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    Pat's Run

    4.4 (31 reviews)

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    14th annual Pat's Run
    Travis T.

    You don't have to be an Arizona native to know who Pat Tillman is. A college and NFL football star that turned down a big payday to join the Rangers after the 911 attacks. Pat died in 2004 while serving in Afghanistan. For those of us that are natives, Pat Tillman was much more. He was both courageous on the field and off the field. He spoke his mind, was a leader and stood up for what was right. He demonstrated all this by not sitting still and taking action. I was student at ASU during Pat's years as a football player. He was one of my favorites and I will always remember the team (along with Jake Plummer) that took us to the 1997 Rose Bowl. I was also an Arizona Cardinals season ticket holder (yes ... during those grueling hot days at Sun Devil stadium) during Pat's days there as well. Pat Tillman has become a symbol to those of us here in the Valley of the Sun and his death affected us all. Pat's Run was created to honor his legacy and held its inaugural event in 2005. I had the opportunity to run the first run and have made it an annual tradition ever since. The first event drew 5,000 people. Today Pat's Run now draws 28,000 people and is one the largest runs in the state. It's amazing to see the support of the community for this run and the impact it has made. All proceeds of the run go to support the Pat Tillman organization. Their mission is to unite and empower military veterans and spouses as the next generation of public and private sector leaders committed to service beyond self by making a difference in the fields of medicine, law, business, technology, education, the arts and more (from website). It's a great cause and has made a huge difference in raising up future leaders through its scholarship program. The run/walk itself is 4.2 miles (Pat's college number) and takes place around Sun Devil stadium. It's not the easiest of runs as there are lots of hills to climb around Tempe Town Lake and you have to navigate through the large amounts of runners/walkers. The part I enjoy is running across Mill Ave Bridge and getting views of the lake and the stadium. I also love seeing the military personal that come out to run in uniform. There is also a kid's run that follows the main run for the little ones. They usually invite a local celebrity to start the race. Past celebrities include David Johnson, Herm Edwards and the late Bruce Snyder. The ASU football team is present at the finish line to give you high fives and a medal is awarded to all those that finish the run. I am thankful for Pat Tillman and for the impact he personally made on my life and to honor his legacy by running this event every year.

    Jennifer T.

    Considering the amount of people that run this race, all doing the same distance, it was extremely well organized. There were parts where I felt like I could run faster but the crowd held me back. But that should be expected at a race this size. The route was a nice challenge with some fun hills. And running into the stadium for the finish line was such an experience! This will be a race I do year after year. Can't ask for more than to run in honor of such an amazing American!

    Great kids fun running!  All participants get a bib and shirt.
    Jennifer S.

    The kids fun run was the highlight of the day for sure. Letting your 3 year old experience running their race and ending in Sun Devil Stadium is priceless. Such and amazing atmosphere at the 5k as well. This is a great family event and run for an amazing cause. Overall well organized and plenty of amenities for runners pre/post race. Looking forward to next years run already.

    Monica O.

    This is was my 1st time doing Pat's Run; I went with about 13 of my fellow coworkers, it was a good race, only one small issue, I am a walker so I didn't start the race until an hour after it officially started, which wasn't the issue, when we got to the 1st mile marker at the water tables, the 1st 2 tables were yelling at racers go to the end, this is for vip racers, wow, yelling at us? Water is water, let them drink. That was the only issue I had. I would do the race again next year!

    Mark T.

