WICKED FAST MARATHON & HALF MARATHON TUCSON, ARIZONA

💫 This is the 44th Annual Oracle Run. This Run is a fundraising event to benefit The Oracle Historical Society. founded in 1977 as a non-profit 501(c)3 educational organization.

🏃‍♀️ This running event is on hilly terrain over rural roads on the north slope of the Santa Catalina Mountains at 4500 ft. elevation.

Event details and schedule

📣 Event details and schedule:

Race day registration begins at 6:30 A.M. Registration is $45.

Parking is located close to the start line. You will see Parking Signs as you drive up on American Avenue.

Bring - Weather appropiate layers - Costumes Encouraged as there is a best costume award!

👕 Oracle Run t-shirts with no advertising are included for all 5K and 10K entrants.

🥇 Awards will be given for overall 5K and 10K men, women, and 1st, 2nd, 3rd place in each age division. Prizes given for participants, courtesy of local merchants. There will also be a best costume award as well!

🌳 Let us know if you would like to volunteer. We have volunteer opportunities to support the success of the race.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2026

Biosphere to Oro Valley, AZ

Net downhill courses along the foothills of the Santa Catalina mountains run since 1969. The full Marathon, 50K & Marathon Relay start at Biosphere 2 near Oracle and run down past Catalina, through Oro Valley and finishing at Pima Community College Northwest Campus. The full marathon has net elevation loss of 1,493 feet and is a Boston Qualifier with NO TIME PENALTY.

The Half Marathon starts at Golder Ranch Fire Administration in Catalina and runs down through Oro Valley, join The Loop Bike Path next to the Cañada del Oro to the finish at Pima Community College.

Join us for beautiful winter weather and a fast downhill courses!

Marathon & Marathon Relay Courses

The marathon runners line up at the spectacular and storied Biosphere 2 near Oracle, AZ running on some rolling hills until the course reaches Oracle Road / SR 77. Traveling along the majestic Santa Catalina Mountains, through the quaint towns of Catalina and then down into Oro Valley, the course brings the runners along the Canada del Oro River Bike Path to the new finish at Pima Community College Northwest Campus. For those who do not want to tackle the longer distances, the Marathon Relay requires four runners, each running a proportionate leg of the marathon course. (60 Team Limit)

Half Marathon Course

The Half Marathon now starts at Golder Ranch Fire Administration Building (former finish) and follows the second half of the marathon course into Oro Valley and along The Loop bike path. Both the Full and Half Marathon events are USA Track & Field certified and all results are sent directly to Boston.

50K Ultra Course

The 50 kilometer course is now USATF Certified and follows the Marathon course with a new addition extending to Ted Walker Park and back on The Loop bike path.

Packet

Packet Pickup

Friday, December 11, 2026

3:00pm - 6:00pm

Aravaipa Running

2401 S. 24th Street

Phoenix, AZ 85034

or

Saturday, December 12, 2026

11:00am - 6:00pm

Pima Community College -

North West Campus

7600 N Shannon Rd,

Tucson, AZ 85709

0000 North Oracle Road, Tucson, AZ 85704

March 10 Update: Click here for the post-race report that was sent to all participants.

March 9 Update: Registration for the 2027 edition is open. The tentative date will be March 7, 2027 -- but please note that this date has not yet been confirmed with the Town of Oro Valley. We may need to move the event to March 14, 2027. Details coming shortly.

March 8 Race Day Update: On behalf of the Southern Arizona Roadrunners and all of the event sponsors and partners, thank you so much for being part of this 2026 edition of the TMC Arizona Distance Classic. We hope you had as enjoyable a time as we did! Special thanks to all of you, the Oro Valley Police Department, the Town of Oro Valley, and the 80+ volunteers who helped make this event happen!

We're working on a post-race report, but here are a few items:

1. Shirts: If you did not pick up your shirt or you want to swap shirt sizes, you can visit The Running Shop (3055 North Campbell, Tucson) starting on Tuesday. Unfortunately, at this writing, we do not know which sizes we have remaining . . .

