Tucson Marathon

The parts of the first and all of the last half are along a 4 lane highway, which is straignt so you have the same view for a long long time. The course is net downhill but it is gentle so you don't notice it, there are a few uphills to suprise you. I stayed at the host hotel, the special rate made it a good deal and worth it, especailly as a desitination race. The orgainization was good, there was a new race director in 2022. The buses drop you off a 10 minute walk from the start. You can stay on the bus until you are ready for port-o-potties which are at the start, so bring warm clothes. There is a drop bag. Pros + net downhill, but gradual + good organization + we had good weather 32-60 Negatives - mostly on 4 lane highway - view does not change - sometimes on the shoulder which was uneven Glad I did it, not sure I would repeat,, a long trip from the east coast, but a fun special event

INTRODUCTION: I am a race-walker with a median marathon completion time of 5:22:52. The Tucson Marathon was my fifty-eighth 26.2-miler accomplished. COURSE: It was a great day for a marathon: 44 degrees, wind from the west at 5 mph with gusts up to 11 mph, and 50% relative humidity. The race, which began in Coronado National Forest just east of Oracle, was punctuated by a 300 foot drop in elevation the first mile. Shortly afterward, our five mile westward trek returning to and going through Oracle was met with undulating hills. At mile 6, we entered onto SR77, sometimes occupying one lane and other times being restricted to the shoulder, always going downhill, with vistas of the Catalina Mountains on our left, until passing mile 23 with the sole exception of a three mile out-and-back on Biosphere Road beginning at mile 10, represented by rolling hill terrain. The remainder of the course was mostly represented by running in almost a complete two-mile square represented by some slight inclines and declines to our finish line at the Catalina fire station, approximately 2000 feet lower in elevation from our starting point. Weather at the finish was 71 degrees, wind from the west northwest at 1 mph with gusts up to 5 mph, and 44% relative humidity. ORGANIZATION: Well organized. Expo was small but efficient. Motor coach transport from the host hotel went smoothly; also, we were given the opportunity to stay on the bus until minutes before the race start. Course support went without difficulty. Return bus service to both general parking lot and host hotel went without difficulty as well. SPECTATORS: Given most of the marathon route was on a state highway, there was little opportunity for spectators to be present. Some Oracle locals came out of their houses to cheer us on. CONCLUSION: A nice, quiet, mostly downhill run without many distractions. Well done.

I enjoyed this marathon although some of the organization is a little strange. Buses depart a parking lot by the medical center between 4:45 and 5:10 am for a marathon that starts at 7:00 am. We arrived at the start more than 1.5 hrs early. Most stayed on the buses a while. Why so early? We had warm conditions around 45 at the start and around 72 by noon by the finish but plenty of course support with gels, orange sections, and clif bars I think. At the finish a volunteer read my bib number, found my drop bag and brought it to me so I didn't even have to look for it. Awesome. No steak and eggs at the finish but PB & J on flatbread hit the spot and water, bananas, etc. there.