year-old runner overcame a painful hamstring injury Saturday to capture his sixth consecutive overall victory at the 35th annual Bisbee 1000 Great Stair Climb.
Rice Stewart finished the grueling course in 31 minutes and 29 seconds, leading a field that included more than 1,000 finishers.
But that winning time doesn't tell the whole story.
About three weeks before the race, Rice Stewart injured his hamstring.
He entered Saturday's competition knowing something wasn't quite right, but determined to defend his title on the streets of his hometown.
Early in the race, he had plenty of company.
Several competitors, including runners from Fort Huachuca, kept pace with him through the first mile and beyond.
Rice Stewart welcomed the competition.
knowing that strong runners can push one another to better performances.
Eventually, he began pulling away from the pack.
But just as he was establishing his lead, that troublesome hamstring started acting up again.
Near the Ironman portion of the course, Rice Stewart found himself struggling to generate power in his injured leg.
Going downhill became especially difficult, and at one point, he was actually limping.
Suddenly, the race wasn't so much about beating the other runners.
It was about reaching the finish line without making his injury worse.
Bryce Stewart later described the experience as one of the toughest physical struggles of his racing career.
He knew he had to make a decision.
He could push harder and risk a more serious injury or ease back and protect his ability to keep running in the future.
He chose to be cautious.
Even so, nobody caught him.
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