Saguaro Price Increase on August 1—about 350 slots still available

A quick reminder that the TMC Saguaro National Park Labor Day Run registration fee increases on August 1st. Register online here.  Print a registration form to register by mail here.  See http://www.azroadrunners.org/races/detail/saguaro for all the registration details.  As of today, there are about 350 slots available.  ALSO: you can still register for the 2012 Gabe Zimmerman Triple Crown.  See here for the details.

Final news on Saguaro

Follow this link to a ton o’ details about the Saguaro race.  Please remember that registration is closed For last-last minute information or for car-pooling conversation, see our facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/SouthernArizonaRoadrunners.  ANNOUNCING OUR FIRST-EVER VIDEO CONTEST: We’re trying to develop a cool youtube channel, but so far, we don’t have a lot on it.  We’re looking for a video chronicle of the 2011 TMC Saguaro National Park Race.  So here’s the deal: bring your flip video or phone video or major motion picture boom, and make a video of the race. Submit it to http://www.youtube.com/runtucson by Friday.  The race director will select the five best videos, track you down, and send the top five videos $50 cash on the barrel-head.  The Southern Arizona Roadrunners will have a membership booth set up tomorrow—if you join tomorrow, you will receive a free technical shirt. 

When: Monday September 5, 2011
Where: Saguaro National Park East, 3693 S. Old Spanish Trail Rd - see map for directions
Details:
5:15-6:00 am Packet pick-up at Saguaro Park EAST NOTE: There is no race day registration—and we cannot exchange numbers for a different runner at this late date. 
6:10 5k line up at front, by flagpole. 8-milers line up behind them in leg speed order (5-minutes/mile at the front; 6-minutes/mile behind them, and so forth)
6:15 A few words from Ross Zimmerman and the Zimmerman family, a few words from Julia Strange from TMC, and the announcement of the 2011 Spirit of Rob Bell Award, presented by Performance Footwear
6:23 National Anthem by Kryshell  
6:27 5k Run/Walk start
6:30 8-miler start
8:30 (approx) Children’s Dash, presented by Craig Dabler
8:45 (approx) Begin Spirit of Rob Bell Award presented by Performance Footwear, Raffle Prizes, and Awards
Parking  
Participants can park on Old Spanish Trail, Freeman Road, and Escalante.  Please obey traffic laws and don’t park in driveways or in the bike lane. IMPORTANT: Please try to carpool—it will be easier and safer for all.  The later you arrive, the farther away from the starting line you will have to park. Please be thoughtful and safe - and carpool!  Please do not bring pets to the event - and do not leave them in your car!!   

Saguaro is closed!

Well, the TMC Saguaro National Park Labor Day Run registration is now officially closed.  Thanks to all of you who signed up for the race!  We have more than ever before—twice as many as just a few years ago, in fact.  Packet pick-up is Saturday at The Running Shop from 10-3 and on Monday at Saguaro East from 5:15 - 6:00.  Missed the registration but still excited about racing?  Then register for the flat and fast Jim Click Run n Roll at the UA on October 2nd.  Or test yourself against A-Mountain and do the TMC Get Moving Tucson Half Marathon and the flat Tucson Lifestyle 5k on October 9.  Check out the race pages for all the details.

Saguaro: 5k closed, and runner’s discount at Tanque Verde Ranch

Two news items: 1)  Mail-in registration is now closed for both the 5k and the 8-miler, and the 5k has reached its cap, so the only online registration available is the 8-miler.  The National Park Service is allowing us to raise the cap in the 8-miler, with all online registration closing at midnight September 2nd.  At the end of online registration, we will know if we can have any in-person registration for the 8-miler.  Again, there is no more 5k registration.  Thanks to everyone who has signed up!

2) This year, Tanque Verde Ranch is offering Saguaro runners a special discount on Labor Day weekend.  The guest ranch is about 5 miles from the race start – one left hand turn and down Freeman and there you are. Their regular single is $99, but LeighAnn, the marketing manager, said to contact her for special rates, including a full (and very, very good) breakfast plus their great swimming pools.  Horse riding and other cool things are extra.
Contact information:
LeighAnn Kindberg, Director of Guest Services,  Tanque Verde Ranch
direct:      520-731-5562
http://www.tanqueverderanch.com/” title=“http://www.tanqueverderanch.com/”>http://www.tanqueverderanch.com/

Honored as Top Ten Family Resort by Travel Channel, 2008-2010
Finalist for Top Ranch by Conde Nast, 2010
Recognized as “Best of the West” by Cowboys and Indians Magazine, 2011
Featured on the Today Show as “Top Five Spring Break for Families”, 2011
Selected as Top Wedding Venue in Arizona, The Knot, 2010

Saguaro registration limited to first 1200 - training runs begin July 30

Due to safety and parking concerns, the 2011 TMC Saguaro National Park Labor Day Run is limited to 1200 participants.  About 300 spots are still open—see the race page for details on registration.

