This was my first continuous ultra marathon (had done a Yeti challenge 50K before). While many reviews said it was a perfect first ultra marathon, I would agree as far … MORE
This was my first continuous ultra marathon (had done a Yeti challenge 50K before). While many reviews said it was a perfect first ultra marathon, I would agree as far as the scenery, but for the level of difficulty, I think it is a tough one for newbies. The views were absolutely breath taking, so I am so grateful that I got to participate for that. The most difficult parts for me were the 20 plus miles of sand and the more technical slick rock in the first part of the race. We were warned about the sand, and I did do a lot of ankle stability training to prepare. My ankles were felt strong and great, but I don’t think there is a perfect way to train to run in that kind of sand unless you live in the area and can practice in it. Coming from Minnesota, the closest we have to sand like that is deep snow, and we had winter with practically no snow this year.:). I did find that using trekking poles was helpful with the sand, and that I could actually speed walk with the poles faster than I could run. The beginning of the race also has quite a bit of climbing up and down rock/boulders, which slowed me down quite a bit. Again, if you live in an area to practice that part, it would be easier. There also had to be a course change due to safety, and we could no longer drop down into the slot canyons. I completely respect the decision to keep everyone safe, but I do wish we could have done that part of the race. It would have broken it up more for me and added another element of awe. I feel like we probably had more sand miles to deal with because of the change. This was definitely an epic race and I am very proud to have finished. If you go in with the mindset that you will be facing a lot of sand and that you will be out there for a long time with beautiful scenery, you will be able to do it! The race organization and aid stations are top notch, so you will feel well supported!
Please login to reply to this review.
Equally Stunning and Difficult Epic Race
This was my first continuous ultra marathon (had done a Yeti challenge 50K before). While many reviews said it was a perfect first ultra marathon, I would agree as far … MORE
This was my first continuous ultra marathon (had done a Yeti challenge 50K before). While many reviews said it was a perfect first ultra marathon, I would agree as far as the scenery, but for the level of difficulty, I think it is a tough one for newbies. The views were absolutely breath taking, so I am so grateful that I got to participate for that. The most difficult parts for me were the 20 plus miles of sand and the more technical slick rock in the first part of the race. We were warned about the sand, and I did do a lot of ankle stability training to prepare. My ankles were felt strong and great, but I don’t think there is a perfect way to train to run in that kind of sand unless you live in the area and can practice in it. Coming from Minnesota, the closest we have to sand like that is deep snow, and we had winter with practically no snow this year.:). I did find that using trekking poles was helpful with the sand, and that I could actually speed walk with the poles faster than I could run. The beginning of the race also has quite a bit of climbing up and down rock/boulders, which slowed me down quite a bit. Again, if you live in an area to practice that part, it would be easier. There also had to be a course change due to safety, and we could no longer drop down into the slot canyons. I completely respect the decision to keep everyone safe, but I do wish we could have done that part of the race. It would have broken it up more for me and added another element of awe. I feel like we probably had more sand miles to deal with because of the change. This was definitely an epic race and I am very proud to have finished. If you go in with the mindset that you will be facing a lot of sand and that you will be out there for a long time with beautiful scenery, you will be able to do it! The race organization and aid stations are top notch, so you will feel well supported!
Views for miles, hills, sand
The expo: easy packet pickup, lots of stuff for sale, got a giant bag of protein powder as a goodie bag. Tshirt was cute! Expo was pretty small. Hubby was … MORE
The expo: easy packet pickup, lots of stuff for sale, got a giant bag of protein powder as a goodie bag. Tshirt was cute! Expo was pretty small. Hubby was able to sign up last minute for the half (at a higher price, of course).
The race: There were 2 corrals that took off about 5 minutes apart. The first couple of miles goes up a hill, where there is a water station, then it’s about 4 miles of downhill, until an aid station at 6.6 miles. Lots of people got lost on this section due to inadequate signage. All paths eventually lead to the correct track, however I definitely gained unnecessary distance here.
There are parts of the trail where you run single file on the side of a canyon. This is the most picturesque part and also a bit scary. I was very self conscious of people wanting to pass me here. There is nowhere to move to let people pass.
The second longer half of the trail is mostly uphill, with at least 2 miles of ankle deep sand towards the end. The sand section is HARD! Basically, rolling hills where I ran the downhills and sunk deep in the sand crawled the uphills. Definitely something to train for! I had no idea how to run this part properly. I was so exhausted, I missed the last water station, and was completely on empty towards the end. Clocked 14.1 miles.
They give you a nice snack box and a banana when you are done. There were 2 food trucks, and you get a coupon to redeem for food. None of the food was very appetizing. The Navajo Taco is just a deep fried mess. I wish they had beer. The medal is very cool, and it’s much bigger for the longer distances.
