Veterans in southern Arizona have a free start line waiting for them this Halloween. The Salute to Veterans 5K/10K/Half Marathon rolls through Tucson's Danny Lopez Park on Saturday, October 31, 2026, and organizers are waiving the entry fee entirely for veterans, with a steep discount for active-duty service members.
Free for Veterans, Discounted for Active Duty
According to the event's registration page on RunSignUp, veterans can register for any of the three distances, 5K, 10K, or half marathon, at no cost, while active-duty military can enter for just $15. The only requirement is a government-issued military ID at pickup. Regular registration for the general public runs from $35 for the 5K up to $55 for the half marathon, so the veteran discount represents real savings for anyone looking to lace up on race day.
The race starts at 8:00 a.m. on an ultra-flat, loop-style road course, a detail that matters for anyone chasing a personal best or simply looking for a manageable return to racing. Finishers across all distances receive a custom medal and race shirt, with overall and age-group awards presented afterward.
Part of a Growing Nationwide Series
Tucson's race isn't a one-off. It's part of a broader Salute to Veterans series that has been expanding its free-entry model to cities across the country this fall, including stops in Phoenix, Denton, and Colorado Springs later in the year. Each city follows a similar formula: veterans run free, active-duty troops get a steep discount, and the surrounding community turns out to support them. It's a simple structure, but it's one that lowers a real barrier, entry fees, for people who have already given enough.
For a lot of veterans, the cost of a race entry is a small thing compared to a deployment or a service injury, but it's still a cost, and one more reason to stay on the couch instead of the start line. Programs like this chip away at that barrier one city at a time.
Getting Involved
Runners interested in the Tucson race can register directly through RunSignUp, and organizers recommend signing up early to guarantee shirt sizing. Arizona veterans looking for more ways to stay active, or to connect with other benefits they've earned, can also check out Arizona's veteran races and Arizona veteran benefits.
This is exactly the kind of opportunity Operation WarriorFit was built to help veterans find. If you're a veteran, service member, or first responder and a free race entry would help get you to a start line like this one, check your eligibility and let us help cover the cost so you can focus on the miles ahead.