2. Results: Race results can be found at the link above or www.runsar.org. Thanks to Greg and Grant at RoadRunner Race Timing for all the effort putting them together. If you spot a mistake or have a question, please fill out the form here: https://www.roadrunnerracetiming.com/contact.html

3. Awards: If you did not pick up your Running Shop gift certificate at the awards ceremony, you can visit the Running Shop starting on Tuesday, March 10th to pick up your gift card. We called out over 250 names at the awards ceremony -- thanks for all the good cheer and happiness!

4. Photos: Our good friend Damion Alexander will post his awesome race day photos to his smugmug account in a day or so. See https://thetucsonphotographer.smugmug.com/Sports/Running/RoadRunning

5. More Photos: Sometime soon Oro Valley Photography will have their race day photos ready, too. We'll announce that info shortly.

6. Neighbor News and Discounts: Arizona Zip Lines is offering a discount to all runners all week.

7. Emails: We'll add you all to our various email lists, with upcoming race news and other items. Sometime this week we'll send a "thank you" email with discounts to upcoming events!

Questions? Contact Race Director Randy Accetta at [email protected].

--

2027: Seems like all systems are good to go for the next TMC Arizona Distance Classic. Dates and details announced shortly! A fun-filled running party, with multiple distances for all abilities -- make your plans for a joyful weekend of fitness and fun in beautiful Oro Valley, Arizona.

A true celebration of the healthy active lifestyle, we encourage runners and walkers of all shapes, sizes and abilities to participate. Whether you're training for the Boston Marathon and want to test your race day abilities or you want to complete a race for the first time, we've got something for everyone!

With stunning views of the Catalina Mountains to the east, the Tortolita Mountains to the north, and the Tucson Mountains to the west, the AZDC is a perfect spot for a spring destination race. The breathtaking course is open and fully supported for 3.5 hours.

Coming from out of town or local and want a fun staycation? Check out the discounted pricing to the El Conquistador Resort, an 8 minute drive from the starting line.

• The first 1300 registrants receive the beautiful sublimated souvenir race shirt

• All registrants receive a colorful race number, an official finishing time, with finisher's video.

• No matter the race, every finisher receives the cool souvenir Finisher's Medal!

• Overall and age group awards in all three events, plus a morning festival of food trucks, music, vendor expo, and other fun activities.

• Plentiful aid stations and cheer groups line the course through the foothills of the stunning Santa Catalina mountains.

• Produced by the Southern Arizona Roadrunners in partnership with Run Tucson, the TMC Arizona Distance Classic takes place on the scenic roadways of beautiful Oro Valley, just north of Tucson, Arizona.

• Special thanks to title sponsor TMC Health for providing funding to support the event -- and special thanks to the Town of Oro Valley and the OVPD for hosting us.

Run more, pay less! SAR members receive a discount that covers RunSignup fees at all SAR-owned races. Not a member? Join SAR: https://runsignup.com/MemberOrg/SouthernArizonaRoadrunners

For more race details, please see https://arizonadistanceclassic.com

Routes

See the Half Marathon course here.

See the Quarter Marathon course here.

See the 5K Run/Walk course here.

2026 Planned Race Weekend Schedule

Friday, March 5, 2027

• In-person registration and packet pickup: 4:00 - 7:00 pm, with happy hour 6:00 - 7:00 pm, at The Running Shop, 3055 North Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ

Saturday, March 6, 2027

• In-person registration and packet pickup: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm at The Running Shop, 3055 North Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ

Sunday, March 7, 2027

• Race Staging Location: Roche Tissue Diagnostics facilities, at 1910 Innovation Park Drive, Oro Valley, Arizona, with food trucks, music, activities, vendor expo and more

• In-person registration and packet pickup: 5:30 - 6:45 am

• Parking closes at 6:15 am so all vehicles must be on site by 6:15 am

• Half Marathon Start: 6:30 am

• Quarter Marathon and 5K Start: 7:05 am

• 5K and Quarter Marathon Awards begin: 9:00 am approximately

• Half Marathon Awards begin: 10:00 am approximately

• Course Closure: 10:00 am

• Event Closure: 11:30 am

Visit our event website for full details on hotels, parking, the course, and more! See arizonadistanceclassic.com!

Coming from out of town? Check out the Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visit Tucson for information on nearby attractions.

Event questions contact Randy Accetta at [email protected].