Distance
Climb
Cutoff
Terrain
Difficulty
Max Runners
The half marathon is the biggest draw of the weekend and is widely considered a strong choice for a first half marathon. It follows a largely flat and fast route with a very gradual overall climb from the start to about the mile 10 marker, gaining only around 150 feet over the first 10 miles.
Live bands stationed roughly every other mile
Route through Tempe and north into Scottsdale
Crosses the Salt River twice
Eldorado Park and a long stretch through Papago Park
Finish outside Sun Devil Stadium on the ASU campus
Cheerleading squads from local high schools
Start / Finish
Near the Arizona State University campus, Tempe
Parking lot on the ASU campus, just outside Sun Devil Stadium
Terrain
Route
What you get
Live bands playing roughly every other mile
Cheerleading squads from local high schools along the course
On the day
Marshals on course
Before you enter
Other questions
The event takes place on Sunday 17 January 2027 in the Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe area of Arizona.
Yes. The half marathon is widely regarded as a good choice for first-timers because the route is largely flat and fast. It climbs very gradually from the start to about mile 10 and gains only around 150 feet across the first 10 miles.
The route runs on paved roads and is an out-and-back loop. Runners pass through Tempe and head north into Scottsdale, crossing the Salt River twice and passing through Eldorado Park and Papago Park.
Yes. Like all Rock 'n' Roll events, live bands are stationed roughly every other mile along the route, and cheerleading squads from local high schools perform at points around the course.
The event is expected to welcome as many as 30,000 runners, walkers and wheelchair athletes, with more than 15,000 crossing the finish line in the half marathon alone.
Phoenix, USA
Sunday, January 17, 2027
More races like this one
€100
entry fee
