2026 Mesa Marathon

The 2026 Mesa Marathon will take place on Saturday, February 14, 2026, in Mesa, Arizona, within the Phoenix metropolitan area. The event will be held on paved urban and suburban roads, offering a mix of desert landscapes and suburban neighborhoods. On the morning of the event, temperatures are expected to start cool, with an average low of 46°F at 6:30 AM, warming to 63–70°F by late morning. Participants can expect a well-organized road running event featuring marathon, half marathon, 10K, and a kids' 1K race, all sharing a common finish line at Riverview Park. The course is known for its fast, downhill profile and scenic transitions from desert foothills to the Phoenix Valley.

What distances are available for this event?

• →Marathon (26.2 miles)
• →Half Marathon (13.1 miles)
• →10K (6.2 miles)
• →Kids' 1K

What is the start time for each race?

• →Marathon, half marathon, and 10K start at 6:30 AM
• →Kids' 1K starts at 12:00 PM (noon)

What are the time limits for each race?

• →Marathon: 6 hours 33 minutes (based on 15-minute/mile pace)
• →Half Marathon: 6 hours 33 minutes (based on 30-minute/mile pace)
• →10K: 3 hours

Are there pacers available for the marathon and half marathon?

• →Marathon pacers: 2:55–4:20 finish times using Smart Pacing strategy
• →Half Marathon pacers: 1:30–2:20 finish times using Smart Pacing strategy

What recognition is given to finishers?

• →"Earn the Bird" medals awarded to marathon and half marathon finishers under 6:30
• →All 10K finishers under 3 hours receive medals

What awards are offered at this event?

• →Prize money for top 3 overall men and women
• →Age-group awards (top 3) in all distances

What is the event's course profile?

• →Marathon: Paved urban/suburban roads with a gentle net downhill profile, approximately 1,000 feet of net elevation loss
• →Half Marathon: Paved roads with mild downhill gradient, approximately 200 feet of net elevation loss
• →10K: Flat paved roads through historic downtown Mesa

What is the starting point for each race?

• →Marathon: Below the large white Phoenix sign on Usery Mountain (Usery Pass Road)
• →Half Marathon: Corner of McDowell Road and Norwalk Drive
• →10K: Fitch Park in historic downtown Mesa

What is the finish line for all races?

• →All races finish at Riverview Park in central Mesa

What scenery can participants expect?

• →Marathon: Begins in desert foothills with saguaro cactus landscapes, transitions to elevated views of the Phoenix Valley along Usery Pass Road, then descends through suburban Mesa neighborhoods
• →Half Marathon: Gentle descent from desert vistas through residential areas into citrus grove regions near the Salt River corridor
• →10K: Winds through Mesa's historic downtown district before merging with the marathon/half marathon route

What aid stations are available?

• →Marathon: 13 aid stations
• →Half Marathon: 7 aid stations
• →10K: 4 aid stations
• →Aid stations provide Skratch Labs hydration, water, Crank Sports E-Gels, Biofreeze muscle relief, fruit, and medical support

What are the weather conditions on the day of the event?

• →Cool start at 6:30 AM with an average low of 46°F, warming to 63–70°F by late morning
• →Layered clothing recommended for the early start; gloves provided at the start line

What are the road closure details?

• →Road closures begin at 4:00 AM and all roads reopen by 1:30 PM
• →Major perimeter freeways remain open: Loop 202 (north/east), Loop 101 (west), US 60 (south)

Where is the event expo held?

• →The expo is held at Sloan Park, the Chicago Cubs spring training facility, on Friday, February 13, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• →Entrance is at the Home Plate Gate

What is the registration requirement for this event?

• →Advance registration is required for all distances
• →Field sizes are limited for all races