In the Fall of 1978, a customer happened into the fledgling Phoenix running store, Runner's Den, and mentioned he had met Bill Rodgers. Bill said he had once passed through Phoenix and had always wanted to return to get to know the city, look for arrowheads and perhaps run a race.
At the time, Bill was the best known runner in the world, gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated, Runner's World, Runner, Running Times and other sports periodicals while Runner's Den had recently opened in the Valley and was just getting its footing.
Bill was in the midst of winning Boston and New York 4 times each, and just about every other major road race in the U.S. Runner's Den was trying to determine how much Shoe Goo to stock. Seemed like a logical partnership.
Discussions ensued and Bill, who was looking for a winter place to race and train for the 1979 Boston Marathon, committed to run what would become the inaugural Runner's Den 10,000 Meter Run scheduled for February 4, 1979. (Bill went on to win Boston in '79, setting the American record at 2:09:27. He didn't win at Runner's Den)
From that first successful year, Bill's relationship with Phoenix and the stature of the race grew. Shortly after that first race, Bill did an interview from Phoenix which was featured on the cover of Runner's World magazine. As a result, the following year's race exploded competitively, attracting elite athletes from around the country and later, the world.
The event then went on to be one of the most competitive 10K road races anywhere in the world and maintained that reputation through the 80's and early 90's. From about 1994 thru 2013, Runner's Den 10K remained a staple on the Valley running calendar, each winter, hosting hundreds of local athletes.
Then, in 2014, the race forged a partnership with IHOP and adopted the motto, "Get Your Syrup On". Merging this long running, top-of-the-mind road race with the high quality brand of IHOP (and it's great Pancakes) resulted in the explosion of the event in popularity. Since that time, the race has had to limit the field to 2,000 participants in order to deliver the product and experience it strives to present.
In 2018, in it's 40th year, the event was voted "Best Road Race" by Phoenix Magazine and today is the third oldest, ongoing running event in the state of Arizona. The 43rd annual event is scheduled for February 7, 2021.
We hope you can join us.
At the time, Bill was the best known runner in the world, gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated, Runner's World, Runner, Running Times and other sports periodicals while Runner's Den had recently opened in the Valley and was just getting its footing.
Bill was in the midst of winning Boston and New York 4 times each, and just about every other major road race in the U.S. Runner's Den was trying to determine how much Shoe Goo to stock. Seemed like a logical partnership.
Discussions ensued and Bill, who was looking for a winter place to race and train for the 1979 Boston Marathon, committed to run what would become the inaugural Runner's Den 10,000 Meter Run scheduled for February 4, 1979. (Bill went on to win Boston in '79, setting the American record at 2:09:27. He didn't win at Runner's Den)
From that first successful year, Bill's relationship with Phoenix and the stature of the race grew. Shortly after that first race, Bill did an interview from Phoenix which was featured on the cover of Runner's World magazine. As a result, the following year's race exploded competitively, attracting elite athletes from around the country and later, the world.
The event then went on to be one of the most competitive 10K road races anywhere in the world and maintained that reputation through the 80's and early 90's. From about 1994 thru 2013, Runner's Den 10K remained a staple on the Valley running calendar, each winter, hosting hundreds of local athletes.
Then, in 2014, the race forged a partnership with IHOP and adopted the motto, "Get Your Syrup On". Merging this long running, top-of-the-mind road race with the high quality brand of IHOP (and it's great Pancakes) resulted in the explosion of the event in popularity. Since that time, the race has had to limit the field to 2,000 participants in order to deliver the product and experience it strives to present.
In 2018, in it's 40th year, the event was voted "Best Road Race" by Phoenix Magazine and today is the third oldest, ongoing running event in the state of Arizona. The 43rd annual event is scheduled for February 7, 2021.
We hope you can join us.