TMC Arizona Distance Classic Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon and 5K

February 18 Update: The last day to enjoy the discounted pricing to El Conquistador Resort is February 20th.  Click here for information on reserving your room at the beautiful vacation resort, just minutes from the start/finish line. 

ALSO: Please click here for the most-recent pre-race email that we sent to early registrants: https://conta.cc/4rda2ya.  

Join us on March 8, 2026 for the next TMC Arizona Distance Classic.  A fun-filled running party, with multiple distances for all abilities -- make your plans for a joyful weekend of fitness and fun in beautiful Oro Valley, Arizona. 

A true celebration of the healthy active lifestyle, we encourage runners and walkers of all shapes, sizes and abilities to participate.  Whether you're training for the Boston Marathon and want to test your race day abilities or you want to complete a race for the first time, we've got something for everyone!
 
With stunning views of the Catalina Mountains to the east, the Tortolita Mountains to the north, and the Tucson Mountains to the west, the AZDC is a perfect spot for a spring destination race. The breathtaking course is open and fully supported for 3.5 hours. 

Coming from out of town or local and want a fun staycation?  Check out the discounted pricing to the El Conquistador Resort, an 8 minute drive from the starting line.

• The first 1300 registrants receive the beautiful sublimated souvenir race shirt

• All registrants receive a colorful race number, an official finishing time, with finisher's video. 

• No matter the race, every finisher receives the cool souvenir Finisher's Medal!

• Overall and age group awards in all three events, plus a morning festival of food trucks, music, vendor expo, and other fun activities.

• Plentiful aid stations and cheer groups line the course through the foothills of the stunning Santa Catalina mountains. 

• Produced by the Southern Arizona Roadrunners in partnership with Run Tucson, the TMC Arizona Distance Classic takes place on the scenic roadways of beautiful Oro Valley, just north of Tucson, Arizona. 

• Special thanks to title sponsor TMC Health for providing funding to support the event -- and special thanks to the Town of Oro Valley and the OVPD for hosting us.

Run more, pay less! SAR members receive a discount that covers RunSignup fees at all SAR-owned races. Not a member? Join SAR: https://runsignup.com/MemberOrg/SouthernArizonaRoadrunners

For more race details, please see https://arizonadistanceclassic.com
 

Routes

See the Half Marathon course here.

See the Quarter Marathon course here.

See the 5K Run/Walk course here.

2026 Planned Race Weekend Schedule

Friday, March 6, 2026

• In-person registration and packet pickup: 4:00 - 7:00 pm, with happy hour 6:00 - 7:00 pm, at The Running Shop, 3055 North Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ

Saturday, March 7, 2026

• In-person registration and packet pickup: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm at The Running Shop, 3055 North Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ

Sunday, March 8, 2026

• Race Staging Location: Roche Tissue Diagnostics facilities, at 1910 Innovation Park Drive, Oro Valley, Arizona, with food trucks, music, activities, vendor expo and more

• In-person registration and packet pickup: 5:30 - 6:45 am

• Parking closes at 6:15 am so all vehicles must be on site by 6:15 am

• Half Marathon Start: 6:30 am

• Quarter Marathon and 5K Start: 7:05 am

• 5K and Quarter Marathon Awards begin: 9:00 am approximately

• Half Marathon Awards begin: 10:00 am approximately

• Course Closure: 10:00 am

• Event Closure: 11:30 am

Visit our event website for full details on hotels, parking, the course, and more! See arizonadistanceclassic.com!

Coming from out of town? Check out the Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visit Tucson for information on nearby attractions.

Event questions contact Randy Accetta at randy@runtucson.net.

Check out the brightly colored souvenir shirt -- available in both unisex and "ladies" cut for the first 1000 registrants.  

Divisions, Awards & Souvenirs
The first 1,200 registrants will receive an official event shirt and a souvenir finisher’s medal. You can snag the shirt size that fits in either unisex or “ladies” cut. All shirts are first come, first served at packet pickup. We will provide overall, masters and age group awards. Final details will be confirmed, but here is the plan for now:

Half Marathon Prize Money, courtesy of Ridgway Private Wealth

First place overall male and female: $100
Second place overall male and female: $75
Third place overall male and female: $50
First place 40+ male and female: $50

Quarter Marathon and 5k Prize Money, courtesy of Ridgway Private Wealth

Overall male and female: $50
 

Half Marathon Age Group Awards: top three male and female receive awards in 5-year age groups, starting 15-19, then 20-24 and so forth in 5 year increments through 80+

First place: $30 Running Shop Gift Certificate
Second place: Arizona Distance Classic Drinking Glass and Headband
Third place: Arizona Distance Classic Running Visor
Awards will be handed out on race day at awards ceremony.  Awards may be picked up through March 31, 2025, at The Running Shop, 3055 N Campbell Ave #153, Tucson, Arizona 85719.  Awards will not be mailed.