    Let me start by saying this is one of my favorite runs. Not just in Arizona, but around the country. The atmosphere is incredible, the finish is one of the best I have experienced. Nothing quite like coming up the ramp, through the tunnel and sprinting down the football field, getting high fives from ASU football players while you are on the jumbo-tron. The race has grown from 5000 in the first year to well over 25,000 this year (although the announcer indicated the 2010 race topped 30,000) The race directors have learned and grown over the years. No timing chips the first year, but since then they have been added. Regular shirt in year one, now technical shirts - and this year's was one of the best looking. Everyone has been herded together in the past, but this year the corral was introduced. The lineup, the course, the volunteers and the event itself are top tier. One tip - get there early - way early because there is limited parking. If you think you can show up a little before the run, chances are you will be disappointed. The Scottsdale exit gets blocked and the 202 backs up. Save some time and park somewhere that will allow you to take the light rail. Big headache averted. If I love this run so much, why only 3 stars? While the event itself is wonderful and the community gives incredible support, the exit plan is a huge fail. Crossing the finish line people stand on the field and get in the way. There is one little gate at the back to funnel all 25,000-30,000 people. Yes, they do not all arrive at once, but people lolly-gag and it backs up. When you get through the gate, many people turn right because it is wide open and looks like you can take the ramp out of the stadium; however, those gates are not open and there is no exit. The only exit is through that gate and up the stairs to the second floor. Try climbing those stairs while people are standing around, taking pictures of themselves and others are getting drinks from the second level and trying to come back down the stairs. Then once on the second level, it is still crowded. In fact, it often takes longer to exit the stadium than it does to run the race. Recommendation to the run committee for next year: Open the back gate so that some of the traffic is alleviated. If a clear and quick exit can be created, this will be a solid 5 star event.

    Me and my daughter after the 10th annual Pat's Run. Good morning!
    Dani C.

    Another successful year! This was my 5th time running. As usual it is too big for such a small course, but I understand why they wouldn't want to cut it off at a smaller number. You definitely do not run this race to make a time goal, especially if you are a slower runner as I am. Good or bad, rain or shine, I will always participate in this run, because the cause it more important than anything.

    Mary S.

    My first race 2013. Really only my second marathon in my entire life. One was years ago when I was much younger and only for a mile. I hobbled through this one walking. We ran a short while but mostly we laughed and snapped pics along the pretty route. And such beautiful weather!!! Last year it was hot but this year was perfect! All abilities are welcome at Pat's Run. They even have a wheelchair and kids race. Participating in this event is an honor. It is the least I can do when I think about what soldiers do daily to keep me safe. This is an outstanding race with tons of energy and fun! Lots of Freebies at the Expo before and after. Everyone is soooooo nice. Tempe Police were wonderful! I never felt safer and respected. People watching is fun. What the runners wear is so wonderful, and at times a bit odd, but I suppose that is part of the fun and tribute. I saw a man who had on a military uniform but his head was missing and replaced with a robot helmet. Very cool! I saw another man in a spandex suit. All Spandex red, white and blue. Teehee! Some fireman walked in full hazard gear. My walking partner, a fireman's daughter, said that was pretty crazy and dangerous. Everyone wants to do their small part to honor the fallen. Who everyone is walking for is inspirational to read about and hear the stories. Lots of Boston love! Honoring Tillman is a humbling and awe inspiring event. I passed out water last year with the USO and I wanted to participate in the race this year even though I do not run. I walked the entire 4.2 miles with a broken shoe and a hole worn straight through my socks. lol! In regards to some other comments made by other reviewers. The stroller issue has been resolved this year. I had no problems with getting water and was a water passer outer last year. I never heard of a VIP table for water as Monica said. I am not sure what that was all about but again I was at mile marker 3 with water. The fee is 45 dollars. I do not think that is very high for a charity run. Also, that fee more than pays itself with the freebies and discounts the participants get in the virtual Goodie Bag. In fact I contributed more. I have to say the sense of community was great. Other racers were so friendly. The folks at the Expo were wonderful and generous. All in all, I was honored to participate and show some love for a true American hero.

    Tough to sprint this race as there are approx. 28,000-32,000 participants you have to navigate through in a short distance

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    13 years ago

    Its a great event and very well organized. Seems like it keeps growing every year.

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    Best place to hang out with your friends and meet new friends while exercise for a good cause.

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    Ask the Community - Pat's Run

    Review Highlights - Pat's Run

    Running through the tunnel at the end of the race and entering Sun Devil Stadium is an experience you never forget.

    Mentioned in 7 reviews

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    Andretti Indoor Karting & Games - Event rooms

    Andretti Indoor Karting & Games

    3.3(166 reviews)
    12.3 mi

    It was my first visit and I had a really great experience. I took one of my friends daughter's out…read morefor a morning of Duck Pin Bowling. I had never heard of this, but after reading about it on their website I was game. The bowling concept is the same except I didn't need my bowling shoes that I brought and the balls were palm sized with no holes. It took me quite a few rolls to figure out the best way to knock the pins down. The various screen and floor themes add to the fun. I especially enjoyed the Pinpix theme which creates a facial features and crazy accessories. The only thing that was missing was music. We got there when they first opened at 10am and we were the only ones in the bowling area so it was quiet. The staff was really helpful and explained how everything worked. I love the concept of indoor go-karts, bowling, arcade, food, etc for a fun time.

