At some point during this race, I twirled and gestured on the road like Julie Andrews in the Alps in "The Sound of Music." I'm not sure exactly what that … MORE
At some point during this race, I twirled and gestured on the road like Julie Andrews in the Alps in “The Sound of Music.” I’m not sure exactly what that says about the experience–or me–but this was an absolute blast, and a beautiful one at that.
The Grand Teton Half Marathon is part of Vacation Races’ National Park Series, which mostly features 5Ks and half marathons near national parks. The series encourages folks to be active and to visit our national treasures.
This point-to-point race begins in Wilson, Wyoming, and meanders to the Jackson Hole Golf and Tennis Club along roads, paved trail, and a little bit of dirt. Along the way, there are incredible views of the Teton Range, the Snake River, and the surrounding area. It truly is like running through a postcard — or a 1960s musical.
Overall, the race was well-supported, though the first aid station didn’t come until mile 3. From there, there were aid stations every two miles, with a bonus one at mile 12. Aid stations were stocked with Honey Stinger, water, and sports drink, as well as portable toilets.
Vacation Races hosted a 5K (Friday, May 31) and this half marathon; completing both races earned participants a third medal and more swag for completing the Moose Double. In addition to the races, Vacation Races offers club hikes and a trifecta (think photo scavenger hunt) where participants can earn extra swag for checking out things in and around the park.
This was my second race with Vacation Races, having completed the Yellowstone Half Marathon last year. I’m already looking forward to another one.
* All runners received chocolate milk, fruit, and a box of recovery snacks. Food was available for purchase from the golf club, but I don’t know much about that since I didn’t take part.
* Vacation Races provides some travel tips on its race sites. Check those out, and plan accordingly. Flying into Jackson Hole can be very limited and expensive. We flew into Idaho and drove 2 hours (a beautiful drive) to stay in Jackson, which is only a few minutes from the race site. Arrive early on race day!
*Vacation Races holds raffles every 5-10 minutes before the start of the race. Prizes range from sponsor products to race entries. Participate in the club hikes and/or the trifecta.
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"Grand" Is An Understatement
At some point during this race, I twirled and gestured on the road like Julie Andrews in the Alps in "The Sound of Music." I'm not sure exactly what that … MORE
At some point during this race, I twirled and gestured on the road like Julie Andrews in the Alps in “The Sound of Music.” I’m not sure exactly what that says about the experience–or me–but this was an absolute blast, and a beautiful one at that.
The Grand Teton Half Marathon is part of Vacation Races’ National Park Series, which mostly features 5Ks and half marathons near national parks. The series encourages folks to be active and to visit our national treasures.
This point-to-point race begins in Wilson, Wyoming, and meanders to the Jackson Hole Golf and Tennis Club along roads, paved trail, and a little bit of dirt. Along the way, there are incredible views of the Teton Range, the Snake River, and the surrounding area. It truly is like running through a postcard — or a 1960s musical.
Overall, the race was well-supported, though the first aid station didn’t come until mile 3. From there, there were aid stations every two miles, with a bonus one at mile 12. Aid stations were stocked with Honey Stinger, water, and sports drink, as well as portable toilets.
Vacation Races hosted a 5K (Friday, May 31) and this half marathon; completing both races earned participants a third medal and more swag for completing the Moose Double. In addition to the races, Vacation Races offers club hikes and a trifecta (think photo scavenger hunt) where participants can earn extra swag for checking out things in and around the park.
This was my second race with Vacation Races, having completed the Yellowstone Half Marathon last year. I’m already looking forward to another one.
* All runners received chocolate milk, fruit, and a box of recovery snacks. Food was available for purchase from the golf club, but I don’t know much about that since I didn’t take part.
* Vacation Races provides some travel tips on its race sites. Check those out, and plan accordingly. Flying into Jackson Hole can be very limited and expensive. We flew into Idaho and drove 2 hours (a beautiful drive) to stay in Jackson, which is only a few minutes from the race site. Arrive early on race day!
*Vacation Races holds raffles every 5-10 minutes before the start of the race. Prizes range from sponsor products to race entries. Participate in the club hikes and/or the trifecta.
