Hello 5k Registrants!

Hello to all the 5k registrants for this weekend's Grand Canyon Trail events. We're thrilled to have you all join us, but this year there are more 5k entries than ever before. 

Because the 5k route is an out-and-back that starts and ends on a narrow multi-use path, we're creating two separate Waves that start at different times. 

Based on the estimated finishing time you entered when you registered, you been placed in a Wave:

• Those who indicated a finishing time of less than 30 minutes will be in Wave One starting at 7:40 am.

• Those of you who indicated you will take more than 30 minutes will be in Wave Two starting at 8:10 am. 

• Roadrunner Race Timing will combine both Waves into one list of finishers, with age-group awards based on overall finishing time, regardless of Wave.

Below is an alphabetical order list for each Wave put together by Roadrunner RaceTiming.

Please be prepared to join the Wave you have been assigned at the appropriate start time.

If you have questions, we're happy to help at the packet pickup. See farther below for the final email we sent yesterday.

Thank you! Travel safely -- see you this weekend!

Randy and Tia at Run Tucson

WAVE One

7:40 am Start Time

WAVE TWO

8:10 am Start Time

Let's Go . . . Race Week is Here!

Thanks for signing up!

You're on the roster for the 8th Annual Grand Canyon Trail Marathon, Half Marathon, and 5k on October 24, 2026

Updated Race Weekend Schedule

Packet pickup will be more crowded than this photo from the inaugural race indicates so please be patient as we manage the crowds.

Friday and Saturday Packet Pickup Details

• Our team of volunteers will be on hand in the west lobby of the IMAX to help you pick up your race materials, including your souvenir race number and your colorful, long-sleeved race shirt. 
• Shirt sizes are available on a first-come, first-served basis. We ordered shirts based on estimated sizing, but we're not sure how each of you will fit the actual sizing of the shirt, so we cannot promise that everyone will get the perfect size.
• If you need to change your distance, just tell the volunteers and they will help manage that process. We cannot provide refunds for distance changes, but we may charge more for the longer races.
• We'll also have a grab-bag of gloves, caps, shirts, and other souvenir items for sale. 

Friday, October 23, 2026

4:30 - 6:00 pm Packet Pickup and Last-Minute Registration at IMAX Theater, 450 AZ-64, Tusayan, AZ 86023

• Packet pickup will be at the WEST entrance of the IMAX. If you enter from the east by the Pink Jeep desk, just make your way through the souvenir store or the restaurant to the west side of the building.

5:00 - 7:00 pm $15 for All-You-Can-Eat Pasta Dinner at IMAX Explorer's Cafe

Ongoing Friday Night and Saturday: Free Ticket to IMAX Showings: Grand Canyon: Rivers of Time and Deep Sky at the IMAX, showings on the half hour. See https://explorethecanyon.com/imax-theater/

• All registrants get one free ticket, with additional tickets at a discounted price
• Bring your race number to the front counter

Saturday, October 24, 2026

7:00-8:15 am Packet Pickup and Race Check-in at IMAX Theater

7:30 am: Marathon and Half-Marathon Start, at IMAX Parking Lot, North side, facing east

• All Age Group Awards are chip-timed, all prize money is gun timed. Start line closes at 7:40.

7:45 am: 5k Fun Run/Walk Starts, at IMAX Parking Lot, North side, facing west

• NOTE: For better course management, we may update the schedule to include two 5k waves, starting speed demons first, then waiting until they finish for the second wave to head out.

Ongoing Live Results at www.roadrunnerracetiming.com

8:00 am: Begin Local Artisan Craft Fair and Post-Race Activities, with Grand Canyon Conservancy,

• Begin Tusayan Fundraising Pancake Breakfast
• Breakfast is $8 apiece with proceeds going to the Tusayan Fire District and Tusayan youth programs.
• Free Beer for Runners: All race participants receive two free beer pours. Must have your race number -- we'll mark your race number for each pour. All other pours are $5 apiece.

10:00 am: All Marathoners need to be through the Half-Marathon check-point

11:00 am: Tentative time for Half-Marathon and 5k Award Ceremony, with Marathon Awards to follow

12:30 pm: Official timing at finish line closes with breakdown of event site, depending on weather conditions and requirements of TFD/Kaibab National Forest Forest

• This means that there is a 5 hour limit for both the marathon and half-marathon.
• Course closure times are tentative depending on weather and safety conditions, determined in consultation with the Tusayan Fire Department, Kaibab National Forest, and the Coconino Sherif Department.

Weather, Switching Events, and Maps

Miscellaneous Race Weekend Information: Links to Key Event Information & More Race News

We'll post updates at the race registration page here.

Links to Advice Pages

• Trail Racing Advice: Click here for some tips on running and racing on the trails.
• Click here for advice on what to pack, what to wear, and what shoes to wear.
• Click here for some nutrition and hydration advice for altitude racing
• First time at a running event? Click here for a general FAQ for running event first-timers

Route Detail Links

• Marathon Route details are here.
• Half-Marathon route details are here.
• 5k route details are here.
• Staging area maps are here.
• Water Station details are here.
• Spectators: Spectators are welcome to go onto the loop course on foot or bicycle, but we ask that you do not drive onto the narrow Forest Service roads. Spectators can drive Route 328 to see runners in the final few miles of the loop. MSpectators can also see marathoners at the IMAX and along on Main Street as they begin their second lap.

