Pup-A-Go 5k Hike/Run

Pup-A-Go 5k Hike/Run takes place in Phoenix, Arizona, on January 10, 2027. There is a single format, a 5K hike/run on trail, starting at 7:30 AM. As the name suggests, it is set up as an outing you cover on foot at whatever pace suits you, whether that means running the whole thing or hiking a good part of it.

Because the route is off road, your finish time will not line up with a road 5K: footing and grade change the effort, and a short climb can turn a comfortable pace into a hard one. That makes this a low-pressure way into trail running if you have only raced on pavement. A few weeks of easy running plus one outing a week on uneven ground is enough preparation, and shoes with real grip will do more for your morning than any amount of speed work. An early start also means allowing time to get there and collect your bib before 7:30.