Tucson Marathon 50th Running!

February 28, 2020Newsgliffen

And a belated birthday wish to the great state 48! #AZ

We would like to recognize and celebrate the upcoming 50th running of what the locals know today as the Holualoa Tucson Marathon. On December 4th we will acknowledge the 50th running of the Tucson Marathon with commemorative swag and with the help of others a history timeline to be on display at our December 3rd expo.

The very first Tucson marathon was held February 15, 1969. The race started at City Hall, went east to Randolph Park, then circled back to San Xavier Mission and back to City Hall.

The race was called the Arizona Admittance Day Marathon. The chairman was Carl Brunenkant and the president of the Marathon was Joe Soble.

The winner was Ron Hall, a Sunnyside High grad, in 2:41.46. Approximately 170 runners started and 112 finished. (No women’s results were recorded)

Acknowledgments to Steven Finkelstein Arizona/USATF Long Distance Running Recordkeeper and Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star

The following link has the past 49 winners and course information https://www.arrs.run/HP_TucMa.htm

Fast Facts:
– First Female Lauri Snider (AZ/USA) 1974 won again 1975
– Fastest Male 2:13:56 Ed Mendoza (AZ/USA)
– Fastest Female 2:41:36 Heather Utrala (CO/USA)
– Most overall victories female (3) Margie Lopez (AZ/USA)
– Most overall victories male (6) Soro Bassarima (CIV)
– No race was held 1986-1987 or 1994
– 2 races were held in January and December 1995

Acknowledgments to Andy Milroy (NRDC), Steven Finkelstein Arizona/USATF Long Distance Running Recordkeeper, and the late Ultra Legend Ken Young.

We hope to find fun facts throughout the year to share with our readers. If you were a part of the history and have old memorable or stories to share please send me an email. info@tucsonmarathon.com

Tucson Marathon

Come run your FIRST MARATHON or your FASTEST MARATHON.

Enjoy beautiful Tucson winter weather with temperatures at the start that average in the high 30s and reaching 65-70 degrees Fahrenheit by 11 a.m. The Old West historical town of Oracle marks the starting line of this is primarily a downhill marathon. with some hills around mile 2-4, and mile 11-12 and mile 24. The course winds through the desert on paved roads and finishes at the Golder Ranch Fire Station on Golder Ranch Road in the Town of Catalina. You’ll drop almost 2,200 feet in elevation as you run on the point-to-point course along the beautiful Santa Catalina mountain range. (Again, there are some rolling hills and inclines between miles 2-4 and miles 10-12, as well as mile 24). Be sure to train your quadriceps as you’ll be running downhill!

Our runners continue to tell us it’s one of the prettiest courses in the country and one of the easiest to run a personal best. A portion of the race proceeds benefit local school sports programs and other selected youth groups.

RACE REGISTRATION FEES

Holualoa Tucson Marathon Registration Fees:
$109 by 4/30/21
$114 by 8/31/21
$119 from 12/2/2021 and in person at Packet Pick-up (12/4/2021)

**No race day registration or packet pick-up available. Baby Joggers/Strollers are not allowed on the course. The Marathon course closes at 1:30 p.m. Course cut offs will be enforced and are posted below. Unfortunately, we do not offer refunds, roll-overs or transfers of registration fees.

Half Marathon

Enjoy beautiful Tucson winter weather with temperatures at the start averaging in the high 30s (F) and reaching 65-70F by 11 a.m. This is a very scenic, mostly downhill, half marathon course in northern Tucson. Due to safety requirements, there will once again be a ‘wave’ start for the Damascus Bakeries Half Marathon. (Participants will receive both a “chip time” and “gun time” after finishing the event. Competitors aiming for a podium spot in the Tucson Half-Marathon should opt to be near the starting line, (in the first corral as winners times will be based on “gun time” only.) Runners will be released in groups of 200 approximately every 2 minutes. Thank you for your patience and cooperation on race morning!

