View source for Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon

{{Short description|Annual race in the United States}}
{{Infobox athletics race
| bgcolour      = #F781BE
| image         = Runners Anthem, Arizona Marines present colors for Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon 150118-M-XK427-442.jpg
| imagesize     =
| caption       = Prerace ceremony in 2015
| date          = January
| location      = [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]]–[[Tempe, Arizona|Tempe]]–[[Scottsdale, Arizona|Scottsdale]], [[Arizona]]
| type          = [[Road running|Road]]
| distance      = [[half marathon]], [[10K run|10k]] and [[5K run|5k]]
| est           = {{start date and age|2004|p=y}}
| record        = '''M''': '''2:10:33''' (2004)<br />{{flagicon|KEN}} [[Haron Toroitich]]<br />'''F''': '''2:30:39''' (2010)<br />{{flagicon|ETH}} [[Misiker Mekonnen|Teyba Naser]]
| homepage      = [https://www.runrocknroll.com/arizona Rock 'n' Roll Running Series - Arizona]
}}

[[File:A new piece of heavy metal for my running collection- for today's http-www.rnraz.com- in Phoenix. (2190137129).jpg|thumb|Finisher medal in 2008]]

The '''Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Running Series''' is a [[half marathon]] held annually in [[Arizona]] on the Sunday before [[Martin Luther King, Jr. Day]] that links three cities of the [[Phoenix Metropolitan Area]]: [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]], [[Scottsdale, Arizona|Scottsdale]], and [[Tempe, Arizona|Tempe]].  Until 2023, a full [[marathon]] distance race was offered whose time could be used to obtain a qualifying time for the [[Boston Marathon]].  The race weekend also includes a [[10K run]], and a [[5K run]].

The competition attracts tens of thousands of runners each year; more than 32,000 competed in 2010. The prize money for winning either the men's or the women's marathon race was [[US$]]1,000.<ref>Cruz, Dan (2010-01-18). [http://www.iaaf.org/news/kind=100/newsid=55328.html Kastor back with sub-1:10 in Phoenix]. [[IAAF]]. Retrieved on 2010-01-18.</ref>

Like the original [[Rock 'n' Roll Marathon]] in [[San Diego Marathon|San Diego]], it is organized by the IRONMAN Group, part of Wanda Sports Holdings. It was sponsored until 2015 by [[P. F. Chang's China Bistro]].

<!-- Race ID: 545389; -- unclear what this references -->

== History ==

The race was first held on {{dts|2004.01.11}}, with 9,882 marathon finishers and 13,926 half marathon finishers in the inaugural event.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rnraz.com/exec/rnraz/Results.cfm?publicationID=67 |title=P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona - Race Results |website=rnraz.com |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040206201946/http://rnraz.com/exec/rnraz/Results.cfm?publicationID=67 |archive-date=6 February 2004 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The 2021 edition of the race was cancelled due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Arizona|coronavirus pandemic]].<ref name="2021.cancellation">{{Cite web|url=https://www.azfamily.com/news/continuing_coverage/coronavirus_coverage/2021-rock-n-roll-arizona-marathon-canceled-because-of-covid-19/article_1c3ad9e2-2b7a-11eb-b896-77b2e471a419.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201122015310/https://www.azfamily.com/news/continuing_coverage/coronavirus_coverage/2021-rock-n-roll-arizona-marathon-canceled-because-of-covid-19/article_1c3ad9e2-2b7a-11eb-b896-77b2e471a419.html|archive-date = 2020-11-22|title = 2021 Rock 'N' Roll Arizona Marathon canceled because of COVID-19}}</ref>

=== World record ===

The event is noted for the [[Half marathon#World record progression|half-marathon world record]] set by [[Haile Gebrselassie]] on January 15, 2006, who ran the second half of the marathon course in 58 minutes and 55 seconds. This part of the marathon course is slightly downhill, but is still within [[IAAF]] requirements for world record status. Gebrselassie's record stood for a year, until it was lowered by two seconds on  February 9, 2007 by [[Samuel Wanjiru]] at [[Ras al-Khaimah]].

== Course ==
[[File:Olympic great Haile Gebrselassie speaking at the Olympic hunger summit in Downing Street, 12 August 2012.jpg|thumb|[[Haile Gebrselassie]] set a half marathon [[list of world records in athletics|world record]] on the second half of the marathon course in 2006.]]