Overall, a great experience for my first trail race. Looking forward to racing with Vacation Races again!
Challenging and Beautiful
This race covered different challenges. There was slick rock, that you had to scramble a bit to get over in places. Deep sand, I recommend wearing gaiters. Overall the race … MORE
This race covered different challenges. There was slick rock, that you had to scramble a bit to get over in places. Deep sand, I recommend wearing gaiters. Overall the race was great. There were breathtaking beautiful views of Lake Powell and the Colorado river as well as colorful magnificent cliffs. Horseshoe Bend was my favorite part of the race. The aid stations were stocked with a variety of goodies including, bean burritos, peanut butter sandwiches, fresh pancakes, fruit, cookies, candy, etc. The volunteers were outgoing and friendly! Vacation Races are always a great experience!!
Amazing & Challenging but SOOO worth it.
This is a unique race that has everything from running on rocks, sand, dirt trail, steep drops (very) and climbing with AMAZING views. The aid stations were fully stocked with … MORE
This is a unique race that has everything from running on rocks, sand, dirt trail, steep drops (very) and climbing with AMAZING views. The aid stations were fully stocked with salty, sweet, hydration and fruits, they always had something that would fit your like. So if you are looking for a tactical ultra this is the one (the sand made this race pretty difficult) . I have to say that you will be running in sand for about 18 to 20 miles on and off for the 55k course. I would say that 90% of the trail was Very well marked specially in the remote areas. I would 100% recommend with the proper training. This is not the race to run if you are winging it. You must put it in the training time and you will have an enjoyable run. I will definitely do it again to beat my time.
Wow. Incredible experience.
This was my first official ultra. Prior to raceday, I’d done a siginificant amount of research on this course. I was completely aware of the sand, and that really helped … MORE
This was my first official ultra. Prior to raceday, I’d done a siginificant amount of research on this course. I was completely aware of the sand, and that really helped me mentally. Physically though, it was very challenging. But as another person previously mentioned… don’t let the sand deter you from this experience.
The course was beautiful. The Navajo Nation presentation set a perfect tone for the culture and tone of the event. The race production was very impressive. But mostly, the people. The people are what really put this race over the top for me. Just an incredible experience!
Truly thankful that I chose Antelope Canyon. And beyond a doubt, I’ll absolutely attend another Vacation Races event. Well done y’all!
Gorgeous Course
For someone looking to explore the West, this race is a must. Starting just before dawn puts you into Antelope Canyon just after sunrise. The loop around Horseshoe Bend was … MORE
For someone looking to explore the West, this race is a must. Starting just before dawn puts you into Antelope Canyon just after sunrise. The loop around Horseshoe Bend was spectacular. Finally, the Rim trail around the city is a really fun way to take in the views and the city.
Beautiful and challenging
Best race I've ever participated in. VacationRaces does an incredible job. Super challenging, beautiful place, nice people. I read these reviews before I went. Here's what I DIDN'T know: 1) … MORE
Best race I’ve ever participated in. VacationRaces does an incredible job. Super challenging, beautiful place, nice people. I read these reviews before I went. Here’s what I DIDN’T know:
1) SAND! The course is mostly sand – not just a few miles. Felt like I was at the beach for 20+ miles. Very challenging.
2) Rock! Miles 20-30 were not on a trail and were not running! Was mostly climbing and walking along rocky surfaces. This was incredible but led me to underestimate my time on the course. Had to change plans.
Would 100% come back and do it again, but will be better informed for round 2.
Challenging but epic
Overall super happy with Vacation Races. Bummed that the 55K was rerouted out of antelope canyon, because that was the main reason I signed up for the race. It was … MORE
Overall super happy with Vacation Races. Bummed that the 55K was rerouted out of antelope canyon, because that was the main reason I signed up for the race. It was a solid challenge with about 20 miles of deep sand but the epic views compensated for the struggle.
Slow (deep sand) and beautiful scenery
Be prepared for many miles in deep sand. Wear sand gators or you’ll be dumping sand out of your shoes at aid stations. Well organized and well run with a … MORE
Be prepared for many miles in deep sand. Wear sand gators or you’ll be dumping sand out of your shoes at aid stations. Well organized and well run with a lot of runners
Rugged Beauty!
Anyone considering this race seriously needs to get sand gaiters. This is my 3rd time running this race, and I still underestimated the energy it takes to plod through the … MORE
Anyone considering this race seriously needs to get sand gaiters. This is my 3rd time running this race, and I still underestimated the energy it takes to plod through the sand. It is helpful to have trekking poles, especially if you’ve never climbed or run on slick rock. Spectacular views, awesome volunteers, well run race. I’m already thinking about next year to improve my time.