The annual informal Saguaro training runs will start on Saturday, July 30th.  Run or walk at your own pace.  The main group will leave at 6:00 am.  Meet in the parking lot by the visitor center—bring your own water and a park pass or $5 for a day visit.  Carpool if you can.  You can park on Old Spanish Trail, but please follow all Pima County and Park Service rules. 

Rincon Mountain District Open Again

Good news regarding Saguaro East and the Rincon Mountains!  Thanks to District Ranger Paul Austin for passing along this press release:

SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK REOPENS RINCON MOUNTAIN DISTRICT and LIFTS FIRE RESTRICTIONS PARKWIDE AFTER TEMPORARY FIRE

The Rincon Mountain District of Saguaro National Park has reopened after temporary fire closures to trail use in both the Cactus Forest as well as up into the Rincon Mountains. Temporary fire restrictions put in place prior to the closures are also lifted. . . . [however, as] lightning continues with monsoon weather, there is still a risk of fire in Saguaro National Park. Fire crews will remain in position to respond to any reported fire activity.  Though trails and campsites have reopened, fire officials warn that caution is still required by all who use the park backcountry. . . . (more)

TMC Saguaro Rocks!  Great job today, everyone . . .

Another World Record at the TMC Saguaro National Park Labor Day Run—over 1,000 registrants and almost a thousand finishers!  Congratulations to all who finished the 8-miler and the 5k—those hills are brutal—with no cloud cover, even!  What an awesome group of runners, walkers, volunteers, National Park folks, ham radio operators, sponsors, and partners—and Wilbur and Wilma, too.  We’ll have a full post-race report soon, with a detailed thanks to the over 80 volunteers who worked hard to make today such a great time, including the Tri-Girls, Sahuaro HS, Rincon HS, St. Augustine Catholic HS, plus Pima CC for excellent timing, Sharon Bart at the Running Shop, and the great WOG and SAR family!

A huge thanks to everyone involved—especially Julia Strange and all the great folks from Tucson Medical Center for helping fund the event!!  Thanks, too, to the Daily Star and Caliente for all the promotion, plus 92.9 The Mountain and Cox Communications—and REI, Muscle Milk, Worldly Soles, XOOD sports drink, Culligan Water, and Sunflower Market! 

Congratulations, too, to Craig Dabler for being named the 2010-2011 Spirit of Rob Bell Award recipient.  Rob, we miss you!!

Check out the SAR facebook page for hundreds of race photos—thanks to Tim Bentley and everyone else for posting photos and race updates!

TMC Saguaro 2010 Updates: Labor Day Registration and more details on the race

We are super-excited about the 41st TMC Saguaro National Park Labor Day Run scheduled for Labor Day Monday.  All indications are that this will be the most popular Saguaro ever, with over 1,000 registrants.  It should be a blast, so come on out!  Below are some details for the weekend.

Registration
You can still register for the race on Monday morning at Saguaro National Park East from 5:00-6:00 am. If you have not paid, you will need to pay at the front gate and take a ticket to the maintenance yard to pick up your bib number and t-shirt.  If you have already paid, walk through the main gates, head to the maintenance yard, and the team of volunteers will take care of you. . . . click on the News title above for all the details!

TMC Saguaro 2010 Updates: Training runs every Sunday and new 5k

Early registration for both the 8-miler and 5k ends on August 5th.  Online and mail-in registration options available.

Training runs on the Saguaro course start Sunday, August 1st at 6:00 am.  The informal and free runs are led by long-time SAR member Bill Cuculic, though you can run or walk your own pace. Bring a few dollars for the park entry (or buy an annual park pass for $25 and receive $5 off your Saguaro race entry) and try to car-pool so that runners don’t overwhelm the parking spots.  Have fun and meet new friends as you prepare for this Tucson tradition!

The TMC Saguaro National Park Labor Day Run also announces a one-year experiment: the 2-mile fun run/walk has been changed to a 5k run/walk, complete with overall and age-group prizes.  If you’re not quite ready for the hilly 8-miler, come on out and do 3.1 miles—the out-and-back starts a few minutes before the 8-miler and will head counterclockwise, with the turn-around down by the picnic area.  The rolling hills and fine for strollers, kids, and runners/walkers of all abilities!

Updated 2009 Saguaro National Park Labor Day Run Results

Click here for the updated 2009 Saguaro National Park Labor Day Run Results. Thanks to all for a great run!