Starting at Cocopah Casino & Resort and running through scenic areas like Somerton and San Luis, Arizona, not only offers a beautiful backdrop for the race but also gives runners a chance to experience the charm of the desert southwest and the rural communities of southern Arizona. Due to the …
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Starting at Cocopah Casino & Resort and running through scenic areas like Somerton and San Luis, Arizona, not only offers a beautiful backdrop for the race but also gives runners a chance to experience the charm of the desert southwest and the rural communities of southern Arizona.
Due to the favorable elevations and weather, the course is conducive to setting your best times and provides an excellent opportunity to qualify for the Boston Marathon as this course is certified by the USATF. With minimal elevation changes and the opportunity to run downhill at the start, this race is an ideal setup for achieving personal best times. The out-and-back course design provides a sense of familiarity for runners, which can be both mentally reassuring and strategically advantageous. The slight uphill portion near the finish line adds an exciting challenge for participants to conquer.
The course starts at Cocopah Casino & Resort and runs on Southbound shoulder of US Highway 95. Runners leave the Cocopah Indian Reservation and pass through Somerton, Arizona. Marathoners will continue through Gadsen, Arizona and into San Luis, Arizona city limits. All runners will return back on the Northbound shoulder of US Highway 95 finishing back at the Cocopah Casino & Resort. This race will bring you through the beauty of the desert southwest and through the rural communities of southern Arizona.
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Worth doing again!
Scenic run through farmlands and the town of Somerton. Good police support. Simple out and back on the main road. Pretty flat except for one good hill. Well organized race. … MORE
Scenic run through farmlands and the town of Somerton. Good police support. Simple out and back on the main road. Pretty flat except for one good hill. Well organized race. And the weather is perfect.
There is a hotel within 100 yards of the starting line, and it is reasonably priced. Good shirts and medals. They also had a strongman competition that is going on when at the finish of the race. The only disappointment is there is only water at the end of the race. They did have pastry rolls, but they were devoured by the 10k runners long before the half and marathoners ever arrived. Maybe next year they will purchase enough for everyone.
Race was good, organizers not so good
A good run through Arizona vegetable farmland that feeds a lot of America, and through the small town of Somerton. An out and back run with a good downhill drop … MORE
A good run through Arizona vegetable farmland that feeds a lot of America, and through the small town of Somerton. An out and back run with a good downhill drop at about mile 2 and uphill again at mile 11. The Cocopah Casino had great rates for racers, and you walk 100 yards out of the hotel to the starting line! They only provide goody bags for the first 300 that check in. I got there 2 hours after check in started on Friday and the goody bags were gone and they also ran out of T-shirts. Very disappointed in the race organizers. They knew well in advance how many runners would attend and the sizes they needed to order. The race itself was great, the organizers don’t deserve a finishers medal.
Well put together race
Nice flat course through farm lands and downtown Somerton, AZ. Aid stations approximately every hour. Not a lot of cheers at this race. I liked that the swag was from … MORE
Nice flat course through farm lands and downtown Somerton, AZ. Aid stations approximately every hour. Not a lot of cheers at this race. I liked that the swag was from local businesses.
Great race in Yuma
This was my second race out of state as I consider myself a roadtrip runner, looking to run races at places I've never been to as well as making it … MORE
This was my second race out of state as I consider myself a roadtrip runner, looking to run races at places I’ve never been to as well as making it a mini vacation. I thought they had a very good production that started/ended at Cocopah Casino, where I booked my stay, so it was super easy to get ready for the run! It’s mostly flat with a desert feel, which I love, and the officers made sure we were safe on the out-and-back course. I wasn’t expecting much but to just visit a new place but I very happy about the race and got a PR. If you’re looking for a January race to get the new year started, this one isn’t bad!
Easy run in Arizona country
This is an easy out and back Marathon through the Farmland primarily of Arizona Country. You get a really good visual on the lettuce fields and learn a lot about … MORE
This is an easy out and back Marathon through the Farmland primarily of Arizona Country. You get a really good visual on the lettuce fields and learn a lot about our winter lettuce in America. It’s a small race but very well done. Yuma is special due to family in the area and running AZ in January is about the only reasonable time of year.
Out and Back
The course was fairly straight-forward: exit the casino, turn left, run for 6.5 miles, and return. The casino sits on top of a hill so going out it wasn't too … MORE
The course was fairly straight-forward: exit the casino, turn left, run for 6.5 miles, and return. The casino sits on top of a hill so going out it wasn’t too noticeable. The first two miles were fairly quick and either downhill or flat. The mile 3 marker started an uphill climb that lasted until the turn around. Coming back it was mostly downhill until around mile 11-12 when the climb up to the casino began. It was noticeable that time. Not too much to see along the way: a small town of Somerton and a lot of agricultural fields with people working. The Yuma Valley is one of the largest producers of vegetables in the country, and at the end of the race a small cup of raw broccoli with a dribble of ranch was awaiting. It was quite good and different. The medal was nice, the shirt was a nice quality tech shirt. The expo was small and easy to navigate. Easy to get in, get the stuff, and head out.