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!

I came better prepared this year. From the previous review, you could tell I was absolutely livid…read moreabout the parking situation, so this time instead of exiting on Indian Bend, my friends and I exited earlier on Pima Rd and took Hayden up to the parking area. There was still a long line but faster than waiting an hour in the car last year. There was group yoga warm ups at around 6:30 and again at 7:00am, which made it a nice way to start the cold, brisk morning with a stretch. Everyone was suffering because it was so cold this time, but moving around made it better. Now that I'm a more seasoned runner, I did the 15K instead of the 5K, which is about 9.3 miles. This was my first experience being in the first corral of runners too, which was kind of intimidating for some reason even though it was a fun run. One of the girls was in a specialized wheel chair so she even had a 1 minute head start, but she flew like the wind leading the way. I was expecting actual hot chocolate along the run this time, because of rumors, but instead there was tons of Gatorade stations. If you didn't want Gatorade, there was also water available and port-a-pottys at each station. The one chocolate stop I was looking forward too was not hot chocolate. Instead it was just Godiva candy. Even though I was slightly disappointed I survived. I layered on so much clothing because it was so cold that I felt overwhelmed during the run after the first mile. I now will never run with a hoodie, over a long sleeved shirt over an undershirt, so that's one thing I might change next year. The course itself was nice. Nothing extraordinary. Running through Scottsdale is always nice since there are plenty of trees lining the way. You even ran past the Butterfly World building during the run. There are a couple of hair pin turns on the run, so that was my only complaint. It wouldn't been alot easier if they rounded those couple of turns a bit better.

The Hot Chocolate 15/5K run or as I like to call it, "walk at a slightly faster pace" is one of the…read moreonly events like this that I have participated in, here in the valley, on my almost free will. (Seriously, how much free will or will power can there be when chocolate is involved?) I don't even think I own a real pair of sneakers but the promise of hot chocolate can convince me to do a lot of things. With that in mind, as someone who know absolutely nothing about running other than from my elementary school days, I thought the event was very well organized and the course was pleasant even for a novice. The well deserved hot chocolate you earn is delicious. Thick and full of flavor. Smart choice on that one organizers. Could the hot chocolate at the end of the race be bigger? Ah, yeah! But probably nothing short of getting to drench yourself in a bath of chocolate at the end would be enough. It could always be bigger. Maybe you could get two cups? No? Can't hurt a girl for trying. I have a feeling though many other runners were not solely motivated by the promise of delicious treats at the finish line. The proceeds from the run go to Ronald McDonald House Charities in each city the race is ran. The cost to run also includes a hoodie which you pick up prior to the event and can wear during the run. It is a nice way to make everyone feel like they belong whilst the faster runners push you out of the way for being too slow. Also, there are many photo opts during the run and afterwards you receive an email to claim the photos if you so choose. This seems pretty typical but is a nice way to remind you of how you friends tricked you into waking up early that day for good parking. Maybe I can just volunteer next time. They get chocolate too, right?

The Phoenix 10K race has been around for fifty years. I ran this race for the first time and really…read moreenjoyed my run. I did the 5K version. I thought it was well organized and I enjoyed the race route. You get nice views of the Valley as you are running toward the finish line. There are five race options - 5K, 10K, half-marathon, full-marathon and the kid's Mollen Mile. The race was founded by Dr. Art Mollen and is presented by HonorHealth Foundation. It was once called the 3TV Phoenix 10K. The Phoenix 10K the longest-running 10K in Arizona and is for runners of all ages and levels of experience. The race takes place near the Biltmore Fashion Park and includes a shirt and finisher's medal. I like that the event is big on promoting healthy habits and a healthier lifestyle. I had a fun time and look forward to running it during their 50th anniversary in 2025.

