Running season is upon us. The days are crisp and cool with plentiful sunshine to warm our bones. Get motivated by putting one of these upcoming races in or around Tucson on your calendar.
Note that you will usually receive a discounted ticket price if you register in advance.
November 2015
Saturday, November 7 – 8:00am – Tucson 5k Fun Run/Walk for Kids’ Chance at Brandi Fenton Memorial Park. $22.50. A 5k fun run/walk hosted in the beautiful foothills of Tucson. The race will be an out and back course and will include light refreshments at the finish line.
Sunday, November 8 – 7:15am – Everyone Runs TMC, Fleet Feet Veterans Day 1/2 Marathon, 5k, & TMC for Children Fun Run at Sabino High School. $70 for 1/2; $35 for 5k; $5 for fun run. Picturesque somewhat flat course (as mostly flat as Tucson can be!). Starts and finishes at Sabino High School, traveling the neighborhood roads at the foot of the Catalina Mountains. This event features chip timing, live music, finisher tech shirts, finisher medals for half marathon runners and walkers, overall and five-year age-group awards for the half and 5k, free Mexican breakfast, free photos, free coffee & iced tea from brewd, eight water stations, cheery volunteers, and one very scenic course. Family and friends can cheer you on as you start and finish on the Sabino High School stadium track.
Sunday, November 8 – 12:00pm – Scavenger Dash. $99-$120 for a 2-person team. Teams of two that will solve clues, travel to local points of interest, and complete fun challenges while discovering the city in a whole new way. The race is around 5-8 miles long and will take 2-4 hours to complete. Teams may use public transportation, such as buses and trains but they may not use bicycles, cabs, or private vehicles. All participants are encouraged to stick around for the fun party atmosphere and camaraderie after the event.
Saturday, November 14 – 6:30am – Colossal Vail 50m/50km Trail Run in Vail, AZ. $80-$145. The Colossal Vail 50/50 is an adventurous ultra run on portions of the Arizona Trail near the community of Vail (24 miles southeast of Tucson). Starting and finishing at Colossal Cave Mountain Park, both the 50K and 50-mile courses feature some of the greatest high desert trail running opportunities in this part of the state. Please note, both routes are long. At this point our best estimate of the actual distance of the “50K” is 55.8 kilometers (34.6 mi.). The “50-mile” is about 53.8 miles.
Saturday, November 14 – 8:00am – Pecan Classic and 1.5 Mile Family Fun Run at The Green Valley Pecan Company. $45. Run through the Pecan orchard in November in all it’s fall colors. The race route travels a scenic course on the orchards south of Sahuarita Road on dirt roads and trails through the pecan orchards, giving runners a unique opportunity to see the farm. The Pecan Classic 8.5 features unique awards to first place man and woman. The top three men and top three women will receive gift baskets from the Pecan Store and $100 for a new course record.
Saturday, November 14 – 9:00am – Color Vibe 5k at Tucson Convention Center. $30 for solo runner; $26 for team runner. You’ll get blasted with color while you run the Color Vibe 5K.
Saturday, November 14 – 9:00am – Marana Turkey Trot 5k/10k at Crossroads at Silverbell District Park. $20-$25. Kickoff fall at this fun 5K/10K race beginning at Crossroads at Silverbell Park. Run, walk, or jog along the beautiful Santa Cruz River. Prizes awarded to overall male & female winners.
Thursday, November 26 – 8:00am – Thanksgiving Cross-Country Classic 5k and 1.5 Mile Fun Run at Reid Park. $10-$25 (depending on distance and date of registration). Work up an unforgettable Thanksgiving appetite with a European-style 5K around Reid Park. Separate men’s and women’s events create a fun opportunity to cheer on friends and family as they hurdle hay bales and water jumps. A team division is available. Great prizes include “turkeys” and pumpkin pies!
December 2015
Saturday, December 5 and Sunday, December 6 – Tucson Marathon, Half-Marathon, 10k, 5k, and 1-Mile. Full weekend of runs and fitness-related activities. See website for details.
Saturday, December 12 – 8:45am – Vail Jingle Trail 5k and Santa’s Little Helper 1k at Cienega High School. $10-$25. The 5K will be run on a cross country course on the High School campus. The race will start and finish in the Stadium. Music and refreshments.
Saturday, December 12 – 11:00am – Q and Brew Barbecue and Beer 10k at Steam Pump Ranch. $40. On Your Left Fitness is excited to partner with the North Tucson Firefighter’s Association (NTFFA) in hosting the Q and Brew 10K Run/Walk in conjunction with NTFFA’s BBQ Cook-Off. Over 30 firefighter teams will be cooking mouth-watering BBQ for you to sample after you’re done. All 10K participants earn a FREE entry into the BBQ, which includes 5 FREE bbq samples, and a FREE BEER (age permitted).
January 2016
Friday, January 1 – 8:00am – Egg Nog Jog New Year’s Day 5k at Continental Reserve Park. $5-$15. Kickoff your fitness resolution with this popular event. The sanctioned 5k route begins at Continental Reserve Park and loops through the beautiful Reserve neighborhood. Race is non-competitive. First 250 pre-registered will receive an event t-shirt.
