Why We Do This: event history and hopes for the future . . .
Our hope is to continue to bring people together to celebrate physical health, mental wellness, and the wonderful community that makes up Tucson and Southern Arizona.
That wasn't the original goal, though. Indeed, the event traces its root to a date night in Downtown Tucson. Turns out, there was nothing to do Downtown, so we decided to start throwing a party for runners and walkers to give folks something to do. The first few years of the race took place at the now-razed La Placita Village (photo of runners waiting for awards in 2009 courtesy of Len Taruscio), with a goal of raising funds for local arts and culture non-profits. Our first fundraising efforts supported the Fox Theatre and Cinema La Placita.
In those early years, runners enjoyed a live band, fire dancers, and a free movie at the Fox (Chariots of Fire, Saint Ralph, Marathon Man, and Run Fatboy Run). We're eternally grateful to the Tucson Association of Realtors and Anthony Wiggins, at the time the Board President for Greater Tucson Leadership, for the early support of this event.
Tucson Medical Center has been our title sponsor since 2008, and as more participants joined the fun, we moved to our current location in front of the Children's Museum, using the large park space of Armory Park and the Downtown streets 12th Street, 13th Street, and Sixth Avenue. Over the years, the event has raised funds for a variety of local arts and educational entities, including the Tucson Museum of Contemporary Art, the Tucson Museum of Art, the Tucson Symphony, the Educational Enrichment Foundation, Greater Tucson Leadership, and the Children's Museum.
Ever since the race first began, we realized how such an event can bring people together. Our hope is that this event makes our "RRCA Runner-Friendly Community" a better place to live and visit. We're delighted to be part of Visit Tucson and bring the passion of being a Certified Tourism Ambassador to the event.