RACE REGISTRATION FEES

Damascus Bakeries Tucson Half Marathon Registration Fees
$94 by 4/30/21
$99 by 08/31/21
$109 from 12/2/2021 and in person at Packet Pick-up (12/4/2021)

**No race day registration or packet pick-up available. Baby Joggers/Strollers are not allowed on the course. The Half Marathon course closes at 1:30 p.m. Course cut offs will be enforced and are posted below. Unfortunately, we do not offer refunds, roll-overs or transfers of registration fees.

Marathon Relay

Come be a part of the Tucson Marathon Events and share the distance with up to three friends and enjoy beautiful Tucson winter weather, with temperatures at the start averaging in the low 40s/high 30s and reaching 65-70 degrees by 11 a.m.

A Marathon Relay team can be comprised of 2-4 runners. Awards will be broken down into the following divisions: All Female; All Male, Coed.

Tucson Marathon Relay – Registration Fees:
$210 by 4/30/21
$229 by 8/31/21
$239 by 9/30/21
$249 by 10/31/21
$259 by 12/2/21
$269 from 12/2/2020 and in person at Packet Pick-up (12/4/2021)

**No race day registration or packet pick-up available. Baby Joggers/Strollers are not allowed on the course. The course closes at 1:30 p.m. Course cut offs will be enforced and are posted below. Unfortunately, we do not offer refunds, roll-overs or transfers of registration fees.

2017/18 Tucson Marathon

Come run your FIRST MARATHON or your FASTEST MARATHON.

RACE REGISTRATION FEES

Holualoa Tucson Marathon Registration Fees:
$94 by 3/15/2018
$99 by 7/1/2018
$104 by 9/1/2018
$109 by 10/31/2018
$114 by 12/5/2018
$125 from 12/5/2018 and in person at Packet Pick-up (12/7/18)

Marathon Relay

A Marathon Relay team can be comprised of 2-4 runners. Awards will be broken down into the following divisions: All Female; All Male, Coed.

NEW FOR 2019! If you would like to run as part of a Relay Team and don’t have enough people or you are from out of town, CLICK HERE to be added to our list of people looking for a team. (note – you will be redirected to a different site) Check it out!

Tucson Marathon Relay – Registration Fees:
$210 by 4/30/2020
$229 by 8/31/2020
$239 by 9/30/2020
$249 by 10/31/2020
$259 by 12/3/2020
$269 from 12/4/2020 and in person at Packet Pick-up (12/4/2020)

Half Marathon

RACE REGISTRATION FEES

Damascus Bakeries Tucson Half Marathon Registration Fees
$79 by 3/15/2018
$84 by 7/1/2018
$89 by 9/1/2018
$94 by 10/31/2018
$99 by 12/5/2018
$115 from 12/5/2018 and in person at Packet Pick-up (12/7/18)

2016 Family Fitness Fest

The Tucson Marathon Family Fitness Fest is presented by the University of Arizona College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the Canyon Ranch Center for Prevention & Health Promotion at the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health. The Marathon, Marathon relay and Half marathon are held on Saturday, December 10.

The 10K promises to be fun, fast and exciting event. The unique criterium style format is exactly six laps on the UA Mall. Walkers are allowed as long as you are aware the 1-Mile event will begin on the same course at 10:30 am. The 10K will be chip timed. Awards will be giving to the top 3 male and female finishers.

Back by popular demand, the 10K Relay is a unique criterium style relay. You must have six runners and six names to register a team. Everyone runs one lap of the UA Mall with a baton. There are no age or gender groups for this race so get your fastest milers together and run like you stole something. Awards will be given to the top three fastest teams.

The 5K course takes runners of all ages and abilities around the UA Mall. This is a very safe, flat and fast course, perfect for families and friends to run together. Walkers and wheelchairs are welcome. Awards will be given to the top 3 male and female finishers.

The 1-Mile Fun Run for kids is one lap on the Mall on the UA campus. Every child will receive a finisher’s medal and shirt. Parents are welcome to run with their kids but will not get a bib or t-shirt. Kid’s activities will be held on the Mall, 8:00 am. – 11:30 am.

