This was the easiest of the 3 half marathons I’ve completed. Very nice scenery on the course, and in the surrounding area, if you have the time to go explore. … MORE
This was the easiest of the 3 half marathons I’ve completed. Very nice scenery on the course, and in the surrounding area, if you have the time to go explore. Well organized, plenty of aid stations. Did not stick around for the after party as we wanted to go explore Jackson, Wy immediately after
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Scenic run, mostly level or downhill
This was the easiest of the 3 half marathons I’ve completed. Very nice scenery on the course, and in the surrounding area, if you have the time to go explore. … MORE
This was the easiest of the 3 half marathons I’ve completed. Very nice scenery on the course, and in the surrounding area, if you have the time to go explore. Well organized, plenty of aid stations. Did not stick around for the after party as we wanted to go explore Jackson, Wy immediately after
Beautiful race
Mesa Falls is a beautiful and very small marathon in Idaho. It was a bit of an odyssey for me to travel there, going from central VA to Salt Lake … MORE
Mesa Falls is a beautiful and very small marathon in Idaho. It was a bit of an odyssey for me to travel there, going from central VA to Salt Lake City, driving to Ogden and spending a night, then driving to Ashton, ID and spending a night there. I returned to Salt Lake City after the race before flying home. Well worth the effort!
This is a low key event, my favorite kind! Packet pickup (which comes in a potato sack!) takes place at the local elementary school. Literally took 60 seconds. After I got my shirt (a nice green long-sleeve tech shirt) I drove to the upper and lower Mesa Falls, which was beautiful! It was a pretty drive too, with a few scenic overlooks. The only downside was that this was around the time of the wildfires in Idaho and surrounding areas, so there was some haze, though we were unaffected by smoke.
Race morning they offer a runners’ breakfast, which was convenient. It’s in the same school cafeteria and after you get your coffee and use the facilities, you get bussed to the start, 26.2 miles away in the Targhee National Forest. It’s a comfortable charter bus, not school bus, and it’s a pleasant enough trip in the pre-dawn hours.
The course is point to point and has the added benefit of running on several different surfaces. You start on about 10 miles of gravel roads (easy running) in the beautiful forest. It’s about 6100 ft but I felt unaffected. You meet up with the half runners on 2.8 miles of packet trails by the Warm River, which was really pretty. The only downside is it’s a narrow trail and some of the half runners are slow or taking up the whole trial, so you have to be aware and let them know you’re coming up on them. I didn’t have any problems, just be conscious of it. It is a beautiful segment of the course. Then you’re on about 13 miles of pavement to the finish, with one big hill between mile 17-19. The last 10k is pretty flat through the farmland leading into Ashton. We had great weather; cool with sunny skies. If it’s a warm year, that last portion could get hot, but it was fine for us. I carried my hydration pack so never hurt for water, but I can’t recall how often aid stations were available.
The finish line is in Ashton, easy walking distance back to the school where most people park. Don’t forget to claim your free huckleberry milkshake at the local place around the corner – it’s so good!! The medal is actually a small wooden medallion with the logo on it. Small, but unique and nice. I got an age group place here which meant I got a nice wooden plaque. Swag is pretty good considering it’s such a small event.
Overall: easy to maneuver this small, well-organized race. Book your lodging early because there aren’t a ton of places in Ashton, if that’s where you want to stay. I spent the night at Eagle Peak Lodge which was perfect and gave me a late checkout. If you can take advantage of where you are and explore the surrounding national forests, do so. And make sure you see the falls – you run right by one of the overlooks but you can see more at upper and lower viewing locations the day before or after the race. It’s worth seeing! And don’t forget your milkshake. Enjoy the scenery and excellent organization of this friendly, small-town event.
Small field, big participation
First off, the registration fee is low, and you get additional discounts for everything. I think they ended up paying me to run. Expo: no real expo as this small … MORE
First off, the registration fee is low, and you get additional discounts for everything. I think they ended up paying me to run.
