This was stage two in the Bear Lake Trifecta. I chose to stay in Kemmerer which was about 15/20 minutes away from the start. If you are into fossils, you … MORE
This was stage two in the Bear Lake Trifecta. I chose to stay in Kemmerer which was about 15/20 minutes away from the start. If you are into fossils, you will like Kemmerer – dinosaur themed and fossil shops. Anyway, stayed at a motel (I think it was called something like The Antler). Clean but like all my hotel stays in the trifecta – it was no Ritz 🙂 I found a good seafood pasta at a restaurant called The Kettle (good enough I had it the next night too).
Race morning I drove to the start of the race in Cokeville. Check-in was again easy and soon we were off running. My legs were a bit tired from the day before Idaho marathon (coupled with the lingering remnants of the 41 mile Strolling Jim 2 or 3 weeks before.) The run was nice – but despite the name, I never saw Bear Lake (too far away). Was out in the country-side and it was a nice run.
After running on the rolling pavement we turned onto a dirt road. As I ran I began to hear an interesting noise. I kept looking around thinking it might be a car. Then I decided it was sprinklers as we were running past farms and fields. Finally, it seemed very close to me. I looked down and realized my soles on my shoes were starting to peel away. Yes, I had some training miles on the shoes but assumed they would last…..I was incorrect. I had no choice but to keep running.
Soon, I was getting to around 20 miles and I stopped to stretch my calves and get some water. I was wearing one of my Badwater 135 finishers shirt and the volunteers were asking me about it. It was a nice rest – but off I went.
Soon, I approached the finish line. I crossed it in 5:26:22 and 26th out of 50 runners (5th in my AG). Second leg down…..but you can checkout the soles of my shoes in the attached photo 🙂
Again, I will stress that the race organization, volunteers, and race directors were fantastic.
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I lost my sole in this race.
This was stage two in the Bear Lake Trifecta. I chose to stay in Kemmerer which was about 15/20 minutes away from the start. If you are into fossils, you … MORE
This was stage two in the Bear Lake Trifecta. I chose to stay in Kemmerer which was about 15/20 minutes away from the start. If you are into fossils, you will like Kemmerer – dinosaur themed and fossil shops. Anyway, stayed at a motel (I think it was called something like The Antler). Clean but like all my hotel stays in the trifecta – it was no Ritz 🙂 I found a good seafood pasta at a restaurant called The Kettle (good enough I had it the next night too).
Race morning I drove to the start of the race in Cokeville. Check-in was again easy and soon we were off running. My legs were a bit tired from the day before Idaho marathon (coupled with the lingering remnants of the 41 mile Strolling Jim 2 or 3 weeks before.) The run was nice – but despite the name, I never saw Bear Lake (too far away). Was out in the country-side and it was a nice run.
After running on the rolling pavement we turned onto a dirt road. As I ran I began to hear an interesting noise. I kept looking around thinking it might be a car. Then I decided it was sprinklers as we were running past farms and fields. Finally, it seemed very close to me. I looked down and realized my soles on my shoes were starting to peel away. Yes, I had some training miles on the shoes but assumed they would last…..I was incorrect. I had no choice but to keep running.
Soon, I was getting to around 20 miles and I stopped to stretch my calves and get some water. I was wearing one of my Badwater 135 finishers shirt and the volunteers were asking me about it. It was a nice rest – but off I went.
Soon, I approached the finish line. I crossed it in 5:26:22 and 26th out of 50 runners (5th in my AG). Second leg down…..but you can checkout the soles of my shoes in the attached photo 🙂
Again, I will stress that the race organization, volunteers, and race directors were fantastic.
Great Race!
Great way to get the most bang for your buck if you're trying to run a race in all 50 states. Absolutely beautiful scenery! Running at 6,000 ft was a … MORE
Great way to get the most bang for your buck if you’re trying to run a race in all 50 states. Absolutely beautiful scenery! Running at 6,000 ft was a challenge and the hilly course added to it but it was worth it. The weather was perfect!
3 races in 3 states in 3 days
Bear Lake Trifecta-3 races, 3 states, 3 days The Bear Lake Trifecta offered both full and half marathon options. I chose half marathon, with Idaho being on Thursday, Wyoming on … MORE
Bear Lake Trifecta-3 races, 3 states, 3 days
The Bear Lake Trifecta offered both full and half marathon options. I chose half marathon, with Idaho being on Thursday, Wyoming on Friday and Utah on Saturday. We stayed in Garden City, Utah, which was a quaint and very friendly little town. The Idaho race was 25 minutes away from there, the Wyoming race was 50 minutes away and the Utah race was in Garden City itself. There were plenty of beautiful views in the area, including Bear Lake itself. We even went to the Teton mountains, about 3 hours away.