Elementary schools, middle schools, junior high schools and high schools in Tucson are invited to participate as a team in the 1 Mile Hoodoo Cup Challenge. You must have at least ten runners to sign up. We’ll take the ten fastest times to determine the winner. The winning school will earn the perpetual (traveling) Hoodoo Cup. It will stay at your school until next year when you can come back to defend your title.

Run the 5K on Saturday, December 3 at the University of Arizona and the Damascus Bakeries Half Marathon the following week, on Saturday, December 10. Participants will wear a different bib and get a different shirt for each event. All finishers will receive a separate “Fiesta Challenge” medal at the finish of the half marathon in addition to the 5K and Half Marathon medal. Individual results will be posted for each event along with combined results for the Fiesta Challenge. Pick up your bib and goodies for both events at the same time on Saturday, December 3 before the start of the 5K.

- 5K on Dec. 3
- Half Marathon on Dec. 10

This year, run the 10K on Saturday, December 3 at the University of Arizona and the Full Marathon on Saturday, December 10. The 10K and the Marathon are a week apart, making the Saguaro 52K Challenge more attainable for many runners, particularly locals. For some, the 10K could be an ideal taper run a week before the marathon. Participants in the Challenge will wear a different bib for each race and receive a shirt specific to each event. All finishers will collect a separate “Saguaro Challenge” medal at the finish of the marathon in addition to the 10K and Marathon medals. Individual results will be posted for each event along with combined results for the Saguaro Challenge. Participants will pick up their bibs and goodies for both events at the same time on Saturday, December 3 before the start of the 10K.

- 10K on Dec. 3
- Marathon on Dec. 10

The ultimate running challenge in Tucson is the Wildcat Challenge, where runners can race 17.2 to 33.4 miles, depending on the combination you choose. All combinations require running three events. Everyone must run the 1 Mile; it is the second event for every available combo. The 1 Mile, 5K and 10K are held on Saturday, December 3 at the University of Arizona Mall. You can choose between the half marathon and marathon on Saturday, December 10 but you can’t run both because they start around the same time with different start locations.

Saturday, Dec. 3
1 Mile + 5K (3.1 mls.)
1 Mile + 10K (6.2 mls.)
1 Mile + 5K (3.1 mls.)
1 Mile + 10K (6.2 mls.)

Saturday, Dec. 10
+ Half Marathon (13.1 mls.)
+ Half Marathon (13.1 mls.)
+ Marathon (26.2 mls.)
+ Marathon (26.2 mls.)

Total Miles
17.2 miles
20.3 miles
30.3 miles
33.4 miles

Participants in the Wildcat Challenge will wear a different bib for each race and receive a different shirt for each day they race. All finishers will collect a separate “Wildcat Challenge” medal at the finish of the half marathon or marathon in addition to the individual event medals. That’s a nice collection of four medals for running the Wildcat Challenge. Individual results will be posted for each event along with combined results for the Wildcat Challenge. Participants will pick up their bibs and goodies for both events at the same time on Saturday, December 3 before the start of the 5K/10K.

2016 Tucson Marathon

Come run your FIRST MARATHON or your FASTEST MARATHON.

Enjoy beautiful Tucson winter weather with temperatures at the start averaging in the high 30s and reaching 65-70 degrees Fahrenheit by 11 a.m. The Old West historical town of Oracle marks the starting line of this is primarily a downhill marathon. with some hills around mile 2-4, and mile 11-12 and mile 24. The course winds through the desert on paved roads and finishes at the Golder Ranch Fire Station on Golder Ranch Road in the Town of Catalina. You’ll drop almost 2,200 feet in elevation as you run on the point-to-point course along the beautiful Santa Catalina mountain range. (Again, there are some rolling hills and inclines between miles 2-4 and miles 10-12, as well as mile 24). Be sure to train your quadriceps as you’ll be running downhill!

RACE-DAY REGISTRATION

No race day registration or packet pick-up available.

2016 Marathon Relay

A Marathon Relay team can be comprised of 2-4 runners. Awards will be broken down into the following divisions: All Female; All Male, Coed.