| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
| H (°F) | 59 | 53 | 52 | 52 | 68 |
| L (°F) | 41 | 34 | 41 | 42 | 38 |
This is the one to enjoy the view and it comes a bit of challenging hills. It was chilly this year with some snow on the top of the mountain. … MORE
This is the one to enjoy the view and it comes a bit of challenging hills. It was chilly this year with some snow on the top of the mountain. It made it even more beautiful and added some challenges for me, at least. Overall, it was well organized and I strongly recommend it.
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This race is awesome! The scenery itself makes it worth it. The course is VERY hilly. The race is well done. Plenty of aid stations and potties. The expo was … MORE
This race is awesome! The scenery itself makes it worth it. The course is VERY hilly. The race is well done. Plenty of aid stations and potties. The expo was small but after the race has lots of food and the swag is good. I suggest staying a few days and enjoying the town.
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This was an amazing race, and I'd sign up for it again in a heartbeat. The scenery was unreal, and it was definitely the most beautiful race I've ever run. … MORE
This was an amazing race, and I’d sign up for it again in a heartbeat. The scenery was unreal, and it was definitely the most beautiful race I’ve ever run. The race was smoothly run, and I had a great time in Sedona over the weekend. I’m not generally a big fan of medals, but the one they gave out this year was awesome. Loved it all.
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You won’t notice the climbs by looking straight at the beautiful red rock formations! This is a small race in a beautiful small town. The pre-race gathering was contested because … MORE
You won’t notice the climbs by looking straight at the beautiful red rock formations!
This is a small race in a beautiful small town. The pre-race gathering was contested because they put everything info, bib pick up and shopping under one tent! It was cramped. There was great support on the course with the water stops just at the right place. Post-race… they ran out of bananas and other items and handed out cookies… not a bad option but needed milk.
Definitely a worthy race… just set your expectations to low on production.
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I'm living in Phoenix metro and wanted to run in one of Arizona's best scenic spots. The course was tough but still doable and the views still make it worth … MORE
I’m living in Phoenix metro and wanted to run in one of Arizona’s best scenic spots. The course was tough but still doable and the views still make it worth running.
The website could use some improvement with details or FAQ’s to help racers prepare better. We were never told that it would be chip timed, only gun time, which worried me until I picked up my bib and saw the chip on it. We weren’t informed of what would be provided at the aid stations exactly until visiting the expo to pick up my bib. We also weren’t informed there would be a bag drop to allow us to bring warm gear that we could shed before the race start. No good food at the end of the race other than cookies, more GU gels, and bananas. Would have loved some kind of protein drink/chocolate milk, fruit cups, juice, anything more.
My biggest complaint is that the turnaround point for the Half Marathon was short and all of the mile markers on the return route were no longer accurate (whereas all the markers up to to the turnaround were). We basically finished right at 13.0 mi. No free swag provided by sponsors to try, and the expo felt too simple.
Sounds like I’m complaining quite a bit but I really did enjoy this race. Some positives: the volunteers were energetic and did an amazing job to keep the aid stations stocked, ready to help pass out Gu gels or holding out water, and a great pep squad. Plenty of local law enforcement participating to help with traffic control and keeping the runners safe. Fellow runners camaraderie was supportive in cheering each other on or being helpful on the shuttles to ensure no participant was left behind if there was another seat available to share. Overall it was a great experience and had a great time running with my friends!
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This course was stunning with all of the gorgeous scenery to look at while running, but there are a lot of hills so take that into consideration! We had planned … MORE
This course was stunning with all of the gorgeous scenery to look at while running, but there are a lot of hills so take that into consideration! We had planned to get into Sedona on Thursday afternoon, but with the horrible winter storm that hit, our flights were cancelled and we ended up getting into Sedona late Friday night. Thank goodness bib pick up was from 3-8pm! (Shirts had to be picked up after the race). We drove to the start and got there around 7am. Lots of parking available. Half marathon started right on time at 8am. The course is out and back so you know if you are going up hill going out, you will be doing down hill on the way back and vice versa. It is slightly MORE uphill on the first half of the course so I actually ran faster the second half of the race since there were more downhills. But the last half mile was uphill. Finish line was good, medals were nice, and the technical shirts (short sleeve) were nice too. (No dates or distances on the shirts though, that is my only complaint.) Overall, would highly recommend this race to anyone!