In prior years, both race courses started in Phoenix, however, in 2012 the courses were split. The start of the marathon is located in downtown Phoenix near the CityScape Plaza. The half marathon and newly added 10k start in Tempe. All races finish in the city of Tempe at the Tempe Beach Park. The event also includes wheelchair races starting 10 minutes and 5 minutes before the marathon and half-marathon races. The average start line temperature is around 40&nbsp;°F (4&nbsp;°C), and the average daily high temperature is between 50&nbsp;°F and 70&nbsp;°F (10&nbsp;°C-21&nbsp;°C).<ref name="info" >{{cite web | url = http://www.rnraz.com/race_info.html | title = Race Information | publisher = www.rnraz.com | accessdate = 2008-02-04 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20071203050626/http://www.rnraz.com/race_info.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 2007-12-03}}</ref>

Along the route are over 40 high school cheerleading teams and 70 bands who perform for the runners.<ref name="info" /> Later in the evening there is a concert held in Tempe for all the runners, volunteers and spectators.

== Race records ==

Simon Bairu set a new men's race record for the half marathon, on January 17, 2010, with a time of 1 hour, 2 minutes, 47 seconds which was well under the previous race record of 1 hour, 4 minutes, 35 seconds set by the late Ryan Shay in 2004.<ref name="azcentral1">{{cite web|title=Records fall in P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Half Marathon|publisher=[[AZ Central]]|url=http://www.azcentral.com/sports/azetc/articles/2010/01/17/20100117spt-changs-half-marathon-rock-n-roll.html }}</ref>

Deena Kastor set a new women's race record for the half marathon, also on January 17, 2010, with a time of 1 hour, 9 minutes, 43 seconds which also broke the state record.<ref name="azcentral1"/>

== Winners ==

'''Key''':{{pad|5px}}{{legend2|#CCFFCC||border=solid 1px #AAAAAA}} Course record (in bold)

===Marathon===

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! class="unsortable" | Ed.
! Year
! Men's winner
! Time
! Women's winner
! Time
! class="unsortable" | Rf.
|-
| 1
| 2004
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Haron Toroitich]]|KEN}}
| bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | '''2:10:33'''
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Shitaye Gemechu]]|ETH}}
| 2:31:33
| <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://runnersweb.com/running/rw_news_frameset.html?https://runnersweb.com/running/news/rw_news_20050104_RWire_PFChangs.html |title=Runner's Web and Triathlete's Web, a Running, Track and Field and Tri… |archive-url=https://archive.today/20201122125244/https://runnersweb.com/running/rw_news_frameset.html?https://runnersweb.com/running/news/rw_news_20050104_RWire_PFChangs.html |archive-date=22 November 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| 2
| 2005
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Terefe Yae]]|ETH}}
| 2:14:24
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Zekiros Adanech]]|ETH}}
| 2:31:14
|-
| 3
| 2006
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Mola Shimelis]]|ETH}}
| 2:13:08
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Shitaye Gemechu]]|ETH}}
| 2:31:44
|-
| 4
| 2007
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Terefe Yae]]|ETH}}
| 2:14:13
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Zekiros Adanech]]|ETH}}
| 2:31:43
|-
| 5
| 2008
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Michael Aish (athlete)|Mike Aish]]|NZL}}
| 2:13:21
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Zekiros Adanech]]|ETH}}
| 2:31:15
|-
| 6
| 2009
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Moses Kipkosgei Kigen|Moses Kigen]]|KEN}}
| 2:10:36
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Olena Shurkhno]]|UKR}}
| 2:31:22
|-
| 7
| 2010
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Terefe Yae]]|ETH}}
| 2:12:41
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Misiker Mekonnen|Teyba Naser]]|ETH}}
| bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | '''2:30:39'''
|-
| 8
| 2011
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Josh Cox]]|USA}}
| 2:17:32
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Sally Meyerhoff]]|USA}}
| 2:37:56
|-
| 9
| 2012
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Peter Omae]]|KEN}}
| 2:24:47
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Trisha Miller]]|USA}}
| 2:49:12
|-
| 10
| 2013
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Ryan Neely]]|USA}}
| 2:31:07
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Christy Foster]]|USA}}
| 2:44:42
|-
| 11
| 2014
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Solomon Kandie]]|KEN}}
| 2:21:00
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Amy Cole (runner)|Amy Cole]]|USA}}
| 2:49:26
|-
| 12
| 2015
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Roosevelt Cook]]|USA}}
| 2:24:41
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Zoila Gómez]]|USA}}
| 2:46:00
|-
| 13
| 2016
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Thomas Puzey]]|USA}}
| 2:25:22
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Tanaya Gallagher]]|USA}}
| 2:46:44
|-
| 14
| 2017
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Thomas Puzey]]|USA}}
| 2:19:57
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Bailey Drewes]]|USA}}
| 2:42:50
|-
| || 2021 || colspan="4" align="center" data-sort-value="" | ''cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic'' || {{r|2021.cancellation}}
|}