Amazing race
Beautiful views of the Tetons and set up perfectly! Didn’t have a worry about where to be or what was happening! Part of the race is on a bike path … MORE
Beautiful views of the Tetons and set up perfectly! Didn’t have a worry about where to be or what was happening! Part of the race is on a bike path which didn’t offer much room to maneuver around walkers but it wasn’t too bad! Definitely recommend this race!! Only thing bad I have to say is you have to get to the starting line at 4:30 in the morning and wait two hours for the race to start….
Breathtaking!
I say this race was breathtaking, both literally and figuratively. The race started very foggy but once the fog cleared it was a beautiful day to run. The views are … MORE
I say this race was breathtaking, both literally and figuratively. The race started very foggy but once the fog cleared it was a beautiful day to run. The views are fantastic. The Grand Tetons are visible throughout in the distance with views of beautiful valleys and farms along the way. For a flatlander the elevation was quite a challenge but worth it.
They course wasn’t as difficult as I had expected but there was about a mile section (10 or 11) of unpaved, uneven surface. Also, the road is not totally closed so you have to be aware of cars traveling in both directions.
They began a Moose Double this year (5K on Friday, Half on Saturday). The medals for the individual races were great and the Moose Double medal is even better. The shirts are nice and you got a choice of what your wanted for doing both races (extra shirt or pint glass).
My only negatives about the organization are the length of the line at packet pickup and the wait for shuttles at the end. They did not separate the 5K from the Half at pickup so everyone was going through the same line and it was quite lengthy. For those of us doing both, there was a separate much shorter line. Also, the line for the shuttles at the end was quite long. But they did acknowledge that they needed to improve both.
I liked the boxed goodies at the end. That helped speed up getting your postrace goodies. And they did have chocolate milk!! I think there should be a law that requires all half marathons to provide chocolate milk to the finishers!! LOL!
Jackson is a neat little town and trips to Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park definitely make this one cool vacation race! (I cheated and took a side trip to Glacier National Park in Montana too) All in all I had a wonderful vacation and got to add Wyoming to my list of states!!
Stuck in Traffic!
The 5K was on Friday evening before the half marathon on Saturday morning. I thought it would be a good idea to see how the elevation was going to effect … MORE
The 5K was on Friday evening before the half marathon on Saturday morning. I thought it would be a good idea to see how the elevation was going to effect me so I decided to run the 5K. The course was flat and ran around a park. Nice views of the Tetons but the course was crowded and getting out was even worse. the race looped around the parking lot so you were hemmed in until the walkers completed the 5K. The race began at 7 and I couldn’t even get out of the parking lot until 8:20 so it didn’t give me a lot of time to get back to my motel and get rested for the morning (especially since the parking lot closes at 5:15 am for the half). They could have done a better job at the expo of separating the 5K and half marathon to pick up your bibs because the line was very long for them. Since I was doing both, our line was much shorter. Since this was their inaugural 5K I am going to give them a pass on the postrace traffic issue (they acknowledged it was a problem) and hope they have that fixed before next year.
Stunning scenery!
The forecast called for rain, but we had just a bit of cool morning fog that lifted to show the most incredible views of the mountains and meadows! Loved the … MORE
The forecast called for rain, but we had just a bit of cool morning fog that lifted to show the most incredible views of the mountains and meadows! Loved the spectators who brought friendly doggos! Just needed more cowbell…
This was a much flatter course than it looked, but the altitude really got me. Still, I ran in the top 25ish percent for my age group!
Had to wait awhile for the shuttle to return to the parking lots, but the views made it worth the wait.
Very fun high elevation half marathon
Its an early start of 6:30, and the race is just outside the park. There is a great view of the tetons towards the end of the race. The course … MORE
Its an early start of 6:30, and the race is just outside the park. There is a great view of the tetons towards the end of the race. The course itself isn’t very difficult aside from being at 6000ft elevation and there is a long very gradual uphill for the second half of the race. Very fun race!
Great course, amazing scenery!!
We flew into Bozeman, rented a car, and drove down to Jackson through Yellowstone- an awesome addition to this fantastic race!! If you’re used to a low altitude, try arriving … MORE
We flew into Bozeman, rented a car, and drove down to Jackson through Yellowstone- an awesome addition to this fantastic race!! If you’re used to a low altitude, try arriving a few days early (I’m from MN, and appreciated a few days to acclimate to the 6,000+ ft elevation).