The T-shirts were tech material, with all featuring the same design. The bear logo and state name were a different color to designate which state it was for. The finishers medals were the same shape and design for each state. The ribbon and bear logo on the medal were different colors, depending on the state.
Each race was a timed out and back, with a rolling start and 100-120 runners completing the half marathon distance. Each race had water/aid stops roughly every two miles, with a porta potty every other water stop. A deejay welcomed runners back as they finished each race. The age group awards were just like the finishers medal, but were gold, silver or bronze. Runners who completed all 3 races received a nice medal hanger featuring the bear.
This series of races was difficult for me, but not because of the 3 races/3 states/3 days. I was not accustomed to the altitude (6000-6500 feet above sea level). While not sore at all, my legs felt like they just did not want to move, from the very beginning! I was surprised by just how much the altitude slowed me down.
Idaho-Idaho had the best views, especially of Bear Lake. My watch registered over 500 feet of gain. The mountains provided some shade early, but the race ended with lots of sun exposure.
Wyoming-Wyoming was the flattest of the three, yet my watch still registered over 380 feet of gain. Wyoming was also the coolest of the three days.
Utah-Utah had the longest and steepest hills and was my least favorite of the 3 races. My watch registered over 600 feet of gain. This course started in the middle of town, so we didn’t get the great views until after mile 4. The middle 3 or so miles was on dirt/rock trail that went up in the hills of sagebrush. We had to watch our steps, not just for rocks and ruts, but also cowpies!
I’m glad I completed this series but was even more glad when it was done…the running anyway!
True Wyoming race! Run with the cattle!
Location: Bear Lake is a beautiful area to spend a few days! Course: The Wyoming course is an out-and-back on a paved road through the cattle ranches of Wyoming with … MORE
Location: Bear Lake is a beautiful area to spend a few days!
Course: The Wyoming course is an out-and-back on a paved road through the cattle ranches of Wyoming with snow-capped mountains looming in the distance. Spectacular! There were even some ranchers moving their cattle down the road, so I had the incredibly unique experience of running through the herd! (twice due to out/back) The course has several uphills during the first half with a few that are challenging. Aid stations are plentiful and well-stocked. I don’t need crowd support, but if you do, you’ll need to bring your own! There’s little to no support out on the course (although the volunteers at the aid stations are awesome!).
Logistics: These are small races, so it’s easy to show up, park, and get started within a few minutes.
Swag: Although this is a 3-day series, there are unique shirts and awesome unique medals for each day/state!
Race Directors: Tricia and her sister are amazing people! They are great with communication and are clearly passionate about these races. Their enthusiasm is contagious! I loved these races!
Amazing small local race
I really did not know what to expect when I signed up for this race out of the blue--I signed up for the Wyoming and Utah legs of the Bear … MORE
I really did not know what to expect when I signed up for this race out of the blue–I signed up for the Wyoming and Utah legs of the Bear Lake Trifecta. I had never been to Utah. I signed up because I like running in different states and because it was there. It is a 50-stater draw, which I didn’t really realize what that meant, but I liked it, and the vibe of the runners (very friendly, not competitive, and very supportive.)
This race ended up being my favorite of the 8ish marathons I have run thus far. It is a very small-town race, with a small field of 50 runners. The marathon itself is an out-and-back run in a beautiful area on quiet farming roads (traffic safety could be an issue in theory, but there’s not a lot of cars–most are traveling in support). The race is at altitude, I think in the 6,000-foot range, but I didn’t experience much in terms of extra fatigue or suffering (and I came from sea level the night before). The race is fairly flat but with some legitimate rollers that make you remember it’s Wyoming–it is not a PR or BQ course to say the least. Especially when weather is factored in, with it being fully exposed to the sun (we had 70-80 degree temperatures by the end.)
The setup was, in my opinion, a brilliant idea, as the out-and-back allowed for setting up aid stations that would serve both directions, and also cut (in half) the number of volunteers necessary to man the tables. (Keep in mind the City of Cokeville has 500 people per the city sign). The aid station support was the best I’ve ever seen in any race, with a huge spread of options at *most* tables (and some variety along the way too)–water, gatorade, gels, pretzels, chips, fruit snacks, bananas, etc.