Beautiful But Very Challenging Race
This race was my first ultra and I don't think I could have picked a better race! The views were amazing throughout the entire race and we didn't even get … MORE
This race was my first ultra and I don’t think I could have picked a better race! The views were amazing throughout the entire race and we didn’t even get to go through the slot canyons this year. With that said, do not underestimate the difficulty of this race especially when it comes to the sand. ~40-50% of the race is on sand which made it incredibly challenging and it wasn’t just me. The one comment shared by every runner I talked to was how brutal the sand was. Don’t let that scare you away though, the views and increased challenge are worth it and made for an unforgettable race experience!
Running in beauty
Be prepared for running in the sand there’s tons of sand running and also prepare for the elements it got a bit warm. So pack sunblock. Remember the grim reaper … MORE
Be prepared for running in the sand there’s tons of sand running and also prepare for the elements it got a bit warm. So pack sunblock. Remember the grim reaper times and be prepared to not miss them. The aide stations were very well stocked with lots of variety to choose from.
This race was tough, but beautiful!
Everyone warned me about the sand, but I didn't take it seriously until I was in it. The last 3 miles were TOUGH. To train for this, I highly recommend … MORE
Everyone warned me about the sand, but I didn’t take it seriously until I was in it. The last 3 miles were TOUGH. To train for this, I highly recommend “running” in soft sand if possible. Great aid station, crew and volunteers. I will be back!
Amazing race
This is such an incredible race to run, but this year I did not train enough for all the sand. I’ve completed this 55k in the past, but had to … MORE
This is such an incredible race to run, but this year I did not train enough for all the sand. I’ve completed this 55k in the past, but had to DNF due to injury. I will definitely be doing this again.
What a crazy race!
I loved this race! It was my first trail race and it was such a great experience. It was definitely harder than I expected considering the last 5K was all … MORE
I loved this race! It was my first trail race and it was such a great experience. It was definitely harder than I expected considering the last 5K was all sand, I couldn’t believe it. That part was definitely the hardest. But the scenery was amazing and running on the cliff sides was incredible. I would totally recommend this and do it again maybe one of the longer distances so I could go into antelope canyon
Much harder than I expected but worth it
This race was MUCH harder than expected/advertised. That isn't just my opinion, all the runners I spoke with felt the same way. The biggest challenge is the SAND. 30-40% of … MORE
This race was MUCH harder than expected/advertised. That isn’t just my opinion, all the runners I spoke with felt the same way. The biggest challenge is the SAND. 30-40% of the race is on sand and it starts early one so it sucks the energy out of your legs FAST. That said, if you go in with that in mind, the views are amazing!
Don’t underestimate the sand
Coming from Indiana the sand was the most challenging aspect of this course. It had my calves working like they had never been worked before ultimately leading to some unexpected … MORE
Coming from Indiana the sand was the most challenging aspect of this course. It had my calves working like they had never been worked before ultimately leading to some unexpected pain through my right leg for half the race. It was a true fight to the finish. Absolutely beautiful course though which helped ease my pain. Haha. Incredible volunteers at each station. All well stocked I might add!
Challenging, gorgeous race
Epic race - hard and worth it. The views and landscape will keep you going. The sand will make you dig deep. Fabulous support staff and aid station. There's a … MORE
Epic race – hard and worth it.
The views and landscape will keep you going. The sand will make you dig deep. Fabulous support staff and aid station.
There’s a reason I’ve done this 3 times!
An iconic and beautiful desert adventure
I had a wonderful experience running the 50 mile distance. The course is a great tour of the northern AZ landscape and landmarks, and seems like the best way to … MORE
I had a wonderful experience running the 50 mile distance. The course is a great tour of the northern AZ landscape and landmarks, and seems like the best way to experience these iconic sights. It’s also a difficult course, mainly due to the extensive miles in the sand. But that’s what we signed up for in a desert ultra, so any complaining is ridiculous (though there was a lot of that, perhaps runners were unprepared?).
It was my first Vacation Races event. It was an extremely well run event with lots of support and amenities. It seems more like a road marathon event than the low-key trail ultras I usually run. Immediately afterwards, I started considering the other ultra events VR hosts, so they certainly impressed me with their event production and choice of beautiful courses.
Sandy terrain beautiful scenery
The half marathon coarse took us along the Page Rim Trail. The scenery was beautiful. And the coarse was pretty runnable until about mile 10. We hit the deep sand … MORE
The half marathon coarse took us along the Page Rim Trail. The scenery was beautiful. And the coarse was pretty runnable until about mile 10. We hit the deep sand at mile 10. And you just had to push through from there. It was worth it and I would do this race again.