Desert Classic Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K & 5K

Course highlights

The course follows an out-and-back route over a paved highway road leading west from the city of Surprise, with ample views of the majestic mountain scenery in all directions around, as well as the thrill of running through a true arid, desert climate. The race starts and finishes at Riverboat Village in Surprise (at 18300 West Bell Road), and the half marathon takes runners solely along the Sun Valley Parkway for 6.55 miles to the turnaround point, where runners then begin the trek back to the start following the course they have just run. It’s a long, gradual uphill to the half-way point, followed by a long, gradual downhill in the second half.