This is one of my favorites each year. Runtastic does a great job no matter the race, their courses are outstanding and the medals are to die for. This year … MORE
This is one of my favorites each year. Runtastic does a great job no matter the race, their courses are outstanding and the medals are to die for. This year there were 2 shirts to choose from which was nice. It wasn’t nearly as cold as usual this year which was also very nice. The course finishes in Sugarhouse Park with a somewhat painful uphill slog in the last mile (hang in there!). One issue that I hadn’t noticed in prior years (but isn’t the race’s fault at all) is when we were entering the first neighborhood after the canyon, the pavement was such a mess it was a serious hazard to your ankles if you weren’t watching closely. If you were running fast, this could have been really scary. Always love Runtastic races, you can’t go wrong
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Always a great one
This is one of my favorites each year. Runtastic does a great job no matter the race, their courses are outstanding and the medals are to die for. This year … MORE
This is one of my favorites each year. Runtastic does a great job no matter the race, their courses are outstanding and the medals are to die for. This year there were 2 shirts to choose from which was nice. It wasn’t nearly as cold as usual this year which was also very nice. The course finishes in Sugarhouse Park with a somewhat painful uphill slog in the last mile (hang in there!). One issue that I hadn’t noticed in prior years (but isn’t the race’s fault at all) is when we were entering the first neighborhood after the canyon, the pavement was such a mess it was a serious hazard to your ankles if you weren’t watching closely. If you were running fast, this could have been really scary. Always love Runtastic races, you can’t go wrong
Runtastic Fan
I've run this half marathon twice, and the course changed quite a bit from my run in 2021 to my second run in 2022. I much prefer the 2021 version, … MORE
I’ve run this half marathon twice, and the course changed quite a bit from my run in 2021 to my second run in 2022. I much prefer the 2021 version, as we ran through the streets on the east bench and finished in sugarhouse park. People were everywhere cheering us along, and that makes such a difference when you’re struggling to find more energy anywhere you can! In 2022 the race ended at the park just beyond the zoo, so there was very little opportunity for spectators to cheer us on. It’s still a gorgeous course and I’m running it again this year regardless of which route is used.
Gotta love the bling
Runtastic always does a great job—from their shirts (which do run small ladies, size up for sure) to their incredible medals and their age group medals and their trilogy medals…Love … MORE
Runtastic always does a great job—from their shirts (which do run small ladies, size up for sure) to their incredible medals and their age group medals and their trilogy medals…Love the run down the canyon, even if it was raining, fire pits at the start line and fun finish line. They listened to runners a few years ago and reversed the direction of the finish in the park to minimize a hill at the end (thank you!!!). You can never go wrong with a Runtastic Race.
The medals make the hill worth it
Runtastic is by far one of the best race organizers out there. Normally I race 1-3 times a month. This year COVID has destroyed my racing schedule. I haven't run … MORE
Runtastic is by far one of the best race organizers out there. Normally I race 1-3 times a month. This year COVID has destroyed my racing schedule. I haven’t run a race since the first week of March and my speed is hurting for it. I deferred a couple of races that were scheduled to happen this summer because I wasn’t sure it would be safe but went ahead with this one because I think Runtastic did have safety measures in place. Packet Pick Up was well done with plenty of space to avoid crowding. The race shirts are always fun (ladies, they run REALLY small, trust me. I usually wear a small and I’ve tried every size from S to L and the Large is the first to fit me like a normal small would). The backpack had a fun sugar skull on it and they write your number on the bag in case you forget to put your bib tag on it. The race this year started at the top of East Canyon to keep everyone in the canyon in Emigration instead of having to run through Sugar House and tie up traffic there. The buses were filled but you had to wear a mask and they checked temps. In previous years they had you on a bus no later than 6:30 leaving at 6:45 and starting the race at 8:30 which meant a LONG, cold time at the start. This year, they moved the start to 8 (THANK YOU!!!) and we actually didn’t get off the bus until 7:40 which was perfect. Time to go to the bathroom (lots and lots of portages potties) and get rid of our bag before toeing the line. Costume contest was fun with cute ideas to be sure. Headless horseman was a Dia del Muerto instead which was cool. The start was more crowded than I expected. The first 3 miles are down East Canyon. Then, the Haunted Hill from Hell…UP from the reservoir for a little more than 1.5mi. Absolutely brutal slog and I live at altitude and run in the hills. Once you crest the hill to the old start line, it is a long, steep down hill with flats and rollers in the last 5. I have PR’d at this race twice before and always place or win my division but wasn’t in racing form this year and the walk up the hill out of necessity killed my time, but I did recover my average split on the steep part of Emigration. The medal was AWESOME as usual and they were handing out masks at the finish if you didn’t have one for the finish line festival. Highly recommend this and all Runtastic races.
Freaking fast and awesome
This is a favorite of mine--and not just because i've massively PR'd twice. The shirts are always good, the medals are ridiculously awesome (often have moving/opening/swinging parts), the age group … MORE
This is a favorite of mine–and not just because i’ve massively PR’d twice. The shirts are always good, the medals are ridiculously awesome (often have moving/opening/swinging parts), the age group awards are incredible and the race production over all is well done. You need to be on the bus between 6-7A and the race doesn’t start till 8:30–be smart, bring warm clothes and drop them in a bag before the start. They have fire pits and hot cocoa at the top of the canyon, more than enough porta potties, and space blankets. They do have a costume contest at the start you can participate in. The headless horseman is super cool (beautiful horse) and watching the sun rise over the mountains can never be beat. I couldn’t feel my feet for the first 3 miles because they were so cold but trust yourself and open up the throttle. My first 3 miles were mid-6 minute miles which is just time in the bank for later. Be smart and run tangents–it always kills me to watch people running the curves like lemmings. You add serious mileage if you keep doing that! As you come out of the canyon the work gets harder. Know that the last 2 miles are the hardest with a tough climb into the park but hang on, you can still do it if you’ve banked enough time in the canyon. As you finish, there is a tunnel to run through and then there the finish is. Headless horseman is there for pics, there is a PR bell and pizza and chocolate milk. Seriously, this is an outstanding race. HINT: volunteer at any of the Runatastic events and get 20% off a future race for every HOUR you put in! I can usually get at least one free race by working one of the ones I don’t run. Another fun thing is run 3 Runtastic events in a year and get a trilogy award–there are charms on each metal that can magnet onto the trilogy medal you can get at the end of the race. So cool!!
I loved it!
I had an amazing time running my first half marathon! The course was pretty, the weather was perfect, the race was really fun with its Halloween theme and it was … MORE
I had an amazing time running my first half marathon! The course was pretty, the weather was perfect, the race was really fun with its Halloween theme and it was such a fast course! The only downside was waiting at the start for an hour and a half and it was so cold! Read my full review and race recap! https://262.run/my-first-half-marathon-the-haunted-half/