Oracle Rumble Race Info

– 2023 was an amazing year for us! Please see the event recap HERE!

– Check out this amazing video for 2023 HERE by Damion Alexander!

– Check out the ‘Oracle Rumble 2022 Highlights’ video put together by our friend and videographer, Craig Mills, HERE!

Distances

50 Mile

Begin at 7:30 a.m. on the Arizona Trail (AZT) north of Oracle, near the town of Dudleyville, at the Freeman Road Trailhead. We provide transportation from Oracle State Park (OSP) to the start line, then you’ll run back on single-track, south to OSP. Making your way through the park (southeast of Kannally Ranch) and then turn around for more great running back to the finish line where you’ll be greeted with friendly folks, great food, and a cool finisher prize!

For all the details you need to know, view the PARTICIPANT GUIDE HERE!

50K

Begins at 7:30 a.m. at the same location as the 50 Mile (Freeman Road Trailhead). Transportation is provided to the start line from the staging area in OSP. When you reach OSP the course will diverge from the 50 Mile and instead of heading east you will continue south to the finish line.

For all the details you need to know, view the PARTICIPANT GUIDE HERE!

Half-Marathon

Beginning at 8:00 a.m., this race is entirely within OSP and consists of a single loop almost exclusively single-track trail. The course is a tough challenge with lots of rollers and some moderately technical areas that will get your lungs and legs working hard! Make it to the finish line to collect your finisher’s award.

For all the details you need to know, view the PARTICIPANT GUIDE HERE!

12K

Like the Half-Marathon, this course will also be entirely within OSP and will be a single loop almost exclusively on single-track trail, starting at 8:30 a.m. This is a tough course that is constantly rolling up and down. Your fitness will be tested! If you are new to trail running or haven’t run longer distances, this is the perfect event for you!

For all the details you need to know, view the PARTICIPANT GUIDE HERE!

Location

Oracle State Park (OSP) is located at 3820 Wildlife Dr, Oracle, AZ 85623. The town of Oracle is located roughly 40 miles north of Tucson. The drive from Tucson International Airport to the town of Oracle takes a little over one hour. From the Phoenix airport it takes only about 1 hour 30 minutes.

Located northeast of Tucson in the Santa Catalina Mountains, the town of Oracle sits at an elevation of 4,154 feet. As a result, it is much cooler than Tucson or Phoenix and, in the days before air conditioning, the climate attracted people for health reasons, as well as for comfort that towns at lower elevations could not provide. According to local legend, Oracle was named for a ship built in Bath, Maine. In 1878, a prospector named Albert Weldon made the trip to the western part of the United States around Cape Horn aboard his uncle’s ship, The Oracle. In gratitude for his safe passage, Weldon named his first mining claim “The Oracle” which the town later adopted as its own.

Directions To Oracle State Park

From Tucson (via Highway 77):

Take Highway 77 (Oracle Road) north. Continue on Highway 77 as it curves east at Oracle Junction. Turn right off Highway 77 at the Oracle turnoff. Follow the road through Oracle (American Avenue) 2.3 miles to Mt. Lemmon Road. Turn right on Mt. Lemmon Road. Follow it 1.1 miles to the park entrance. The park is located on the left (north) side of Mt. Lemmon Road.

From Phoenix Area (via Highway 79):

Take Highway 79 south (79 passes through Florence). At the junction with Highway 77 turn left (east). Turn right off Highway 77 at the Oracle turnoff. Follow the road through Oracle (America Avenue) 2.3 miles to Mt. Lemmon Road. Turn right on Mt. Lemmon Road. Follow it 1.1 miles to the park entrance. The park is located on the left (north) side of Mt. Lemmon Road.

Race Day – daylight hours

Sunrise: 7:21 a.m.
Sunset: 5:50 p.m.

Weather and Terrain

In January, the average high temperature is 56 °F (13 °C) with a low of 35 °F (2 °C). At an altitude of 4,100 feet Oracle’s vegetation consists of mostly emory oak (Quercus emoryi), desert spoon (Dasylirion wheeleri), soaptree yucca (Yucca elata), prickly pear (Opuntia) and various grasses. For an up-to-date weather forecast, click here.

Packet Pickup

Friday, January 26, 2024 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m packet pickup will take place at Summit Hut in Oro Valley. Summit Hut is located in the Oracle Crossings Shopping Center (Suffolk and Oracle) at 7745 N Oracle Road, 85704.

We very strongly encourage all runners to pick up their packets at packet pickup on Friday before the race. Race morning will be very hectic so picking up your packet ahead of time will make things much easier for everyone. Plus, we’ll give everyone who picks up their packet on Friday some special event swag. Please see the Participant Guide for additional details and please make sure to wear a face covering.

