More than 2,300 runners and walkers took to the streets of downtown Tucson on May 30 for the 20th annual TMC Meet Me Downtown 5K Night Run/Walk and Festival of Miles, an event that combines competitive racing, community celebration and charitable giving.
The race, one of Southern Arizona’s largest running events, attracted participants from 20 states and three countries. It also served as the Road Runners Club of America West Regional One Mile Championship, bringing elite runners from across the region to compete for regional titles and prize money.
Race Director Randy Accetta said the event was created to promote fitness while showcasing downtown Tucson.
“It’s a fitness festival in downtown Tucson designed to create a running event for people to race, compete and exercise while creating a downtown party atmosphere with a band, local businesses and a beer garden,” Accetta said. “We use running to help Tucson be a healthier, happier place to live.”
The event marked a milestone for Accetta, who has overseen the race since its inception.
“What a really cool tradition that Tucson has created,” Accetta said. “I really do think doing a large downtown event for the fitness community for 20 years demonstrates that our city has a heartbeat, a social connection and is a great place to exercise and be around.”
The championship mile featured several record-breaking performances. Collin Dylla, 27, won the men’s open division in 4 minutes, 6.39 seconds, setting a new course record. Stephanie Pierce, 26, captured the women’s open title in 5:07.69.
Jose Delgado, 41, and Nicole Pearce, 40, each set masters records in the 40-and-over divisions with times of 4:36.56 and 5:47.01, respectively.
Accetta said Dylla’s performance stood out because the Tucson schoolteacher is pursuing a chance to compete at the highest level of the sport.
“Collin is trying to get fast enough to try out for the Olympics and make an Olympic team,” Accetta said. “It’s just cool to see a guy try to break four minutes.”
In the 5K race, Terrence Keys won the men’s division in 15:33.3, while Pierce added a second victory by winning the women’s division in 18:17.97. Adam Perry won the nonbinary division in 19:12.
The event also highlighted young runners. Recent Catalina High School graduate Emiliano Caldera won the Running Shop High School Mile by HOKA in a course-record time of 4:28.50. Ana Paula Nunez of Rio Rico won the girls division in 6:02.
In the SAR FitKidz Mile, Connor Edmondson, 12, of Oro Valley finished first in 6:11.20, while Hazel Latt, 8, won the girls division in 7:54.
Beyond the competition, organizers distributed $10,500 to local nonprofit organizations. The BEYOND Foundation and Southern Arizona Runners each received $4,000, while Children’s Museum Tucson received $2,000 and Greater Tucson Leadership received $700.
Accetta said supporting community organizations has always been central to the race’s mission.
“It is inherent in the running community that our events are designed to support other nonprofit organizations,” Accetta said. “We’re continuing a long tradition of taking entry-fee funds and sponsorship funds and giving back.”
The race has grown significantly since its debut two decades ago, evolving from a small downtown gathering into a major community event supported by organizations including TMC Health, the Downtown Tucson Partnership, Rio Nuevo and Southern Arizona Runners.
Accetta credited those partnerships, along with support from participants and sponsors, for helping the race endure and grow.
“We survived the COVID years,” Accetta said. “Without these institutional support systems, we wouldn’t be able to do it.”
Looking ahead, Accetta said his goal remains simple: continue using running to strengthen the Tucson community.
“We all see that at the national level of ‘me, me, me,’ and what I love about what we’re trying to do is ‘us, us, us,’” Accetta said. “I want to just keep doing that.”
