About Event
Run in the shadow of the Usery Mountains that stand tall just outside
the town of Mesa, Ariz., the Valley of the Sun Half Marathon takes
runners on a fast and mostly downhill course filled with long, gently
sloping downhill grades and a few hills mixed in. The first 3 to 4
miles of this race are reportedly the fastest, as they feature the
race's steepest downhill stretch -- from an elevation of just above
2,000 feet above sea level at the start to 1,648 feet by the fourth
mile
marker.
Along the course through the northern sections of Mesa, runners are
treated to sights such as majestic mesas jutting up from the horizon,
the snow-capped peaks of the nearby McDowell
Mountains and the peaceful waters of the Salt River, which participants
run past between miles 8 and 10. The race includes a sharp uphill
around mile 11, and then a mixture of additional uphills and downhills
on the way to the finish line on N. Bush Highway.
The terrain for the race is made up entirely of paved surfaces, and
there are typically few spectators along the course, thanks to its
remote location away from populated areas and neighborhoods.
Registration
Relay Information
Course Map & Elevation
Health & Fitness Expo
Race Day
Awards
Brightroom Photos
Race Results
Sponsors