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Sedona is a beautiful area and the race course has amazing views. The hills were brutal Anna never stopped, making the course challenging. I have one complaint. I was at … MORE
Sedona is a beautiful area and the race course has amazing views. The hills were brutal Anna never stopped, making the course challenging. I have one complaint. I was at mile 11ish at the 2:45ish mark when they opened the road we were running on. I did not feel safe at that point. I was surprised because the course time limit was 5 hours.
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I write this as a walker! But with a 5 hour deadline, walkers are clearly welcome (we came in under 4). Go into this race with the attitude of simply … MORE
I write this as a walker! But with a 5 hour deadline, walkers are clearly welcome (we came in under 4). Go into this race with the attitude of simply “I will finish”. It starts with the beautiful red rocks in the background and for almost the entire race, they are in your viewpoint. It’s an in and out course so only the beginning and ending are in town. Roads are in great shape. The water stops volunteers were some of the best I’ve experienced. They each stayed till those of us walkers at the back of the pack came through. Lots of water. Lots of GU gels and bananas. But the HILLS!!! Oh my!! You won’t get a PR here. I used this as a training run for a flat course I’m doing later this month so just wanted to get 13.1 miles of endurance in. As we crossed the finish line, there was still lots of enthusiasm from the volunteers and plenty of snacks. They were just as enthusiastic about us crossing as if we’d crossed 2 hours earlier.
Stayed at Arroyo Pinion Hotel which was close enough to walk to the start/finish line. It’s a destination race- Sedona has lots of great eating/drinking places and the beauty is awesome.
They do have a 5K and 10K option too – but why not go for the BIG ONE – Half marathon!
Yes, it’s a hard 13.1 miles but I’d still recommend it-at least once!!!
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Don't be afraid of the hills. Steady pace early on. You'll need the energy coming home. Do a Run-Walk or Walk-Run or whatever it takes to run this race. Well … MORE
Don’t be afraid of the hills. Steady pace early on. You’ll need the energy coming home. Do a Run-Walk or Walk-Run or whatever it takes to run this race. Well worth the challenge.
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The slogan says if the hills don't take your breathe away, the scenery will. Both are accurate. I live in Phoenix so a weekend trip Sedona is fairly common as … MORE
The slogan says if the hills don’t take your breathe away, the scenery will. Both are accurate. I live in Phoenix so a weekend trip Sedona is fairly common as a nice getaway. I have hiked a few trails, but never attempted to run there. The hills are definitely challenging. The course is out and back so you get to see the scenery twice, but the nice downward hill around mile one returns as a difficult uphill beast at the end. But the course time limit is long enough that you can make it. I ended up walking more than I planned on the way back because the hills zapped what energy I did have. The medal is very nice and currently it is a portion of what will be a larger item once assembled after four years. The course support was excellent with many aid stations that were well staffed and supportive. The police officers along the course were very nice and encouraging as runners passed. Although challenging, I highly recommend this one.
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My husband and I got married in Sedona, AZ, so we hold this city very close to our hearts and visit often. Of course we wanted to run this race! … MORE
My husband and I got married in Sedona, AZ, so we hold this city very close to our hearts and visit often. Of course we wanted to run this race! It was a beautiful morning with beautiful views all day. Nothing can beat the scenery! We decided to do the 10k, after running the Half Marathon at Lake Powell. It was a perfect distance. I am the slowest runner ever, but all the more to take in the views.
The race organization in the morning made many runners cranky, and we were heartbroken to see many runners treating the volunteers not as nice as we would hope. Many runners complained about the shuttles and the gear check. My husband and I even spoke to the lady running the gear check after someone became very vocal about the gear check organization. My husband and I have never seen the gear checks to be any different from this race. Not sure what others have experienced, but we were completely fine with the organization. There were so many people that not everyone could hear the start of the race, so many of the half marathons went off with the 10kers. I would just suggest more speakers for everyone to hear.
The hills were a challenge. The last hill before the turnaround for the 10k was tough to run back up. I am not complaining, but I should find more ways to train on hills in the near future. We would suggest more restrooms and aid stations along the way.
