Cottonwood’s Vintage Run will be returning on Saturday, April 20, with a mix of courses for running and walking to engage the community in active and healthy activities.
The event is the city’s signature foot race and has taken place since 1992, when the Verde Mingus Blowout was created. The race was successful for many years as a 10K and allowed participants to see Cottonwood’s beauty while getting exercise.
In 2007, the race was rebranded in former City Manager Brian Mickelsen’s honor to pay homage to his passion for running and included longer distances.
“Since then, the race has continued to evolve to meet the needs of our community,” the event’s website states.
Following the race in 2019, the event was rebranded again to incorporate Cottonwood’s brand as “The Heart of Arizona Wine Country” and was renamed to use the wine-themed title Vintage Run.
The event includes four competitive runs varying in distance. The 10K takes place mainly on roads and sidewalks and passes through Dead Horse Ranch State Park. The half marathon goes through Old Town and through Tuzigoot National Monument and Dead Horse Ranch State Park, while the two-mile course runs from Riverfront Park to the main gate of Dead Horse Ranch State Park and is fairly flat.
The Half-Corked 5K Fun Run will take place in partnership with the Verde Valley Wine Consortium and the course goes through Old Town and the Jail Trail. All runners will be carrying a cup of water while they run, and will be encouraged to keep a steady pace. Runners will start the race with a full glass of water and must keep it full in order to have it replaced with finish-line wine at the end of the race. This race is untimed and limited to those 21 and older.
All four courses will begin and end at the ramadas at Riverfront Park.
Online registration closes on Wednesday, April 17, and will be open again on race day. For more information and to register, visit runcottonwood.com.