In terms of spectators, there are basically cows, with one exception. Don’t expect many or any locals except perhaps at the start and finish. However, I found that the spectator support was surprisingly good–and that came from the friends/family who drove along and supported their runner, and from the aid station crews. Over the race, there were 5-10 or so cars stopping at various points along the race, and you could get to know those supporters. I liked that kind of intimacy and had a lot of conversations with those supporters at the finish line. (I ended up toward the front of the pack, finishing eighth with a 4:26 time, so I mention that the spectator support could seem a lot less if you were running a fair bit slower, since there will be fewer support).
Again, I was really impressed with this race. I came in with uncertain expectations and expected that I probably wouldn’t like it or that it would be “meh.” My expectations were totally wrong–I loved the race (and the race the following day.)
Well organized small race!
This is a great choice for Wyoming for 50 State hopefuls who want a small town experience and a race with incredible scenery and great people. This was my 38th … MORE
This is a great choice for Wyoming for 50 State hopefuls who want a small town experience and a race with incredible scenery and great people. This was my 38th Marathon and there was a lot of genuine effort from the race organizers and volunteers; great communication leading up to the race, quick results, plenty of water stops/bathrooms and a lot of encouragement! Thanks a lot for everything including the snacks at the finish!!!! The owners of the Hideout Hotel and Gold Buckle Grill were also very hospitable. I only ran the Wyoming race, it has a gradual incline with some tougher hills but being and out and back it’s very doable. Being from Florida, the typical cooler weather is a huge plus.
Awesomeness
I absolutely loved everything about this event!!! I’ve been racing for well over a decade and this is literally the friendliest group I’ve ever encountered. Right before my race the … MORE
I absolutely loved everything about this event!!! I’ve been racing for well over a decade and this is literally the friendliest group I’ve ever encountered. Right before my race the hotel owner told me my dog could not stay in the room while I ran and 2 of the woman offered to watch him for me while I raced. I was blown away by them offering to take on another responsibility on race day! The course was stunning and the aid/support along the route was amazing. I will definitely be running more of their races.
Rolling green pastures
This way Day 2 of the 3 day trifecta. I attempted to take this one easy and to treat this races as an easy run although my time was similar … MORE
This way Day 2 of the 3 day trifecta. I attempted to take this one easy and to treat this races as an easy run although my time was similar to day 1. A few a the hills were long but never had a steep grade. The production staff was fantastic and the rest stops were staged every 1.5 miles or so. The events was small but led to great interaction with the other runners– many of whom were also repeat runners from the day before. I would recommend the Trifecta for those looking for small, well organized event.
Green valley and farm animals
The entire series of races was well organized and had good support. The aid stations had water and snacks about every 1.5 miles. Good after-race snacks, drinks, and music. Wyoming … MORE
The entire series of races was well organized and had good support. The aid stations had water and snacks about every 1.5 miles. Good after-race snacks, drinks, and music.
Wyoming was my best result of the three. This course was not along the lake but was a nice scenic out and back run on a two-lane road through green valleys. We passed cows, horses, and creeks along the course. The challenge with this run was it started out at 28 degrees before warming up into the 50’s. This course I felt was flat and the “gentle rolling hills” were truly gentle and nothing difficult. We did not encounter any of the legendary mosquitos mentioned in prior reviews – but we did buy bug spray just in case. Maybe the 28-degree weather scared them off?
I really enjoyed the race production and organization. The participants were all very friendly and seemed to have a good time. This was the first time I stayed with others during a race. Five of us completed all three days and getting to know them and spend time with them made the weekend an even better experience.
Wow!
Wow! Envision beautiful high-country meadows in a bright green hue with clear blue streams meandering through them. Add just the right number of cows and a few homesteads. Bracket the … MORE
Wow!
Envision beautiful high-country meadows in a bright green hue with clear blue streams meandering through them. Add just the right number of cows and a few homesteads. Bracket the scene with hills and, in the distance, pine- and even snow-capped mountains.
The whole landscape was serene and peaceful to the point of being filled with Grace. True, there were basically no trees. But who cared?? I had no idea this part of Wyoming was so beautiful.
Organization: flawless!
Please run this marathon. You will be glad you did.
Loved this little race!
I was worried about the out and back, but it really wasn’t bad. Loved the charming community that cheered us. Would love to participate again!!! MORE
I was worried about the out and back, but it really wasn’t bad. Loved the charming community that cheered us. Would love to participate again!!!