The Half Marathon is on the Southern Arizona Roadrunners Grand Prix Calendar for most age groups.  See www.runsar.org for details.
Prize Money winners are taken out of the age group awards

Quarter Marathon Awards: top three male and female receive awards in 5-year age groups, starting U15, then 15-19 and so forth in 5 year increments through 80+

First place: $30 Running Shop Gift Certificate
Second place: Arizona Distance Classic Drinking Glass and Headband
Third place: Arizona Distance Classic Running Visor
Awards will be handed out on race day at awards ceremony.  Awards may be picked up through March 31, 2025, at The Running Shop, 3055 N Campbell Ave #153, Tucson, Arizona 85719.  Awards will not be mailed.
The Quarter Marathon is on the Southern Arizona Roadrunners Grand Prix Calendar for ages U15 and for 75+.  See www.runsar.org for details.
5K Awards: top three male and female receive awards in 10-year age groups, U20, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80+

First place: $30 Running Shop Gift Certificate
Second place: Arizona Distance Classic Headband
Third place: Arizona Distance Classic Running Visor
Awards will be handed out on race day at awards ceremony.  Awards may be picked up through March 31, 2025, at The Running Shop, 3055 N Campbell Ave #153, Tucson, Arizona 85719.  Awards will not be mailed.
NOTE: Final Age Group Awards May Vary

We respect the right of all athletes to compete regardless of gender identity, and all registrants may choose either the male, female, or non-binary division.  

All awards are based on a participant's choice of category at registration.  Due to a dearth of participants, there are currently no top finisher awards for the non-binary division.

No double dipping. In case of finish time and place disputes, participants are responsible for verifying their finish time, turn-around time, and overall placing; the race organizer will make the final decision.
 

After-party fun: take advantage of a 15% discount for zipline tickets and 10% off burgers at the super-fun Arizona Zipline Adventures, in nearby Oracle.  When booking online at www.ziparizona.com, apply the code AZFUN at checkout and bring in your number/registration info to validate the discount! Offer valid on the weekend of March 1-2, 2025.

CLICK HERE FOR RECENT PRE-RACE EMAIL TO ALL PARTICIPANTS

Schedule

Friday, March 6th, 4:00 - 7:00pm: In-person registration and packet pickup, with happy hour 6:00 - 7:00pm, at The Running Shop, 3055 N Campbell Ave, #153, Tucson, AZ, 85719. 

Saturday, March 7th, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm: In-person registration and packet pickup at The Running Shop, 3055 N Campbell Ave, #153, Tucson, AZ, 85719. 

• Pick up your souvenir race shirt, race number, and race pins to pin the number to the front of your shirt.
• Shirt sizing is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Yes, you can pick up the number and shirt for other people; please be mindful of the crowds and don't block the lines. 
• If you want to change your distance, please tell the volunteers at packet pickup on Friday or Saturday or tell the timer before the events on Sunday.
• In person registration via cash, check, or RunSignup online.

Sunday, March 8th, at Roche Tissue Diagnostics, 1910 E Innovation Park Dr, Oro Valley, AZ US 85755

• 5:30-6:45 am: In-person registration and packet pickup
• 6:15 am: Parking closes, so all vehicles must be on site by 6:15 am. Visitor parking will re-open at 7:15 or so.
• 6:30 am: Half Marathon start
• 7:05 am: Quarter Marathon and 5K start
• Ongoing: Deejay, vendor expo, food trucks, and more
• 9:00 am approximately: Quarter Marathon and 5K awards begin
• 10:00 am approximately: Half Marathon awards begin
• 10:00 am: Course closure
• 11:30 am: Event closure

NOTE: Due to road closures, access via Innovation to nearby parking closes at 6:15 am, so please be sure that you are at the race site by 6:15 am on race day. Innovation will reopen for visitor parking at about 7:15 am.

NOTE: The Half Marathon has a 3.5 hour time limit. If you think you will take longer than 7-hour marathon pace, please change to the Quarter Marathon.

