Overview The Mesa Marathon is a downhill road race in the Arizona desert: the marathon starts on Usery Pass Road on the flank of Usery Mountain and loses nearly 1,000 feet net on its way to Riverview Park in Mesa, a course the race sells as a fast Boston qualifier. A half marathon drops nearly 200 feet from McDowell Road through desert and citrus groves, a 10K starts at Fitch Park in historic downtown Mesa, and there is a free Kids 1K. It used to be called the Mesa-Phoenix Marathon. Brooksee Event Productions puts it on, and pairs it with its Phoenix Marathon in a Desert Double medal for runners who finish both. On site All three races go off at 6:30 in the morning and every distance finishes at Riverview Park, at Paseo Lago Vista and North Riverview. The marathon course carries 13 aid stations, with water, gels, first aid and muscle relief, and runners have to finish by 1:03 p.m. The Finish Festival hands out water, electrolyte drink, snacks, fruit and cold towels, with a beer garden pouring free beer for runners of legal age. Anyone who runs a Boston qualifying time can pick up a free BQ luggage tag at the results tent. Before race day, the Health and Fitness Expo runs course lectures and a vendor passport. Audience About two-thirds of the field lives in Arizona, and the rest travel in from all 50 states and 13 countries. The race pitches its downhill courses at runners chasing a Boston qualifying time or a personal best, and every runner gets free race photos and a custom video reel. Brand presence The title sponsor's name runs with the race title, and its mark sits on the front of the race shirt, the finish arch and the medal ribbon, on branded photo backdrops and as a watermark on every runner's free photo, with industry exclusivity. Below it, levels move logos onto the bibs, the start arch, the finish chute, the race guide and the highlight video, with booths at the expo and the finish line. Named pieces of the day can be sponsored on their own: the Finish Festival, which We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort presented for 2027, the expo, the beer garden, the massage and recovery zone, aid stations, mile markers, the race app and live runner tracking.