The Marathon Project, a one-off race at the time, that took place at the height of the pandemic in 2020 in Chandler, Arizona is back.
Race director Ben Rosario, formerly with the Northern Arizona Elite club, announced that the race will be held again on December 21, 2025, at 7:30 AM.
The Marathon Project was an elite-only marathon held on the Gila River Indian Reservation. December 2020. It was created by Rosario together with Josh Cox and Matt Helbig to provide a race after many marathons were cancelled due to COVID-19.
The same course will be used, a looped 4.26-mile or 6.855-kilometre route to be run six times.
According to Runner’s World Magazine, prize money will be announced in spring or summer.
“Prize money will be announced no later than July 1, and the top 15 seeds will have their travel and lodging paid for. In 2020, the winners earned $5,000, second place took home $2,000, and third place got $1,000.”
Martin Hehir won the 2020 edition, which was used as a last-chance opportunity for North American athletes to attempt to qualify for the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympic Games.
Hehir ran a personal best of 2:08:59, and Noah Droddy finished in second at 2:09:09, while Colin Bennie clocked a 2:09:38 to take third.
All 40 male finishers clocked sub-2:20. Ten women finished sub-2:30.
The race was run primarily by Americans, however, there were Irish, Scottish, French, two Mexican and six Canadian athletes.
Top results from 2020
Top Results Men
1. Martin Hehir 2:08:59
2. Noah Droddy 2:09:09
3. Colin Bennie 2:09:38
4. Scott Fauble 2:09:42
5. Ian Butler 2:09:45
6. Scott Smith 2:09:46
7. Mick Iacofano 2:09:55
8. Benjamin Preisner 2:10:17
9. Nathan Martin 2:11:05
10. CJ Albertson 2:11:18
11. Emmanuel Roudolff 2:11:20
12. Colin Mickow 2:11:22
13. Reid Buchanan 2:11:38
14. Kevin Lewis 2:12:02
15. Cam Levins 2:12:15
Top Results Women
1 Sara Hall 2:20:32
2. Keira D’Amato 2:22:56
3. Kellyn Taylor 2:25:22
4. Emma Bates 2:25:40
5. Natasha Wodak 2:26:19
6. Andrea Ramirez Limon 2:26:34
7. Paige Stoner 2:28:43
8. Ursula Patricia Sanchez Garcia 2:29:11
9. Sarah Inglis 2:29:41
10. Bria Wetsch 2:29:50
11. Julia Kohnen 2:29:58
12. Samantha Roecker 2:29:59
13. Dakotah Lindwurm 2:30:38
14. Alia Gray 2:30:41
15. Cristina McKnight 2:31:23
