TMC Old Tucson Trail Run 8-Mile, 4 Mile, 1 Mile

Whether you're a seasoned athlete or just looking for a fun way to get some exercise, join us for an exciting morning at America's most legendary western film set. Passing through the gates of an old frontier town, you'll be transported back in time to the mythic Wild West.  

Dash down the streets of Hollywood’s most famous films, and walk in the footsteps of movie legends like John Wayne, Sharon Stone, and other class film stars. 

• The new 8-Mile race includes a 2-mile loop inside the Old Tucson grounds, then a 4-mile loop on the trails of Tucson Mountain Park, then a closing 2-mile loop inside Old Tucson, with a start and finish at the Bitter Creek and High Chaparral sets. Starts at 7:30 am.

• Click here for the 4-mile route. The 4-mile trail run loops throughout the dusty streets, horse trails, and desert terrain of Old Tucson Studios.  There will be two sections of the 4-Miler:  The Women's 4-Miler starts at 9:00 am and the Men's/Open section starts at 10:00.

• Click here for the 1-Mile.  The Family 1-mile includes a $10 entry for all 14-and-under, with no shirt.  Western costumes, children, and strollers are all welcome!  The 1-Miler starts at 10:00.

• The first 750 participants receive a free commemorative sublimated shirt.

• All participants receive colorful souvenir race number. 

• Want more?  Mosey up to the cash bar for a post-race drink at the Bitter Creek set or pre-order a breakfast burrito here.

• Souvenir medal for sale for $15 (limited to 150)

Choose Your Race Day Distance -- Times are tentative, as we work out the details with Old Tucson Entertainment

Saturday, February 21: Packet Pickup and In-Person Registration at The Running Shop

Sunday morning, February 22: Event Day!

6:30: In-person registration and packet pickup begins at the eastern end of the Old Tucson main parking lot. All shirt sizes are first-come, first-served. There are no race transfers allowed. New registrants can pay with cash or check. Please be nice to the staff and the volunteers.

7:30: Start 8-Miler, at Bitter Creek Set 

9:00: Women's Four-Miler 

10:00: Open and Men's Four Miler + the Family One Mile Walk/Fun Run 

9:00 or so: Breakfast and Cash Bar will open.

10:30 or so: Awards begin, Costume Contest, and Free Lil' Pardner's Fun Run -- fun 100-yard dash around the High Chaparral and Bitter Creek sets 

11:30 or so: we try to wrap up. According to Old Tucson management, all participants are asked to leave the grounds by 11:15 or so, and then re-enter through the main entry turnstyles. 

REMINDER: Friends and family are allowed in Old Tucson during the event up until race end at 11:15 am. To stay in town after the park opens, participants can purchase a discounted ticket. These tickets must be purchased via this webpage ahead of time. 

Highlights: 

* First 700 registrants guaranteed a commemorative colorful souvenir shirt - see here

* Low pricing with a la carte add-ons, including Day Pass to Old Tucson, breakfast burrito, or additional souvenir shirts

* Post-race cash bar with beer, spirits and more at Stage 2, near the Bitter Creek finish line

* $2 off for all SAR members. The 4-Mile races are part of SAR's 2026 Running Shop/Mizuno Grand Prix.  

* Start/Finish at the Bitter Creek and High Chaparral sets

* Costume Contest: we'll hold a western-themed costume contest at the awards ceremony -- run in your western duds and try to win a costume contest prize! 

* The 8-Miler and 4-Miler includes single track trails, Horse Poop Alley, dirt roads, washes, and the dusty Old Tucson Main Street (wheelchairs and strollers will find this very challenging)

* The 1-Mile Walk/Run course is less technical and loads of fun for walkers, joggers, and runners of all abilities (chairs and strollers should be fine on this trail, though chair athletes may have a difficult time navigating the terrain).  

* The 14-and-under 1-Mile is a low price of $10 but does not include a shirt.

* Free Lil' Partners 100 yard dash for lil' cowpokes!

* Age Group and Overall Prizes: Gift certificates to The Running Shop for overall and age group winners 

Terrain: dirt, trails, and washes

Difficulty: some sections are rugged, mostly flat but a few inclines, watch out for cactus

Weather: 50's - 70's

Differently Abled: the four-miler is not suited for chairs, but the 1-miler may be doable

Pets: Unfortunately, pets are not allowed on Old Tucson property

About Old Tucson: Old Tucson Studios is open Thursdays through Mondays from 10:30am to 5:00pm. More details can be found on their website www.oldtucson.com

Location and Directions: Click here for maps and details. Old Tucson Studios, 201 South Kinney Road, Tucson, AZ 85735 

Awards: Click here for Award details.