Amazing views and very well organized.
I truly enjoyed this race. I participated in the all three included in the trifecta and so glad I did. The swag was nice and the organizers did a fabulous … MORE
I truly enjoyed this race. I participated in the all three included in the trifecta and so glad I did. The swag was nice and the organizers did a fabulous job. Lots to do in the area. It definitely felt like more of vacation then my typical runcations. I plan to do it again with my friends. Recommend you book room and board early. There are some pretty amazing cabins that sell out quickly. Bring swimsuit for swimming in the lake if weather is warm. We also did horse back riding at a ranch. So much fun.
Out and Back in Wyoming
Day Two of my first multiple-day marathon event, I was surprised how I felt beginning this race. Again, great camaraderie among the small number of runners. I was able to … MORE
Day Two of my first multiple-day marathon event, I was surprised how I felt beginning this race. Again, great camaraderie among the small number of runners. I was able to find plenty of other runners to swap race stories with. In fact, I had the honor of walking a few miles with a pleasant Brit who was on his second time around the fifty states. This day I was not last but not far from it.
2 of 3 in 3 Days
Overall about the Bear Lake Trifecta: The owner bought the race 6 days before the event. It was very...bumpy, but he did his best with what he inherited. The previous … MORE
Overall about the Bear Lake Trifecta:
The owner bought the race 6 days before the event. It was very…bumpy, but he did his best with what he inherited. The previous owners did not leave much information or direction for him. The issues that occurred, he apologized for and was determined to fix for next year. He is an experienced runner and triathlon and knows what we expect. He also owns other events, so I am confident that the race will improve. The swag we got was great! I was expecting a shirt for each race, but we only got one. The quality was great. The medals were gorgeous and state/day specific, but not race specific. This doesn’t bother me, but it does bother others. The swag bag had the most things from sponsors of any race I’ve done. There were all sorts of goodies! For completing all 3 races, we got a flask, which is awesome! It also had a race decal in it. We got a zip up race hoodie and a buff, but I don’t remember what for. They basically had a bunch of different race logo merch and no specification of what each piece was for. The post race goodies were amazing, especially for such a small race. There were many food and drink options after each race. They capped the total participants at 500. They also added a 5k, which added a lot of local runners. This was a difficult task—3 half marathons in 3 days—but the staff and volunteers made it much easier!
Specific To This Race:
The course began and finished in the grass, which was NOT ideal. The previous year’s participants had talked about horrible mosquitoes on this course, and the race people were prepared with bug spray for the participants. This was so nice! The cops were really nice and friendly. The course was a down and back, which went mostly uphill and then back down. This was probably my favorite course of the trifecta. The roads weren’t closed, which wasn’t a big deal other than the asshole drivers going 70+ and not caring about the race/participants. There were even semis (big rigs, whatever you call them) that sped by. Super scary and annoying! The aid stations were well stocked with a variety of options and amazing volunteers! This course was the furthest from the “main” area (where Cody’s is), but the drive was beautiful!
TIPS: If you are doing the trifecta, I suggest getting to Bear Lake a few days before the packet pickup. We thought we would explore after the races, but we were exhausted. There are so many things that this little area has to offer, and I’m sad we didn’t get to do much. Leave Bear Lake the day after. This way you can relax. We drove back to Salt Lake after the 3rd race, and I wish we would have stayed. Be prepared for any weather. We experienced an Oklahoma-like thunderstorm on one of the days after the race. I was shocked! Look at the condo rentals. We rented a home that was GORGEOUS and perfect for our trip. I also suggest staying in Garden City. It’s the most “central” to all races. We used Vacasa to rent a homeand still have the link to our rental, if interested.
Race #2 in the Bear Lake Trifecta
The Bear Lake Wyoming Marathon & Half is a race that can be ran on it’s own or if you want to challenge yourself, you can sign up for the … MORE
The Bear Lake Wyoming Marathon & Half is a race that can be ran on it’s own or if you want to challenge yourself, you can sign up for the Trifecta and take home some additional swag and bragging rights. The trifecta is a great way to gain membership or level up if you are a member of Half Fanatics or Marathon Maniacs.
Below are some pros and cons from what me and some of the other runners thought about the race.
scenery- Just like the Idaho race, you are surrounded by countryside and mountains. The only negative i can really say about the race was that it was an hour drive from where we were staying at with some construction. Luckily, we still got to the start line on time. Previous runners & some of the locals recommended having bug stray with you because of the mosquitoes i didn’t have an issues with them on my run.
