The 48th annual Whiskey Row Marathon will be upon us Oct. 10, with the fittest in Greater Prescott and around the state and nation pushing their limits further and further.
The course isn’t getting any easier, naturally. It’s long been touted as one of the most difficult of its kind in the nation, using its high altitude, tricky terrain and occasional bad weather as a selling point to the more extreme end of the running community, trying to prove they’re “Tough Enough” to survive and conquer — it’s right there in the logo
The event usually draws more than 900 runners and around 3,000 spectators.
The full marathon snakes up the sides of Wolverton Mountain and Williams Peak, hitting a peak elevation of 7,000 feet twice in the out-and-back course. The WRM umbrella also covers half-marathon, 10K and 5K races and a .3 mile Fun Run; all races begin and end at the Courthouse Plaza. Spectators are welcome, with most of the races using parts of Montezuma Street, Copper Basin Road, Thumb Butte Road and/or Hassayampa Village Lane, among other roads.
A sports and business expo accompanying the marathon will be held Oct. 9 at the YMCA campus, 750 Whipple St., and Oct. 10 on Cortez Street at the east side of Courthouse Plaza. Both will feature product sampling, demonstration, health and safety booths, race tips and official Whiskey Row Marathon merchandise for sale.
The proceeds are channeled into funds at the James Family Prescott YMCA to provide financial assistance for needy families who want to send their children to swimming lessons, gymnastics classes, daycare or youth sports. In recent years the Prescott Y has spent more than $200,000 annually to support these kids and teens.
A horde of volunteers keeps the runners on track. Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Center is this year’s presenting sponsor and Galpin Ford is the premier sponsor. Other sponsors include Brown & Brown, Climate Control, Credit Union West, Damon Olsen & Family, Foothills Bank, Manzanita Landscaping, Matrix Fitness, National Bank, Pinnacle Bank, Skeehan & Young, Sunland Supply Inc. and Yavapai Landscaping.
For registration and more information about the event visit whiskeyrowmarathon.com.