My husband and I loved the food trucks and vendors at the end of the race. Wish there were more food trucks to choose from because I just love that kind of stuff! The man selling beer was a riot! We wore our T-shirts and metals all day. Loved the bling.
All in all, this is a race you should not miss. Bring a group with you. You all would have such a blast as we did!
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Sedona was my fourth half marathon. We came for the warmer weather and stunning scenery and this half was wonderful in those regards. The blue skies and red rocks were … MORE
Sedona was my fourth half marathon. We came for the warmer weather and stunning scenery and this half was wonderful in those regards. The blue skies and red rocks were beautiful and visible from different angles throughout this out-and-back course.
The expo was pretty small. No freebies, save for tourist maps. There were some $50 shoes, mostly in sizes 7 and 13. Some runners got great deals! After the expo, we wandered around the park, which was surrounded by beautiful scenery, so that part was the treat.
In the morning, we decided to take the shuttles. Turned out all right, but …
Race organizers: The first shuttle passed us by and left us standing in the freezing morning air. A second one wasn’t going to stop until we jumped up and down waving our arms. The driver even said to us that we should have waited for the third one! There were only four people on his bus, so no reason not to stop. You need to train your shuttle drivers. Also, we were from out of town, so information was needed on how much time we should expect the shuttles to take in the morning. Even a “be at the shuttle stop an hour before your race start” or something like that would have helped. That was a big question mark for us in getting to the race on time that could easily be provided next year. The shuttle maps were great. Despite the problems, we support the shuttle effort! Good idea!
The race start/finish was well-organized and easy to use. No lines for anything before the start. There was a great atmosphere and good music at the starting line, plus a great view!
Being early in the season and viewing the elevation map in advance, we were not trying to PR at this race. Good thing, too! Those hills were steep and numerous. The thing about an out-and-back is the glory of the downhills is tempered by the knowledge that you’re going to have to run back up them. We ran 5×1 for this one, and despite the steepness of some of the hills and the long, gradual inclines, we managed to keep to our regular walk breaks and not take extras. There was a final hill at about mile 10-11 that had a steep bit and then a gradual incline for the whole mile, maybe longer. Be ready for that. We were, and we knew once we finished that, we had a nice downhill and one smaller uphill to the finish. The small uphill to the finish was psychologically tough, but once you see the finish line, you power through.
The only problem we had with the course, being slower runners, was the hill before the half turnaround. Runners were crowded on half the road, despite there being little traffic there. You had 2-hour finishers barreling down the hill, while slower runners were walking up it or running up it. That was a dangerous situation and I think you could have closed the other half of the road on that hill for a short time to provide more room for the runners.
That was one blip though. Overall, people were friendly, the aid stations were great and created a festive atmosphere. We loved the Vikings! Plenty of water and gatorade, bananas and Gu … and port-a-potties.
After the race, we hung out and had a craft beer, chatting with other runners. We wanted to get massages, but even long after the race the lines were too long. I think this is typical, so we weren’t surprised by this. The race finisher shirts ran a bit small, but the volunteers made it easy to exchange sizes. The medals were all right, nothing special.
Also, Sedona is a beautiful community. If possible, give yourselves some extra days here to explore, hike, bike and enjoy the restaurants.
Thanks to all the Sedona volunteers for putting on a great race!
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Almost perfect race course and production. Easy parking (if you show up a little early). Fun race environment and just enough hills to make you wonder if you trained hard … MORE
Almost perfect race course and production. Easy parking (if you show up a little early). Fun race environment and just enough hills to make you wonder if you trained hard enough…. and the sunrise and scenery were quite memorable
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Overall, this was a great race. It was organized well. Email communications leading up to the race had everything explained clearly. Coming from out of town I had no problems. … MORE
Overall, this was a great race. It was organized well. Email communications leading up to the race had everything explained clearly. Coming from out of town I had no problems.
Dont underestimate the hills. Especially, mile 10 for the half when you only got 5k left to go. It was intense and challenging.
Here are my only 2 real peeves with this race. For the half marathoners on the way back the course becomes flooded with walkers from the 10k and 5k. I LOVE everyone being out there, but they block the path and the runners are forced to move to the traffic lane or zoom between walkers which takes a lot of energy especially with the hills and extra miles. Maybe the volunteers could remind them to move over and not walk spread out along the course.
