Three-time Olympian Abdi Abdirahman will lead a group of elite runners Saturday in the fourth annual Get Moving Tucson 10-Miler, beginning and ending downtown.
It starts at 7 a.m.
Prizes will total $3,000 as other champion runners join former University of Arizona All-American Abdirahman, who will use the race as a training run to prepare for November’s New York City Marathon.
The race is produced by the Southern Arizona Roadrunners and will benefit Carondelet Health Network’s wellness programs.
Included are Tucsonan Jason Colavito and ex-UA runner Robert Cheseret. Also expected are Vince Sherry, a former Conference USA champion; Jared Scott, a member of the 2005 University of Colorado NCAA champion cross country team; and Ian Johnson, a former Washington State University runner.
Defending women’s champion and three-time Olympic Marathon Trials participant Paula Morrison will be challenged by Trina Painter, a four-time Olympic trials qualifier and former national 20K record holder. Phoenix’s Suzy Schumacher, a 2008 Olympic Marathon Trials runner, also is expected.
The events also will include a 5K family fun run/walk. The start is at the Tucson Convention Center, with on-day registration starting at 6 a.m.
Expect some road closures and slight delays in the downtown and Fourth Avenue areas from 7:30-9:30 a.m. Saturday.
Among the affected streets are South Main, 19th Street, Second Avenue, 17th Street, South Meyer Avenue, Fourth Avenue, University Boulevard, and Alameda in the downtown area.
Fourth Avenue will be closed from NinthStreet to University Boulevard from 7:30-9:30 a.m. Course maps can be seen at www.azroadrunners.org.
BTE race beneficiary
The Tucson Marathon has announced Better Than Ever will be the official beneficiary of all 2008 marathon-day events. A portion of each race registration will be donated to the BTE research grants at the Arizona Cancer Center.
The event, including a 26.2-mile marathon and 13.1-mile half-marathon, will be Dec. 7 on a paved Oracle-to-Oro Valley course.
Parks fifth in Ironman
Christine Parks claimed the highest Tucsonan age group finish (fifth) last week in the annual Ford Ironman World Championship at Kailua Kona, Hawaii. Parks clocked 10 hours, 12 minutes, 53 seconds in the Women’s 30-34 division; six other Tucsonans finished the race: a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile run.
Hillary Biscay, 30, finished 35th in the Women’s Pro Division 10:35:10.
Others finishing the race were Diane Dedek, 13th, Women’s 55-59, 14:08:33; Robert Matzner, 17th, Men’s 55-59, 11:24:45; Rodger Bivens, 20th, Men’s 45-49, 16:00:53; Susy Bacal, 47th, Women’s 40-44, 12:31:21; and Colleen Kelley, 58th, Women’s 40-44, 13:34:25.