Natalie Hoang's Staging Area

This was my first trail run event and I had a great time! Vacation Races did a great job at Basecamp with providing food, entertainment, activities and recovery stations. We had access to compost toilets, showers, and flush toilets throughout the Basecamp. The camping experience was okay – we had to camp in the back Basecamp where there was a lot of wind and loose dirt/sand. I wish I could have camped in the grass at the Basecamp park like previous years, however, the move was due to a city request.

The three courses were challenging but very fun and scenic. Bryce Canyon was a tough course as it was the longest, had the most elevation gain and was nearly a single file trail throughout. It was tough to pass other runners and the downhill sections could get dangerous with other runners present. I was a fan of the Zion course as it was much more open and had wider paths. Also, this course had great views throughout the race. Lastly, the Horseshoe Bend course was tough to run as it was mostly sand and had uneven terrain throughout. We did get an awesome view of Horseshoe Bend in the beginning of the course.

Overall, I am glad I got to experience this event and came out of it with an overall positive experience. This is a must try for any trail runner who wants a fun and challenging experience!