    I brought my two boys on a Sunday, 13 and 8 years old. We got here 10 minutes after opening and it…read morewas very quiet which is what I was hoping for. Nothing kills an experience at a place like this faster than long wait times. First the go karts. They are a lot of fun. The kids had a blast and so did I. We were able to get race times within 30 minutes of when we arrived, which was great. There are a ton of arcade games, plenty to keep them entertained. When it came to the other attractions like laser tag, etc. they were not staffed. I had to go to the front desk and ask if they could send someone over to operate the attractions. So we still waited even though there weren't many people, maybe 12 or 15 cars in the parking lot at most. They have a help wanted sign out front so maybe they're just having a hard time staffing this place. We purchased the winter gold package. Two races, 3-attractions and $25 in game tokens for $95 per person. A good value in my opinion, however I wish we were able to use the attractions without waiting for an employee. We got right into laser tag within a couple minutes, but the 7D experience. We waited over 25 minutes and we were the only people in line for it. That is a fun one. All in all, we had fun. Your results may vary.

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    Andretti Indoor Karting & Games - Laser tag

    Laser tag

    Andretti Indoor Karting & Games - Strawberry lemonade mocktail

    Strawberry lemonade mocktail

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    Soma Half and Quarterman Triathlon

    Soma Half and Quarterman Triathlon

    4.0(5 reviews)
    0.7 mi

    The Soma Triathlon is just one of many events put on by the Red Rock Company. I've done several of…read moretheir triathlons and I've always been impressed. The company is extremely organized and their volunteer staff is incredible... In the 2008 Quarterman, my 2nd Soma event, everything was well-marked and the volunteers were incredible! The volunteers working to help athletes out of the water were amazing, and the wetsuit strippers were like icing on the cake! They stuck to the schedule and although my swim could've been better, the race was a lot of fun for everyone (well, at least for everyone I spoke to about it). Soma is an annual event that takes place each October (for the past 5 years) - it's a great way to wrap up the season, and it's supposedly one of the best triathlons in the country! I believe that close to 1800 athletes participated in Soma this year, including some of the top athletes in the US! The beauty of the course is that it's flat and you'll see first time triathletes participating as well as pros! Sponsors of Soma go above and beyond... included in the fee to participate is a goodie bag with great quality gear such as a visor, shirt, powerbar, gu, and more! Plus, this year's event featured a Monti's La Casa Vieja catered lunch for athletes. I hope to train more seriously for Soma 2009 and beyond. Maybe we can even get a Yelp team together?!

    This year, the Red Rock Company eliminated the Quarterman and only offered the Half Ironman…read moredistance. Worked for me! This was my first SOMA event, my 3rd or 4th event put on by the Red Rock Company, and my 5th triathlon this year - woot! woot! Now, I love the SkirtChasers event they do but this one wasn't a 5-star experience. A half ironman distance is a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike ride, and 13.1 mile run. It started at 6:30am, and my number 7 wave didn't start the swim until closer to 7am. Therefore, when I finished around 1:00pm it was HOT!! Some people I saw on the course were struggling. And in the past, other event organizers made sure there were cold sponges available or at least someone with a hose offering to spray you down. There was only one sprinkler, and the gatorade was warm. I would think that keeping athletes cool in 89 degree weather would be a priority. Anyway, the volunteers were great and the finish line was great and every thing else was well organized and the negatives would never discourage me from doing another event. Oh, and the swag was great! It just would have been a little easier if I was hosed down!

    Phoenix Raceway - Race weekend with friends

    Phoenix Raceway

    3.6(83 reviews)
    22.1 mi

    Indy car races at the Phoenix Raceway was a really fun, really loud day. Remember to bring…read moreheadphones or ear plugs, especially for children. It was easy to understand parking and arrival. The trams to bring you to the track were available and running smoothly. Entry into the venue was also smooth. You are allowed to bring food and some drinks into the venue. Be sure to check the rules about what is prohibited. The seats were easy to access by stairs or elevators. The concessions were reasonable and the bathrooms were well stocked and clean. We walked around the venue after Indy race and before the NASCAR race and had fun at the booths and listening to interviews with drivers. The lines to get back to the trams were long and the parking lots were crazy busy, even after we waited. We expected that, but heard some people complain that they waited close to two hours to get out of the lots.

