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Mesa Marathon race photo

Mesa Marathon

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

USFeb 13, 202742.195km · 21.1km · 10km +1 more events
Desde Colombia con las comunidades campe · flickr (CC BY)
Race date in 130 days
Feb 13, 2027 Sat
City · Distance
Mesa · 42.195km · 21.1km · 10km +1 more events
Entry fee
$179Varies by event and entry period
2027Date Feb 13, 2027 · Entry Aug 5, 2026 ~ Oct 13, 2026
2026Date Feb 14, 2026
Official website ↗
Instagram
D-day as of Oct 6, 2026
Mesa Marathon race photo
Desde Colombia con las comunidades campe · flickr (CC BY)
About the raceRunner storiesHow to enterCourseRace PrepTravel
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About Mesa Marathon — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

A downhill course starting below Usery Mountain and finishing at Riverview Park,

this Boston qualifier has approximately 1,000 feet of net elevation loss over the marathon section.

The marathon, half marathon and 10K all start at 6:30 am, and the expo is held at Sloan Park the day before.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

Mesa Marathon runner reviews and race reports

Stories from those who ran it first.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

Race reports: 3
Evening_Locksmith187Ran in 2026 · Finish time 2:25:14
“I would recommend this race to others but caution on the last 10k.”

A Mesa full marathon participant documented setting a personal best after taking the early-morning shuttle, dealing with insufficient toilets, and joining the half marathon and 10K runners during the latter part of the race.

Read the original on Reddit
Sanne NakaskaRan in 2025 · Finish time 3:42:52
“Running a huge 19 minute marathon PR at only 9 months postpartum!”

Sanne Nakaska cut 19 minutes off her marathon best just 9 months postpartum, finishing the Mesa Marathon in 3:42:52. She explains you need to hold back on the steep downhill at the start, and that the shuttles, early start, and 13 aid stations are key.

Read the original on Team RunRun
pinarosanaRan in 2024 · Finish time 3:47:20
“My official finish time was 3:47:20, an 8:40 pace.”

pinarosana finished the 2024 Mesa Marathon in 3:47:20. They described the psychological strain caused by the delayed start, rain, wet feet, and sparse support in the second half, along with their goal of qualifying for Boston.

Read the original on the space between the notes

We translated a short line from each public race report and summarized the experience. Finish times are as stated by the author, and past editions may differ from this year's weather and operations.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

THE MESA MARATHON : race recap, how I feel about the result, BQ on my first try? CHASING ZION 100

Amanda Kimiko

View on YouTube

This may be from a past edition. Check the organizer for this year's course and operations.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to enter Mesa Marathon — registration routes

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

Marathon

Entry cost $179

until Oct 13, 2026 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Half

Entry cost $159

until Oct 13, 2026 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

10K

Entry cost $64

until Oct 13, 2026 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page
Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Mesa Marathon course map and elevation

The 42.195km I'll run

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

From the 2026 edition
Runners start · local timeFrom 06:30
EventTime limit
Marathon42.195km6h 30m
Half21.0975km6h 30m
10K10km3h
START

Northeast corner of Riverview Park, near the playground

Start · Google Maps
FINISH

Riverview Park

Finish · Google Maps
Show more

The Mesa Marathon starts on N. Usery Pass Road beneath the large Phoenix sign painted on Usery Mountain,

crosses the Arizona desert, and finishes at Riverview Park as a point-to-point course.

From the starting gun to finish, the course loses approximately 1,000 feet (about 305 m) of net elevation, making it a USATF-certified Boston-qualifying course.

It passes along McDowell Road, Ridgecrest, Eaglecrest and Power Road,

cuts through downtown Mesa via Brown Road and Center Street, then follows Rio Salado Parkway into Riverview Park.

The scenery ranges from cactus desert to wide views across the Phoenix Valley, and the half marathon and 10K share the same finish.

Typical race-season temperature: around 13°C (55°F)
Short sleeves or light long sleeves + arm warmers

Participant benefits

Finisher medal

Event T-shirt

Bag drop

Where and when to collect your Mesa Marathon race bib

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

From the 2026 edition

Pick up your bib at the expo

You must present photo ID or a copy of the confirmation email to receive the bib, timing chip and shirt.
Someone else may pick up the items on a runner’s behalf with that runner’s ID (a copy or photo is accepted) and confirmation email.
Same-day pickup is available only at the Kids 1K start line from 10:30 to 11:30 and is not recommended.
2/12 (Fri) 09:00–17:30

Sloan Park (Home Plate Gate entrance), Mesa, AZ

Google MapsDirections
Stations & transport near the venue

Getting to the start

No public transit reaches the start (below the Phoenix sign on Usery Mountain, N Ellsworth Rd, Mesa, AZ) — it is a remote desert trailhead with no parking allowed

Point-to-point net-downhill course;

there is no way to reach the start except via the organizer's mandatory shuttle bus.

