The Sedona Marathon will begin at 8am at the Sedona Red Rock High School.

Third Annual Sedona Marathon takes place on February 9th

Sedona, AZ - One of the chief things long distance runners look for when choosing a marathon is scenery. After all, if you are going to run 26.2 miles having a great view is a wonderful bonus.

The Sedona Marathon fits the bill here like no other: Sedona Arizona was named the most beautiful place in America by USA Today Weekend Magazine in May of 2003.

Their freshman year Runner’s World Magazine featured them in their July issue. In their sophomore year, Japanese sports reporter Hajime Nishi named the event one of his top ten favorite world-wide marathons. They are currently featured in the February issue of National Geographic Adventurer Magazine.

The Sedona Marathon returns for its third year on February 9, 2008 and Sedona's breathtaking backdrop is drawing seasoned runners from around the globe.

2007’s events brought international visitors to Sedona from 9 countries and from 43 states in the US. Runners included past Olympic Gold Medalists from the Canadian Team who saw the Marathon as an excellent training opportunity for the 2008 Summer Olympics.

The Sedona Marathon also is pleased to announce that internationally renowned Wharton Performance has come on as a sponsor of the event. Father and son team Jim and Phil Wharton are the authors of the Wharton Health books, have a regular column in Runner World and USA Today, and have personally trained over 500 Olympic Medalists.

Jim and Phil Wharton have agreed to give a free talk and training clinic open to marathon participants and the public on Thursday February 7th at 6pm at the Goldenstein Gallery in Sedona. Wharton is planning on participating in the marathon as well. He is also bringing runners from his personal running club that just took fifth in national competition.

“We are extremely excited and honored to be in partnership with Wharton Performance,” states Race Director Karen Livesay. “Their participation speaks to the direction that we want to have the Marathon grow. Our goal is to be a race that attracts runners who see this as an opportunity for a breathtaking run that is unique among races.”

The full marathon is one of three races; there is also a half marathon race and a 5k.

Walkers are welcome and the 5k in particular is popular with families and others who don’t normally consider themselves to be athletes. The age range of participants begins at age 4 and goes all the way up to 78. Everyone gets a medal when they cross the finish line and gets bragging rights that they participated in a race with elite athletes from around the globe.

The marathon course covers pavement and forest dirt roads while the half marathon and 5K are strictly on pavement in the city and forest. The local schools and the nationally based Lymphoma Research Foundation are named again as beneficiaries of the event.

The third annual Sedona Marathon takes place on February 09, 2008. The starting gun goes off at 8am at Sedona Red Rock High School. For more information call 800-775-7671 or go to www.sedonamarathon.com.

The Sedona Marathon is a production of Four Winds Adventures. Since 1997, Four Winds has produced multi-sport endurance events across the western U.S.

Click to open .pdf of Sedona Marathon Course Map