Awesome race with breathtaking views
I was very bummed when it was super foggy to start the race - but by the time we hit the flat roads headed north toward Grand Teton National Park, … MORE
I was very bummed when it was super foggy to start the race – but by the time we hit the flat roads headed north toward Grand Teton National Park, it had cleared and offered the stunning mountain views the race advertised! This was a SUPER well organized event other than a few small glitches. The course is downhill to start, then a very flat to very slow uphill grade the second half. Not inherently difficult, the elevation is probably the biggest challenge for flatlanders. The start was well organized, plenty of porta-potties (did not wait over 5 minutes for one, and that was only a half hour before the start!), gear check went quickly and smoothly. Only two things of note at the start and they were relatively minor: 1. the buses were leaving THROUGH the start area so the crowd had to part literally in the lineup for start to let them through a couple of times. 2. The race has a fairly good stretch on running/biking paths in the first half, and there are a lot of people starting toward the front that are walkers or slower (and the race gave them permission to do so, which is great, so they can make cutoff). It DOES result in a lot of logjams of people – I ran into a number of three-abreast runners that weren’t allowing faster runners to pass. This got a bit frustrating, and if you are going for a PR, you might put yourself in a faster pace group that normal to help avoid this (I was not, knowing that the elevation would likely slow me a bit, nevertheless, there was some lack of race etiquette in moving right if you are slower, that might be mentioned in a future race publication just as a suggestion to newer runners).
The course itself was beautiful. The roads leading up to the golf course, especially the paved one, were advertised to be open during the race but to have very little traffic. They actually had quite a bit! While the race can’t help this, I did see some drivers get frustrated and force themselves by such that they forced runners single file right against the edge of the road or even off into the dirt/sand next to it. Perhaps some one way traffic direction (alternating traffic headed north and southbound) could help? Not sure about that.
The finish line was excellent. Great medals, great photo op with the Tetons in the background, great box of snacks for runners. Gear pickup was simple. I guess I was lucky, because I literally walked right onto a shuttle bus to downtown!!
All in all, an extremely well-run race in a beautiful setting. I hope to be back in 2020 for perhaps the Glacier Half!
Such an amazing first Alf
The scenery on the course is amazing. I have done other vacation race series 5k’s but this was my first half and it was phenomenal. Love they offer the 5k … MORE
The scenery on the course is amazing. I have done other vacation race series 5k’s but this was my first half and it was phenomenal. Love they offer the 5k the night before too makes for a great weekend.
Run4Fun
This was a great location for a race, the course was relatively flat and very scenic. It was a great day for running, very little wind, but it was foggy … MORE
This was a great location for a race, the course was relatively flat and very scenic. It was a great day for running, very little wind, but it was foggy at the start but as it warmed up the fog lifted and the views were magical. Great finish line!
Prettiest race course but altitude
Stunning course with plenty of inspiring views of the Tetons, beautiful medal, water and gel stations were plenty and well staffed (although I recommend carrying your own hydro pack), free … MORE
Stunning course with plenty of inspiring views of the Tetons, beautiful medal, water and gel stations were plenty and well staffed (although I recommend carrying your own hydro pack), free race photos to be emailed next week, generous finish time or 4 hours if you choose or need to take your time, recovery box waiting at the finish line, enthusiastic race coordinators and volunteers, very organized race from packet pick up to shuttle return. Also at race expo they were giving out past years race shirts and demonstrated how to recycle them into reusable bags (definitely got my vote – caring about our environment is something to love). They emailed great suggestions for hikes and places to eat nearby also.
Think about:::: Altitude is definitely a serious issue, we got to town half a day before the race and my lungs didn’t have time to adjust so the struggle impacted my race time for sure.
Worth the trip!