Getting to the finish

Finish is at Riverview Park (Paseo Lago Vista & N Riverview, Mesa, AZ). Mesa's Valley Metro Rail (Main St line) does not run directly to Riverview Park; nearest stops are roughly 1+ mile away

Most runners rely on the organizer shuttle or parking rather than transit.

More details

Yes —

mandatory organizer bus service to the start: buses depart Sloan Park (SE corner of Sheffield Ave & Rio Salado Pkwy, next to the finish) from 4:00 a.m.,

last bus 5:00 a.m., ~30-35 min ride to Usery Mountain start (no parking at start).

A free shuttle also returns runners from the finish area back to their cars after the race.

Source · checked Aug 22, 2026
READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

All races start together at 6:30am in mid-February each year.

Average temperatures are chilly, ranging from a low of 46°F (about 8°C) to a high of 63°F (about 17°C).

Aid station are provided at 13 locations on the marathon course, half marathon at seven and 10K at four.

Scratch lemon-lime hydration and, at some locations, Crank Sport energy gel in four flavours, including caffeinated options, are available.

The marathon and half marathon share a six-hour, 33-minute finish time limit, equivalent to a 15-minute-per-mile pace.

Runners who exceed it are taken to the finish by escort vehicle and receive only the finish finisher medal.

Pacer are placed from 2:55 to 4:20 based on a 'smart pacing' strategy, with pace per mile.

Runners finishing within 6 hours 30 minutes receive the 'Earn the Bird' finish finisher medal.

The expo is held at Sloan Park on the Friday before race day.

Times are local to Mesa. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

Hotels near the Mesa Marathon start line in

Hotels that make race morning easyHotels to rest in right after the finish

Distances are straight-line from the start.
Check real travel times and booking terms with each hotel.

Distances are straight-line from the finish.
Check real travel times and booking terms with each hotel.

The start and finish are 24km apart.

4BR Mesa Mountainside Retreat with Pool Hot Tub and Games

Accommodation · 4.9km

View on Booking.com

3 Bedroom, 2 Bath Whole House, Arizona State Univ, Tempe, Mesa Scottsdale on Light Rail, Dogs ok, Work Space

Accommodation · 1.7km

6.8/10(12)
View on Booking.com

Swipe sideways to see more hotels.

View on map →
View on map →

Time for you, before and after the finish

10 experiences

Rest a little, wander a little.
Pick what suits you and whoever you're with.

Phoenix｜Private Airport Pickup/Drop-off Service at Phoenix Deer Valley Airport

$131

View on Klook
Eating well is part of the tripA meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.View on mapSeeing Mesa with the medal onThe city you ran — this time, a little slower.View on map

Hotel distances are straight-line from the start. Distances and ratings for food and sights come from the place provider, and experiences are travel products in Mesa.

Total cost and budget for Mesa Marathon

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

ChecklistLocal eSIM · YesimFlight delay or cancellation compensation · AirHelpPace calculator

Once saved, you can open this page without an internet connection

Runner stories and questions about Mesa Marathon

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Mesa runners' room

Frequently asked questions about Mesa Marathon

FAQ
When does Mesa Marathon 2027 take place?

It takes place on Sat, February 13, 2027 in Mesa, AZ, United States.

How much is the Mesa Marathon 2027 entry fee?

The main event costs $179.

What distances does Mesa Marathon 2027 offer?

Marathon · Half · 10K. (From the 2026 edition)

What time does Mesa Marathon 2027 start?

The race starts at 06:30. (From the 2026 edition)

Where does Mesa Marathon 2027 start?

Northeast corner of Riverview Park, near the playground. (From the 2026 edition)

Where does Mesa Marathon 2027 finish?

Riverview Park. (From the 2026 edition)

When does registration for Mesa Marathon 2027 open?

Registration runs from Wed, August 5, 2026 to Tue, October 13, 2026.

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