Hello again to all of you who have signed up for the November 2 Grand Canyon Trail Half Marathon. We're just a few days away now, so here are all the final details you'll need for a great experience in Northern Arizona. The weather promises to be cold but sunny, so we've updated some of our plans to make sure you're happy and healthy.
Table of Contents
- Weekend Schedule and race detail
- What to Pack and What to Wear
- Course Information
- Goodies, Activities, and Lodging
OK -- grab something to drink and take some time to read through everything. See you in a couple of days!
Randy and Tia Accetta
Weekend
Schedule:
Staging Area: The start and finish will take place outside, of course, but at this point our plan is to have all other race activities inside the
Visitor Center IMAX building.
There is plenty of parking and there are plenty of bathrooms inside. The address is 450 AZ-64, Grand Canyon Village, AZ 86023.
Friday, November 1: Packet Pickup, Last-Minute Registration, and Pre-Race Meeting at
IMAX Theater, 450 AZ-64, Grand Canyon Village, AZ 86023
Times
4:30 – 7:30 pm Race Registration and Packet Pick inside the IMAX Theater
Our team of volunteers will be on hand to help you pick up your race materials, including your race number, your race shirt, a copy of the course map, and (if you ordered it) your National Park Pass, beanie, and souvenir shirt. Don't forget to check out the local restaurant specials and discounts that are just for runners, friends, and family -- see way below for details!
YES: you receive a free ticket to the IMAX showing of The Grand Canyon Experience, and your friends can get a 25% discount!
YES: people can still register
YES: we have unisex and women's sizing in the t-shirt
YES: all shirts are first-come, first-served in terms of sizing
YES: you can pick up for your friends and family; this is a small race, so no ID needed
YES: please be patient with your fellow runners and please be nice to the volunteers
YES: we will have your National Park pass if you purchased one
YES: we will have additional souvenirs for sale
NO: you cannot pick up your finisher's medal before finishing the race – you gotta’ do the race on Saturday!
7:30-8:30 Pre-Race Meeting inside the IMAX Theater:
Join us at the IMAX for a 30-45 minute pre-race meeting. We will review the course, provide last-minute updates, and answer any questions you may have.
Saturday, November 2: Race Morning
8:00 am - 12:00 pm: Tusayan Fire Department Fundraising Pancake Breakfast
-- $8 for adults and $5 for ages 12-and-under. We'll probably move this into the IMAX building.
8:30 – 9:30 am: Packet pick-up, inside the IMAX building.
Ends 15 minutes before each of the race events. NOTE: shirts are given away first-come, first-served in terms of sizing.
10:00 am: Half-Marathon Start
on sidewalk in front of IMAX on the main street (221 currently registered)
10:15 am: 5k Fun Run/Walk Start
at start/finish line just north of IMAX building (75 registrants)
Family Mile Cancelled:
Nobody has signed up, so we won't do this ...
12:00 - 4:00: Post-Race Food and Beer Garden: A Taste of Tusayan.
After the race, all runners can snag finger-food from local restaurants in the IMAX building. Thanks to Grand Canyon Brewing for donating a free beer to all race registrants 21+ with additional pours are a few bucks.
Here's the menu for the post-race Taste of Tusayan for all finishers:
- Yavapai Tavern – Pork Sliders with slaw
- Big E Steakhouse – Ribs with potato salad
- Plaza Bonita Restaurant – Mini quesadillas, mini chimichangas, wings, taquitos, nachos, sour cream and guacamole
- Best Western Squire Inn – Buffalo short ribs with mashed potatoes
- IMAX - prickly pear and falafel
2:00 or so: Awards Ceremonies and Charity Give
Course Closure Times
(Final details to be determined by Tusayan Fire Department and Kaibab National Forest personnel on event day as the situation warrants)
2:00 Runners need to be at Mile 11, and race organizers reserve the right to pick up athletes depending on weather and safety conditions
2:30 pm Timing at Finish Line Closes
3:00 pm Breakdown of Event Site
Timing
The race is being timed by Greg Wenneborg and www.roadrunnerracetiming, from Tucson, Arizona. Please put your bib on the front of the garment you will wear to cross the start line and the finish line. Results will be posted at www.roadrunnerracetiming.com.