The race organizers provided a ton of helpful info well before the race, and check in was super smooth. The expo didn’t have a a ton of vendors, but I … MORE
The race organizers provided a ton of helpful info well before the race, and check in was super smooth. The expo didn’t have a a ton of vendors, but I imagine that was because of the rain that moved through. I got to the start line parking area right at 4 so I could sty in my warm car. There were numerous aid stations and port a potties and I never had an issue getting water/electrolyte drink. LOVED the cup free race and the lack of trash! All the volunteers were so nice and helpful. The day started cold and foggy and I was a little nervous it wouldn’t lift, but it turned out to be a GORGEOUS course. It was a pretty flat course, nothing intermediating or killer, just a few rolling hills in the first 5 miles. You can’t bet the view of the mountains starting around mile 7 or 8! At the finish, they had a recovery food box waiting for everyone at the end. The photos will be posted in a week and are free which is awesome! The line for the shuttles was a bit lengthy but there was plenty of room to stretch out on the field and take in the view while I waited for it to die down. The ONLY thing that was a bit frustrating was the amount of traffic in the small road towards the end, a guy just completely drove in the runners lane instead of waiting for a break in the crowd.
A beautiful fun half at elevation
I would recommend getting into Jackson a day ahead, to acclimate to the elevation, and to account for any travel issues. (our plane was cancelled from Salt Lake City, and … MORE
I would recommend getting into Jackson a day ahead, to acclimate to the elevation, and to account for any travel issues. (our plane was cancelled from Salt Lake City, and we ended up driving 4:50 to give us an hour of sleep before the race.) Vacation Races does a great job with course planning and marking and this course was a special last minute adjustment because a bridge washed out, and the resulting out and back course was relatively fast and easy. The start is at 5,800 ft, so definitely felt a lack of oxygen! They provided Gnarly sports drink at the aid stations, and although I hadn’t trained with it, it agreed with me. Even though I walked up one small section of hill, I ran fast enough to get 3rd in age group. The views along the course are breathtaking. I also appreciated the after race challenges: we hiked to Bradley Lake, which was also spectacular. I brought my 4 kids, and we all did the activities for the post race trifecta. the highlight of which was taking the tram to the top of Mt. Rendezvous. (Where we had waffles at 10,240 ft!)
Fun race worth the trip!
This was a fun race! I was a little concerned about how much the registration cost, but you really do get a lot with it. The shirt is nice, the … MORE
This was a fun race! I was a little concerned about how much the registration cost, but you really do get a lot with it. The shirt is nice, the medal is beautiful, there was a ton of food after the race, everything was well organized, and the staff was super friendly and helpful. They had logistical issues with the course route and had to redo the entire thing, but I think they handled it really well considering the circumstances.
You can tell there were a lot of first time racers here. I think they really went out of their way to make people feel welcome and confident coming into the race, which I appreciate. No snobby attitude! Keep in mind there are not very many Pacers for times under two hours, just one or two. The expo was small, but I totally get it – it’s a small race kind of in the middle of nowhere.
I ran this as part of the caldera triple, which includes the yellow stone 5K and the Yellowstone half marathon this coming week, so I look forward to that! I will be looking into their other national park races. Nice job, guys !
What a Great Experience!
This was my first run with Vacation Races and I've already signed up for my next. They put on a top-notch production. Every detail was accounted for, from a uniquely … MORE
This was my first run with Vacation Races and I’ve already signed up for my next. They put on a top-notch production. Every detail was accounted for, from a uniquely designed race shirt and incredible finishers medal, to little extras like free s’mores at the race expo. The surroundings were absolutely stunning, even with the 33-degree starting temperature.
Most impressive was the level of communication from the event staff. Mother Nature took out the bridge a mile from our original finish line only 4-days before the race. The race staff made sure to keep us well informed as they rushed to re-route the race. I still enjoyed the course that we were able to run and I look forward to running future races with such a professional organization.
Most spectacular Mile 13 ever!
Traveling from Florida I was nervous about running at altitude and in the colder weather. A gentle shake out run a day before didn't settle my nerves. Yes, it was … MORE
Traveling from Florida I was nervous about running at altitude and in the colder weather. A gentle shake out run a day before didn’t settle my nerves. Yes, it was cold on race morning, but the prerace hot chocolate was a warming surprise As the sun rose the scenery unfolded; the views were stunning. The weather quickly warmed up to tank top weather. The route takes you on a gradual incline from start to finish. Miles 11 -13.1 take your breath away, the views are almost too perfect to be true. The best finish line panarama ever ……. mpMake sure you put this one on your bucket list.