Aid stations – For the half, they had 3 ad stations (5 total since the course was a down and back) and they were fully stocked with water, electrolytes, gu, jelly beans, pretzels and a ports potty. Just like the previous race, A negative about the aid stations were they would sometimes run out of cups and toilet paper. It was an issue for the back of the pack runners and most marathoners.
Course – This time we had paved roads on a down and back with some small rolling hills & no pot holes. Negative- It seemed kind of random that
we started & finished the race on grass in the park but i believe this was because the parking lot area was muddy from the rain the night before. Once you got on the paved part of the road, we had to cross some rail road tracks. Prior to the race, the announcer said that if there was a train coming while you were close, they would stop the race clock until the train passed so it didn’t mess up anyone’s time. Just like yesterdays race, there was no shaded parts along the course to help protect us from the sun.
Pre & Post Race – Packet pickup was either the day before the first race, the day prior or the morning of the race. You get a tech shirt, drawstring bag, sponsor swag, and the choice of either a mug or buff. Post race, whenever you finished, you got a nice size medal with a ribbon showing the state and under the pavilion, they had fruit, water and pizza from a local sponsor. If you placed in your age group or overall, you got a gold medal (which they didn’t have available on the first day so they brought them on the second day). They had an announcer and music playing throughout post race so even if you’re a back of the pack runner, everyone is cheering and are happy to see you finish. At this race, they had a local group selling additional post race food & drinks as part of a fundraiser.
Con – Like the previous race, a lot of the swag and medals were from the previous year so some people got a medal with a bears head on it (this years design) and some got a medal with a bear paw on it (last years design). Some runners didn’t like the new design because it didn’t say ‘half marathon’ on it. I also was expecting that we would get a shirt for each state we were in but for the size of the race, I’m okay with what we got.
Overall, this course was a lot better than the Idaho course. Loved that the roads were paved & had some small rolling hills. I believed they fixed most of the issues they had the day before & i think everyone had a better time throughout the race.
Out and Back/no frills
This was the second race of the Trifecta and things went a little better. The course started at a park and was 99% on the pavement and was a simple … MORE
This was the second race of the Trifecta and things went a little better. The course started at a park and was 99% on the pavement and was a simple out and back. The aid stations were there as they were the day before, every 2 miles. There were a few rolling hills, but nothing devastating. And most importantly, the course measured out as a half marathon, as it should. They had medals *with* ribbons at the end. Race times were available right afterwards and pizza! But it was all cheese which is an “ok I guess”. It was piping hot since I was there when it arrived. This race had a restaurant less than a mile away called the Gold Buckle Grill, which served us a hearty breakfast and great service. Overall, I can say I have Wyoming checked off. Would only recommend as part of this series.
Huge effort from an undermanned crew!
This 3 State Series has so much potential! The previous race director left and the group that tried to pick up the loose pieces did an amazing job in my … MORE
This 3 State Series has so much potential! The previous race director left and the group that tried to pick up the loose pieces did an amazing job in my opinion. Did they have hiccups…you bet! BUT, they were honest and no doubt tried there best to make sure everyone had an enjoyable time. Keep this one on your radar, because the area is beautiful to visit and if the same group keeps this race going they’ll be successful! Thanks for a great experience!
Had a fun time run/walking race too
This is beautiful course to run. When I ran this course, there was a train track that ran parallel to our course. It was an interesting race in that it's … MORE
This is beautiful course to run. When I ran this course, there was a train track that ran parallel to our course. It was an interesting race in that it’s not too far from the lake but you can see some beautiful country. All 3 days were a great experience and would definitely return with my new wife.
Trifecta - Second Race
I took an early start to this race due to heat, and loved it. They were rolling hills that seemed to go on forever. An out and back along farmland … MORE
I took an early start to this race due to heat, and loved it. They were rolling hills that seemed to go on forever. An out and back along farmland and in the distance some mountains. It was beautiful, and a great second of 3 race.
Director makes sure everyone has a good, safe race and finishes. Aid stations were great with bug spray and water.
Totally Worth It
Day 2 of the race series. This course was the lesser of the three races. Out and back on a country road, it felt a little lonely but that could … MORE
Day 2 of the race series. This course was the lesser of the three races. Out and back on a country road, it felt a little lonely but that could have also been because it was the second day. The miles were marked well and the aid stations were fully stocked. The race directors go above and beyond to make sure everyone finishes.