This is a really small scale production on the Wasatch Back. I love the area but hadn't run this race previously. The organizers were kind in recognizing getting to PPU … MORE
This is a really small scale production on the Wasatch Back. I love the area but hadn’t run this race previously. The organizers were kind in recognizing getting to PPU on Friday and then back again Sat morning was not convenient due to the location so made it PPU before the race only, with shirts given out after the race. This was really helpful because the drive to just get your bib would not be worth it. I stayed in Park City to cut 40 min off the drive in the morning from SLC. There was more than enough parking but note–the finish line is nearly 4mi from the parking so you have to shuttle (this kind of sucked). The race starts up Soapstone Basin in the Uintas. Because it’s a super small field, there were only 4 porta potties up top but the lines weren’t awful. The drop bags literally went in the back of a pick up truck. It was way less downhill than I was expecting. A lot of the canyon races in UT are at least 8ish miles downhill before it flattens out. This was very steep at the top but then flattened out to a much more gradual (ie, hardly noticeable) drop for more than half the race. It is not a closed course, and they specifically tell you it is measured on the white shoulder line so no tangents. The issue with it being a shoulder race is there are places where you have more than enough room (but ONLY one abreast) and other places the shoulder is crumbled or missing and there are huge pick ups hauling trailers ripping up the canyon. YOU need to pay attention and jump off or you’re likely to eat a mirror. In other places, running the shoulder is horrible on your legs due to the road cant, you’ll really feel the difference and wish you could run in the middle of the road where the surface was flat. The course is beautiful but you will be working on the second half. The only mile markers are cones but if you run the white line, your GPS will be nearly perfect. The finish line has Fat Boys and nearly immediate results. Unfortunately, the AG results were delayed (and presented weirdly) so I gave up and took a bus back to the parking, only to get there and discover I did place and had to ride the bus back to the finish to get my AG medal and since only 1 bus was running, ended up standing in a ginormous line for over 30min to get back on the bus to go back to my car. Small field so competitive for even not super fast runners. They said if it gets bigger, they will be able to close a lane for runners. Shirt was cheap (the printing came off in the dryer) but the medals are great.
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Can't beat the views
This is a really small scale production on the Wasatch Back. I love the area but hadn't run this race previously. The organizers were kind in recognizing getting to PPU … MORE
This is a really small scale production on the Wasatch Back. I love the area but hadn’t run this race previously. The organizers were kind in recognizing getting to PPU on Friday and then back again Sat morning was not convenient due to the location so made it PPU before the race only, with shirts given out after the race. This was really helpful because the drive to just get your bib would not be worth it. I stayed in Park City to cut 40 min off the drive in the morning from SLC. There was more than enough parking but note–the finish line is nearly 4mi from the parking so you have to shuttle (this kind of sucked). The race starts up Soapstone Basin in the Uintas. Because it’s a super small field, there were only 4 porta potties up top but the lines weren’t awful. The drop bags literally went in the back of a pick up truck. It was way less downhill than I was expecting. A lot of the canyon races in UT are at least 8ish miles downhill before it flattens out. This was very steep at the top but then flattened out to a much more gradual (ie, hardly noticeable) drop for more than half the race. It is not a closed course, and they specifically tell you it is measured on the white shoulder line so no tangents. The issue with it being a shoulder race is there are places where you have more than enough room (but ONLY one abreast) and other places the shoulder is crumbled or missing and there are huge pick ups hauling trailers ripping up the canyon. YOU need to pay attention and jump off or you’re likely to eat a mirror. In other places, running the shoulder is horrible on your legs due to the road cant, you’ll really feel the difference and wish you could run in the middle of the road where the surface was flat. The course is beautiful but you will be working on the second half. The only mile markers are cones but if you run the white line, your GPS will be nearly perfect. The finish line has Fat Boys and nearly immediate results. Unfortunately, the AG results were delayed (and presented weirdly) so I gave up and took a bus back to the parking, only to get there and discover I did place and had to ride the bus back to the finish to get my AG medal and since only 1 bus was running, ended up standing in a ginormous line for over 30min to get back on the bus to go back to my car. Small field so competitive for even not super fast runners. They said if it gets bigger, they will be able to close a lane for runners. Shirt was cheap (the printing came off in the dryer) but the medals are great.
Can't wait to watch this grow!
This was the opening weekend for this race, and I'm so glad I signed up for it. There were a few hiccups before the race, but that's to be expected … MORE
This was the opening weekend for this race, and I’m so glad I signed up for it. There were a few hiccups before the race, but that’s to be expected for the first time on a new course, and it sounded like they were working with a lot of new volunteers, as well. The scenery is absolutely beautiful for this course, and if you’re prepared for the constant downhill, you will love this race!