Restrooms & Trail Etiquette

There are restrooms at the start/finish of the 12K and Half-Marathon courses. There will be port-o-potties at the start of the 50 Miler and 50K. At the Aid Stations for the 50 Miler and 50K, there will be small portable toilets for use. Nature potty is always an option, but you must pack out your toilet paper (yes we’re serious). Do not leave any trash on the trail. We want to make sure we have minimal impact on the AZT and the trail corridor. Anyone caught littering will be automatically disqualified.

Drop Bags

Drop Bags must be securely closed and clearly labeled with the aid station abbreviation and your race bib number. For example, if you are #50, your Kannally Wash Drop Bag should be labeled: KW #50. Drop bags will need to be delivered to the finish line and placed in the appropriate area (it will be clearly labeled with the name of the Aid Station) before you board the bus to the start line. If you are getting dropped off at the Start Line on Freeman Road by crew on race morning, you are required to bring any drop bags you want to packet pickup on Friday, Jan 27, 2023. This is the only way we will be able to get your drop bags where they need to go in time on race morning.

Pacers

NEW FOR THIS YEAR, WE ARE ALLOWING PACERS IN THE 50 MILE EVENT!

There are strict rules for how this will work, so please carefully read and follow the instructions below:

Email the race director at oraclerd@aztrail.org prior to Jan 15, 2024 with your intent to have a pacer and include the pacer’s name and email address.

Pacers may only pick up their runner at the American Flag Ranch (AF) Aid Station at mile 38.5.
Pacers may get dropped off at the AF aid station by crew or may get a ride to the aid station from the Group Use Area parking lot just above the finish line. We will have a designated, marked vehicle for this purpose that will leave every 30 minutes between 12:30pm – 5:30pm. PACERS MAY NOT PARK AT AMERICAN FLAG RANCH AND LEAVE THE CAR UNTIL AFTER THEY FINISH THE RACE WITH THEIR RUNNER AS PARKING AT AF IS LIMITED.
Pacers must check in at the AF aid station, sign a waiver, provide emergency contact info, and pick up their pacer bib. All of this must be done prior to when the pacer leaves the aid station with their runner.
Pacers may not carry any items for their runner so as to not obtain an unfair advantage over another competitor.
Pacers must have a headlamp.
Pacers should carry their own cup, just as the competitors do.
Pacers are free to partake in any aid station fare.

Failure to comply with any of these rules is grounds for immediate disqualification at the discretion of an Aid Station Captain or the Race Director.

* If a pacer is dropped off at AF by other crew members, that crew vehicle may stay at AF until after assisting their runner, and then that crew vehicle should return to OSP.

Photography

We will have some great local photographers out there capturing the day in pictures and will provide access to those photos shortly after the event.

Pets

Pets are not allowed on the race course, and are not allowed on most trails within OSP. Pets are welcome around the finish line but must be leashed at all times.

Parking & Transportation

Park within Oracle State Park in and near the Oak Woodland area, campground, and along Wildlife Drive facing south/southwest. Crew and spectators are also encouraged to park here and then walk north on the paved road to the Group Use Ara which will be the finish line for all events.

Spectators, friends and family driving into the Park will be required to pay the $7 entry fee or present a valid AZ State Parks Pass.

Parking and Start Area within OSP

All parking for the ultra events is within OSP along the main road. See the participant guide for more details. Runners, volunteers and spectators should proceed to the Group Use Area in OSP for registration, bus boarding and various start line information. All events finish in the Group Use Area.

Buses to Start for 50 Mile, 50 Mile Relay and 50K

Runners in the 50 Mile, 50 Mile Relay first leg, & 50K can ride the bus for free to the starting line, leaving their vehicles within Oracle State Park. Runners will board their buses at 5:30 a.m. at the Group Use Area (finish line) for a 5:40 am departure. Do not not arrive late. These buses will depart promptly at 5:40 am! If you need to leave anything on the bus, make sure it ends up in the front two seats of the bus in a bag with your bib number and we’ll get those bags back to OSP. Runners may have crew drop them off at the Start Line on Freeman Road but cars may not park for any time in the start line area.

Awards

All 50 Mile, 50 Mile Relay and 50K finishers will receive our custom finisher’s horseshoe, made entirely within AZ! The top 3 male and female finishers in each distance will receive a modified version of the finisher award.

The totally custom and unique horseshoe awards are being made by local artist Jason Butler from all Arizona materials. More details on the HM and 12K finisher awards coming soon!

All Half Marathon and 12K finishers will receive these awesome race medals. Picture coming soon!