My 2nd peeve is all the race medals were the same. I don’t want to sound like an elitist, but most races identify with the medal lanyard the difference in distance. I feel putting in the effort for the different distances should be identified.
This was my 34th state and first time ever in Arizona (2 hour drive from Phoenix airport). I stayed in an AirBNB with a very nice lady near one of … MORE
This was my 34th state and first time ever in Arizona (2 hour drive from Phoenix airport). I stayed in an AirBNB with a very nice lady near one of the shuttle stops. Small but well stocked packet pickup with friendly volunteers and every question answered.
Pros:
Race morning-Walked to the shuttle and got on within 10 minutes.
Course: VERY HILLY! Beautiful scenery 100% of the race.
Plenty of well stocked water stations and toilets along course.
Plenty of message therapists and water at the finish.
Cons:
– ‘Food’ was for purchase from a whole foods tent. It would have been nice to have something other than water and bananas, cookies that was offered to runners (like a sandwich or pizza).
– Course signage was small and several mile markers were either missing or had been removed (I was a pacer and was relying on MM signs!)
– A section of the last mile was on the main highway and was NOT marked. Luckily it was an out&back course and I knew which way to go. The highway was very busy by that time so we had to run on the sidewalk. POLICE & VOLUNTEERS SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE! (As I was walking back post-race, I directed several runners where to go when they approached that intersection and then told a spectator to stand there and continue.)
– SHUTTLES: The shuttles were supposed to run until 4pm. But post race it appeared only 1 bus was running. We got a ride from a local good Samaritan because we had been waiting for over 30 minutes.
Overall I loved the race! Very hilly and this year it was pretty warm as well.
WOULD I RETURN: Yes!
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course is crazy good challenging- Swiss Alps Profile, coming from Miami a true killer - but so worth it - course is stunning and Sedona remains a special place- intimate … MORE
course is crazy good challenging- Swiss Alps Profile, coming from Miami a true killer – but so worth it – course is stunning and Sedona remains a special place- intimate race – well organized and simply a must for anyone who loves running for fun and enjoys a “change of scenery”
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Unrelenting hills. Perfect running temps. This could easily be one of the most beautiful races I've eve run. Except, it ends on an uphill! The crowd support, when you see … MORE
Unrelenting hills. Perfect running temps.
This could easily be one of the most beautiful races I’ve eve run. Except, it ends on an uphill! The crowd support, when you see it, is phenomenal.
Stay at the Sedona Summit Resort. The start/finish is right there.
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Hilly course as expected. One of the few races I've run that had ham radio operators along the course for communications, great volunteers along the course. Rain the day before … MORE
Hilly course as expected. One of the few races I’ve run that had ham radio operators along the course for communications, great volunteers along the course. Rain the day before caused the full marathon portion to be canceled. Easy shuttle pickup across the street from my hotel.
DID NOT LIKE: traffic control along the last couple miles was poorly coned, drivers tried to pass oncoming traffic on one lane allowed for cars. There should have been escorts for the vehicles for the safety of the runners. Cars passed scarily close several times. For this reason, this may be the only time I run this course.
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For a road race, this is a tough course with lots of hills. The 10k features a significant steep downhill with the turnaround at the bottom so you run down … MORE
For a road race, this is a tough course with lots of hills. The 10k features a significant steep downhill with the turnaround at the bottom so you run down the hill and immediately run back up it. The course runs through a residential area and runners are limited to one lane of the roadway on an out and back course. This means that especially if you are a front runner, you will be “swimming up stream” after the turn around. Many novice runners on this course means that after the turn around, you will have to dodge the on coming runners.
The medal is a quarter circle (think slice of pie) and each year is slightly different so you need to run 4 times in a row to get the complete circle. All race lengths receive the same medal.
Due to extensive rain in the days prior to the 2015 race, the full marathon was cancelled as the Forest Service would not allow the runners on the forest roads. Full marathon participants were limited to running the half marathon.
Expo is very small but well organized and packet pick up is a breeze. The surroundings are awesome as you have constant views of Sedona’s red rocks and forest.
The best training for this race is on groomed trails with hills.
