Run Tucson Announces Prize Money for June 1st TMC Meet Me DowntownTucson’s popular three-race series begins with the June 1 TMC Meet Me Downtown 5k Night Run and Walk

May 22, 2024

$2,000 in Possible Prize Money June 1st TMC Meet Me Downtown 5k and Raising Cane's Festival of Miles

/ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Seeking the region’s fastest runners, Run Tucson has partnered with title sponsor Tucson Medical Center to provide over $2,000 in potential prize money to be awarded to teams and individuals. With expectations of 2,000 participants, the TMC Meet Me Downtown 5k Night Run and Festival of Miles is one the biggest running parties Arizona – and one of the fastest.

“We love seeing runners from Phoenix and Flagstaff mix it up here in Tucson,” says Race Director Randy Accetta. “Summer’s beginning to hit, but with a night-time start and a fast course for both the mile and the 5k, we’re hoping to see some speedy times.”

“Unlike many races,” Accetta continues, “double-dipping is allowed, thus it’s possible for the fastest woman and fastest man to earn almost $1,500 apiece if they set all records in both races.”

With a mariachi band on the course, live rock n’ roll at the finish line, and a beer garden, the TMC Meet Me Downtown event brings a rollicking running party to Downtown Tucson.

A limited number of elite entries are available. For more information, elite athletes should contact athlete coordinator Tia Accetta at tia@runtucson.net.

Prize money details are as follows:

TMC Meet Me Downtown 5k Awards and Prize Money

Male and Female Open Prize Money
1st $200
2nd $100
3rd $50

Master’s Prize Money (40-and-over) Male and Female
1st $50

Course Record Awards

$200 to the man who breaks the current men’s course record of 14:30, set by Ian Burrell in both 2012 and 2013.

$200 to the woman who breaks the current women’s record of 17:23, set by Maggie Callahan,

Age Group Awards: All first, second, and third place in 5-year divisions from U-15 through 80+ will receive age group awards from the Running Shop: $25 for 1st, $15 for 2nd, and $10 for third. All prize money winners are taken out of age group gift certificate awards.

All Overall Awards based on Gun Time. All Age Group Awards based on Chip Timing.

5k TEAM AWARDS

$300 to fastest team of 5 in the men’s division and $300 to fastest team of 5 in the women’s division.  Teams can be as many people as desired, but all members must be registered in completion by May 23 at midnight, Arizona time.  The top five in each team will score and first place will be awarded following the standard cross country scoring format.

Prize Money double-dipping is allowed (for example, a runner may receive both overall and masters money and team money)

While athletes may register as non-binary, there are currently no prizes awarded in the non-binary division

A teams must be formally registered as a team by midnight May 24.  There is no race weekend team registration and no in-person team registration.

USATF Course Sanction #: USATFAZ19004JOE

Raising Cane’s Festival of Miles Awards and Prize Money 

Open Male and Female Prize Money
1st  $200
2nd $100
3rd $50
$408.90 Race Director Challenge Bonus

408 dollars and 90 cents bonus to the fastest man who breaks the race director’s personal best of 4:08.9.  Yup, Randy ran that back in the 1900’s.

408 dollars and 90 cents bonus to the fastest woman who breaks the equivalent time of 4:48.9 (see the Mercier Score Calculator for comparison details)

Master’s Prize Money (40-and-over) Male and Female
1st $50

NOTE: Prize Money double-dipping is allowed.
Prize money winners are taken out of age group gift certificate awards.
USATF Course Sanction #: AZ16012JOE

About Run Tucson: Run Tucson (www.runtucson.net) is a full-service event and coaching entity producing running events throughout Arizona, including November’s Grand Canyon Trail Half Marathon. With coaches certified by the Road Runners Club of America (www.rrca.org), Run Tucson manages Arizona’s longest-running coached training group, the Workout Group.

Contact Randy Accetta at randy@runtucson.net.