I participated in the Phoenix 10K last Sunday, and while I also was not a fan of the race t-shirts,…read moreI thought the race was extremely well organized, and I had a lot of fun! With over 2000 people racing, there seemed to be adequate staff and volunteers working so that it flowed smoothly. I'm pretty sure the race started right on time also - I hate it when races don't start when they say they are going to! Since it was a timing chip calculated race, it didn't matter that we were not right up at the start line when the official start (gun shot or horn) went off. We finished up at the porta-potties and walked over and then jumped into the crowd. I didn't mind the fact that it was 2 loops... I took the first loop slow and picked it up once I was warmed up for the second time around. Thanks to the guys who were cheering from behind me during that last mile - you did motivate me to pick up my pace, and I was happy with my time even though my BF beat me for the first time ever! Thanks Marcus for convincing me to sign up for this race even though it was early and cold on a Sunday morning - it was a ton of fun! Thanks also to all of the sponsors, volunteers, and bands that came out to motivate that morning! I look forward to participating again in future races!

I love this race. I've done the 10K for the past three years and it's a great day for running. This…read moreyear it began on time and they had two "water" stations with pumpkin pie and cranberry sauce. I didn't try either cuz I didn't want to stop for it so no input on their taste. The course was similar in that the 10K is two 5K loops, so basically I had to pass the finish line and make a left to loop the course and finish, which was tough. The weather is always great during this time of year and the crowds are plentiful but not overwhelming. The one complaint is the post race food; they had water and yogurt which was fine but then they had trays of animal crackers and other cookies, it was weird. Wish they had bananas and oranges. Turkey trots take place all over the valley on Thanksgiving but I love running through Downtown Phoenix and I will continue to participate. Definitely recommend this race as it is family friendly, plenty of parking, and good vibes.

I was absolutely flabbergasted by the shirts they came up with this year. Not only was the shirt…read morehigher quality fabric, the back of the shirt came printed with the words, "Bird is the Word." With Family Guy being one of my favorite shows ever, the episode where Peter sings the oldie song, "Bird is the Word" incessantly, I was just too excited to get this shirt this year. Another update included the first aid/water stations. I mean, unless I didn't notice it last year, the first station featured pumpkin pie. I am not talking about flavored pumpkin pie candy. It was actual pumpkin pie! I didn't even realize it until after I passed the station, and I even said out loud, "Man! I can't believe I missed it! Real pumpkin pie?!" One of the runners was nice enough to offer hers which she still held in her cup, but I respectfully declined, because it is kind of hard to run and eat at the same time. The second station which was a mile from the end featured cranberry. It was more of a gelatin texture so it was a bit easier to down while running than eating pumpkin pie, but next time, I will make a point to stop at both stations. It seems like the route was a bit different but better this year and it was fun running through the streets of downtown and through part of one of the historic neighborhoods. The run even seemed more popular and crowded this year. I made turkey headbands for my group of four runners. Everyone wears some sort of Thanksgiving inspired garb. Whether if they're dressed as full blown turkeys or just have turkey hats, everyone doesn't care about being silly, and that's why I love this run so much. Even the kids had a fun little turkey trot with adorable shirts.

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!

Really fun half marathon, I got to run along the Gilbert Day Parade near the finish line! All the…read morespectators were lined up to see the parade, they cheered runners passing by. I gave high five to so many kids along the way. Since so many people were there, I ended up running faster than normal. Course here is very flat. One of the easiest race ever. If you want your PR, try this race. Race packet pick up: they offer three times. Thursday at the Road Runner in Tempe. Friday at expo in Gilbert. Saturday on the race day at the start line. Race pictures are available to download for free. They do really good job capturing the moment and nice to be able to download for free. Parking is available at the start line. They will bus you back after the race. Pretty well organized race overall.

Fun and scenic half marathon through the streets of Tempe, Scottsdale and Phoenix! The weather is…read moreusually perfect too in January! Not too cold or warm! Perfect for running! I've run this event twice now (2020, 2022), and have had a lot of fun! The race starts at ASU and ends when you run back across Mill Ave Bridge to the finish line!

