News: Your 2008 Race Stories

The Valley of Gold Half Marathon was the best-run race we have ever participated in—and we've been in quite a few! Thank you for this race that is in such a beautiful place, at a wonderful time of year, with fabulous support on the course and an opportunity to buy VIP privileges (portapotties with no lines is an excellent concept).

—Virginia

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Awesome race! You guys did an AMAZING job planning this race. I can say with all honestly EVERYONE on your staff was friendly and helpful.

The race course was well marked mile-for-mile and the water stops were perfectly placed. Great Job to all!

—Ron

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Just had to send you note thanking you for putting on another great event! It's wonderful to have a race to help folks train for that you KNOW is going to be well-run and enjoyable — for all. I'm confident that all our runners — no matter how fast — will be treated great and given top notch support all along the way.

Keep up the great (hard) work!

—Jeanne and Pete

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Awesome race! You guys did an AMAZING job planning this race. I am from Chicago and we all know what happens when races are poorly planned and race directors don't want to take responsibility for errors made. I can say with all honestly EVERYONE on your staff was friendly and helpful. The race course was well marked mile-for-mile and the water stops were perfectly placed.

I am new to running and only started training 6 months ago; I can tell you that I had a great experience with my first half marathon and am proud have run yours! This motivates me to run another and another. Great Job to all!

R. Snarski

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Arizona Distance Classic-2007 — What a day a year ago. A 73 year old Father and his two sons, ages 49 and 51 respectively, decide to run in the 5k. My father who in his 40s ran 3 hour marathons had decided at his doctors urging to get back to running to lose weight and control his high blood pressure. I had been running for a year and my 49 year old brother started training about 6 months before the race. We gathered in Tucson for a week of bonding and building anticipation of a great family run. The day couldn't have gone any better. The weather was Arizona blue skies and warm and kept us loose and limber for a great race. My Dad finished first in his age group, my brother and I finished second in our respective age groups. We giggled like little kids when the results were posted and shared jumping high fives (well as high as we could jump which was mostly toe raises). Hollywood couldn't have scripted a better story. We had so much fun we couldn't shut up about the experience and literally drove our families crazy in talking about the race and the experience of the Arizona Distance Classic.

Arizona Distance Classic-2008 — What a difference a year makes! My brother and I ran side by side and finished the ½ marathon together in 1:52:46 which is a PR for me thanks to my brother, who ran his slowest ½ but kept me going for 13.1 miles on a beautiful course on a perfect day for running. The non stop talking about our race experience a year ago triggered a latent running gene in the Jones family. All in all, 10 members of the Jones and extended family ran in the 2008 Arizona Distance Classic. My niece and her husband ran their second race ever by running the ½ marathon and attained their goal of a 2:16:00 finish. My wife and her brother ran their first 5k ever and both finished third in their respective age divisions. My sister ran with my Dad in the 5k and as usual my Dad finished a race near the top of the pack by finishing second in his age group. My sister in law and nephew walked the 5k together. What a day, what an experience, what a moment when you have the opportunity to cross a finish line with a loved one and share the moment of attaining a goal after months of preparation and training in the snow, ice and cold.

On a side note, my thanks to the woman who was passing out the candy at the 9½ mile mark during the ½ marathon. The jolt of sugar was exactly what I needed. If I had any energy left after the race I would have run back and kissed her. What a great touch to a great race. Also, thanks to the volunteers at the start and finish and the water stations. They were awesome.

Thank you John Bingham Racing for making the Jones Reunion in Oro Valley a roaring success.

Carpe Diem, Carpe Viam (seize the day, seize the road)

Barry Jones

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Wow! This was my first race longer than a 5k. The course was extremely difficult, but the experience was remarkable. Everyone was there to finish with an iron will. The support and positive atmosphere is why I will do this race every year. Now I know I have the ability to train for a marathon and finish. I am looking forward to a lifetime of races to come.

:) Richelle Rogers

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