Social Media
You can tag the
#GrandCanyonTrailHalfMarathon and #GoGrand2019
and
@runtucson
and
@grandcanyoncvb
--
if you have other hashtags, let us know!
Photos
We've hired local photographer
www.photographybyterri.com
to be on hand taking photos of runners. We'll post candids and other photos on social media and you'll be able to purchase photos from Terri.
Headphones:
We understand that runners love their music -- but we strongly discourage headphone usage when running in the race. The first half-mile of the race goes through town, while the majority of the race takes place on dirt roads and trails in the Kaibab National Forest. We want everyone to be safe and respectful and know what's going on around them, so we ask that you do not wear headphones.
Awards
RRCA State Championship
We're honored to have been named the RRCA Arizona Half-Marathon State Championship. The RRCA provides special medallions for top female and male finishers in the Open Division, Master's Division (40+), Grand Master's Division (50+), and Senior Grand Master's Division (60+). For more,
see our press release here
.
The RRCA also partners with Gatorade, which is providing Gatorade that will be on the course and at the finish line.
Half Marathon Prizes
Top Three Overall Male and Female
Top Three Male and Female in 10-year Age Groups, U20 through 70+
NOTES:
- No double-dipping in overall and age group -- that is, the top three are taken out of the age groups
- RRCA Championship Medals are separate category
- First place finishers get to choose their prize first, second place finishers second, third place third. We'll start with overall and move to age group.
5k Fun Run/Walk Prizes
First place Male and First Place Female and first place in each 10-year Age Groups, U20 through 70+
NOTES:
- This has been updated to ensure accuracy: awards are for first place only in 10-year age groups in the 5k
- No double-dipping in overall and age group
- The 5k Fun Run prizes will be awarded after the half-marathon
For the 5k Fun Run and Half Marathon many local businesses have donated cool items to choose from. The top runners and top age group runners will have an opportunity to pick their award. Please thank these businesses by telling them (many will be helping) or by visiting or using their services while you are here. Donated award include:
Grand Canyon Music Festival – Poster, note cards and cd
Yavapai Lodge/General Store – 2 Gift Baskets
Town of Tusayan – canvas bags
Grand Canyon Squire Inn - 1 night stay and breakfast for 2, sweatshirts, 2 books, apron with oven mitt.
Grand Canyon Plaza Hotel - 12 coffee cups with goodies
Grand Canyon Visitor Center IMAX - a Yeti cup and some cool socks
Westwind Airservice
air tour for 2 + miscellaneous sweatshirts, ball caps, bracelets, coffee mugs, magnets, $25 Harkins gift card
Grand Canyon Lodges by Xantera Travel Collection - 12 books
- 2 t-shirts
Canyon Flight Trading Company – 4 sweatshirts
Paragon Skydive
- a naked skydive (it's not what you think - skydive only - photos are extra) ...and possibly sweatshirts from Canyon Flight Trading Company
V
olunteers:
It takes a ton of folks to put on a trail run, even a cozy one like this. Laura Chastain and the crew at the Grand Canyon Chamber of Commerce are doing a ton o' preparation work and setting up the course volunteers. We're super happy to have some of the runners from our training group in Tucson called "The Workout Group" on hand to help with staging, registration, and course management.
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Weather Update, What to Wear, What to Eat
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What to Pack
Many of you are coming from low altitude locations, so it may be better to overpack for a weekend at high altitude. When in doubt, please choose safety over performance.
As you can see, it looks like it will be cold in the morning and warmer in the afternoon.
If it is cold:
If race day is chilly (or worse), you should probably wear layers. Many runners like a synthetic undergarment that wicks away moisture. Be sure to have headwear of some sort, either a beanie-type hat that covers your ears, a headband that covers your ears, or at least a brimmed cap to keep your skull warm and keep sunshine at bay. You may want to consider running tights and a wind jacket that guards against a cold breeze. The race shirt is a heather-blend long-sleeve, but we recommend that you bring clothes you have worn in the past.
As it gets warmer:
Much of the course is shaded by the various pine, fir, spruce, and juniper trees, but you should probably have a hat with a brim and you may wish to wear sunscreen. As it warms up, be sure to stay hydrated with water and drinks that contain salt and electrolytes.
If it is wet:
It looks to be dry, but if it is raining, sleeting, or snowing, you would be well-served wearing layers and a performance jacket that keeps moisture from leaking onto your skin and fends off the wind.
