Half-Marathon: Course Briefing
Course Directional Briefing: Half Marathoners
Many of you have seen the news item about the Women's National Half-Marathon Championships, where the top three women went off course in the last miles of the event.
To help us ensure that your race experience does not include such an unhappy circumstance, we've put together these detailed course directions.
The roadway will be marked with cones and arrows as needed.
The Half-Marathon will start facing south at 6:30 am. We are hoping that the police will authorize an on-time start, so please be ready to start by 6:25.
The start line will close 5 minutes after the start of the race. Late arrivals will be required to run a different event.
You will run under the scaffolding, facing south.
Half-Marathoners will head south on Innovation for approximately a half-mile.
Then you will turn east onto North Vistoso Park Road. Please stay on the right side of the roadway, hugging the curbside shoulder. The course is measured on the roadway, so do not run on the sidewalk.
At the 1-mile mark will be a turn-around sign with a volunteer. Make the turn from right to left, so that you are now facing the mountains, running on the right side of the street, with facing runners on your left.
You will turn north onto Innovation and head up the hill.
As you approach the start/finish line, you will be directed to angle towards the scaffolding and you will run under the scaffolding, facing north.
There will be a water table just before the scaffolding if you need water.
The scaffolding start line is the 2-mile mark. The timing mat will capture your 2-mile time.
After passing the scaffolding, you will run north for about 600m and then you will turn left onto Rancho Vistoso Blvd.
Once you are on Rancho Vistoso, it is a straight shot to the turn-around.
Do NOT go outside the cones and do NOT veer into oncoming traffic.
Always stay to the right side of the running roadway if there are oncoming runners.
There will be a water stop at approximately 3.5 miles (the 5k turnaround).
There will be a water stop at approximately 5 miles (the Quarter turnaround).
You will continue on Rancho Vistoso around the loop and down the hill until you see the Half-Marathon turnaround, at approximately 7.5 mile mark.
Volunteers will be on hand to direct you to turn around -- right to left, so that you are now running uphill on the inside of the roadway, curbside.
There will be a water stop available after the turn-around.
On your way uphill, stay to the right-hand side of the roadway -- that is, run to the inside, on the curb-lane. Returning after the turn-around you will run facing your fellow half-marathoners.
NEVER run outside the cones with your back to oncoming traffic.
Watch for other runners, including chair athletes.
As Half-Marathoners reach the Quarter turn-around there will be another water stop, then a water stop at the 5k turnaround (approximately 1.5 miles to the finish).
Speedy Half-Marathoners may catch up to Quarter-Marathoners then 5k runners/walkers.
As you approach the end of the race, you will turn right from Rancho Vistoso onto Innovation. Follow the course south for about 600m until you cross the finish line at the scaffolding.
You will find a water and aid station there, with all the race staging activities.
Map Location
Race Location
1910 E Innovation Park Dr
Oro Valley, AZ 85755 US
View Location on Map
