5 cycling, running, fun run, and other events in Sierra Vista, Arizona

The Sky Island Tour is a scenic one-day bicycle tour in Cochise County, Arizona on Saturday, October 3, 2026. The Sky Islands are known in the southwest as mountain ranges surrounded by radically different lowland environments. All Sky Island Tour rides are a loop, beginning and ending at the Mall at Sierra Vista in Sierra Vista, AZ. Every route, whether flat or steep, offers incredible views of the Huachuca Mountains, the Mule Mountains, and Mt San Jose in Mexico.

Event details and schedule

For more details, go to the Sky Island Tour website at https://www.skyislandtour.com, which will be updated as any details change.

REGISTRATION – Online registration CLOSES on Thursday, October 1, 2026 at midnight, 12:00am. You can register in person at packet pickup on Friday 5:30-8:30pm, October 2 at the Mall at Sierra Vista or on Saturday, October 3 starting at 6:00am. Be aware of the start times listed below for each event and allow ample time if you plan to register in person. The event will occur, rain or shine!

As 100% of event proceeds go to support NAMI SEAZ, a 501(3)c nonprofit, all sales are final and there will be NO REFUNDS.

All registered participants must wear a helmet. No bike trailers are allowed in the 62-mile event. No exceptions.

PACKET PICKUP – Friday, October 2, 2026, 5:30pm to 8:30pm and Saturday, October 3, 2026, starting at 6:00am at the Mall at Sierra Vista. Registered participants will receive a t-shirt and a swag bag. A route map will be provided for all registrants.

AFTER THE RIDE / LUNCH – October 3, 2026 – Join us after the ride and hang out with fellow cyclists for lunch and fun! We'll be playing your favorite tunes, and food trucks will on site offering delicious lunch specials. Rest tents with tables and chairs will be set up for cyclists to relax in the shade.

T-SHIRTS – Every registrant receives an event t-shirt as part of the registration cost.

REST STOPS – There will be rest stops at the 62-mile, 30-mile, 20-mile events and at the staging/finish area. The rest stops will have a porta-potty and will be stocked with water and snacks.

ROUTE MAPS - They are posted on the website. A printed route map will be provided to every registrant.

START TIMES

• 62-miles metric century (steep) – 7:00am

• 30-miles (less hilly) – 7:15am

• 20-miles (mostly flat) – 7:30am

EVENT: 14th Annual RISING SUN RUN

DESCRIPTION: Located on the high desert plain of southeast Arizona, Sierra Vista offers the ideal venue to stage a beautiful and challenging Half Marathon and 5K event with a 1M fun Run/Walk. Starting at 4,500 feet and with the Huachuca mountains as their background, the courses wind through country neighborhoods with the half marathon continuing up to its turnaround at the entrance to the beautiful Ramsey Canyon Preserve at 5500’ of elevation. The return to the half marathon finish line affords beautiful vistas of the San Pedro River valley to the end of the run. Both courses are USA Track & Field certified.

As mentioned above, the half marathon course presents a challenge to even the experienced half marathoner due to the altitude and the significant elevation change. As a half marathon runner, you need to plan on completing your race in 3 hours or less.

Course Maps can be found under the Race Info tab above.

There are 5 first aid and water stations along the half marathon course with portable toilets available at race headquarters (6) and midway through the half marathon course (2). There are no portable toilet facilities on the 5K course though there is a first aid and water station at the 5K turnaround.

The Rising Sun Run is a great race for great causes as all event proceeds go to provide vocational scholarships for Buena high school graduates and Cochise College incoming freshmen, scholarships for Rotary youth leadership and professional skills development programs, and funding for Rotary service projects for our non-profit organizations.

Race starting times will be as follows:

Half Marathon - 7:30am, 5K – 8:30am, 1M Run/Walk - 8:45am

Chip timing provided by “On Your Left Fitness and Timing." Official timing will end at 10:30am ~ half marathoners will need to complete their run within 3 hours or less. The event courses will close at 11:00am.

AWARDS CEREMONY: A great finish line experience is planned with music and post-run recovery snacks and drinks. The awarding of medals will highlight the ceremonies with medals being awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers, in both race categories, for both men and women. Age groups are:

16 and below, 17-25, 26-35, 36-45, 46-55, 56-65, 66 and above.

For the half marathon, cash prizes will be awarded to the top three overall half marathon finishers for both men and women:

Half Marathon: 1st place - $150, 2nd Place - $100, 3rd Place - $50

Also, all half marathon finishers will receive a beautiful and unique commemorative “spinner” medal. All 5K finishers will receive a participant ribbon. Finally, all runners are guaranteed, if to receive a cool towel at the finish line and a race day swag bag filled with great swag!

Podium presentation of medals for the half marathon should begin around 9:30am with 5K medals awarded once a majority of the runners have cleared the course.

REGISTRATION: All Pre-race and Race-day registrations will be through RunSignUp. Visit www.svsunriserotary.org for links to the registration site, Facebook site and the course video. There will be no cash registrations. Runner packet/swag bags pickup for all runners will be held at race headquarters, Huachuca Mountain Elementary school, over two days; Friday, Oct. 31st from 5pm to 6:30pm and Saturday, Nov. 1st beginning at 6:30am for half marathoners and 7:00am for 5K runners. Same day registration will close 30 minutes prior to your scheduled start time. No registration is required for the 1M Fun Run/Walk.

REGISTRATION FEES: Half Marathon 5K

Adult $65 until 9/1, then $75 $30 until 9/1, then $35

Military, Club, Youth $60 until 9/1, then $70 $25 until 9/1, then $30

Military, E-4 and below $35 $30

For more event details, visit the Sierra Vista Sunrise Rotary. Finally, should you have any questions, please send us an e-mail.