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Best option for destination run
This is the one to enjoy the view and it comes a bit of challenging hills. It was chilly this year with some snow on the top of the mountain. … MORE
This is the one to enjoy the view and it comes a bit of challenging hills. It was chilly this year with some snow on the top of the mountain. It made it even more beautiful and added some challenges for me, at least. Overall, it was well organized and I strongly recommend it.
Amazing Race
This race is awesome! The scenery itself makes it worth it. The course is VERY hilly. The race is well done. Plenty of aid stations and potties. The expo was … MORE
This race is awesome! The scenery itself makes it worth it. The course is VERY hilly. The race is well done. Plenty of aid stations and potties. The expo was small but after the race has lots of food and the swag is good. I suggest staying a few days and enjoying the town.
Most beautiful half I've ever done..
This was an amazing race, and I'd sign up for it again in a heartbeat. The scenery was unreal, and it was definitely the most beautiful race I've ever run. … MORE
This was an amazing race, and I’d sign up for it again in a heartbeat. The scenery was unreal, and it was definitely the most beautiful race I’ve ever run. The race was smoothly run, and I had a great time in Sedona over the weekend. I’m not generally a big fan of medals, but the one they gave out this year was awesome. Loved it all.
Epic scenery, Epic inclines
You won’t notice the climbs by looking straight at the beautiful red rock formations! This is a small race in a beautiful small town. The pre-race gathering was contested because … MORE
You won’t notice the climbs by looking straight at the beautiful red rock formations!
This is a small race in a beautiful small town. The pre-race gathering was contested because they put everything info, bib pick up and shopping under one tent! It was cramped. There was great support on the course with the water stops just at the right place. Post-race… they ran out of bananas and other items and handed out cookies… not a bad option but needed milk.
Definitely a worthy race… just set your expectations to low on production.
Room for Improvement
I'm living in Phoenix metro and wanted to run in one of Arizona's best scenic spots. The course was tough but still doable and the views still make it worth … MORE
I’m living in Phoenix metro and wanted to run in one of Arizona’s best scenic spots. The course was tough but still doable and the views still make it worth running.
The website could use some improvement with details or FAQ’s to help racers prepare better. We were never told that it would be chip timed, only gun time, which worried me until I picked up my bib and saw the chip on it. We weren’t informed of what would be provided at the aid stations exactly until visiting the expo to pick up my bib. We also weren’t informed there would be a bag drop to allow us to bring warm gear that we could shed before the race start. No good food at the end of the race other than cookies, more GU gels, and bananas. Would have loved some kind of protein drink/chocolate milk, fruit cups, juice, anything more.
My biggest complaint is that the turnaround point for the Half Marathon was short and all of the mile markers on the return route were no longer accurate (whereas all the markers up to to the turnaround were). We basically finished right at 13.0 mi. No free swag provided by sponsors to try, and the expo felt too simple.
Sounds like I’m complaining quite a bit but I really did enjoy this race. Some positives: the volunteers were energetic and did an amazing job to keep the aid stations stocked, ready to help pass out Gu gels or holding out water, and a great pep squad. Plenty of local law enforcement participating to help with traffic control and keeping the runners safe. Fellow runners camaraderie was supportive in cheering each other on or being helpful on the shuttles to ensure no participant was left behind if there was another seat available to share. Overall it was a great experience and had a great time running with my friends!
Spectacular scenery but challenging!
This course was stunning with all of the gorgeous scenery to look at while running, but there are a lot of hills so take that into consideration! We had planned … MORE
This course was stunning with all of the gorgeous scenery to look at while running, but there are a lot of hills so take that into consideration! We had planned to get into Sedona on Thursday afternoon, but with the horrible winter storm that hit, our flights were cancelled and we ended up getting into Sedona late Friday night. Thank goodness bib pick up was from 3-8pm! (Shirts had to be picked up after the race). We drove to the start and got there around 7am. Lots of parking available. Half marathon started right on time at 8am. The course is out and back so you know if you are going up hill going out, you will be doing down hill on the way back and vice versa. It is slightly MORE uphill on the first half of the course so I actually ran faster the second half of the race since there were more downhills. But the last half mile was uphill. Finish line was good, medals were nice, and the technical shirts (short sleeve) were nice too. (No dates or distances on the shirts though, that is my only complaint.) Overall, would highly recommend this race to anyone!
