Hello again to the registrants for the February 18th TMC Sunrise at Old Tucson Trail Run. Thank you so much for being part of this wonderful regional event.

Tia and I spent Friday afternoon marking the course and checking with the Old Tucson folks and now we're super excited for the event this weekend!

Here's a final email with all sorts of information on race weekend, including:

• How to purchase a Day Ticket to Old Tucson
• Race Numbers, Timing, and Packet Pickup
• Race Weekend Schedule
• Miscellaneous Details: weather, cash bar, bathrooms, and other Old Tucson items
• Maps of the race courses
• Driving directions to Old Tucson and info on parking
• Awards from The Running Shop

Finally, we're thrilled that the new management of Old Tucson is allowing us to hold this event. The new crew there has never hosted us before, so let's make sure this goes well so that we can come back next year!

Now, about you:

499 pre-registrants

102 pre-ordered burritos

164 4-milers in the men's/open category

240 in the women's 4-milers

45 1-milers

50 Free youth and children's 1-milers

OK, read on for more details. If we missed anything, shoot Randy an email.

Cheers,

Randy

randy@runtucson.net | tia@runtucson.net

How to Purchase a Day Ticket to Old Tucson

On race day, all participants and spectators can enjoy their time in the Old Tucson race locations until 10:00 am, but everyone must purchase a separate entrance ticket to enjoy the rest of the day inside Old Tucson with stunts, saloon skits, restaurants, gift shops, and more.

You can use this link to purchase the ticket by Saturday at noon. The purchase will take place through Old Tucson's ticketing platform and will include their e-commerce charge. 

* Discounted day ticket to Old Tucson, $5 per race participant, free for 4-and-under.

* Discounted day ticket to Old Tucson, $15 per guest, free for 4-and-under.

* Old Tucson's regular day ticket pricing is $39, or $24 for ages 5-12 and free for 4-and-under.

* If the link above does not open in a browser, here you can copy and paste this: http://www.etix.com/ticket/c/DBD751AD6F393BE82C426E38794E757D/2024-old-tucson-trail-run.

Race Numbers, Timing, and Packet Pickup Saturday and Sunday

At packet pickup on Saturday at the Running Shop and on Sunday at Old Tucson, you will get assigned a race number, snag pins to put the number on the front of your race day shirt, and receive the long-sleeve black giveaway souvenir shirt. All giveaway shirt sizes are first-come, first-served.

New registrants can pay with cash or check.

We are using the "dynamic bib" method, where you will receive a race number when you arrive at the packet pickup. Race numbers do not have names on them, so there is no alphabetical ordering. You will receive the next race number on top of the stack and the volunteer crew will log your name and number into the timing system.

According to Roadrunner Race Timing, "If you're picking up bibs for multiple people, we will write your names on the back of each bib. Please wear the correct bib on the front of your body, making it clearly visible at the finish line."

If you purchased a burrito, volunteers will stamp your bib with a B for the the number of burritos you are purchasing.

NOTE: When they did this system at the Sun Run, it took about 32 seconds per person to finish the transaction. Still, try to be nice to the volunteers as they manage this new system!

YES: Someone else can pick up your items and you can pick up someone else's shirt and number. Be sure to write the name of the assigned person on the back of the number.

Event Weekend Schedule

Saturday, February 17 

10:00am - 1:00pm: In-person registration and packet pickup at the Running Shop, 3055 North Campbell. 

The Running Shop is holding a President's Day Sale, so take some time to shop for your running needs.

Sunday morning, February 18

Parking: please park in the main lot. The packet pickup area is on the EAST side of the lot, near the walkway to the Rodeo Gate. You will take this walkway to the start/finish area at the Bitter Creek set. Veterans: we will NOT start in Main Street!

Please arrive early enough to get your number and shirt and get ready for your event!

6:30 am: In-person registration and packet pickup begins at Old Tucson. To enter the grounds of Old Tucson, please use the walkway that goes from the east side of the parking lot towards the Rodeo Grounds. Spectators and guests are invited to the area around the Bitter Creek set and the race route, with limited access to the full Old Tucson grounds.

All shirt sizes are first-come, first-served. There are no race transfers allowed. New registrants can pay with cash or check.

7:30: Women's Four-Miler starts at Bitter Creek Set

8:30: Men's/Open Four-Miler and the Family One Mile Walk/Fun Run starts at Bitter Creek

Note: anyone of any gender can run in any category event. However, for record-keeping purposes, the Running Shop Grand Prix points and race awards are only provided to females who score in the Women's race and males in the Men's/Open race.

8:30 or so: Cash Bar for all and pre-ordered breakfast burritos will open at Stage Two, near the start/finish.

9:30 or so: Awards, Costume Contest, and Free Lil' Pardner's Fun Run -- fun 100-yard dash around the High Chaparral and Bitter Creek sets

10:00 or so: we'll wrap up and with event breakdown by 10:30. According to Old Tucson management, all event participants and guests are asked to leave the grounds through the Rodeo Gate walkway to the parking lot, and then re-enter through the main entry turnstyles.

Old Tucson personnel will make sure we're all out of the grounds on time.

10:30: Old Tucson Opens, with all ticketed Old Tucson visitors entering through the Main Entrance Gate at the front of Old Tucson.

Remember, friends and family are allowed in limited areas of Old Tucson during the event up until race end at 10:00 am. To stay in town after the park opens, participants can purchase a ticket for $5 and with additional guest passes a discounted $15 per person. These tickets must be purchased ahead of time using the Old Tucson ticketing platform here.

