Members need to complete at least four Grand Prix races in order to be eligible for Grand Prix awards.

For each event listed, only one distance is included in the Grand Prix series. For example, Dr. Gann’s Diet of Hope Cinco De Mayo has multiple distances: 10K, 5K, and FitKidz Mile. Only the 10K is a part of the Grand Prix series.

Some events have separate races of which one is longer than 10K (TMC Arizona Distance Classic, Saguaro National Park Labor Day, TMC A Mountain). For these events, the race longer than 10K will be the Grand Prix scoring event for runners aged 15-74, and the race of 10K or less will be the Grand Prix scoring event for ages 14-and-under and 75-and-older. For the TMC Arizona Distance Classic, the quarter marathon (10.55K/6.55 miles) is the Grand Prix scoring event for ages 14-and-under and 75-and-older. In these three races, participants ages 14-and-under and 75-and-older receive Grand Prix points for results in their respective age groups only, but not for the Overall and Masters categories.

Some races (Old Tucson Trail Run, St. Luke’s Home Spring Cross-Country Classic, Thanksgiving XC Classic) are held with separate events for men and women. In these races, members who participate in the wrong event (i.e., a man running in the women’s race) will not receive points for that event.

Awards are provided by The Running Shop and Mizuno. All shirts have the Grand Prix, SAR, The Running Shop, and Mizuno logos.

Overall Winners:
1st Place: Prize value $170
2nd Place: Prize value $155
3rd Place: Prize value $140
4th Place: Prize value $125
5th Place: Prize value $110

Masters Winners:
1st Place: Prize value $155
2nd Place: Prize value $135
3rd Place: Prize value $120

Age Group Winners:
1st Place: Prize value $75
2nd Place: Prize value $45
3rd Place: Prize value $30

The overall and masters 1st place winners also receive complimentary entries in all Grand Prix races in the following year and a complimentary one-year extension of their SAR membership.

Awards are also given to the top female and male riders from the winning duo teams.

A runner’s age group for The Running Shop/Mizuno SAR Grand Prix series will be determined based on their age on January 1, 2026. This does not affect the age group that one participates in for individual races. For example, if you were born on January 15, 1996, you would be 29 at the beginning of the year and compete in the 25-29 age group for the Grand Prix for the year. Once you turn 30, you compete in 30-34 (or 30-39) age group at individual races but you remain in the 25-29 age group for the Grand Prix series.

Grand Prix age groups are 14-and-under, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, etc., through 75-79, and then 80-and-older. Note that for race results in general, age groups are sometimes different, but the preceding age groups will be used for Grand Prix scoring.

Participants in the Grand Prix have one month from the date of a race to dispute the results of that race. If your name does not appear in the results, or you feel that the results are inaccurate, you should contact the race director to resolve the issue. All result disputes will be adjudicated by a Rules Committee consisting of the Club President, the Club Vice-President, and The Running Shop/Mizuno SAR Grand Prix Committee Chair. If a dispute involves one of these members, the SAR Board of Directors will choose a replacement member for the Rules Committee.

Participants can win awards in only one category and will receive the award with the highest value. For example, if a participant wins in the top 5 overall category and in the age group category, they will be pulled from the age group category and those below will be bumped up. Similarly, if a masters participant wins in the top 3 masters category and the age group category, they will be pulled from the age group category and those below will be bumped up. This is to standardize the awards across categories and to give a greater number of people recognition for their efforts throughout the year. Also, if a masters participant places 2nd-5th in the overall category, but 1st in the masters category, they will be pulled from the overall category and win the masters category since 1st place also includes complimentary race entries and a complimentary membership extension (see above).

Every SAR member as of January 1, 2026 will be entered automatically in the Grand Prix. To participate in the Grand Prix, you must be a SAR member by July 1, 2026. If you become a SAR member by July 1, 2026, all the Grand Prix races you have participated in will be counted retroactively. New Members who join after July 1, 2026 will not be counted in the Grand Prix results, but will be eligible for the Grand Prix in the following year. If your membership expires after July 1, 2026, you will be pulled from the results. On July 1, 2026 all results will be re-calculated based on the July 1, 2026 SAR membership list. Final results will be calculated based on a cross-referenced list of those who are SAR members on both July 1, 2026 and on the date of the Thanksgiving XC Classic 5K.

A participant’s 10 highest scoring races out of all Grand Prix races will be scored. Therefore, if you complete 11 or more races, only your top 10 best finishes (in terms of points) will be counted.

The point system for each race will award 40 points for first place in a category (e.g. age group, overall or masters) down to 1 point for 25th place.

Participants who complete six or more races in the Grand Prix series in a calendar year receive a Grand Prix medal.

Participants who complete all races in the Grand Prix series in a calendar year will receive special recognition and one complimentary race entry in the following year.