=== Half marathon ===

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! class="unsortable" | Ed.
! Year
! Men's winner
! Time
! Women's winner
! Time
! class="unsortable" | Rf.
|-
| 1
| 2004
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Ryan Shay]]|USA}}
| 1:04:35
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Erica Larson]]|USA}}
| 1:17:51
|-
| 2
| 2005
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Thomas Lentz (athlete)|Thomas Lentz]]|USA}}
| 1:10:53
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Miho Ichikawa]]|JPN}}
| 1:15:07
|-
| 3
| 2006
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Joe Munoz (runner)|Joe Munoz]]|USA}}
| 1:09:47
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Heather Hanston]]|USA}}
| 1:16:38
|-
| 4
| 2007
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Mårten Boström]]|FIN}}
| 1:06:33
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Liz Wilson (athlete)|Liz Wilson]]|USA}}
| 1:18:34
|-
| 5
| 2008
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Austin Baillie]]|USA}}
| 1:07:12
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Bridget Duffy]]|USA}}
| 1:21:46
|-
| 6
| 2009
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Kristopher Houghton]]|USA}}
| 1:08:22
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Nicky Archer]]|GBR}}
| 1:20:23
|-
| 7
| 2010
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Simon Bairu]]|CAN}}
| 1:02:47
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Deena Kastor]]|USA}}
| bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | '''1:09:43'''
|-
| 8
| 2011
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Shawn Forrest]]|AUS}}
| 1:03:07
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Madaí Pérez]]|MEX}}
| 1:11:49
|-
| 9
| 2012
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Dylan Wykes]]|CAN}}
| 1:02:38
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Sara Slattery]]|USA}}
| 1:16:24
|-
| 10
| 2013
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Scott MacPherson]]|USA}}
| 1:05:25
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Stephanie Bruce]]|USA}}
| 1:15:18
|-
| 11
| 2014
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Rob Watson (athlete)|Rob Watson]]|CAN}}
| 1:05:03
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Jessica Draskau-Petersson]]|DEN}}
| 1:13:47
|-
| 12
| 2015
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Benson Cheruiyot]]|KEN}}
| 1:04:15
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Amy Hastings]]|USA}}
| 1:12:04
|-
| 13
| 2016
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Scott Bauhs]]|USA}}
| bgcolor="#CCFFCC" | '''1:02:23'''
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Janet Cherobon-Bawcom]]|USA}}
| 1:11:49
|-
| 14
| 2017
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Jeffrey Eggleston]]|USA}}
| 1:04:50
| align="left" | {{flagathlete|[[Neely Spence Gracey|Neely Gracey]]|USA}}
| 1:12:39
|-
| || 2021 || colspan="4" align="center" data-sort-value="" | ''cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic'' || {{r|2021.cancellation}}
|}

=== Wheelchair race ===

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Date
! Male winner
! Representing
! Time
! Female winner
! Representing
! Time
! class="unsortable" | Rf.
|-
| 2009.01.18
|
|
| style="text-align:center;" |
|
|
| style="text-align:center;" |
|-
| 2008.01.13
| Tyler Byers
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Sterling, VA]], USA
| style="background:#CCFFCC; text-align:center;" | '''1:45:07'''
|
|
| style="text-align:center;" |
|-
| 2007.01.14
| Tyler Byers
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Reston, VA]], USA
| style="text-align:center;" | 1:57:28
|
|
| style="text-align:center;" |
|-
| 2006.01.15
| Bradley Ray
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Albuquerque, NM]], USA
| style="text-align:center;" | 2:18:30
|
|
| style="text-align:center;" |
|-
| 2005.01.09
| Peter Hawkins
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Malverne, NY]], USA
| style="text-align:center;" | 2:22:03
|
|
| style="text-align:center;" |
|-
| 2004.01.11
| Peter Hawkins
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Malverne, NY]], USA
| style="text-align:center;" | 2:09:14
| Tricia Downing
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Denver, CO]], USA
| style="background:#CCFFCC; text-align:center;" | '''2:55:45'''
|}

==See also==
* [[Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series]]
* [[List of marathon races in North America]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.runrocknroll.com/arizona Official website of the Rock n' Roll Arizona Marathon]
* [http://marathoninfo.free.fr/pages/arizona.htm Rock n' Roll Arizona Marathon at marathoninfo.free.fr]
* [http://www.mapmyrace.com/races/RockAndRollAz2006/ Marathon route]

{{RNR Series}}

[[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 2004]]
[[Category:Marathons in the United States]]
[[Category:Sports in Phoenix, Arizona]]