For questions, please contact randy@runtucson.net.

--by Randy Accetta

Cross country: natural, earthy, primordial.  Narrow, wooded trails, sweeping grass fields —or in Tucson’s case, harsh desert terrain, cactus, sandy washes, and rattlesnakes.  There’s no water stop here, no lining up by your estimated mile pace.  No stadium-size crowds.  Just you, the ground, and your competitors.  Here are a dozen quick tips for cross country racing.

1. Know the course: You need to know the terrain so check for single track and sandy washes, for hills and other key landmarks.  Especially here in Tucson, be careful about cactus and rocks.  Most of our trail races are pretty rugged locations, so be nimble and keep an eye on where you put your feet.  If possible, jog the course ahead of time so that you can cut the tangents and stay on track.

2. Elbows out at the start: At the start, protect yourself by angling your elbows outward, so that you create space between you and other runners.  Don’t knock over the grandmother next to you, but don’t be afraid to be aggressive. 

3. Be patient: Unless the course is so narrow that you will never be able to move up during the race, it is best to start within yourself.  If you get in oxygen debt too early, you’re in for a long, unhappy race, but an easier beginning will allow you to pass others with authority and surge when needed.  Be willing to relax, be patient, and run within yourself.

4. Be aggressive on the hills: Once you’ve worked your way into the race, attack the course.  Surge up short hills.  Be patient during long hills, then surge at the crest of long hills.  Work the downhills.  If you find yourself discouraged while running uphill, remember that all things come to an end, and that this, too, will pass. 

5. Pass with authority: Racing is a head game and you can break your competitors by running fast when they don’t expect you to and when they don’t want to.  Throw in a burst of speed for 50-200 meters as you approach and go around corners.  Surge at the crest of hills.  Surge at the flat section at the bottom of a downhill.  If you can dash past tired runners and quickly distance yourself from them, often they’ll be too discouraged to catch up. 

6. Follow those who pass you: When someone passes you, don’t let them gap you.  Sticking with them may = give you a burst of positive psychological energy that allows you to maintain the quicker pace – plus, they may lose enthusiasm if they know you’re determined to keep the pace. 

7. Relax: You cannot expect yourself to sprint the whole race, so be willing to relax and be patient during parts of the race. Be willing to sit in the pack and let the miles slide by until it’s time to be aggressive

8. Cover the break: When a group breaks away from you, go with it—you don’t need to lead the break, but you must be willing to keep contact.  Even if you are fatigued, maintaining contact with the group ahead of you will keep you motivated.  When you recover from the surge, you will be well-positioned to advance further.

9. Think quick feet: You can speed up your running cadence by getting your feet down fast and bringing your heels around quickly.  Cross country courses in particular force your body to adapt to varied terrain and quick feet will help you navigate treacherous sections of the course.

10. Think quick hands: Quick hands lead to quick feet, so use short, quick arm strokes to drive you forward.  On uphills, lean into the hill and keep your hips forward.  On downhills, lean down the hill and let gravity give you speed.  Avoid wind-milling your arms and keep a normal, fast arm swing.

11. Accelerate around turns: Scampering out of sight is a good way to demoralize opponents and keep yourself aggressive.

12. Be tough: In every race save a few, you’ll reach the point where continuing at your pace seems impossible.  Extreme weariness will set in: your legs will ache, your breathing will be labored, and your mind will urge you to back off and save yourself for later.  However, if you wish to race well, you won’t give in to this seductive voice.  Instead of backing off, you will push ahead, change your cadence, and run on.  Regardless of the discomfort, you will soon recover—your breath will return, the aches will fade.  Your pride will remain.

Adapted from “How to Run Fast and Beat Your Friends: Tactics and Strategies for Successful Racing,” by Randy Accetta in The Running Times Guide to Breakthrough Running.  Ed: Gordon Bakoulis. 1999

Thanks to Coach Jenny Hadfield for the photo!

February 17 Update: If you were top three in your age group or overall, you can stop by and get your Running Shop Gift Certificate at The Running Shop (3055 North Campbell Avenue, Tucson) before March 15th. Congratulations on a great race!

