The Marathon Project is making its return this December, and organizers are backing it up with a sizable investment: a $40,000 prize purse, the largest in Arizona road racing history.
The 2025 edition of the race, scheduled for Sunday, December 21 at Wild Horse Pass outside Chandler, will offer equal prize money in both the professional men’s and women’s races.
First place in each race will earn $10,000, followed by $5,000 for second, $2,500 for third, $1,500 for fourth, and $1,000 for fifth. The prize pool is double what was offered at the race’s first and only previous edition in 2020.
In a press release issued July 1, Marathon Project CEO Ben Rosario said, “Prize purses are going up in individual sports all over the world, but things have been fairly stagnant in professional running. Our goal is to start at $40,000 in 2025 and put on an amazing race that increases interest, participation, and sponsor dollars in year two, year three, etc. so that we can continue raising the purse in 2026 and beyond.”
The original Marathon Project was created during the COVID-19 pandemic as a one-off elite-only competition to help athletes compete in the absence of normal race opportunities.
Seven men broke the 2:10 mark at that 2020 event, including several who went on to make U.S. national teams. Rosario, who previously coached Northern Arizona Elite, left that role in 2023 to focus solely on the Marathon Project and develop it into a recurring event.
This year’s pro fields are already taking shape.
Among the women’s entries are Jackie Gaughan, the 2023 California International Marathon runner-up with a personal best of 2:24:40; 2022 USATF Marathon champion Paige Wood (2:26:02); and Alicja Konieczek, Poland’s steeplechase national record-holder who will be making her marathon debut. Sweden’s Hanna Lindholm, one of the world’s top female masters runners, is also entered.
The men’s race includes American Colin Mickow, who placed 12th in the 2020 Marathon Project and later represented the U.S. at the 2022 World Championships.
Other notable entries include Canada’s Thomas Broatch (2:10:35), Germany’s Johannes Motschmann (2:10:39 at the 2024 London Marathon), JP Flavin of the Hansons Brooks Distance Project (2:10:50 at the 2025 Boston Marathon), and Josh Izewski of ZAP Endurance (2:10:54 at the 2025 Chevron Houston Marathon).
The event will again take place on the roads around Wild Horse Pass, located on the Gila River Indian Community near Interstate 10 in the southeast Phoenix Valley.
The professional races will be streamed live on FloTrack, with Steve Sievert on play-by-play and commentary from Scott Fauble and Olympic medalist Molly Seidel.
Race weekend will include more than just the pro competition.
On Saturday, December 20, the TMP 5K will welcome runners of all ages and abilities, while the Gold Wave Marathon will give amateur marathoners the chance to race on the same course.
According to organizers, all professional and Gold Wave athletes will have access to up to six personal bottles on course through the Blank’s Sports Nutrition Personal Bottles Program.
The Marathon Project has also announced a new partnership with the Phoenix 10K and Marathon, scheduled for November 9.
According to The Arizona Republic, the collaboration will include “a volunteer exchange program, discounts for runners who participate in both events, and other promotional events throughout the year.”
