2026 Desert Classic Half Marathon & 5K January 24, 2026

About the Event

The Desert Classic is an Arizona original. Join the tradition this year on Saturday January 24th for your choice of a half marathon or 5K race starting and finishing at Thunderbird Paseo Park, Glendale, AZ. Both courses are professionally marked and chip timed.

Cost is $45 for the half marathon ($40 for ARR members), and $30 for the 5K ($25 for ARR members). Your ARR member discount will show on your total during checkout. Prices go up after January 11th, to $50 for the half marathon and $35 for the 5K for both members and non-members.

Half Marathoners must be 14 years of older on RACE day. Note that the Half Marathon course will close at 11:30 am, 18 min/mi. pace.

Start Times:
Half Marathon: 7:30 am.
5K: 8:15 am

Location: Thunderbird Paseo Park, Glendale, AZ

Note: Registration closes on RACE day morning at 7:00 am for the half marathon and 7:45 am for the 5k. Registration on RACE day will only be through Run Sign Up. There will be NO paper RACE day registrations.

Aid Stations: There will be 6 aid stations for the Half Marathon with water and gatorade, and 2 Aid stations for the 5k, water only.

Finisher Medals: In lieu of race shirts, all finishers in the Half and the 5K will receive a custom finisher medal.

Prior Year Race shirts: Will be available for sale on Race Day for $5, 3 for $10, Cash or Venmo.

Packet Pickup: Bib numbers will be available for pickup on race day from 6:30 am – 8:00 AM.

Awards: Both races will have 5-year age group awards (all awards will be based on chip time).

To Sign up to Volunteer:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904084EABA82BA7FE3-61269896-arrdesert

Races Offered

Half Marathon

Jan 24, 2026

straighten

Distance — 13.1 Miles

terrain

Type — Running

timer

07:30

sell

$45.00

Half Marathon - Young Adult (18-24)

Jan 24, 2026

straighten

Distance — 13.1 Miles

terrain

Type — Running

timer

07:30

sell

$45.00

Half Marathon Youth - Must be over 14

Jan 24, 2026

straighten

Distance — 13.1 Miles

terrain

Type — Running

timer

07:30

sell

$5.00

5K

Jan 24, 2026

straighten

Distance — 3.1 Miles

terrain

Type — Running

timer

08:15

sell

$30.00

5K Youth

Jan 24, 2026

straighten

Distance — 3.1 Miles

terrain

Type — Running

timer

08:15

sell

$5.00

5k - Young Adult (18-24)

Jan 24, 2026

straighten

Distance — 3.1 Miles

terrain

Type — Running

timer

08:15

sell

$30.00

Weather Overview

These values represent the 3-year monthly averages for January in Glendale.

Temp (°C)

Feels Like (°C)

thermostat 5.6° / 17.2°

wb_sunny 1.9° / 14.0°

Wind (km/h)

Humidity (%)

air 7.5 /

water_drop 49.2%

Temp (°C)

Feels Like (°C)

Wind (km/h)

Humidity (%)

thermostat 5.6° / 17.2°

wb_sunny 1.9° / 14.0°

air 7.5 km/h

water_drop 49.2%

About Glendale

Learn more about the host city, Glendale.

Glendale is one of the largest suburbs in the metropolitan Phoenix area, and is rapidly growing as a media/entertainment center in the Valley of the Sun. It was home to over 250,000 people in 2019.