Fine Valentine Relay - 4M & 2M

Sunday, February 14, 2021
Race Info
Registration
News
Course Info
Results
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Race Info

Thanks to all who participated in the 25th Annual Fine Valentine Relay in 2020! Special thanks to Agility Spine and Sports Physical Therapy for sponsoring the PDA exchange zone, Exclusive Escapes for sponsoring the SAR member mimosas,  He Said She Said Couples Counseling, Tucson Orthopaedic Institute, The Running Shop, Main Gate Square, and Gentle Ben's Brewing. Win an award at the 2020 race but didn't make it to the awards ceremony? You can pick it up at The Running Shop.

                               

 

Next year join us on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2021 for the 26th Annual Fine Valentine Relay!

Be part of the event that was featured by Runners World as a race that gets you feeling the love!  Celebrate love for all things: your comminuity, your sweetheat, your galentine, your family, yourself, running and kindness! Plus don't miss the famous costume contest, PDA relay exchange zone, and the Gentle Ben's post-race brunch! (Bonus: The bar will be open and SAR members get a free mimosa or bloody mary at brunch!) Staged at Main Gate Square and the beautiful University of Arizona campus, the course features one set of stadium ramps.  Last year over $6000 was donated - half to Ben's Bells Project and half to Southern Arizona Roadrunners' own programming such as the Children's Fitness Fund. 

Does your business want to be an event sponsor? Pop us a note!

 

Need to know info:

When:  Sunday, February 14, 2021 

FitKidz Mile Start: 8:00am 

Relay, 4-Mile and 2-Mile Start: 8:30am

Where: Staging area at Main Gate Square outside of Gentle Ben's (865 E University Ave).  Start line in front of UofA's Centennial Hall.

Packet Pick-Up & In-Person Registration Options:

1) At The Running Shop (3055 N Campbell) from 11:00am-2:00pm on Saturday, February 13

2) Outside of Gentle Ben's from 7:00am-8:00am on Sunday, February 14

Race Parking: Street parking, Tyndall Garage and many othe nearby parking garages are free on weekends!

Race Options (Each lap includes one set of UofA stadium ramps!​)

  • - 4 mile Relay:  2-person relay where each person runs a 2-mile lap.  Friends, sweethearts & family members can be a team! Relays must show some form of PDA (Public Display of Affection) at the PDA Exchange Zone and at the awards ceremony to be eligible for prizes!
  • - 4 mile individual race: 2 laps of the course
  • - 2 mile fitness walk/jog: 1 lap of the course
  • - Free FitKidz Mile at 8:00 am (Sorry, breakfast at Gentle Ben's is not included for FitKidz)

Highlights:

  • -Free post-race hot breakfast at Gentle Ben's (sorry, breakfast is not included with free FitKidz entries)
  • -Mimosa and bloody mary specials available for purchase at the awards party
  • -First mimosa or bloody mary free to SAR members thanks to Exclusive Escapes
  • -Festive PDA relay exchange zone sponsored by Aglity Spine and Sports Physical Therapy
  • -Costume & PDA contest
  • -Course includes UofA stadium ramps 
  • -Optional super soft, quality race shirts 
  • -Group challenge to win a keg from Gentle Ben's Brewing Co
  • -Benefits Ben's Bells Project!

Group challenge: Win a Keg! Get your running group, company, or group of friends to sign up and let us know what group you are with when you register (all race options count)! The group with the most participants wins a keg gift certificate from Gentle Ben's/Barrio Brewing Co.! ALL group members must be over 21 to win this prize and you must sign up BEFORE race day!

More Fun Contests:

  • - Costume Contest - Best costume duos win date night prizes!
  • - PDA Contest - Date night gift certificate for most creative PDA at the Agiility Spine and Sports PDA Exchange Zone!

Brunch & Mimosa Post-Race Awards Party at Gentle Ben's:

  • - Free egg and potato with bacon breakfast for all participants in relay, 4mile, and 2mile during the awards party at Gentle Ben's! (sorry breakfast not included for FitKidz.)
  • - Mimosa & bloody mary specials for purchase during the awards party! Don't forget your wallet & ID!
  • - First mimosa to all Southern Arizona Roadrunners members that do the race is free. Learn how to become a member here!
  • - Ben's Bells booth, sponsor booths & photo booth

Optional Pre-Order Race Shirts:  Each size will only be available to order until it sells out. Some sizes are already sold out! We will once again feature a talented local artist! 2021 design TBD. The 2020 design created by Adela Antoinette is below. Know of a local artist that would be perfect for creating the 2021 design? Send us note!

Date and Time

Relay, 4-Mile and 2-Mile start at 8:30am on Sunday, February 9\14th.

Race Awards

Results will be gun timed (still using timing chips though). Please allow faster runners to line up towards the front to ensure a safe start!

