Read in Spanish

The Garmin Marathon Series is sprinting into Tucson on Nov. 15, turning the city’s streets and desert views into a stage for runners along a course designed to highlight the best of the Old Pueblo.

Tucson is the second stop in the Garmin Marathon Series, which includes a full marathon, a half marathon, 10K and 5K races.

Garmin selected Tucson in part for its robust running community, with the city considered a destination for endurance sports. Professional and amateur athletes train in Southern Arizona year-round, especially during the winter months.

Garmin representative Elliott Scott said he hopes the marathon will elevate Tucson as a running destination for runners from across the country and around the world.

“One of the things that excited us so much about Tucson was the idea that this could become a major destination race,” Scott told Tucson Spotlight.

Garmin, a multinational technology company known for its GPS devices and watches, has sponsored a variety of events worldwide. This time, Garmin wanted to do something that celebrates runners and its brand.

“What we really wanted was the freedom and the flexibility to create something from scratch that we felt truly encapsulated the Garmin brand,” Scott said.

When Garmin representatives began searching for a host city, Tucson stood out, Scott said, pointing to the city’s running community, scenic views and favorable winter weather.

Garmin worked with local running group Run Tucson to help design the course.

Run Tucson co-founder Randy Accetta said the idea was to create a route that highlights Tucson’s appeal, including the desert landscape, downtown and midtown neighborhoods, colorful murals and the University of Arizona.

“My wife and I are very honored to try to create a course that has the beauty of the desert and the beauty of the city,” Accetta said.

All races will start and finish downtown, with the route passing landmarks including Fourth Avenue, Mercado San Agustín, Tumamoc Hill and Pima Community College’s West Campus.

Run Tucson also served as the connector between Garmin and local government officials, with Accetta and his wife meeting with representatives from the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, Pima County, the Arizona Department of Transportation, Tucson Police Department and others to ensure the safety of participants and nonparticipants.

The marathon team will begin sharing road closure information in October to help minimize disruptions for residents. Most streets will reopen after the last runner passes.

First-place finishers and age-group winners in the full marathon will receive a Garmin Forerunner 970 premium running smartwatch. Winners in the half marathon, 10K and 5K will be awarded a Garmin Forerunner 165 smartwatch.

Before the race, Garmin will host a two-day expo to showcase its products and technology in the automotive, aviation, marine, outdoor and fitness markets. The family-friendly event is free and open to the public.

A post-race festival will take place on North Granada Avenue between Alameda and Congress streets, featuring local food, drinks and entertainment.

Online registration closes Nov. 10, but on-site registration will be available Nov. 13-14 at the expo. Prices vary by race distance and date range. Registration rates can be found on the event’s website.

Accetta, who has organized marathons in Tucson on a smaller scale, hopes the Garmin Marathon Series will encourage more visitors to the city.

“​​I think it’s great to try to bring out-of-town people to see this beautiful desert,” Accetta said. “My life mission has been to use running to make Tucson a better place to live, and I think (this event) can help that.”

Diana Ramos is a University of Arizona alum and Tucson Spotlight reporter. Contact her at dianacramos@arizona.edu.

Tucson Spotlight is a community-based newsroom that provides paid opportunities for students and rising journalists in Southern Arizona. Please consider supporting our work with a tax-deductible donation.