Beautiful Scenery and Brutal Hills
Sedona is a beautiful area and the race course has amazing views. The hills were brutal Anna never stopped, making the course challenging. I have one complaint. I was at … MORE
Sedona is a beautiful area and the race course has amazing views. The hills were brutal Anna never stopped, making the course challenging. I have one complaint. I was at mile 11ish at the 2:45ish mark when they opened the road we were running on. I did not feel safe at that point. I was surprised because the course time limit was 5 hours.
HILLS-Scenery/Support AWESOME
I write this as a walker! But with a 5 hour deadline, walkers are clearly welcome (we came in under 4). Go into this race with the attitude of simply … MORE
I write this as a walker! But with a 5 hour deadline, walkers are clearly welcome (we came in under 4). Go into this race with the attitude of simply “I will finish”. It starts with the beautiful red rocks in the background and for almost the entire race, they are in your viewpoint. It’s an in and out course so only the beginning and ending are in town. Roads are in great shape. The water stops volunteers were some of the best I’ve experienced. They each stayed till those of us walkers at the back of the pack came through. Lots of water. Lots of GU gels and bananas. But the HILLS!!! Oh my!! You won’t get a PR here. I used this as a training run for a flat course I’m doing later this month so just wanted to get 13.1 miles of endurance in. As we crossed the finish line, there was still lots of enthusiasm from the volunteers and plenty of snacks. They were just as enthusiastic about us crossing as if we’d crossed 2 hours earlier.
Stayed at Arroyo Pinion Hotel which was close enough to walk to the start/finish line. It’s a destination race- Sedona has lots of great eating/drinking places and the beauty is awesome.
They do have a 5K and 10K option too – but why not go for the BIG ONE – Half marathon!
Yes, it’s a hard 13.1 miles but I’d still recommend it-at least once!!!
Beautiful Challenge
Don't be afraid of the hills. Steady pace early on. You'll need the energy coming home. Do a Run-Walk or Walk-Run or whatever it takes to run this race. Well … MORE
Don’t be afraid of the hills. Steady pace early on. You’ll need the energy coming home. Do a Run-Walk or Walk-Run or whatever it takes to run this race. Well worth the challenge.
The slogan is right
The slogan says if the hills don't take your breathe away, the scenery will. Both are accurate. I live in Phoenix so a weekend trip Sedona is fairly common as … MORE
The slogan says if the hills don’t take your breathe away, the scenery will. Both are accurate. I live in Phoenix so a weekend trip Sedona is fairly common as a nice getaway. I have hiked a few trails, but never attempted to run there. The hills are definitely challenging. The course is out and back so you get to see the scenery twice, but the nice downward hill around mile one returns as a difficult uphill beast at the end. But the course time limit is long enough that you can make it. I ended up walking more than I planned on the way back because the hills zapped what energy I did have. The medal is very nice and currently it is a portion of what will be a larger item once assembled after four years. The course support was excellent with many aid stations that were well staffed and supportive. The police officers along the course were very nice and encouraging as runners passed. Although challenging, I highly recommend this one.
I love Sedona!
My husband and I got married in Sedona, AZ, so we hold this city very close to our hearts and visit often. Of course we wanted to run this race! … MORE
My husband and I got married in Sedona, AZ, so we hold this city very close to our hearts and visit often. Of course we wanted to run this race! It was a beautiful morning with beautiful views all day. Nothing can beat the scenery! We decided to do the 10k, after running the Half Marathon at Lake Powell. It was a perfect distance. I am the slowest runner ever, but all the more to take in the views.
The race organization in the morning made many runners cranky, and we were heartbroken to see many runners treating the volunteers not as nice as we would hope. Many runners complained about the shuttles and the gear check. My husband and I even spoke to the lady running the gear check after someone became very vocal about the gear check organization. My husband and I have never seen the gear checks to be any different from this race. Not sure what others have experienced, but we were completely fine with the organization. There were so many people that not everyone could hear the start of the race, so many of the half marathons went off with the 10kers. I would just suggest more speakers for everyone to hear.
The hills were a challenge. The last hill before the turnaround for the 10k was tough to run back up. I am not complaining, but I should find more ways to train on hills in the near future. We would suggest more restrooms and aid stations along the way.
My husband and I loved the food trucks and vendors at the end of the race. Wish there were more food trucks to choose from because I just love that kind of stuff! The man selling beer was a riot! We wore our T-shirts and metals all day. Loved the bling.