    Came here Saturday night for Goldrush for a friend's birthday. The party bus parked in a designated…read morearea and we walked over to the VIP table service entrance. The process of getting in was quick and easy. There weren't many so the line was super short and quick. There is a limit # of people for the table. I believe we were over by 3-4 and they paid an extra $50/person, which isn't bad! Once we all got our wristbands, they walked us to our table next to main stage. Staff members were all friendly and service was quick! They'll even remove random people from your area who sneak in to get a better view. Tbh, the view was okay. A table is nice so you have a place to sit and you can put stuff down if needed, but being in the crowd with center view of the stage is actually much more fun! Another good thing about VIP is the cleaner bathrooms with shorter lines, which I do prefer. And of course, not having to wait in line for drinks is another plus. I believe my friend said the total for the table was $7k. My only regret that night was not walking around to check out the other stages! Stayed at main stage/VIP area the whole time. I wish I had explored a bit since it was my first time attending an event at this location.

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    Phoenix Raceway - Phoenix raceway

    Phoenix raceway

    Phoenix Raceway - Arizona SunSet @ Phoenix-Raceway.

    Arizona SunSet @ Phoenix-Raceway.

    Phoenix Raceway

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    Rock N Roll 5K Arizona - 5K start line 01/15/2022

    Rock N Roll 5K Arizona

    4.3(3 reviews)
    0.6 mi

    Fun and well run 5K course that starts and ends at Mill Ave Bridge in Tempe, AZ. I've run this…read moreevent twice now (2020, 2022), and have had a lot of fun! I like that you're able to run on the bridge! The 5K starts at 8 am on Saturday of Rock N Roll weekend so be absolutely sure to pick your packet on Friday! Add the 5K to your Sunday 10K, half or full marathon to complete the Remix Challenge and get an additional medal!!

    3rd annual 5K at RNR AZ. I was going to be a spectator but so glad I became a runner. Now I will…read morehave a chance to get two more medals tomorrow for a completing a race plus running both days! Just about six months ago when I crossed the finish line at the San Francisco marathon, my mini me said she wanted to run 5K after being inspired by my trainings and result. So we trained together for the past six months. She couldn't even run a half mile in the beginning. For someone like her to cross the finish line at 37 mins strong, I must say that was pretty impressive! Our weekly training paid off. So glad I was able to experience her joy with her. It helped her with self confidence. Bib pick up: available on Friday from noon or on the race from 6:30am only for 5K and kids run. Expo is fun, lots of different vendors to visit. Picking up bibs for both events was easy, well organized. Parking on the race day: available for free at 700 west rio salado. Seemed like a plenty of then, it was easy, perhaps It was easy due to Saturday event being smaller. I will find out tomorrow how bad it might be. Race is well organized, and fun, fun, fun. One aid station about mid way. One live band and two DJs. Family friendly events, my mini me was at the corral 3 and had no problems with crowds. My boy and I were at corral 1, got to talk with fellow runners before the race. One runner from LA, who he said hoping to get #1 on full tomorrow shared his story how he inspired and trained his family members. After race event: adult gets one free beer. Be sure to carry your ID with you while running. Since I had two minors, I was hoping I can use their beer tickets to get me more but they marked on my bib and was allowed only one. Concert was fun too. Not as crowded as Sunday, easy to hangout and enjoy. All in all, it was such a family bonding event for me. We trained together and run together. 6 mins or 16 mins per mile, a mile is a mile. That's what I kept saying to her. We all achieved our own goal time, we became stronger together. Looking forward to more running and fun time tomorrow!

    Photos
    Rock N Roll 5K Arizona - 8 am start, 9 am beer garden

    8 am start, 9 am beer garden

    Rock N Roll 5K Arizona - Time for beer at 9:00am!

    Time for beer at 9:00am!

    Rock N Roll 5K Arizona - 1.17.15 - inaugural year for RnR 5K AZ

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    1.17.15 - inaugural year for RnR 5K AZ

    Pat's Run - races - Updated May 2026

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