The 12th iteration of the TMC Get Moving Tucson saw over 1700 registered runners and walkers compete in three different events on Halloween weekend while helping raise thousands of dollars for Tucson non-profits.
Produced by Run Tucson and the Southern Arizona Roadrunners, the TMC Get Moving Tucson events included the A-mountain-less TMC Half-Marathon and the Tucson Lifestyle 5k.
Cox Charities sponsored the free family mile, including the Cox Costume mile and SAR’s FitKidz mile for children under 12.
Perhaps it was the possibility of prize money or perhaps a speedy time on the flatter course, but the overall winners cruised to easy victories.
In the men’s race, Tucson-area transplant Harry Mulenga completed his first half-marathon in the outstanding time of 1:08:57. Heeding conventional half-marathon advice, Mulenga ran a negative split race, holding back the first few miles then dropping down to 5-minutes-per-mile pace in the middle sections to leave the field far behind. Second place went to David Fernandez and third went to James Haycraft.
In the women’s race, 2:41 marathoner Autumn Ray also rolled to an easy victory, clocking 1:20:21, also the 2nd-fastest time in the race. Showing to be in good form, Ray ran the race to tune up for a November marathon effort. On the other side of the spectrum, the race for 2nd and 3rd was an intense battle between Tucson runners who have been racing a lot lately. Second place went to Jessica, who ran 2:57 earlier this month at Chicago, while steps behind in third was Lauren Reasoner, who ran 2:51 in Utah a few weeks ago. Lauren may have been a bit tired, as she was the first place woman in the Boneyard 10k the day before . . .
We’ll check in with more details later, but online reviews of the new course seem favorable. Special thanks to the volunteers and sponsors and family & friends for all the effort at putting on Tucson’s only urban half-marathon!