Rock N Roll knows how to out on a race. The course was good and mostly flat - we did have some…read moreu-turns which is not my preference in general. The one strange thing was how the started us. One at a time with a second pause (about 1 runners across). I know this was to limit the crowd, but it was odd because masks weren't required in the corral, so it felt like an unnecessary addition. Overall though, very fun. Great bands. Great race support and the end of race refuel/refresh was terrific. This was our 32nd state to race in and we're glad we chose this race.

Choosing our first marathon ever together was no easy task. Location was a big deciding factor…read more Since my friends and I all live here in Arizona, it was super convenient to have the race right here in town. I still find it funny that even though the race is titled, "The Phoenix Marathon," it takes place entirely in Mesa. The downhill first half is a gift. The views are beautiful gliding into the city all the way from Usery Mountain. The run is enjoyable since the gradual downhill descent makes running somewhat easy and you are tempted to bolt down the mountain. The main tip here: "Pace yourself! (And don't get too carried away!)" Enjoy the scenery while you can! The second half - flatter. More running through the city so you kind of miss the desert scenery at the start... Shuttle Drop Off - The full marathon drop off point was basically where the shooting range is at Usery Mountain. All runners whether it's the full or the half must ride a shuttle since the race ends at the Mesa Shopping Area off Dobson and the 202. There is basically no where to drop off runners close to the start of the full marathon since as a runner, you'd have to trek uphill a bit to get there and who wants to do that before running 26.2 miles? So shuttle, it is! They say the last shuttles leave at 5am but some our friends straggled behind and were a little later and still were able to make it on one of the transports but I don't recommend risking waiting until the last minute. The Start - both starts had fireworks to send us off. DJs played music and talked to keep us entertained while waiting for the race to start at 6:30am. Heaters warmed people in line for the porta-potties and there were bonfires that people gathered around. It was a great way to meet people and share running stories! Aid/water stations - adequately placed throughout the race. It was fun to see what each group themed their stations. A contest for cash prizes was given to the most energetic and fun themed station so it kept groups cheering for runners the whole time! Typically Gatorade, water, fruit, and energy GUs by Clif were provided for us. The only mishap is the porta-potties were out of order at the halfway point (the only time we planned to stop briefly - go fig!!) so we had to wait until the next 2-3 miles before finding the next one to use. Finish - full of energy, a variety of food trucks, Photogs ready to take pics. Your typical finish except this time, there was a tent offering massages for finishers. There were chairs and rest areas for people to kick back and lots of tents present just like at the Expo. Next year for both the full and the half, the medal is collectible and can be put together with medals for the next four years to create a star - all you have to do is run the Phoenix Marathon or half marathon 5 years in a row to complete the star made of running medals. That's quite the commitment, don't you think? Still very tempting though, those sly race planners!

This is now the Mesa Sprouts Marathon. I've done the full twice & here is the Breakdown…read more EXPO: you HAVE to pick up your race bib the day before the race at the expo, which is located in the same shopping center parking lot where the finish area will be. Good way to see the lay of land & check out where to park race day. The expo itself is decent & you get some free samples of stuff. BEFORE THE RACE: Parking is in the same vicinity & buses take runners of all distances to their respective start. GET ON THE CORRECT BUS. They are all marked & in separate sections. Twice I've seen people end up at the wrong starting line. My biggest complaint is how early this race is. It's a 0630 start & the buses run from 0400-0515. It's still completely dark the first 30 minutes of the run- & the marathon start is in a desert area. I saw several runners almost trip over cones in dark areas. The port a potty line pre-race was longer than other races i've done, so much so that some were peeing in the bushes. The course was good- a decent amount of decline in the first half (some incline) & flat the second half with a slight decline at the end. The course support was excellent. There were 3 stations with fruit & at least 2 with gels. & i was so happy to see hydration almost every mile the last 6 miles. The finisher area is hard to gauge for marathon runners because some food is gone by the time we get there. My husband does the 10k & he tells me how much more stuff there is for them. Gear check & pickup was easy, & the walk back to our car wwas not excessive. I do wish the vendor area sold a better selection of female cut finisher shirts. I would have bought one.