Directions to Tusayan

• Check out this race page with driving directions and other information on the area.

Route Distances, Awards

• Please remember: the marathon is closer to 26.7 miles and the half is closer to 13.3 miles. The 5k is pretty close to 5k but not quite perfect.
• Click here for information on current course records
• Click here for the plan for the awards. Prize Money for top runners, age group goodies from the Grand Canyon Conservancy and the Town of Tusayan.

Results and Timing

You'll be able to find live results at our race registration page and at www.roadrunnerracetiming.com.

To help ensure accurate results, please pin your race number to the front of your race day garment low on the front of your torso, using the pins provided.

Miscellaneous: dogs, walking sticks, headphones, chair athletes, strollers, and more

• Pets: Permits and insurance do not allow for dogs and other animals on the course.
• Walking Sticks: You are welcome to use walking sticks, but please be mindful of your fellow participants.
• Headphones: While we appreciate the value of running with headphones, we request that you do not run with headphones on.
• Chair Athletes: While we support adaptive athletics, the half marathon course is not suited for chair athletes. The 5k course has a paved section that is chair-capable, but the dirt road portion may be difficult to navigate for chair athletes.
• Running Strollers: strollers are welcome in the 5k but please be mindful of the following:
• The route includes steep paved downhills and uphills on the narrow Greenway path
• The route includes a section on the forest road that is open to traffic.
• Please be mindful of safety -- stay to the inside, away from traffic and away from bicycles and others

Photos

Our long-time race photographer is Damion Alexander, from Tucson. Damion will be out on the course riding his mountain bike and snapping photos of you. His gallery of race photos over the years can be found at his smugmug page here.



Damion is more than a race photographer: he helps set the course and he rides sag, so if you see him be sure to smile!

Finally, Damion is also Realtor with Long Realty, so if you're interested in moving to Tucson, track him down!

Grand Canyon National Park Update

About You: By the Numbers

5k Runners and Walkers Waving in 2021

At this writing, 694 of you have signed up. You'll be traveling to the South Rim area from 38 states and 3 Canadian provinces, plus Australia, France, Russia, Brazil, the Netherlands, and now Denmark!

At this writing, 65 of you have signed up for the full Marathon and 302 in the Half-Marathon. A total of 303 have signed up for the 5k Run/Walk, including an additional 23 Children's 5k (remember: children receive a separate shirt and no medal). And 22 of you have moved to the Virtual category. 4 groups have signed up for the Marathon Relay.

States Represented In Order of Participants: Arizona, California, Colorado, Utah, Texas, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Georgia, North Carolina, Nevada, Ohio, Florida, New Jersey, Missouri, Washington, Minnesota, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Idaho, Alabama, Maryland, Kansas, New York, Montana, Louisiana, Alaska, Oregon, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Delaware, Indiana, Iowa, Connecticut, Virginia, Michigan, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, Washington DC

82 is the age of the two eldest registrants, Loretta from Tucson and Neil from Palm Springs. 3 is the age of the youngest registrant, from Hurricane, Utah.

132 of you have donated to our race charity partners:

$1281 to the Grand Canyon Food Pantry

$1218 to the Tusayan Fire District

$205 to the Tusayan Youth Program

Click here for donation details -- support for these important local organizations is always appreciated.

Teams

Victory in Motion 15

Garner 14

Paul's Posse 13

Skol!!! 7

Midwestie Bestie 6

Sedona Gooners 6

Band-Aid Bandits 5

Black Ops 5

Hannah's Happies 5

Los RunNers 5

Meet Me at National Parks 5

Out of Breath Hiking Society 5

QueenCreekFam 5

Arosemena Family 4

The Run Collective 4

The Fellowship of the Run 3

Vandekerckhove's 3

I wish my sister came up with a cool name since it was her idea 2

Late for Pickup 2

Merrill's in Motion 2

MIL3S TOGETHER 2

The Roberts family 2

2026TMCEmployee 1

Nanookasaurs 1

SoulFit 1

Strong Baddies 1

TEAM BLACK DEATH HAWK KING SCORPION RULERZ 1

Team Marsala 1

Blister Sisters 0

H&M 0

as of October 17

Packet pickup, 2025

Jose Delgado being hunted by eventual Half champ Shannon Porter, 2022.

Notice that the Tucson runner is wearing long sleeves, tights, hat, and gloves, while the Flagstaff runner is wearing a long sleeve shirt.

About Us

Run Tucson produces about 10 running events a year, mostly in Southern Arizona.

You've also been added to our standard Run Tucson email list, so just delete all the items you don't want to read!

Remember: if you "unsubscribe" you won't get any of the pre-race informational emails.

You can also check out our Run Tucson instagram page and our (barely-used) Run Tucson Facebook page.

Tia Accetta

tia@runtucson.net

RRCA Certified Coach

USATF Level One and USATF Certified Marathon Coach

2:48 marathon PR

Randy Accetta

randy@runtucson.net

RRCA Certified Race Director

RRCA Director of Coaching Education

See here for RRCA Coaching Program Courses and Info

2:19 marathon PR (in the way olden days)