Favorite National Park Race
This was my favorite Vacation Races run I have done to date. The weather was perfect for running with lots of sun, the scenery was amazing! They had the race … MORE
This was my favorite Vacation Races run I have done to date. The weather was perfect for running with lots of sun, the scenery was amazing! They had the race course perfectly mapped to get a view of the Teton Mountains during the majority of the race. There were even hot air balloons flying around during the race. This was also one of the easiest courses I have done; most of it is very flat on road surface. The town of Jackson, WY has lots to offer during your weekend and tons of outdoor actives.
A great race with amazing views.
I just completed the Grand Teton Half Marathon for the first time after spending the prior week in Grand Teton/Yellowstone with the family. I had to drive back up from … MORE
I just completed the Grand Teton Half Marathon for the first time after spending the prior week in Grand Teton/Yellowstone with the family. I had to drive back up from Denver for the race but it was completely worth the drive.
The course is breathtaking as you have unobstructed views of the Grand Tetons for the last 7 miles of the course. There are a couple minor climbs in the first 6 miles, but nothing too steep or long. From mile 6 to the finish, it is a gradual uphill climb, but very doable. The challenge for many is running at elevation (over 6,200 ft.).
The race organization, Expo, swag and staff are fantastic. This was the 3rd race I’ve done with the group at vacationraces.com and they delivered a quality, fun event yet again. From the race expo to the recovery/food area after the finish, they put the runners as their priority and do all they can to make everyone comfortable and provide a safe and fun environment. Parker was available at the race start, but you had to arrive early as they closed the lot at a certain time to ensure safety of the runners preparing for the race. There were shuttles running from 2 other areas if you couldn’t make the main lot in time. I got there before it closed and had no problem with parking. The race is point-to-point, so shuttles were bringing people back to the parking areas after the race. About 30 minutes after finishing, I wound up standing in line for maybe 10 minutes before boarding a bus back to the finish. The buses were comfortable and running regularly.
Bib pick up was available at the Expo the day before. I volunteered and once again found a fun event, with a number of vendors and tons of volunteers working to streamline the process for those picking up bibs and gear. There were a few waits, but considering over 2,000 people participated in the event, those waits were understandable. I saw from behind the counter the effort and dedication of the vacationraces.com staff and volunteers.
The course is not the most challenging, unless you’re not used to running at higher elevation. My time wasn’t the best based on a back injury the month before. But I was happy with my performance, considering the injury.
Plan ahead so you can spend a couple days touring Grand Teton National Park before or after the race. You’ll be glad you did. There’s so much to see and do for the entire family.
I’ve included a pic from the course on race morning.
Enjoy,
Jay R.
Poor start and finish organization
This race had some major disappointments and frustrations. The course was outstanding with the most fabulous scenery you could ever have for a race. The backdrop for the entire course … MORE
This race had some major disappointments and frustrations. The course was outstanding with the most fabulous scenery you could ever have for a race. The backdrop for the entire course was the Grand Tetons mountains – WOW. The start line did not have adequate parking and there were no shuttles for folks that had to park far away. The course was one way and there were supposed to be shuttles to take us back to the start line. I waited in line for 2 hours for a shuttle. That may not have been so bad but it was HOT, there was not shade, and no vendors or any entertainment. Just standing around in the direct sun for hours. Poor organization! Medals are great, snack pack at the end of the race is disappointing. Do prepare for the altitude if you are a sea level person like me!
Incredibly scenic course
Vacation Races never fails to put on an amazing event. From the giveaways to encourage you to come to the starting line nice and early, to the free race picture … MORE
Vacation Races never fails to put on an amazing event. From the giveaways to encourage you to come to the starting line nice and early, to the free race picture at the finish line, they cannot be beat. The scenery of this course is incredible the entire time. They even provide bug spray, sunscreen, etc. at the starting line, which I think is a nice touch that I have not seen at other races. I rated the course as a little difficult because I am not used to running at this elevation! The medals are gorgeous, too.