Saturday, September 23, 2023 • Prescott, AZ • Course Map
Set for its 19th annual running here in central Arizona — at an elevation of about 5,400 feet above sea level, surrounded by both the woodlands of the nearby Prescott National Forest and the Bradshaw Mountains — this race unfolds through the hills that lie just south of the city.
The Groom Creek area is a popular backcountry recreation spot for camping, hiking, rock climbing, hunting and horseback riding, thanks in large part to its plentiful hills filled with Ponderosa pine, which provide ample shade for hikers wandering through the innumerable trails through nearby parts of the Prescott National Forest, which spans more than 1.2 million acres across the middle of the state.
The race serves as a fundraiser for the Groom Creek Fire District, which is dedicated to protecting the people and homes who live in this area that lies about 6 miles south of Prescott.
Runners will start all four races near the headquarters for the Groom Creek Fire District on East Friendly Pines Road. The half marathon takes runners east along East Friendly Pines Road out to South Senator Highway, where they turn right and head south for roughly the next mile and a half.
At the intersection with Upper Wolf Creek Road, runners turn right again and head west, staying on Upper Wolf Creek Road for about the next four miles.
After a very gradual uphill for the first mile and a half or so, the course then starts a long and gradual downhill descent over the rest of the first half of the route, heading downhill all the way west along Upper Wolf Creek.
It’s not until about halfway between the mile 5 and mile 6 markers that the downhill portion flattens out, and then runners head slightly uphill from there to the mid-way race turnaround point on South Indian Creek Road.
Once runners make the turnaround there, they then follow the exact same route in reverse for the second half of the 13.1-mile race, all the way back to the Groom Creek Fire District offices where the race finish line will lie.
Along the way, it’s all paved surfaces as runners make their way through the tree-lined forest roads, with plenty of views out onto the mountains all around.
Race Weather & Climate
Nestled among the Bradshaw Mountain range in central Arizona, roughly 100 miles north of Phoenix, Prescott typically sees September temperatures that average between 81°F and 50°F, while rainfall totals average just over 2 inches for the month.
On race day (Sep. 23), the average low is 48ºF and the average high is 79ºF.
Past Results
- 2019 Groom Creek Classic Half Marathon Results
- 2018 Groom Creek Classic Half Marathon Results
- 2017 Groom Creek Classic Half Marathon Results
- 2016 Groom Creek Classic Half Marathon Results
- 2015 Groom Creek Classic Half Marathon Results
- 2014 Groom Creek Classic Half Marathon Results
- 2013 Groom Creek Classic Half Marathon Results
- 2012 Groom Creek Classic Half Marathon Results
- 2011 Groom Creek Classic Half Marathon Results
Course Map
See the race route map for the Groom Creek Classic Half Marathon here.
Starting Time
- 8:00 AM – half marathon
- 9:00 AM – 10K
- 9:15 AM – 5K
- 9:20 AM – 2-mile fun walk
Fees
- $70 – $80 for the half marathon
- $50 – $60 for the 10K
- $35 – $40 for the 5K
- $25 for the 2-mile race
Registration
To reserve your spot in the 2023 running of the Groom Creek Classic Half Marathon & 10K, register online at RunSignUp.com here.
Official Race Website
Comments
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