Preview: 2024 Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon
This year marks 20 years of existence for the Rock ‘n’ Roll running series here in Arizona.
While elite runners with Olympic and World Championship appearances under their belt have flocked to the race before in years past, the setup in 2024 is preventing most of those with aspirations to compete in Paris this summer from running at this year’s RnR Arizona.
That’s because the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, which are being held in Orlando, are only three weeks after the RnR Half Marathon. Typically, athletes need at least a few weeks of recovery after running long distances, such as a half marathon or marathon, to compete at a high level safely.
Before, Olympians like Ryan Hall, who owns the national record for the half marathon, and Amy Hastings, a former national champion in the marathon, had come to Phoenix to race.
Northern Arizona Elite, a professional running team based in Flagstaff and sponsored by HOKA, has also had several of their top runners make the trip down south and compete. There are multiple athletes on the team with Olympic dreams. But Ben Rosario, executive director for NAZ Elite, confirmed to The Arizona Republic that none of his athletes will be running at RnR this year with the U.S. Trials so close.
But that doesn’t mean the field is void of talented runners.
On the women’s side, Obsie Birru will be competing in the elite field. Birru competed for Grand View University at the NAIA level, where she won five national championships. She set the NAIA record in the marathon during her time at Grand View.
Catch up on more valley sports news: Arizona Cardinals season wrap-up: What worked, what didn't and what needs to happen next
Aaron Gruen, an incoming medical student, is the top seed in the men’s race. While Gruen never competed collegiately while attending Brown, he has quickly morphed into a top-level marathon runner. He’s only been running competitively since 2021, but has already qualified for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials with a time of 2:15.56.
There is a two-day health and fitness expo at the Phoenix Convention Center being held on Friday and Saturday, where runners will go to pick up their race packets. The expo is open to the public and “features the latest running technologies, fitness apparel, health & nutrition information, and interactive displays.”
On course, runners go through the red rocks of Papago Park and head through Tempe, Phoenix, and Scottsdale before concluding their experience at the Finish Line Festival at Tempe Beach Park.
Rock 'n' Roll Arizona
When: Friday to Sunday, Jan. 12-14
Where: Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale
Expo: Phoenix Convention Center South Building, Halls F-G; Friday, Noon-7 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Starting points: Half marathon: Sunday, 7:15 a.m., S. Mill Ave. at 3rd Street; 10k: Sunday, 7:15 a.m., S. Mill Ave. at 3rd Street; 5k: Saturday, 8 a.m., Tempe Beach Park, 80 West Rio Salado Parkway; KiDS ROCK (1 mile and half mile): Saturday, 9:30 a.m.
Finish lines: Half marathon/10k: West Rio Salado Parkway; 5k: Tempe Beach Park, 80 West Rio Salado Parkway; KiDS ROC, Rio Salado Park.
Check official website to find out about road closures and more information.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Preview: 2024 Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon
