Desert Classic Half Marathon

Glendale, United States • 23 Jan 2027

Desert Classic Half Marathon and 5K

The Desert Classic takes place on Saturday, January 24, 2026 at Thunderbird Paseo Park in Glendale, Arizona. The event offers two race distances:

  • Half Marathon
  • 5K

Both courses are professionally marked and chip timed. The half marathon requires participants to be at least 14 years old on race day and enforces an 18 minute per mile cutoff for the course.

Entry fees before January 11 are $45 for the half marathon and $30 for the 5K, with reduced rates for Arizona Road Racers members. After January 11 the price for each distance increases to $50 for the half marathon and $35 for the 5K for both members and non members.

Day of race registration is available only through RunSignUp; there will be no paper registrations on race day. Bibs will be available for pickup on race morning.

Aid stations are provided along each course: six stations for the half marathon offering water and Gatorade, and two stations for the 5K offering water only. All finishers in both races receive a custom finisher medal in lieu of race shirts. Awards are given in five year age groups and are based on chip time. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.

Race information

13 mi
Half Marathon
5 km
Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
Trail runs nearby

Six night trail races in Maricopa County parks from April to September with distances from 5 km to 75 km, series pass options with a 20% discount, and a points system that counts the best three results toward series prizes.

Night trail races at McDowell Mountain Regional Park offering 50K, 25K, 15K, 10K and 6K on rolling desert single-track with stocked aid stations, chip timing, a cupless policy, and live split tracking.

Test your limits on a flat, fast 500-meter gravel loop at Nardini Manor. Choose from 6, 12, or 24 hour fixed time formats with full support on course. It's a unique chance to run this custom ultra track and chase a personal best.

A free, limited-entry trail run in Phoenix that follows Dreamy Draw into the Phoenix Mountain Preserves with a Piestewa Peak summit. The course is partially marked, technical, lightly supported, and manually timed.

Add Event
Help us complete the calendar!
  • Distance is at least 5 km
  • Event has a website or Facebook page
Website
Optional: Please provide your e-mail address if we may contact you.
Report a change
We will only update the data if the information is also on the website.