Thanks to the Running Shop, overall winners and age-group winners will receive gift certificates to The Running Shop.  We will hold the Award Ceremony at the Bitter Creek set near the start/finish line at approximately 9:30 am. If you win an award but cannot pick it up at the Awards Ceremony, gift cards will be available post-race at the Running Shop through the end of March.

Running Shop gift certificates: 

4-Mile Run: Overall Female and Overall Male: 1st place: $40 gift card; 2nd place: $35; 3rd place: $30.

First place 40+ Male/Female: $35

Age group: top three in 5-year age divisions, 14U, then 15-19 through 80+, in 5-year increments, AG1-$25; AG 2-$15 gc; AG 3-$10 gc

Note on gender divisions: We are trying to make this as participant-friendly as possible, so anyone can choose either Male, Female or Non-Binary and any participant can participate in either the "Women's" or "Men's/Open" event. However, for record-keeping purposes, the Running Shop Grand Prix points and race awards are only provided to women who are registered as female in the "Women's race" and only to those registered as "male" in the Men's/Open race. (In other words, if a man is first overall in the "Women's" race, they will not be eligible for awards and will not be included in the "Men's/Open" race standings and if a woman runner wins the "Men's Open division, they likewise would not win an award and would not be included in the women's standings.) At this writing, there are not enough folks registered in the non-binary division for an award category.

We're excited to partner with Casino Del Sol to offer you a discounted weekend rate of $139 (plus fees). Casino Del Sol features 215 elegantly appointed rooms and suites. Here's the scoop:

Rooms Available for the dates of February 14-17, 2025

Rate: $139.00 plus 12.1% Occupancy fee in Estrella Tower

Rates are based on single occupancy

Reservation Instructions

Step 1: https://www.casinodelsol.com/meetings-groups

Be sure you're on the Meetings & Groups page

Step 2: Click on Group Hotel Reservations

Step 3: Select Group Dates, # of Guests, Select Estrella Tower and Group Code 10184

Step 3: Click Next

To make reservations over the phone, please call our 24-hour Reservations Department at 1-855-SOL-STAY (765-7829)

Make sure you mention you will be attending the Old Tucson Trail Run

Cutoff Date: Group rate will be available until the cutoff date of January 31st 2025 or until the group block is full, whichever occurs first. Must call Reservations directly to reserve prior/post conference dates, based on availability.

Cancellation Policy: 48 hours prior to arrival date to avoid penalties

Here's the plan for the race weekend

Thursday, February 13: Last day to transfer to a different race distance, purchase add-on breakfast burrito, or purchase or additional souvenir t-shirt

Saturday, February 15: Packet Pickup and In-Person Registration

10:00am - 1:00pm: In-person registration and packet pickup at the Running Shop, 3055 North Campbell. All shirt sizes are first-come, first-served.

YES: someone else can pick up your items and you can pick up someone else's shirt and number

YES: it will be crowded, so please be patient and be nice to the volunteers

YES: The Running Shop will have items on sale, so take some time to shop for your running needs.

YES: New registrants can pay by RunSignup, or with cash or check

Sunday morning, February 16: Event Day!

6:30: In-person registration and packet pickup begins at the eastern end of the Old Tucson main parking lot. All shirt sizes are first-come, first-served. There are no race transfers allowed. New registrants can pay with cash or check. Please be nice to the staff and the volunteers.

7:30: Women's Four-Miler starts at Bitter Creek Set 

8:30: Men's/Open Four-Miler and the Family One Mile Walk/Fun Run starts at Bitter Creek

8:30 or so: Breakfast will open. You can order a breakfast burrito through February 15th by going to your RunSignup profile and following the links to add-on sales. Click here for info on getting into your RunSignup Profile.

9:30 or so: Awards, Costume Contest, and Free Lil' Pardner's Fun Run -- fun 100-yard dash around the High Chaparral and Bitter Creek sets 

10:00 or so: we try to wrap up and with the event closing at 10:30. According to Old Tucson management, all participants are asked to leave the ground and then re-enter through the main entry turnstyles. 

REMINDER: Friends and family are allowed in Old Tucson during the event up until race end at 10:00 am. To stay in town after the park opens, participants can purchase a ticket for $5 and with additional guest passes a discounted $15 per person. These tickets must be purchased ahead of time. Unfortunately, Old Tucson has not yet given us the website address to purchase the tickets, but we'll push this out as soon as we get it.

