The Desert Classic is an Arizona original. Join the tradition this year on Saturday Jan. 28, for your choice of a half marathon or 5K race starting and finishing at Riverboat Village, 18300 W. Bell Road in Surprise.  – Please Note – There is No Day of Race Registration for this race

Half marathoners must be 14 years or older on race day.

Packet pickup
Packet pickup including your bib# and race shirts are available race day morning 6:30 am to 8:00 am. Please note that the start line is located a couple of long blocks from the parking and bib pickup area. Allow time for the pick up and any pre-race needs. To guarantee your shirt, please register prior to the end of early race registration and pick up prior to the start of the race.

Awards 

The half marathon and 5K will have 5-year age groups for awards (all awards will be based on chip time). Everyone will get a finisher medal.

Courses

The half marathon is a USATF certified course AZ22005JOE. The 5K course follows the half marathon course with a turnaround at the 1.55 mile mark. Both courses are entirely on blacktop surfaces. The race course closes at 11:00 am.

Race Shirts

The long-sleeved, tech-fabric Desert Classic Marathon race shirts are only guaranteed to runners who register prior to the end of early race registration and pick up their packet before gun time. Remaining shirts will be available to  registrants who registered after the early registration period. Any remaining T-shirts will be available for purchase after gun time. *** Please note that women’s shirt sizes run small when selecting your shirt size.***

Frequently Asked Questions

Please review the FAQs for answers to common questions that apply to all ARR races.