Miscellaneous Event Details

Spectators and Guests

Friends and family are welcome to come to the race. Old Tucson management asks that spectators stay at the race locations and will have staff on hand to ensure a safe experience for spectators. Here's what they say: Family and friends are allowed to view racers by moving down to the spectator’s area inside the park but cannot roam throughout the park since the park is not fully open.

Lil' Pardners Free Kids Dash

This is meant to be a playful dash, with no prizes and no timing. Bring your little ones to the finish line at the Bitter Creek set at about 9:30 and we'll set up a low-key route around the High Chaparral set.

Starting Line, Finish Line, and Bathrooms

The start and finish line are at the Bitter Creek set, near Stage 2, to the east of Main Street. There are many gender-specific bathroom facilities throughout Old Tucson, along Main Street and near the Bitter Creek set.

Cash Bar After Race

Enjoy the morning at the post-race cash bar with beer, wine, spirits, hard seltzers, and more. Mosey up to the bar at Stage 2, near the start/finish. The Old Tucson folks are working out details, but we think the bar will be open from 8:30-10:00, or so.

Burrito Pick Up After the Race

If you pre-ordered a breakfast burrito, you can pick it up near the bar in Stage 2, near the start/finish. The Old Tucson folks are working out details, but we think the burritos will be available by 8:30 or so.

Free Race T-Shirts

Every paid participant receives a free long-sleeve black t-shirt with the race logo on the front. Sizes are available on a first-come, first-served basis. We cannot guarantee the perfect size for everyone.

Additional Souvenir T-Shirts

If you purchased an additional race shirt, you can pick up your additional souvenirs at registration.

Sponsors and Partners

Thanks to our primary race sponsors for making this possible, Tucson Medical Center and the Running Shop. We are also grateful to Old Tucson Entertainment for helping us put this together, to AMR for providing medical support, and Skratch Labs for providing post-race hydration. We're thrilled to be part of Visit Tucson's efforts to welcome the world to Tucson.

Social Media

 #RunTucson #RunLocal #TrailRunning #Imyourhuckelberry #OldTucsonTrailRun #RunSAR

Any others? Let us know!

SAR Running Shop/Mizuno Grand Prix

The 4-Miler is part of the 2024 Grand Prix. Women can earn points by finishing the "Women's 4-Miler" while Men can earn points by finishing the "Open/Men's 4-Miler." SAR adjudicates the Grand Prix; click here for more information on SAR's Grand Prix.

SAR Membership

If you are not a member of the Southern Arizona Roadrunners, you can follow links to sign up online here or you can join SAR on race day at the Bitter Creek set.

Weather and Race Day Clothing

It looks to be cool early in the morning, with plenty of sunshine, rising to a beautiful but hot afternoon. Perhaps bring layers -- you may be chilly at packet pickup, but you'll get warm when doing the race!

Course Details

Old Tucson Maps: Parking, Staging, and Race Course

Click here for full details on the race routes for the 4-milers and the 1-mile. See the maps below for parking, packet pickup, and the race routes.

Parking: There is free parking in the Main Lot. The registration tables will be set up on the eastern edge of the Main Lot, near the walkway to the Rodeo Grounds and the start/finish line.

Bathrooms: Multiple Old Tucson bathrooms will be available for use.

Suggestions: It's a trail run, so keep your eyes up, watch for cactus, watch for directions, and be willing to sacrifice speed for safety and course accuracy. You may consider wearing knobby-soled trail shoes.

Headphones: Regular readers know that we discourage head phones during events. Please be thoughtful about wearing headphones. To be respectful to others, you may need to communicate with one another on the single track trails and other tricky sections.

Difficulty: The One Miler will do a lap of the town loop, with a bit of desert trails thrown in for fun! This route will cross the Old Tucson railroad tracks, but overall should be suitable for strollers and pushed chairs. The Four Miler will include narrow single track trails and sandy washes that may be very difficult for strollers or pushed trails.

As you can see in the map below, the 1-Milers will do a single loop around the Old Tucson grounds. The 1-Mile is drawn in purple with yellow arrows. The 4-Milers will start by doing 2 loops of town, then heading out to the desert for a bigger loop, and ending with another loop of town.

In the map below, the 4-Mile route is marked in red, with the various laps marked in different color arrows.

The 4-Milers will start by doing 1.5 laps of the town loop, then head out to the desert for a about 1.75 miles, and end with another lap of town. The race starts and ends at the Bitter Creek set.

Loop One blue arrows mark the first mile of the 4-Miler.

Miles 1-3.25 are marked by the yellow arrows, including another lap through town and the big desert loop.

The final in-town portion is marked by blue arrows.

The course will be marked with a combination of white arrows on the ground and flagging.

Map to Old Tucson

From Ajo, taking Kinney Road north

From Ina or Speedway, take Kinney Road south

Please be safe and be mindful of traffic

Awards

Thanks to the Running Shop, overall winners and age-group winners will receive gift certificates to The Running Shop. Top-three age group winners will receive an exciting "Run Tucson" water bottle, too.

Gift cards will be available post-race at the Running Shop through March, but you must be present at the awards ceremony to receive the water bottle.

Running Shop gift certificates: 

4-Mile Run: Overall Female and Overall Male: 1st place: $40 gift card; 2nd place: $35; 3rd place: $30.

First place Masters, 40+ Male/Female: $35

Age group: top three in 5-year age divisions, 14&U, then 15-19 through 80+, in 5-year increments, AG1-$25; AG 2-$15 gc; AG 3-$10 gc

See details on event categories and awards here.

Next Up from Run Tucson