Recommended Footwear:
As you can see in the photos way below, much of the course is on pretty rugged terrain, with rocks, roots, and hard-packed and soft dirt. Personally, we like knobby-soled trail shoes for such terrain, but you know your feet better than we do so perhaps pack a couple of pairs and decide on race day which is best for you.
What to Eat and Drink
We are grateful to Gatorade for donating product to this RRCA Championship event and to GU Energy labs for donating packets of their wonderful GU energy gel.
We will have aid stations at approximately Miles 3, 6, 9, and 11.5, with water at every stop, and Gatorade at Mile 6 and Mile 11.5, and GU packets at Miles 6 and 9. (Please do not litter on the course!)
Having said that, please bring your own fuel as you need. We recommend water or sports drinks that have electrolytes and sodium, with whatever snacks you will find helpful.
This race takes place at high altitude, so please be sure to hydrate in the days before traveling to Northern Arizona – and be sure to hydrate in the 24 hours before the race. We recommend drinking not just water but sports drinks and/or fruit drinks to ensure that you have sodium, sugars, and electrolytes in your system. (As you can tell, we want to guard against hyponatremia on race day, which can be caused by taking in too much water for the system to handle.)
Common advice is to ensure that you nourish yourself with complex carbohydrates, healthy proteins, and healthy fats (while some suggest that you ensure bringing in additional iron when running at altitude). You know your GI tract better than we do, so we will leave it to you to ensure that you have the fuels that you need. For example, one of our athletes brings sushi with him on long runs, but that may not work for all of you . . .
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Course Information and Advice
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Near Mile 3 climbing one of the rugged early sections.
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Near Mile 7.5, cruising under the historic Grand Canyon Rail tracks
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Near Mile 12, with about a mile of paved and mostly downhill to the finish.
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NOTES:
- The Kaibab Forest will be open to others on race day. We will have signage explaining that a special event is occurring, but please note that others may be using the trails and roads.
- Half-Marathon Water Stations: at approximately Mile 3 with water, Mile 6 with water and GU , 9 with water, GU, and Gatorade (please be sure not to litter in the forest), and 11.5 (with water and Gatorade)
- 5k Water Stations: at the turn-around, 1.55 miles from the starting line
- Water and Aid Stations: We want you to be self-sufficient on the race course, so please be sure to pack what you think you will need. Having said that, we will have volunteers on the course to support you. We'll have plenty of food and water at the finish line, with support from the Tusayan Fire Department, Coconino County Sheriff, and others as needed.
- Neither of the courses are certified, but they should be close to accurate!
- If you need medical help, please ask a volunteer to call for medical help. If you are on your own and need medical care, please call 911.
Half-Marathon Course Overview:
The Half-Marathon course is a clockwise loop, designed to put the demanding sections of the race early, when you're more chipper. The Half-Marathon course is almost exactly 13.1 miles (but may be long by as much as .1 or .2 -- hard to tell with the different measuring devices). The maps we've included come from MayMyRun, which says this:
This is a 13.19 mi route. The route has a total ascent of 555.58 ft and has a maximum elevation of 6,729.3 ft.
Start
: The race will will start at the IMAX parking lot, and head south on the sidewalk on the west side of Highway 64 before crossing onto the bike path of Long Jim Loop for another couple of hundred yards, before you head south onto the dirt roads of the Kaibab National Forest.
Racing Advice:
there is plenty of room on the dirt portions of the course, so no need to go like crazy in the first half mile.
Miles 2-4
The next 3-4 miles are on Forest Service Road #2607, which will be pretty rugged, with a bunch of "rolling uphill" and some challenging footing (see the photo from near Mile 3), so it'll be a bit slow.
Racing Advice:
Be mindful of your footing, recognize that a bunch of this stretch goes uphill, and be patient.
Miles 4-8
From approximately Mile 4-8 the trail smooths out and drops in a "rolling downhill" manner -- the footing is easier and you can probably get in a nice little rhythm, especially once you get onto Forest Service Road 2604. Near Mile 7.5 you'll go under the historic railroad tracks, then go under them again near Mile 8-- it's a fun little figure-S of a section.
Miles 9-11
This stretch winds through what is called the Coconino Wash, with pretty smooth footing and some especially nice forested views.