NOTE: If you decide on race day to change distances, you MUST visit the Timing Tent and tell the timer so that accurate results can be provided for all participants.

More Race Weekend Activities

Saturday and Sunday, 10 AM–5 PM at National Parks Store, just north of start/finish

Discover the elegant Mata Ortiz pottery of master ceramicist Jorge Quintana. Enjoy daily pottery firings at 11 AM and 2 PM (weather permitting) and artist demonstrations. Pottery and Zapotec rugs will be available for purchase.

No reservation required.

Saturday and Sunday Zipline and Burgers: take advantage of a 15% discount for zipline tickets and 10% off burgers at the super-fun Arizona Zipline Adventures, in nearby Oracle. When booking online at www.ziparizona.com, apply the code AZFUN at checkout and bring in your number/registration info to validate the discount! Offer valid on the weekend of March 1-2, 2025.

Post-Race Through March

If you miss the awards ceremony, please visit The Running Shop to pick up your awards.
Any remaining souvenir race shirts will be available at The Running Shop (3055 N Campbell Ave) through the end of March. 
Awards and souvenirs will not be mailed.
 

NOTES:

Make sure your race number is pinned to the front of your shirt.
If you think you will be out for more than 2.5 hours, bring sports drink or other electrolyte drink.
Chip Time means that your time official begins when you cross the start-line mat and that your official time ends when you cross the finish-line mat.
Prize money and overall awards are awarded based on "gun-time" while age group awards will be awarded based on chip-time

February 14Update:  We're excited about this event!  The Town of Oro Valley has given early approval for the series of running  events to take place on March 2, 2025, but we're still finalizing the permits.  If the event has to be rescheduled due to the Town of Oro Valley, all entries will be transferred to the newly-scheduled event.

Refunds: Following event industry protocol, there are no refunds, and all registration sales are final. 

Deferrals to 2026: Deferrals will be allowed for one year, with a $10 nominal fee.  The deferral deadline has been extended to February 20, 2025.  See this page for details on how to manage this process through your race registration platform: https://help.runsignup.com/support/solutions/articles/17000062915-defer-registration-claim-deferral#How-to-Defer-Registration

Transfer Your Entry to a Friend: Race numbers may be transferred for the same $10 nominal fee. The transfer deadline has been extended to February 20, 2025.  See this page for details on how to manage this process through your race registration platform: https://help.runsignup.com/support/solutions/articles/17000062921-transfer-to-another-runner

Race Distance Transfer: All registrants can transfer from one race distance to another through February 28.  There is no fee for this transfer.  There is no refund if you change to an event with lower pricing, but if you move to an event with higher pricing, you will be required to pay the higher price, including RSU fees.  You can see directions on how to manage this process through your race registration platform here: https://help.runsignup.com/support/solutions/articles/17000062922-transfer-to-another-event

Reselling: Race numbers cannot be sold.

Packet Pickup: Friends and family may pick up your race items at registration.  Race goodies will NOT be mailed to participants who cannot attend the event weekend.

Pregnancy Policy: Please contact us at tia@runtucson.net for details on pregnancy deferrals.  Our goal is to support all women on their pregnancy journey. 

Public Health: This event takes place in the Town of Oro Valley and will follow all public health requirements set by the Town of Oro Valley.

Weather: Barring dangerous inclement weather, the event as planned will take place rain or shine; however, the race directors reserve the right to postpone or cancel the event due to events out of our control such as weather, natural disaster, public health crisis, or any other reason, including requirements by the Town of Oro Valley. Thus, we may alter the courses and distances at any time if required due to course blockages or other restrictions or impediments. All registrants recognize that all fees paid for the event are non-refundable for any reason. If the event is cancelled because of weather, natural disaster, public health crisis, governmental or court order, or any other reason, refunds will not be given.  If possible, though, the event will be postponed and your entry will be transferred to a new date with details announced as promptly as possible.

We're thrilled to have TMC Health as title sponsor for this special event. TMC Health is our community's premier health care system, with providers, services, and locations throughout Southern Arizona. TMC Health has been a long-time supporter of community fitness and wellness -- and we couldn't be happier that they're part of this great event!

For all of your wellness and health needs, see www.tmcaz.com.

Looking for work?  Check out their hiring pages -- TMC Health is known as a great employer, so check out their career and jobs page here: jobs.tmcaz.com