February 18 - March 15th: If you missed the event, you can pick up any remaining shirts at The Running Shop; first-come, first-served for remaining sizes

REFUND POLICY: This event follows standard running industry policies.  All entry fees are non-refundable.  For 2025, there are no refunds, no deferrals, and no transfers.  When you register for this event, you are making a non-refundable purchasing decision and must agree to this policy. You may not give or sell your number to another individual outside of the authorized transfer policy and process; doing so forfeits the race entry. Once you register, unrecoverable race course services and items are paid for as if you will be attending the event; thus, this policy stays in effect whether you are injured, have an unexpected business or family emergency, illness, pregnancy, etc.  

Q:  I missed the race, can you refund my registration or defer me to next year? 

A. In recent years we have been asked on race day and even after the race if refunds could be given or if deferrals can be provided, or if we can mail all the race goodies.  Please note that as much as we understand the challenges we all face with scheduling and unexpected life occurrences, we cannot provide refunds or personal mailings of race items.  It is not financially feasible for us to do this and continue to provide the event.  

The standard race entry fee provides entry into the event, but does not include mailings of race materials such as shirt, medal, post-race snacks, post-race drinks, or other event weekend items.  

Q: Do you grant deferrals for pregnancy?

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

Q: Will the race be cancelled if it rains, lightenings, snows, or otherwise has difficult weather conditions?

A:  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 City of Tucson and Pima County. 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.

Public Health: We will provide additional information as we get closer to each race day, but you can help us ensure the ability to produce an in-person event by following standard public health recommendations: get vaccinated, wear face coverings when in large indoor crowds, and be mindful of symptoms.  Having said all that, running is an activity that can be done alone and with groups -- when running or training alone or in groups, please continue to take all precautions to be a good health steward: bring a face covering and pull it over your nose and mouth when running or standing near others, keep your distance, wash your hands, and avoid close contact with others.  

If you are interested in helping direct runners and walkers on the course or in helping at registration, please sign up here: volunteersignup.org/CDFTL

FEBRUARY 16 NOTE: ALL ADD-ON SALES ARE CLOSED

Old Tucson is offering an add-on hot breakfast burrito: ten bucks gets you a bacon, cheese, egg, and potato burrito, available after the race at Stage 2, near the finish line. Old Tucson is also offering a cash bar on race weekend, so you can wet your whistle with your choice of beer, spirits, seltzers and more.

Pre-order your burrito when registering for the race and head to the bar for your choice of drink after the race:

Beer Domestics/Imports
·       Bud Light
·       Budweiser
·       Coors Light
·       Modelo 
·       Dos XX
·       Ultra 
Seltzer
·       White Claw (various flavours)
·       Wine
·       House Chardonnay
·       House Riesling 
·       House Cabernet
·       House Pinot Noir
Well Spirits
·       Basic Vodka
·       Seagram’s Gin
·       Cruzan Light Rum
·       Pueblo Viejo Tequila
·       Evan Williams Bourbon
·       Dewars White Label Scotch
Basic Mixers
·       Orange juice, cranberry juice, pineapple juice, tonic water, soda water, ginger ale.
Water/Soda
·       Dasani Water
·       Coke
·       Diet Coke
·       Coke Zero
·       Sprite
·       Dr Pepper
·       Monster
·       Gold Peak Sweet Tea
Hot Coffee & Tea station

FEBRUARY 16 NOTE: ALL ADD-ON SALES ARE CLOSED -- you can purchase additional shirts on race day for $20

All paid participants in the 4-mile and the 1-mile will receive the souvenir long sleeve race shirt.  You can also purchase an additional technical long sleeve shirt or one of our new "Run Tucson" soft-cotton souvenir shirts as an add-on.  You can choose these items at check out!  $20 bucks each!

Click here to purchase a discounted Old Tucson All-Day Pass, using the Old Tucson ticketing platform.  

Race entry fees will include entry into the timed run/walk event, a race t-shirt, and entry throughout the park until 10:00 am.  The Park will officially open at 10:30am, and to enjoy the day inside Old Tucson Studios, all participants can use this link to purchase a $10 entry ticket ($15 for guests, children 4-and-under are free) for a single Day Pass.  The purchase is a discount off regular pricing and will take place through Old Tucson's ticketing platform and will include their e-commerce charges.  

Friends and family are welcome to come to the race and cheer for participants. Old Tucson management asks that spectators stay at the race locations and will have staff on hand to ensure a safe experience for spectators. 

