The AZ Distance Classic is on the 18th in Oro Valley (just north of Tucson). Real nice race and you can just add a few to get to 20 miles. My wife and I always schedule a big training week in Tucscon this weekend and cap it off with the 1/2 marathon on Sunday.

Saguaro Nat'l. Park (East) go around (2x). I was in Tucson last week. Did this route on a ride. I was talking to my ride partner about this exact topic and route as a terrific IM training run. Go for a drive first. Plant a bottle and gel or two.
I believe the loop is 9 miles. (Old Spanish Tr. at Freeman Rd.).
Go early - No shade. Absolutely free of boredom. I promise. If this fails you... I owe you a beer.

www.bicitreregioni.com

AZ Distance Classic looks like it would be perfect, and close to the hotel, but unfortunately we leave from Phoenix Sunday morning. Thanks for the suggestion though.

Saguaro Nat'l Park East does look good, if I mapped it out right. Thankd for the tip - I don't think I'll be able to collect the beer. Is it very hilly? Some hills would be good since I'm training for Boston, but I don't want to destroy myself. I'd better start very early so my wife doesn't kill me for leaving her stranded for too long while I use the rental car!

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=746742

You can run along the Rillito river for about 30 miles each way. Many park at Campbell and just S of River to hop on the trail. mix of dirt and pavement. There are a few water stops as well.

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Brian Stover USAT LII
Accelerate3 Coaching
Insta

SNE is hilly...some short and steep and the second half of the loop is a gradual climb. It is also on pavement! I would suggest some of the many trails. On the side of town you are staying you could hit the Arizona trail and run as many miles as you want. Or you coa find some great trails in the Tucson Mountain Park (Yetman trail is my favorite) on the west side of town. If pavement is your thing you can run an out and back on a section of the Tucson Marathon course. It is on the north side as well plus there are probably mile markers still painted on the east side of the road.
PM me if you have any questions.
You can also contact the Desert Heat Tri club through their web site... http://www.tucsondesertheat.org/

P.S. I will be doing the Distance Classic as a IMAZ tune up.

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B.Oliver -My Blog...triguywithavx.wordpress.com
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Take her with you. Let her drop you off. She can see the desert sights, while you do a loop. Then send her south on Old Spanish Trail to help choose your retirement property.
It is hilly; however, I do believe it would be a great pre-marathon training run.

Good Luck!

www.bicitreregioni.com

Thanks for all the great advice guys.

Funny you mention retirement property, as yes, this is part of the reason for the trip. We're going to check out Saddlebrooke. And while it would be nice to escape the frozen north, I would miss not skiing - is it true there is xc and downhill skiing at Mount Lemmon?

Depends on your definition of skiing! In general they don't get much more than a few feet of snow and is usually only open for 2-6 weeks out of the year. I think they have one or two runs. But a 4ish hour drive will get you to Flagstaff or the White mountains...then you can drive back to the warmth!

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B.Oliver -My Blog...triguywithavx.wordpress.com
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Don't know about XC, but downhill on Mt. Lemmon exists.

Thomas
http://www.bicitreregioni.com

Thanks for the Rillito River suggestion DD. It was a great run - fortunately I started early (6:30) and got it completed prior to the 90F temps later that day. Lots of other friendly runners out there.

After a week in the sun and dry heat of Arizona, and having returned to the frozen north, I will now be eternally jealous of you fortunate people from Arizona. What a beautiful state, especially Sedona and that area up to the Grand Canyon.

Desert Dude has this great route where you go out into the mountains/desert and get lost for a couple hours. That should get you to 20 miles pretty fast.

ha ha ha, very funny smart ass, I eventually got us on the right trail. For that next time you go to the pool here is your swim: 400wp, 8x50 odds d/b evens sp/k :10. 10x(30x100 desc 1-5 all on 1:50). That should keep you entertained for a few hours.

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Brian Stover USAT LII
Accelerate3 Coaching
Insta

That was great run training! We go out to do 60 minutes and come back 90 later. Still have the cactus souvenirs. What's an extra few miles before a 5 hour ride with 27 mile climb???

Nahhh dude, it's all about running the trails on the backside of Gates Pass. Drive to gates pass (SW Tucson), drive down the backside, park in the parking lot nearest to the bottom. Start running south on that road till you see another parking pull out and entrance to a trail head in the desert. It will be a nice dirt path on flat ground in the desert with lots of scenery for the duration of your run. Enjoy!

p.s. Brian's run is a winner too, can't go run with Mountain and the rillito river path....I do it all the time.

So Brian, what trail did you get the "extra miles" in on? As many times as you've ran Yetman I hope you didn't get lost there!

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B.Oliver -My Blog...triguywithavx.wordpress.com
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