Tucson Marathon

The Tucson Marathon, Arizona’s oldest running marathon, has been a fixture since 1969 and is renowned for its fast, downhill profile. Starting at the iconic Biosphere 2, the certified marathon, half marathon, ultra 50K, and relay all unfold against the dramatic backdrop of the Santa Catalina Mountains. The course runs through the striking Sonoran desert, with expansive views of Oro Valley before finishing at Pima Community College Northwest Campus in a lively finish village.

Known as one of the nation’s fastest Boston-qualifying races, Tucson recently fine-tuned its net-downhill to meet updated standards, keeping every qualifying mark fully valid. With crisp winter air, reliable sunshine, and strong local support, the race offers a high-performance environment for serious runners and a memorable desert running experience for all participants. A pre-race expo adds to the excitement, giving athletes a chance to prepare and connect before race day.