Here's what they say: Family and friends are allowed to view racers by moving down to the spectator’s area inside the park but cannot roam throughout the park since the park is not fully open.

About Old Tucson: Old Tucson Studios is open Thursdays through Mondays from 10:30am to 5:00pm. More details can be found on our website www.oldtucson.com.

Pricing for Old Tucson Tickets

Old Tucson Studios, 201 South Kinney Road, Tucson, AZ 85735

Please allow enough time to be at the event at least 30 minutes early.

From 1-10, you can take Speedway from I-10 all the way west, turn south on Kinney and Old Tucson Studios is about 400 yards ahead on the left.  Alternatively, you can take Ajo west from I-10 to Kinney Road and head north.  If driving over Gates Pass, please be mindful of the speed limit and other vehicles on the narrow roadway through the Tucson Mountains.

Coming from Marana or Oro Valley?  You can take Ina through the pass in the Tucson Mountains and turn south on Kinney until you get to Old Tucson Studios.

Park in the main paved lot.  Packet pickup and registration will be on the far east side of the lot, near the walkway to the start/finish at the Bitter Creek set.

The 2023 TMC Sunrise at Old Tucson event continues a long tradition of locally-produced running events staged at Old Tucson. We are the only event entirely on the grounds of historic Old Tucson Studios.

In the early 1990's, The Running Shop partnered with the Southern Arizona Roadrunners to produce the Sundown at the Pass 5-Miler, an evening race with a route that began at the International Wildlife Museum and ended on Main Street in Old Tucson.  After the race, participants would enjoy barbq sandwiches during the awards ceremony.  Unfortunately, in 2006 Pima County closed Gates Pass to endurance events, which put an end to the Sundown at the Pass.  

The race lay fallow for a few years, then in March of 2009 Randy and Tia Accetta unveiled the first-ever SUNRISE AT OLD TUCSON CROSS COUNTRY TRAIL RUN.  Now a morning trail race totally on the grounds of Old Tucson Studios, this race swiftly became a regional favorite with upwards of a 1000 participants. Between 2009 and 2019, the race raised funds for the John Wayne Cancer Foundation, the Southern Arizona Roadrunners, and other non-profit organizations.  Sponsored by TMC and The Running Shop, the event was a partnership between SAR and Run Tucson from 2009 and 2020.

During the COVID year of 2021, Old Tucson Studios was closed, so we did the event virtually as the Run Tucson Trail Challenge.  Unfortunately, the operators of Old Tucson Studios declared bankruptcy and the Pima County grounds sat empty for more than a year.  In 2022, American Heritage Railways agreed to lease the properties from Pima County and revived Old Tucson Studios.  

Now in 2024, we're excited to be back at Old Tucson Studios and running on some of our favorite trails, including Main Street, Boot Hill, and Horse Poop Alley.

In 2024, the souvenir shirt was long sleeve with horses.  In 2025, the souvenir shirt was short sleeve with a train logo.  We'll let you know what we come up with in 2026!

The RunSignup registration platform has a new tool that provides a discount to those who register multiple people at one time.  Thus, if you sign up 4 or more people at one time for the 4-mile or 1-mile events, each registrant will receive a special $5 discount.  There is no double-dipping of discount codes and this does not include the free one-mile, though.  

Our running events take place throughout Arizona, including in Southern Arizona at Saguaro National Park, the Biosphere 2 in Oracle, in Downtown Tucson, near the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, and at Old Tucson Studios.  Regarding the trail run at Old Tucson, we recognize that Old Tucson Studios seeks to create a simplistic, mythic version of what some call the American West, focusing primarily on the later decades of the 19th century.  We recognize further that some of the attractions of Old Tucson, such as mock gun fights and saloon singing, may be considered inappropriate to some.

We respectfully acknowledge that these lands have been peopled for thousands of years and that this beautiful desert has long been a sought-after landscape, with human habitation dating back at least 12,000 years.  In Southern Arizona, according to the Tucson Indian Center, "The Tucson area has long been the traditional site for Indian settlements. From the Archaic and Hohokam Indians, to the Tohono O’odham and Yaqui, the waters of the Santa Cruz River and the surrounding fertile land attracted desert dwelling tribes" (https://www.ticenter.org/history,  retrieved January 1, 2023).  

Clashes on this borderlands include Spanish first arriving in the 1530's, raids by Apache and Comanche throughout the 1700's and 1800's, and even the Confederate army fighting in the desert during the American Civil War.