Sunday, January 10 – 8:30am – Beyond Saguaro National Park West 4M & 1M Fun Runs. Free. The National Park Service and the Southern Arizona Roadrunners will team up for a free, non-competitive four mile and one mile social run/walk on the roads of Saguaro National Park West. Runners and walkers of all ages and abilities are invited but, please, no wheeled vehicles and no pets. The course will include rolling dirt roads and plenty of gorgeous National Park scenery. The run will not be officially timed and there will be no awards or posted results but participants must register. Due to parking and trail usage concerns, this free event is limited to 400 participants.
Sunday, January 17 – 9:00am – Sun Run for PCC 10k and 5k at Reid Park. $22-$30. This is a chance to run your fastest on a pancake-flat, lightning-fast USAT&F Certified 10K course or opt for the shorter 5k. Proceeds to benefit Pima Community College Cross-Country and Track & Field. After the race, enjoy a warm pancake breakfast and coffee.
Sunday, January 24 – 6:45am – TMC Sunrise at Old Tucson Trail Run 4M & 1M Walk/Run. Saddle up, boys and girls! Sunrise at Old Tucson is a 4-mile cross country trail run on the grounds of historic Old Tucson Studios. Women’s Four-Miler starts at 8:00 am. Men’s Four-Miler starts at 9:00 am. One Mile Walk/Fun Run starts at 9:00 am. Awards and Free Lil’ Pardner’s Fun Run starts at about 9:30.
February 2016
Sunday, February 14 – 8:30am – Fine Valentine Relay 4M & 2M at the University of Arizona. $34-40 per team. Want a morning full of running, mimosas, costume contests, p.d.a exchange zone, group challenge to win a keg, and more!? Be part of a race that was featured on by Runners World as races that get you feeling the love! True loves, best buds, and solo runners are all welcome!
Sunday, February 21 – 7:45am – Be Tucson Women’s 5k Run/Walk and Men’s Mile at La Encantada. $20-$30. The fourth annual TMC BE Tucson Women’s 5k and Men’s Mile features a men’s mile, an open women’s 5k and a women’s 5k prize money race, a beautiful loop course, and plenty of family-friendly activities.
March 2016
Saturday, March 5 – 7:30am – Spring Cross-Country Classic 5k & FitKidz Mile at Lincoln Park. $20-$30. The Spring Cross Country Classic is a fun filled 5k through the scenic rolling trails of Lincoln Park. There are separate races for men and women, and a wide variety of age groups means everyone competes for prizes.
Sunday, March 13 – 7:30am – Green Isle Mile and Running With the Irish 5k in Downtown Tucson. $25. This is the competition for bragging rights to the fastest mile in Tucson! The 1 mile run through beautiful downtown Tucson serves as the kick-off to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Prize money to top two men/women overall and First masters man/woman. Top 50 finishers will receive a shamrock medallion. The 5k will be run on the Aviation bike path. Top 100 finishers will receive a commemorative mug.
Sunday, March 13 – 8:30am – Dave’s Run for ALS 5k & FitKidz/Family Mile at Crossroads at Silverbell Park. $18-$28 for 5k. Dave’s Run for ALS is an event for runners and walkers of all ages and abilities. The event is named for the late David Filer who was an avid runner, active SAR member, and local business owner. David was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, in the summer of 2000. Currently there is no cure for this fatal disease. A portion of the proceeds from the event will go specifically for ALS research, via the Jim Himelic foundation.
Saturday, March 19 – Hands of Hope 5k Run/Walk at Reid Park.
April 2016
Saturday, April 9 – 5:15pm – Sabino Canyon 7.4 Mile Sunset Run. This unique 7.4 mile race is designed to capitalize on the majestic nature of Sabino Canyon. Experience the challenges of a great race in a truly magnificent setting.
Saturday, April 16 – 8:00am – Nut Run 5k at Green Valley Pecan Farm. $30. This 5k race is one of three in the “Orchard Series” which takes runners through the pecan orchards, giving a unique opportunity to see the farm.
May 2016
Sunday, May 1 – 6:30am – Dr. Gann’s Diet of Hope Cinco de Mayo 10k and 5k. $15-$37. The 35th annual edition of Tucson’s largest and most scenic 10K winds its way through Starr Pass in the foothills of the Tucson Mountains. Run or walk the gorgeous course with beautiful mountain scenery and great views of the Tucson basin. Afterwards, join the Cinco de Mayo Celebration featuring a live mariachi band.
Sunday, May 8 – 7:00am – Tucson 5000 at Reid Park. $10-$20. One of the fastest 5Ks in the West! This pancake-flat, fast course provides the perfect opportunity for a 5K PR.
Saturday, May 28 – TMC Meet Me Downtown 5k Night Run/Walk & FitKidz Mile in Downtown Tucson. $20-$30. Lace up your favorite sneaks for the biggest running event in Tucson, the 10th Annual TMC Meet Me Downtown 5k Night Run and Walk. The 2016 version will be the biggest and bet yet, and with more than $4,000 in prize money some of the best runners in the country will be hand. Known as MMD (#MMD), the race has morphed into a city-wide block party, with a free beer garden hosted by beneficiary the Junior League of Tucson; a free concert headlined by LeeAnne Savage with other bands along the route; and an after-party on the patio of Tucson’s iconic Hotel Congress.
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