Arizona Road Racers always put on a quality event. Their summer series gets local runners out early to beat the summer heat.

This 5k was located at the Riparian Preserve in Gilbert, AZ. The course goes out along the nearby canal and comes back through the preserve on the gravel paths.

The race is extremely affordable, whether or not you are an Arizona Road Racers member. You can also choose whether or not to purchase a shirt. The only downside is that there are not any finishers medals, which is fairly common for a 5k.

There is ample parking at the preserve, there were over 450 runners in the race. Pickup was a snap. The race started on time, organized in waves 30 seconds apart. Even with a wave start, with the narrow path it was a bit crowded. There were a few water stops, and a decent assortment of treats at the finish. Another plus - age group awards 3 deep!

I think it's worth doing it for the scenery alone! There are several other races in the series during the summer, in locations all over the valley.