For additional information, we refer to the Friends of Saguaro National Park website (https://www.friendsofsaguaro.org/nativepeoples, retrieved January 1, 2023): Human habitation in the Tucson Basin dates back approximately 12,500 years -- to the Pleistocene Age.  The first people were likely descended from those who migrated across a land bridge from Siberia to Alaska;  bands of hunters were roaming the desert grasslands of southern Arizona by about 10,000 BC.  Archeologists have concluded that sites found in the Tucson Basin, along the Santa Cruz River, likely represent the oldest, continuously inhabited area in the United States. About 2,300 years ago, a group we now call the Hohokam had settled in southern Arizona -- including the Santa Cruz valley.  By AD 700, they had a well-developed agricultural economy including extensive irrigation systems.

Archeological finds in the Rincon Mountain District of Saguaro National Park show that Hohokam villages existed there for about 600 years -- along Rincon Creek and its tributary washes.  Then, during the 15th century, the Hohokam culture simply vanished.

Contemporary native peoples that would constitute the ethnographic history of the Park include:

Akimel O'odham (also known as Pima)
Apache
Hopi
Maricopa
Yaqui
Tohono O'odham ("Desert People")
Yavapai
Zuni

For those interested, The Desert Museum offers insights on the Spanish and Mexican contact in the region here: https://www.desertmuseum.org/members/sonorensis/week9.php.  

For additional information about local tribal lands, see http://www.tonation-nsn.gov/  and https://itcaonline.com/member-tribes/pascua-yaqui-tribe/ and https://heard.org/education/arizona-indian-communities/.   

For those interested in making the running community more accessible, inclusive, and visible for all, you may wish to read about the Running on Native Lands Initiative at  https://www.risinghearts.org/nativelands.    You can also visit https://native-land.ca.  For additional materials, perhaps see the recommended books here: https://www.nypl.org/blog/2020/10/09/honoring-indigenous-peoples-recommended-reads. 

See https://www.plotaroute.com/route/2581383 for route details.

Difficulty: The One Miler will do a lap of the town loop, with a bit of desert trails thrown in for fun! This route will cross the Old Tucson railroad tracks, but overall should be suitable for strollers and pushed chairs. The Four Miler will include narrow single track trails and sandy washes that may be very difficult for strollers or pushed trails.

Start at the Bitter Creek set, near Stage Two. Head south around the rodeo grounds, then go north through Main Street and up through Boot Hill.  Swing around the church, then head through the desert until turning south and heading past the High Chaparral set.

The one-milers will finish at the finish line arch, while four-milers will continue south and loop around the Rodeo Grounds and go through Main Street for another loop.

The four-milers will head out to the desert and do a big loop.  Just after the two-mile mark, you'll pop onto a single track that winds south for about a  half-mile.  Coming off the single track, the four-milers will do an inner-loop on jeep trails.  After about 300 yards on a single track, you'll pop out by the Rodeo Grounds, then finish with one more loop of Main Street and Boot Hill.  Your finish will be a nice gradual downhill past the High Chaparral set, ending at the Bitter Creek stage.

The route will be marked with white flour arrows and flagging.

All distances are approximate.  There will be a water station at approximately the 1-mile mark, though if it is a hot morning we may add a second water stop.

\

We're thrilled that the 2024 edition of the race has been approved by the Trail Sisters, with the goal of supporting, enhancing, and equalizing women’s experience in trail racing.  Special thanks to the Tucson Chapter for all their support!

The Standards:

1. Equal Podiums & Awards: Offer equal number of podium spots and awards amongst men & women participants (or your registered participant categories).  

2. Women’s Specific Apparel & Swag: If providing race shirts or sized apparel with race registration, a women’s fit and sizing option must be included. Unisex is not a substitute for women’s specific.

3. Menstrual Products at Aid Stations: Menstrual products (tampons & pads) need to be available and visible on all aid station tables in races that are a half marathon and longer.  

4. Women on the Starting Line: Invite women to the starting line to provide awareness and encouragement. This can be achieved with a designated area (half the starting line for women), or with announcements inviting women to move to the front and share space on the starting line. Sharing the start line space and media coverage creates an equitable experience for both the participants and the audience.

5. Pregnancy & Postpartum Policy: Trail Sisters Approved races will offer a Pregnancy & Postpartum Policy. Whether planned or unplanned, an expected or unexpected start or end to a pregnancy, healing and recovery time are required for a women’s overall health.