All in all, this is a race you should not miss. Bring a group with you. You all would have such a blast as we did!
Stunning scenery, tough hills
Sedona was my fourth half marathon. We came for the warmer weather and stunning scenery and this half was wonderful in those regards. The blue skies and red rocks were … MORE
Sedona was my fourth half marathon. We came for the warmer weather and stunning scenery and this half was wonderful in those regards. The blue skies and red rocks were beautiful and visible from different angles throughout this out-and-back course.
The expo was pretty small. No freebies, save for tourist maps. There were some $50 shoes, mostly in sizes 7 and 13. Some runners got great deals! After the expo, we wandered around the park, which was surrounded by beautiful scenery, so that part was the treat.
In the morning, we decided to take the shuttles. Turned out all right, but …
Race organizers: The first shuttle passed us by and left us standing in the freezing morning air. A second one wasn’t going to stop until we jumped up and down waving our arms. The driver even said to us that we should have waited for the third one! There were only four people on his bus, so no reason not to stop. You need to train your shuttle drivers. Also, we were from out of town, so information was needed on how much time we should expect the shuttles to take in the morning. Even a “be at the shuttle stop an hour before your race start” or something like that would have helped. That was a big question mark for us in getting to the race on time that could easily be provided next year. The shuttle maps were great. Despite the problems, we support the shuttle effort! Good idea!
The race start/finish was well-organized and easy to use. No lines for anything before the start. There was a great atmosphere and good music at the starting line, plus a great view!
Being early in the season and viewing the elevation map in advance, we were not trying to PR at this race. Good thing, too! Those hills were steep and numerous. The thing about an out-and-back is the glory of the downhills is tempered by the knowledge that you’re going to have to run back up them. We ran 5×1 for this one, and despite the steepness of some of the hills and the long, gradual inclines, we managed to keep to our regular walk breaks and not take extras. There was a final hill at about mile 10-11 that had a steep bit and then a gradual incline for the whole mile, maybe longer. Be ready for that. We were, and we knew once we finished that, we had a nice downhill and one smaller uphill to the finish. The small uphill to the finish was psychologically tough, but once you see the finish line, you power through.
The only problem we had with the course, being slower runners, was the hill before the half turnaround. Runners were crowded on half the road, despite there being little traffic there. You had 2-hour finishers barreling down the hill, while slower runners were walking up it or running up it. That was a dangerous situation and I think you could have closed the other half of the road on that hill for a short time to provide more room for the runners.
That was one blip though. Overall, people were friendly, the aid stations were great and created a festive atmosphere. We loved the Vikings! Plenty of water and gatorade, bananas and Gu … and port-a-potties.
After the race, we hung out and had a craft beer, chatting with other runners. We wanted to get massages, but even long after the race the lines were too long. I think this is typical, so we weren’t surprised by this. The race finisher shirts ran a bit small, but the volunteers made it easy to exchange sizes. The medals were all right, nothing special.
Also, Sedona is a beautiful community. If possible, give yourselves some extra days here to explore, hike, bike and enjoy the restaurants.
Thanks to all the Sedona volunteers for putting on a great race!
Scenery, no traffic and great weather!
Almost perfect race course and production. Easy parking (if you show up a little early). Fun race environment and just enough hills to make you wonder if you trained hard … MORE
Almost perfect race course and production. Easy parking (if you show up a little early). Fun race environment and just enough hills to make you wonder if you trained hard enough…. and the sunrise and scenery were quite memorable
Beautiful, tough, and small town appeal.
Overall, this was a great race. It was organized well. Email communications leading up to the race had everything explained clearly. Coming from out of town I had no problems. … MORE
Overall, this was a great race. It was organized well. Email communications leading up to the race had everything explained clearly. Coming from out of town I had no problems.
Dont underestimate the hills. Especially, mile 10 for the half when you only got 5k left to go. It was intense and challenging.
Here are my only 2 real peeves with this race. For the half marathoners on the way back the course becomes flooded with walkers from the 10k and 5k. I LOVE everyone being out there, but they block the path and the runners are forced to move to the traffic lane or zoom between walkers which takes a lot of energy especially with the hills and extra miles. Maybe the volunteers could remind them to move over and not walk spread out along the course.
