Tucson Marathon

 

Run or cheer from the scenic sidelines at Tucson's Boston Marathon qualifier. 

 

Tucson Marathon: Warm Winter Run

 

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2024

 

The Tucson Marathon, Half-Marathon & Marathon Relay event is a popular annual event that attracts around 4,000 runners in December. The Tucson Marathon follows an incredibly beautiful USATF-certified course, from the rural town of Oracle to the hamlet of Catalina, just north of Tucson suburb Oro Valley. This run is a Boston Marathon qualifier that attracts local and visiting runners from as many as 48 states and five foreign countries in recent years.

Tucson Marathon Group Start

The historical Town of Oracle is the starting line for this primarily downhill marathon that features a few hills around miles 2-4, miles 11-12, and mile 24. The course winds through the Sonoran Desert landscape on paved roads and finishes at the Golder Ranch Fire Station on Golder Ranch Road in the Town of Catalina. Runners drop almost 2,200 feet in elevation 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).

The combination of a fast course with moderate-to-cool race time temperatures makes these races a popular choice for runners striving for either a personal best or maybe a Boston Marathon qualifying time.

Whether you're looking for a fast, competitive event or a leisurely 26.2-mile training run, the Tucson Marathon event is sure to be a good fit.

If you plan to stay overnight, the official race hotel is El Conquistador Tucson, A Hilton Resort, an AAA-Four Diamond award-winning resort with scenic desert and mountain views. If you're interested in training for a marathon, a triathlon, or a duathlon, Tucson is a favorite winter destination for endurance athletes. See our Winter Training Capital page for information on Tucson and southern Arizona's varied training resources.  

Questions? Call Tucson Marathon Hotline, at (520) 403-3355.

Did You Know? The 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.

More Things To Do

az distance classic running mountain

Endurance Training

kino sports complex baseball

Facilities

running mountain

Running