Racing Advice:
take advantage of the smoother footing and the gentle downhill portions on this stretch.
Mile 11-12
This is mostly on the well-travelled dirt road #328. The road is open to the public, so please stay to the side.
Racing Advice:
there may be some "washboard" sections on this portion of the course, so be mindful of footing. But there is some significant downhill -- you should be able to make good time at this portion of the course.
Last Mile
From approximately Mile 12 to the finish you will be on a paved multi-use path, part of which is the famed Arizona Trail. You can run on the pavement, but there is also dirt alongside if you favor the softer surface.
Racing Advice:
This largely downhill section should give you a pretty quick finish to the finish line with nice shade and the chance to push pace a bit.
The 5k Route:
The 5k will be an out and back, starting at the Finish Line and heading north on the multi-use path. At approximately 8/10 of a mile the 5k course will turn left (west) and head onto the dirt road. At 1.55 miles you will see the turnaround marker and the Water Station. The “out” portion rolls gently uphill, the “back” portion is a swift and smooth drop to the finish line.
Racing Advice:
Enjoy the rolling uphill and gentle turns for the first mile, manage your footing on the dirt-road out-and-back, and let 'er rip on the downhill last mile to the finish!
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Weekend Goodies, Where to Stay, & What Else To Do
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Weekend Goodies:
Friday Night Dinner Discounts:
The whole community is so excited you are coming! They've put together some wonderful specials on Friday night to help you prepare for your big event. Please show your bib or let them know you are participating in the Half-Marathon to get the special rate.
Runners Special $14.95
VEGAN | GLUTEN-FREE | DAIRY FREE
SAUTEED SPAGHETTI SQUASH with fresh spinach and cherry tomatoes, topped with fresh sliced scallions; CHARRED CORN AVOCADO QUINOA SALAD with spiced black beans on a bed of romaine lettuce;
SWEET POTATO CHOCOLATE FUDGE PUDDING with dairy-free cream and Medjool dates, topped with chopped pistachios
Also being offered:
RUNNERS BREAKFAST TO GO: $ 9.95
VEGAN | GLUTEN-FREE | DAIRY FREE
PUMPKIN PIE BREAKFAST QUINOA with chopped walnuts – just add hot water!
Fresh Banana, applesauce, Nature Valley Oat & Honey Bars (2)
Runners Special $15.00 or $18.00
Jumbo '5 Cheese' Ravioli --- Sweet Basil Marinara ~ served with Canyon Blend Vegetables and Garlic Bread
or
Jumbo '5 Cheese' Ravioli --- Sweet Basil Marinara with Italian Sausage ~ served with Canyon Blend Vegetables and Garlic Bread
Runners Special $10
All you can eat pasta marinara and pizza, garlic bread, green salad and drink
Runners Special $20
Cajun Steak Fettucine topped w/shredded parmesan and garlic toast.
Grand Canyon Squire Inn Coronado Room
Grilled Vegetable Pasta - zucchini, yellow squash, peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes and spinach over linguini $20
- location
Plaza Bonita
Grilled Skirt Steak or Pollo Asada with rice, salad, and warm tortillas. $20
- location
What Else To Do:
Our family (including grandma from Durango and the two kids up from Tucson) and some members of our workout group in Tucson will probably hike and/or run one of the trails at the South Rim on Sunday morning.
For an easy recovery run, you may enjoy the flatter Rim Trail alongside the edge of the South Rim. The Bright Angel Trail is well-regarded as a tourist-friendly trail, while the Kaibab Trail is more rugged and steep, with no water available. Please remember that all trails into the Canyon are arduous and potentially dangerous, so we recommend that you take all precaution when running in and near the Grand Canyon. You can find more information on nearby Grand Canyon National Park options here
https://grandcanyoncvb.org/national-park-area-info
and here
https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/hiking-for-fitness.htm
.
Where To Stay - Six Hotels/Motels in Tusayan:
Red Feather Lodge
- yep RP's legacy is still open an operated by the family. This remodeled family friendly option can offer all the comforts of home - enjoy a beautiful grand entrance, fully remodeled rooms, a workout room, and laundry. Our race crew is staying at the Red Feather Lodge,
The Grand Hotel
is the only 3-diamond hotel in the region and one of the few area hotels with an indoor heated swimming pool and hot tub.