My 2nd peeve is all the race medals were the same. I don’t want to sound like an elitist, but most races identify with the medal lanyard the difference in distance. I feel putting in the effort for the different distances should be identified.
Top 5 in my book!
This was my 34th state and first time ever in Arizona (2 hour drive from Phoenix airport). I stayed in an AirBNB with a very nice lady near one of … MORE
This was my 34th state and first time ever in Arizona (2 hour drive from Phoenix airport). I stayed in an AirBNB with a very nice lady near one of the shuttle stops. Small but well stocked packet pickup with friendly volunteers and every question answered.
Pros:
Race morning-Walked to the shuttle and got on within 10 minutes.
Course: VERY HILLY! Beautiful scenery 100% of the race.
Plenty of well stocked water stations and toilets along course.
Plenty of message therapists and water at the finish.
Cons:
– ‘Food’ was for purchase from a whole foods tent. It would have been nice to have something other than water and bananas, cookies that was offered to runners (like a sandwich or pizza).
– Course signage was small and several mile markers were either missing or had been removed (I was a pacer and was relying on MM signs!)
– A section of the last mile was on the main highway and was NOT marked. Luckily it was an out&back course and I knew which way to go. The highway was very busy by that time so we had to run on the sidewalk. POLICE & VOLUNTEERS SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE! (As I was walking back post-race, I directed several runners where to go when they approached that intersection and then told a spectator to stand there and continue.)
– SHUTTLES: The shuttles were supposed to run until 4pm. But post race it appeared only 1 bus was running. We got a ride from a local good Samaritan because we had been waiting for over 30 minutes.
Overall I loved the race! Very hilly and this year it was pretty warm as well.
WOULD I RETURN: Yes!
challenge is the word
course is crazy good challenging- Swiss Alps Profile, coming from Miami a true killer - but so worth it - course is stunning and Sedona remains a special place- intimate … MORE
course is crazy good challenging- Swiss Alps Profile, coming from Miami a true killer – but so worth it – course is stunning and Sedona remains a special place- intimate race – well organized and simply a must for anyone who loves running for fun and enjoys a “change of scenery”
Red Rock!
Unrelenting hills. Perfect running temps. This could easily be one of the most beautiful races I've eve run. Except, it ends on an uphill! The crowd support, when you see … MORE
Unrelenting hills. Perfect running temps.
This could easily be one of the most beautiful races I’ve eve run. Except, it ends on an uphill! The crowd support, when you see it, is phenomenal.
Stay at the Sedona Summit Resort. The start/finish is right there.
Beautiful course
Hilly course as expected. One of the few races I've run that had ham radio operators along the course for communications, great volunteers along the course. Rain the day before … MORE
Hilly course as expected. One of the few races I’ve run that had ham radio operators along the course for communications, great volunteers along the course. Rain the day before caused the full marathon portion to be canceled. Easy shuttle pickup across the street from my hotel.
DID NOT LIKE: traffic control along the last couple miles was poorly coned, drivers tried to pass oncoming traffic on one lane allowed for cars. There should have been escorts for the vehicles for the safety of the runners. Cars passed scarily close several times. For this reason, this may be the only time I run this course.
Tough for a road race. Pretty place.
For a road race, this is a tough course with lots of hills. The 10k features a significant steep downhill with the turnaround at the bottom so you run down … MORE
For a road race, this is a tough course with lots of hills. The 10k features a significant steep downhill with the turnaround at the bottom so you run down the hill and immediately run back up it. The course runs through a residential area and runners are limited to one lane of the roadway on an out and back course. This means that especially if you are a front runner, you will be “swimming up stream” after the turn around. Many novice runners on this course means that after the turn around, you will have to dodge the on coming runners.
The medal is a quarter circle (think slice of pie) and each year is slightly different so you need to run 4 times in a row to get the complete circle. All race lengths receive the same medal.
Due to extensive rain in the days prior to the 2015 race, the full marathon was cancelled as the Forest Service would not allow the runners on the forest roads. Full marathon participants were limited to running the half marathon.
Expo is very small but well organized and packet pick up is a breeze. The surroundings are awesome as you have constant views of Sedona’s red rocks and forest.
The best training for this race is on groomed trails with hills.