Description

Online registration has now closed, but you can still sign up in person on Saturday, September 3rd from 10-1 at The Running Shop (3055 North Campbell Ave, Tucson AZ).

Please note that due to federal law, there is NO race day registration at Saguaro National Park.

Grab your spot before the race sells out. 

Click here for the most recent pre-race email to all registered participants with updated race details.

This scenic course and the post-race festivities truly embrace the spirit of the old Southwest, making the 51st Saguaro National Park Labor Day Run a regional favorite.  

Our rolling 8-mile and 5k courses loop through a cactus forest in the foothills of the scenic Rincon Mountains at Saguaro National Park East. Race morning promises to be hot, so bring water and sunscreen.

The oldest race of the Southern Arizona Roadrunners, this event has been featured as a Runner’s World Race of the Month. The 8-miler is part of SAR's Running Shop Grand Prix. 

 

Overview 

Giveaway: Technical running shirt with unique race artwork

Awards: Incentive-based Prize Money in 8-miler.  Age Group Awards from Running Shop, top three in 5-year categories in 8-miler and top three in 10-year categories in 5k Run/Walk

Rolling 8-Miler Start from 5:30 am - 6:30 am, with chip-timing for age-group awards by Roadrunner Race Timing

Gun-Timed 8-Miler Prize Money Start at 6:30 am

Chip-Timed 5k Start at 6:35

Bring the Kids! Children and strollers are allowed in the 5k

Do Good! This event raises funds for the Southern Arizona Roadrunners and the Friends of Saguaro

Terrain: hilly paved surface

Course: the 8-miler is challenging for many, with hills and heat to contend with.  The 5k contains rolling hills. Water stations at 3, 5, and 7 mile marks (at 1 and 2 mile marks for 5k)

Weather: most likely in 70's at the start, rising to triple digits later in the day

Strollers:  The 5k is fine for strollers but the 8-miler is probably not a great idea for pushing a young child, with lots of steep up-and-downs and the possibility of high heat for the child in the last few miles of the race once the sun comes out.

Chair Athletes: The 5k would be modertately challenging for chair athletes, while the 8-miler is a demanding course with downhills possible dangerous for chair athletes.  

Pets Not Allowed: We love pets but they cannot be on the grounds of Saguaro National Park during the event.

Want Training Advice? Contact RRCA-certified running coach Tia Accetta at [email protected]. 

PRIZE MONEY AND AWARDS

The 8 Miler is part of SAR's Running Shop Desert Grand Prix.  

Gift certificates and other prizes for overall and age-group winners, plus $250 to fastest man and woman who break the current course records:

• Nicholas Hilton 41:33, 2018
• Katie James 46:39, 2016

Race Director Challenge: The first man who breaks race director Randy Accetta's course PR of 42:48 will receive $424.80 in cash on the barrelhead.  The first woman who breaks an age-graded equivalent of 47:48 will receive $474.80 in cash on the barrelhead.  

2022 Schedule:

August: Unofficial training runs at Saguaro, every Sunday morning in August, at 6:00 am. All ages and abilities welcome—just come and run or walk on your own! Bring your own water, car-pool if you can, park legally, and bring the Park fee!

Saturday, September 3rd at The Running Shop from 10-1 (3055 North Campbell): pick up your race shirt and number, sizing first-come, first-served

Monday morning, race day, at Saguaro EAST

5:00-6:15 am: pick up your race shirt and number  

5:30: begin waves.  

6:30: 8-miler prize money award race and final start 

6:35: 5k Start

8:45am or so Awards

 

NOTE: all registrations final, no refunds. Participants can use the active.com platform to transfer their entry to another person for a $10 fee.

We'll send registrants more emails with detailed race weekend information, but if you have any questions in the meantime, please see www.runsar.org contact race director Randy Accetta at [email protected].  

 

 

 

Event details and schedule

• 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.
• 
  Early start, make sure you check in with Greg and the crew at Roadrunner Race Timing.
  
• If you will take more than 2 hours, please use the early start option.
• Make sure your race number is pinned to the front of your shirt. Please bring your own water.
• Early starters, please bring hydration and be sure to provide room on the road so that people can pass you.
• Note: age group awards will be awarded based on chip-time, so all rolling-start participants will be eligible for age group awards.

• "Gun Time" means that you are timed based on a single starting time, marked by the so-called starter's start -- in this case, at precisely 6:30 am.
• Prize money and overall winner awards will be based on "gun time" starting at 6:30 am.
• 
  Thus, if you want to earn prize money (including course records or the Race Director Challenge), you must start at 6:30 am.
  
• Headphones are not allowed for prize money athletes.
• Note 8-mile start line closes at 6:30 am so that the 5k can start at 6:35 am