Expo: no real expo as this small town race, they set up a table outside the elementary school. The ladies handing out race numbers were super helpful and friendly. I was able to choose my race number, and since this was my 31st marathon, i chose bib #31.
Race day: free breakfast for runners. Breads, cereals, yoghurt, fruit, coffee, juices and more. What a treat. A chance to visit with other runners, before boarding the bus to the start.
Once the bus arrives to the starting point, you have the option of sitting on the bus up until about 15 minutes to race start. As it was a cool morning, this was helpful. Plus, there was a toilet on the bus!
The course map itself shows steep downhill except a steep uphill miles 17-20. I was concerned about the downhills, but it really was not even noticeable until between mile 13-14, otherwise very gradual. The uphill was pretty steep, and lasted more like mile 17.5 to 19.5, and then again, a very gradual, almost unnoticeable downhill to the finish. The only part of the race that i found uncomfortable, was that the first 9.5 miles was on gravel forest service roads, so you really needed to watch your footing.
Medal: a small wooden medal. I hate the monster medals thay so many races try to entice you with, this medal was great.
Finish: for a small town, quite a large number of people cheering you on at the finish. Probably mostly family and friends, but it was a treat. Spectators along the course were minimal mostly because of running forest service roads, but at times there were cheering crowds.
I would be remiss if i did not mention the huckleberry milkshakes that all runners are given. They are freaking delicious. A real treat after 26 miles. You do not have to get immediately, rather, are given a certificate to pick up at your convenience.
If your goal is 50 states, this is the marathon to run in idaho. The scenery beautiful. The local people, friendly. Right along the grand tetons, and a quick trip to nearby Yellowstone park is possible. I sent an email to the race director, and he responded immediately. Hotels are scarce, you might need to stay 20-30 miles away, but not really a big deal. Drive in early race morning, park at the elementary school, eat a nice breakfast, and enjoy the race.
Small marathon with nice scenery
This is a small marathon (less than 150 marathon runners in 2016). You need to be prepared to see very few people - even running solo for miles (no other … MORE
This is a small marathon (less than 150 marathon runners in 2016). You need to be prepared to see very few people – even running solo for miles (no other runners or spectators).
I was affected by the altitude more than I thought I would be. It impacted my breathing as well as creating a feeling of dehydration.
Course: About half of the course is on trails and half on open roads. The trails were, at times, rocky (literally and figuratively). Though they offered some spectacular views. I’m not a fan of open roads, but, luckily, traffic was light.
The medal is quite small.
No expo – it is just a packet pick-up.
I realize it sounds like a lot of criticism above, but it is actually a nice race weekend. The volunteers are all incredibly nice. The gear bag was a potato sack. The pre-race dinner – for just $5 – included pasta and potatoes! In 2016, Ryan and Sara Hall spoke during dinner, which was a nice trip. This was an inexpensive race (~$60 registration fee) and well run. I would recommend to those who are looking to run a marathon in Idaho.
Small town race with a big heart
The Mesa Falls Half Marathon was my first half marathon. Ever. I chose it because it ran through the campground I was managing in 2013. The race is run by … MORE
The Mesa Falls Half Marathon was my first half marathon. Ever. I chose it because it ran through the campground I was managing in 2013. The race is run by a local grocery store owner in Ashton, Idaho. It takes you through an area worthy of Vacation Races fame – the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway.
Marathon runners start on trails above the highway and actually run past the Lower Mesa Falls.
The Half Marathon started in the parking lot at Lower Mesa Falls and started on a three mile trail down to Warm River Campground. The trail is quite narrow but otherwise not difficult. As we exited the campground we ran past potato fields and farmhouses, finishing in Ashton City Park to a crowd of cheering fans.
The race was extremely well organized. We picked up our race packets near the finish line, so we knew exactly where to meet the bus that would take us to the start line. Personal race results were available immediately, and since the race was gun timed only we also knew immediately if we had placed in our age divisions. I placed 2nd in mine. Not bad for a first race!