Due to ongoing safety concerns and policies related to the coronavirus pandemic, the Southern Arizona Roadrunners unfortunately has to postpone the Saguaro Labor Day Run until September, 2021.
While we would like to continue the 50 year tradition of an annual Saguaro Labor Day running race, this year it will not be possible. Laying aside our own concern about public safety, we have been working with the multiple permitting agencies to ensure that we can do the race. We have even put forth a proposal for a virtual event, utilizing the National Park over a period of time with no event festivities.
Unfortunately, we cannot do the event.
At this writing, Pima County has not agreed to a permit — but more importantly, the National Park Service is not in a position to permit the event, writing, “The landscape of Saguaro National Park is open including our trails and roads but we are not in a place where we can host a special event, even if it is virtual. We do not have any public programs, our visitor centers and outreach programs remain closed, even our restrooms only have limited hours. So, we are going to decline the virtual Labor Day Run and look forward to the 2021 event.”
Thus, while we at SAR would like nothing more than to meet with all of our running friends and community partners to celebrate the beautiful regional landscape, unfortunately we are going to have to postpone the 50th Annual Saguaro Labor Day Run until Labor Day 2021.
What does this mean for you? First, registration for Saguaro has been closed so we are no longer accepting new registrations.
Second, if you have already registered, you have a few choices:
1) SAR can keep all current registrants on the registration roster, and simply defer your registration until the 2021 event so that you are guaranteed entry into what will undoubtedly be a popular 50th anniversary run on Labor Day Monday, 2021. If you would like to defer, you do not have to do anything. We’ll simply keep you on the list!
2) If you would like your registration fee back, we can provide a race fee refund.
If you signed up online, simply email the SAR race director Randy Accetta at randy@runtucson.net. We will use the online registration portal to provide a refund of the race fee.
If you would like your registration fee back and you signed up by mailing a registration form and a check, please send a note to SAR at Box 64215, Tucson, AZ 85728. SAR’s office manager and the SAR Treasurer will work together to manage the refunds. (Please be patient because this refund process will take some time for SAR to manage.)
If you have specific questions about these events, please contact me directly. Thank you,
Randy Accetta, SAR Race Director
