TMC Saguaro National Park Labor Day 8 Mile & 5K Run/Walk – 9/6/2027

2026 will be the 55th annual Saguaro National Park Labor Day Run, with an 8-mile run and a 5K run/walk. One of the few races actually taking place in a National Park, the Saguaro Labor Day Run is a regional tradition, with awards, prize money, and commemorative souvenirs. Produced by the Southern Arizona Roadrunners, whose original founders created the race back in 1971.

Run more, pay less! SAR members receive a discount that covers RunSignup fees at all SAR-owned races. Not a member? Join SAR: https://runsignup.com/MemberOrg/SouthernArizonaRoadrunners

$50 - April 1, 2026 - September 7, 2026

The same price applies to the 8-mile run, the 8-mile walk, and the 5k run/walk.

Provide your National Park Service number to receive an additional $5 off.

There is no same-day onsite registration for this event.

Register online here.

You can pick up your race shirt and race number on race morning at Saguaro National Park East, but there is no in-person registration in Saguaro National Park on race day.

5:00 AM - 5:45 AM: Packet pickup

5:30 AM: 8-Mile walk early start
• This early start is designed solely to support walkers who will be on the course for more than 2.5 hours. Early start walkers, please be sure to provide room on the road so that people can pass you. Early start closes at 5:33 AM.
• Please, be respectful of the early start rules. Last year about 100 runners snuck into the early start and created a bit of a snafu for timing, awards, and more.
• Make sure your race number is pinned to the front of your shirt.
• Please bring your own hydration. If you think you will be out for more than 2 hours, bring sports drink or other electrolyte drink.

6:00 AM: 8-Mile run start
• Make sure your race number is pinned to the front of your shirt.
• Please bring your own hydration. If you think you will be out for more than 2 hours, bring sports drink or other electrolyte drink. This gun-timed start is the start for runners and run/walkers of all ages and abilities.
• You must start at 6:00 AM to be eligible for age group, overall awards, and Grand Prix points. The 8-mile start line closes by 6:04 AM. Overall winners will be decided by so-called gun-time at 6:00 AM, with age groups awarded by so-called chip-time.
• Your race number: Use safety pins to attach your race number to the front of your shirt. Do not wrinkle it. Make sure it can be seen at the start/finish lines.
• Starting line order: To ensure a safe and fair start, please line up in expected minutes-per-miler order. For example, if you will run 5 or 6 minutes per mile, please start at the front, followed in order by those who expect to run 7 minutes per mile, then 8-minute milers, 9-minute milers, 10-minute milers, 11-minute milers, 12-minute milers, and walkers of all speeds.
• If you are pushing a stroller, please allow enough room around you to be safe and courteous to the other participants.
• Guided athletes and their guides, please be sure you have enough room to safely manage the crowds.
• Be aware of the various speedbumps on the course. Be aware of rattlesnakes and other wildlife.

6:05 AM: 5K run/walk start
• The 5K event begins after the 8-mile start, at about 6:05 AM. All 5K participants start at the same time. The 5K start-line closes 5 minutes after the 5K starts.
• Your race number: Use safety pins to attach your race number to the front of your shirt. Do not wrinkle it. Make sure it can be seen at the start/finish lines.
• Starting line order: To ensure a safe and fair start, please line up in expected minutes-per-miler order.  For example, if you will run 5 or 6 minutes per mile, please start at the front, followed in order by those who expect to run 7 minutes per mile, then 8-minute milers, 9-minute milers, 10-minute milers, 11-minute milers, 12-minute milers, and walkers of all speeds.
• If you are pushing a stroller, please allow enough room around you to be safe and courteous to the other participants.
• Guided athletes and their guides, please be sure you have enough room to safely manage the crowds.
• Be aware of the various speedbumps on the course. Be aware of rattlesnakes and other wildlife.

8:00 AM: Visitor center opens

8:00 AM: Course closure rules: Due to public safety concerns, all 8-mile participants must be beyond the 5-mile mark by 8:00 AM, with the National Park Service reserving the right to pick up participants in a sag vehicle.

8:30 AM: Approximate time award ceremony begins at SAR tent, most likely starting with 5K then 8-miler afterwards. Depending on internet capabilities, results will posted to https://www.roadrunnerracetiming.com and https://results.runsar.org as soon as possible.

