We had a rockin’ good time at our second destination run weekend, Run Arizona, Jan. 13-17, 2023. More than 120 runners with Moms on the Run gathered in Tempe for Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona, a race series featuring a 5K, 10K, half and marathon — complete with live music throughout the race courses!. It was fun to see so many represent MOTR with our bright shirts and smiling faces.
Moms on the Run participants were greeted with a Friday night poolside welcome reception, complete with apps, games, prizes and free OOFOS recovery footwear for all. Saturday featured the 5K; yoga in the park; live podcast at the race expo with National Fitness Director, Olympian Carrie Tollefson and author/former pro runner Sara Slattery, OOFOS’ Whitney Krempin and Moms on the Run Founder Karissa Johnson; free time; and pasta dinner. On Sunday, we cheered for those running the 10K, half and marathon. (Who knew they’d sign up to run in the desert yet run in the rain!). We had an awesome VIP tent at the finish line with pizza from Bianco. We celebrated with a fantastic dinner at Pedal Haus Brewery and an inspiring message from amputee ultramarathoner Jackie Hunt-Broersma, then danced the night away at our Rockin’ Decades Dance Party. The 80s and 90s attire and music were literally a hit! Those who extended the weekend with us on Monday were treated to a fantastic recovery day at Bell Bank Park, a $280 million state-of-the-art athletic facility in Mesa, AZ, with host and tour guide Olympian Dan O’Brien. We also enjoyed a fun afternoon hiking nearby Papago Park.
A big thank you goes out to our event sponsors, OOFOS and Rollga. We also want to thank Tempe Tourism, UCAN, Squirrels’ Nut Butter, and Essence Chapstick for providing items for our welcome bags.
Our athletes ran, laughed, cheered, toured, hiked and PRd — and we had several runners run their first marathon! Check out the photo gallery below for just a few of our photos from the weekend.
If you joined us in Arizona and haven’t already, please fill out our event survey.