SE Valley Times

The Mesa Marathon is set to return for its 13th annual event on February 8, featuring a new route in the city of Mesa. The marathon will see over 10,000 runners participating, with a significant change in the course moving part of the route one mile west from Val Vista Drive to Lindsay Road. Participants will now head south on Lindsey instead of Val Vista after reaching McDowell Road and before Brown Road.

Road closures for the event will be in effect from 4 a.m. to 2 p.m. on race day. The City of Mesa has provided an interactive detour map at gis.mesaaz.gov/mesamarathon to assist residents in navigating around these closures. Roads will reopen as soon as runners clear the area and clean-up operations are completed.

City Manager Chris Brady commented on the event, stating, "The Mesa Marathon is a great event that continues to grow and attract runners and fans from not just the valley, but from throughout Arizona and the country." He also noted efforts by the city to minimize disruptions caused by street closures.

To further assist drivers, Mesa's Transportation Department offers personalized route planning assistance during the week leading up to the race (Monday-Thursday) and on race day itself. Residents can contact them via phone at 480-644-4882 or email at barricade@mesaaz.gov for tailored reroute suggestions.

Valley Metro bus services will experience temporary detours affecting routes including 30, 48, 96, 104, 112, 120, 128, and others. Commuters are encouraged to use the Valley Metro app or visit valleymetro.org/rider-alerts for updates on detours and other transit information.

The Mesa Marathon holds the distinction of being ranked as Arizona's top marathon by RaceRaves and serves as an early-season qualifier for the Boston Marathon. The race starts near Usery Park mountains at sunrise and concludes at Mesa Riverview Park with a net elevation loss of over 900 feet.

Phil Dumontet, CEO of the Mesa Marathon, expressed excitement about this year's event: "The Mesa Marathon is thrilled to be returning as the largest marathon in the beautiful state of Arizona." He acknowledged support from local authorities: "We are thankful for our partnership with the City of Mesa."

Established in 2012, this marathon includes several races such as a full marathon, half marathon, a 10K run starting at 6:30 a.m., and an Amazon Kids 1K beginning at noon. It is sanctioned by USA Track & Field (USATF) and attracts participants globally.

For more details or registration information, visit mesamarathon.com.