If you’re one of those people who view running as a fun leisure activity, chances are you’ll be downtown this weekend.
Forget scenic jogs; this Sunday, runners will race their way through buildings and beside the light rail from downtown to uptown and back again, as they compete in the annual 3TV Phoenix 10K & Half Marathon.
This Sunday marks the 40th anniversary of the race founded by Dr. Art Mollen, a local physician and founder and president of the Southwest Health Institute. The race features a 5K, 10K, Half-Marathon, and the Mollen Mile, which is a one-mile run for all kids between ages six and 12. Race proceeds will benefit the Mollen Foundation, in its efforts to prevent childhood obesity.
The course starts at Washington Street, heads north to Osborn Road where racers will take a u-turn and then heads back to the finish at Jefferson Street. To commemorate the 40th anniversary, race architects have gone back to the start with retro-designed t-shirts and a costume contest to be judged by Heroes United AZ, a non-profit costuming charity group.
The half marathon begins at 7:00 a.m., with the other races following closely behind it. In addition to local runners, the 10K portion will function as the championship race of a national racing circuit, which means it will be the most competitive part of the day.
As a final incentive to get your running shoes on, race organizers are offering two very special prizes of $1,040 to the first male and female 10K runners to break the race records. That means a male runner beating the previous record of 28:11 set in 1996, and the female runner breaking the race record of 32:35 set back in 1997.
If You Go
3TV Phoenix 10K and Half-Marathon
When: Sunday, November 1 – registration begins at 6 a.m., races begin at 7 a.m., 8 a.m. and 9 a.m.
Where: CityScape, 1 E. Washington Street
More Info and Registration: http://www.phoenix10k.com/index.html
Images courtesy of 3TV Phoenix 10K & Half-Marathon.