4 Mile Relay: The 1st place overall team plus the top three in each category win a date night prize: Combined age under 60, Combined age 60-79, Combined age 80-99, Combined age 100-119, Combined age 120+. Remember - you don't need to be a romantic duo but you do have to show some form of PDA to claim a prize! 

4 Mile Individual Race: Top finishers overall, first top masters and top three in 10-year age categories (19 and under up to 70+) will receive awards sponsored by The Running Shop and other fun prizes.

Costume contest:   Top three costumes win a date night prizes!

PDA Contest:   Top three Public Displays of Affection at the exchange zone win date night prizes.

Group challenge:   Largest group wins a gift certificate for a keg from Gentle Ben's Brewing Co./Barrio Brewing! ALL group members must be over 21 to win this prize, sorry no exceptions. To count as a member of your group you must sign up BEFORE race day!

Race History

The original Fine Valentine Couple's Relay was the brainchild of former SAR Board members Mike Ochter and Jim Irish, who staged the race on the trails of The Club at La Mariposa from 1996-1998. Mike moved from Tucson and Jim had other commitments as SAR president, so in 1999, Randy Accetta took over the race director duties and moved the race to Children's Memorial Park on the Rillito River for a few years, then to the UA Main Gate Square, reprising the Ramp Run concept. In 2013 Dari Duval, Alyssa Hoyt, and Diane Manzini were passed the race directing role. Since then the post race awards burnch party at Gentle Ben's as well as awards for best PDA, costumes and Kind Cupid have been added to the event! 

Beneficiaries

This year’s race will benefit Ben’s Bells Project.  Their mission is to inspire, educate and motivate each other to realize the impact of intentional kindness and to empower individuals to act according to that awareness, thereby strengthening our selves, our relationships and our communities.

Community Partners

Thanks to Agility Spine & Sports Physical Therapy, Exclusive Escapes, He Said She Said Couples Counseling, Tucson Orthopaedic Institute, The Running Shop, Main Gate Square & Gentle Ben's Brewing.

                                                

            

Contact

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Registration

Race Fees

Our Limited Edition race shirts are optional and not included in the race price (we do this to save you some $$ & be environmentally friendly if you don't want one!)  Be sure to register soon to ensure your size is availble.  Each size will only be available to order until it sells out. 

All Options (Relay, 4-Mile Solo Race, 2-Mile Fun Walk/Run)
By 12/9/19:  $20 per person

12/10/19 - 1/26/20:  $22 per person

1/27/20 - 2/6/20:  $25 per person

Race weekend: $30 per person

SAR members will get a $2 discount per person if you register before race weekend. Plus SAR members get a free mimosa or bloody mary!

*prices do not include cost of optional race shirts 

Registration

  • There will be packet pick-up the day before on Saturday, February 13 from 11:00 till 2:00 at The Running Shop. Registration will be available if the race is not sold out.
  • Race day packet pick-up is available on race morning, Sunday, February 14 outside of Gentle Ben's at 865 E University Blvd, just east of Euclid, from 7:00-8:00 am. If the race is sold out like last year, there will be no race day registration.
News
Course Info

Race Distances and Courses

The course will be a 2 mile loop starting at Centennial Hall. It is not certified but it has been measured out by a wheel in the past.  If you are doing the 2-mile fun/walk or if you are running with a stroller, please line up towards the back to ensure a safe start! The route will take you clockwise around Old Main, down the south side of the UofA mall, past McKale Center & to the football stadium ramps.  You will go up a full set of football stadium ramps, run across the upper portion of the west side of the stadium and then head down a different set of ramps! (Note, if you're using a GPS we've seen a range of distances show up on those likely due to singals not being the best in the ramp area.) After the ramps you’ll run on the pathway past the practice field, over to Cherry Ave, back to the UofA mall and run clockwise past Old Main. Then..... 

IMPORTANT:

After end of 1st leg of relay & 1st lap of 4-miler: Head back towards Old Main and then run clockwise around Old Main until you get to the Agility Spine & Sports PDA exchange zone! Relay runners pass the baton to their partner along with showing them some PDA! 4-Milers start their 2nd lap!  

After end of 2nd leg of relay, 2nd lap of 4-miler & 1st lap of 2-mile fun walk/run: After passing Old Main on your way back, stay strait to the finish line in front of Centenial Hall ! This is the same spot the race started. Do not go through the PDA exchange zone!

Distances are not certified. Relay and 4-miler results are timed. 2-mile fun walk/run is not timed.

 

Location

University Avenue, at the Main Gate at the University of Arizona.  Race-day packet pick-up will take place outside of Gentle Ben's on the corner of University Ave & Tyndall (one block from the starting line). Parking in nearby garages (Tyndall) and on nearby streets.

Race Weather

Temperatures are usually 65 degrees F, clear skies, and no wind. Check out Tucson’s current conditions and forecast so you’ll be race-ready!

Results
Photos

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The Southern Arizona Roadrunners is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting health and fitness in Tucson and Southern Arizona through running and walking.

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