Grand Canyon Plaza Hotel
beautiful rooms recently remodeled with a gorgeous atrium and an incredible mural as you enter the lobby. They also host a local favorite The Wagon Wheel Saloon. They have an indoor hot tub.
Best Western Premier Grand Canyon Squire Inn
This resort style property boasts a newly renovated indoor / outdoor pool and hot tub, indoor arcade and a bowling alley. A little side note - all the photo's in the hotel are different - each hallway and every room - all tell a story about the Grand Canyon.
7-Mile Lodge
If you decide to stay at the last minute 7-Mile Lodge is perfect - they accept same day bookings only. This cute Lodge will provide you a welcoming local feel.
Want to be closer to the Rim? As of today they have availability at:
Maswik Lodge
- Maswik is named for a Hopi Kachina who is said to guard the Grand Canyon. Originally cabins - in 1972 and 1981 the cabins where replaced with 2 story buildings. Maswik North is currently open - Maswik South is currently under construction.
Yavapai Lodge
- The largest set of accommodations within Grand Canyon National park located just 1/2 mile from the Rim. Rooms have been recently updated and the Yavapai Tavern now has outdoor seating and on many weekends live music.
Thunderbird Lodge
- Thunderbird is another contemporary Lodge located on the Rim. Half the rooms have partial Grand Canyon views.
Other hotels within the South Rim but currently not showing availability... keep in mind people do cancel so it may be worth checking.
El Tovar
- This 1905 Historic property will have you staying right on the Rim. 78 rooms and history like none other!
Bright Angel Lodge
- This 1935 landmark hotel / cabins were designed and created by the famous architect Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter. While there be sure to check out the history of Mary Colter and the famous Fred Harvey and the Fred Harvey Girls.
Kachina Lodge
- Kachina is a contemporary Lodge located on the Rim. Half the rooms have partial Grand Canyon views.
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Tia and son Aric at the Grand Canyon in a May snowstorm, after checking out the Half-Marathon course
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Randy and daughter Anabelle at the Grand Canyon in April.
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Feel free to do a google search on us to get the real scoop, but Run Tucson is headed up by a husband-wife team located in Tucson, Arizona where we're raising a 12-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter. As life-long runners, we produce races in Tucson and coach runners in Tucson and around the country.
Raised in Walla Walla, WA, Tia ran cross country and track at the University of Idaho. She is an RRCA Certified coach with an M.A. in Education. She currently coaches runners from around the country via online coaching, while also heading up The Workout Group, a training group in Tucson originally started back in 1997 by Randy and Greg Wenneborg (who will be doing the race timing).
Tia has run a couple of 2:48 marathons and is currently training for the Chicago Marathon.
For the past 7 years Randy has been the Director of Coaching Education for the RRCA, heading up their nationally-renowned coaching certification program. Between now and race day, Randy heads to Kansas City, Charlotte, and the Tampa Bay area to teach sold-out seminars in run coaching.
Years ago he was the Director of Programs at the well-known Craftsbury Running Camp and was the Arizona coach for Team in Training. He also teaches at the University of Arizona. Sadly, as a runner, he has slowed down considerably since running a 2:19 marathon a long, long time ago.
As race producers, we partner with many local suppliers in Tucson, but we also work closely with national running community leaders like the RRCA, Ashworth Awards, Leslie Jordan Designs, Greenlayer Sports, and others.
This autumn we have produced the Saguaro National Park Labor Day Run, one of the few races allowed on National Park Service lands. We are also in the midst of preparations for the TMC Tucson 10k on September 16th and the TMC A-Mountain Half-Marathon and 5k in Tucson on October 27th.
Our local mission at Run Tucson is to make Tucson a better place to live through running -- our national mission is to inspire happy lives through running.
Thus, this opportunity to help produce the Grand Canyon Trail Half Marathon fits our passion perfectly -- we can improve a local community while providing an inspirational event for the national running community!
We'll add you to our emailing list so you can see the events we put on -- we'll give all of you discounts to our home-town races just to give you another reason to travel to Arizona!
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For information about our events, the RRCA, and The Workout Group, contact Randy Accetta
(520) 991-0733
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For information about in-person, online, or group coaching, contact contact Tia Accetta.
(520)891-4369
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