9:00 AM: Route closes, with National Park Service reserving the right to pick up late-finish athletes, depending on safety concerns.

9:30 AM: Approximate time when the Park opens to all vehicle traffic.

10:00 AM - 2:00 PM: The Running Shop is offering a special Labor Day Sale (3055 North Campbell Avenue).

Any remaining race shirts will be available at the Running Shop through the end of September.

Additional information:
• Headphones: Headphones are discouraged; please be mindful of other athletes, rattlesnakes, and Park Rangers.
• Strollers: The 5K is fine for strollers but the 8-miler is probably not a great idea for pushing a young child, with lots of steep up-and-downs and the possibility of high heat for the child in the last few miles of the race once the sun comes out.
• Chair athletes: The 5K would be moderately challenging for chair athletes, while the 8-miler is a demanding course with downhills possible dangerous for chair athletes.
• Pets not allowed: We love pets but they cannot be on the grounds of Saguaro National Park East between 5:00-9:00 AM.  Service animals are excepted. See here for details on NPS pet policies.
• Bathrooms: There will be 12 ACE portojohns in the NPS parking lot near the starting line, so please allow enough time to use the restroom before you begin the race. There will be one portojohn on the 8-mile course, near the overlook near Mile 4. Please do NOT use the desert as a bathroom. Rattlesnakes and cactus may do some damage, plus the NPS will fine you!

Click here to volunteer.

Saturday, September 5th at The Running Shop, 3055 North Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ

10:00 am  -  1:00 pm packet pickup. All shirt sizing is first-come, first-served. It helps if you have your race registration confirmation email, but it is not necessary.

Race Day Monday, September 7th at Saguaro National Park East, 3693 S. Old Spanish Trail Rd, Visitor Center Parking Lot

5:00 am - 5:45 am: packet pickup. All shirt sizing is first-come, first-served. It helps if you have your race registration confirmation email, but it is not necessary.

Click here and here for the 8 mile course maps and here for the course elevation profile. Click here for a dynamic version of the 8 mile course. Click here for a dynamic version of the out-and-back 5K course.

8-mile course: The loop 8-miler goes clockwise from the Visitor Center through the beautiful cactus forest at Saguaro National Park East in the foothills of the scenic Rincon Mountains. The paved course is hilly, with stunning views of the iconic Sonoran Desert, including a vista overlooking the entire Tucson basin. The water stops for the 8-miler will be at approximately 3 and 7 miles.  Please bring your own water and hydration as needed.

5K course: Out-and-back on paved rolling hills. The 5K participants stay to the right as they head into the Park on Cactus Forest Drive, then follow the chalk-arrows and turn right to head down the hill to the Javelina Picnic Grounds past the Freeman Homestead Trail. You'll turn around at the Turn-Around sign before you hit the picnic grounds, then reverse your route to the finish line. Please stay on the right coming back to the finish line. There will be a water stop with volunteers from the Tucson TriGirls at the Cactus Forest Trailhead, approximately the 1 and 2 marks in the 5K.

The National Park Service and Pima County Department of Transportation are both great friends of this race, but they're worried about public safety on the roads near the park, so please drive slowly as you approach the National Park, watch for cyclists, and watch for your fellow pedestrians. Please follow the posted rules and be safe.
• Please consider carpooling to reduce the vehicle footprint on the roadways. A drop-off section is located in front of the entrance.
• Parking is available on the sides of the roads, on Freeman, Old Spanish Trail, and Escalante.
• There is NO parking in the National Park.
• Do not park in driveways, do not park near hydrants, do not block traffic.
• Here's what the National Park Service has said: "Please pay attention to the NO PARKING signs along Old Spanish Trail! We'd rather not have to cite and tow folks who are blocking sight lines and bike lanes."

The 8 Miler is part of The Running Shop SAR Grand Prix. For ages 14-and-under and 75-and-older, the 5K is the Grand Prix scoring event.

The 8M has awards for the top 3 finishers in 5-year age groups, and the 5K in 10-year age groups

All participants receive a race t-shirt

Friends of Saguaro National Park
National Park Service

Safety is our first priority, but there are inherent dangers and risks involved in racing, and participants take part under their own responsibility.

2025 Recap

2026 Photos courtesy of Damion Alexander

2025 Photos

2025 Photos by Damion Alexander