Let’s start with the good: Great scenic route, mostly downhill, and the weather was good. The town has a cool vibe too. No start corrals, which concerned me at first, … MORE
Let’s start with the good: Great scenic route, mostly downhill, and the weather was good. The town has a cool vibe too.
No start corrals, which concerned me at first, but that actually worked out. Everyone stacked up at the start line according to their expected speed.
Now the bad:
Transportation is only by bus. You arrive early in the department store parking lot and then just sit on the bus for 30 minutes, in the dark, in the heat, wondering why you’re not moving. No announcements, nothing.
They mix distances and that’s where things really get chaotic. I’m running the half marathon and once we get towards the flats, maybe Mile 9ish? I see a horde of people flowing into the road. Our pace? About 6:30/min. The incoming herd? About 9:30/mile.
Aside from trying to avoid collision, the next several miles was full on bobbing and weaving.
Why do small town organizers do this? Seriously, no lane separation using cones for the first half mile ?? No way to start to other slower racers a little later to match pacing??
Bag drop off / pickup…was terrible. It’s not possible to mess up bag pickup, you say. Utah valley says “hold my beer”
There you are, spent from 13 miles and barely able to walk for fear of calves cramping. And you go to the bag pickup area. “Where is my bag?” you ask. The volunteer cheerfully smiles and points to the PILE of bags on the lawn. Piles separated by ranges of numbers. No offer to help search. And the piles aren’t organized in any type of ascending order.
So there you are, bending over, dehydrated , and inspecting every single bags’ ticket to find yours. Of course you had to use the supplied blue bag, so good luck finding a standout in the crowd. After 10 minutes I still couldn’t find mine but did locate a few poorly placed bags and tossed them to the volunteers. “You might want to drop this in the correct pile” . So participant #4195, you’ll never know the time I saved you.
And there I stood, wondering if my bag was also strewn in another pile. 15 minutes later I found my bag. You’ve got to be kidding me.
The medal was weak. Why? They all say Utah Marathon, regardless of distance. But you didn’t run the Full, you say…you ran the half. no they’re all the same medal. What’s the point of that?
Nice people. They mean well. But are not equipped for a seamless experience.
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Great scenery, poor execution
Let’s start with the good: Great scenic route, mostly downhill, and the weather was good. The town has a cool vibe too. No start corrals, which concerned me at first, … MORE
Let’s start with the good: Great scenic route, mostly downhill, and the weather was good. The town has a cool vibe too.
No start corrals, which concerned me at first, but that actually worked out. Everyone stacked up at the start line according to their expected speed.
Now the bad:
Transportation is only by bus. You arrive early in the department store parking lot and then just sit on the bus for 30 minutes, in the dark, in the heat, wondering why you’re not moving. No announcements, nothing.
They mix distances and that’s where things really get chaotic. I’m running the half marathon and once we get towards the flats, maybe Mile 9ish? I see a horde of people flowing into the road. Our pace? About 6:30/min. The incoming herd? About 9:30/mile.
Aside from trying to avoid collision, the next several miles was full on bobbing and weaving.
Why do small town organizers do this? Seriously, no lane separation using cones for the first half mile ?? No way to start to other slower racers a little later to match pacing??
Bag drop off / pickup…was terrible. It’s not possible to mess up bag pickup, you say. Utah valley says “hold my beer”
There you are, spent from 13 miles and barely able to walk for fear of calves cramping. And you go to the bag pickup area. “Where is my bag?” you ask. The volunteer cheerfully smiles and points to the PILE of bags on the lawn. Piles separated by ranges of numbers. No offer to help search. And the piles aren’t organized in any type of ascending order.
So there you are, bending over, dehydrated , and inspecting every single bags’ ticket to find yours. Of course you had to use the supplied blue bag, so good luck finding a standout in the crowd. After 10 minutes I still couldn’t find mine but did locate a few poorly placed bags and tossed them to the volunteers. “You might want to drop this in the correct pile” . So participant #4195, you’ll never know the time I saved you.
And there I stood, wondering if my bag was also strewn in another pile. 15 minutes later I found my bag. You’ve got to be kidding me.
The medal was weak. Why? They all say Utah Marathon, regardless of distance. But you didn’t run the Full, you say…you ran the half. no they’re all the same medal. What’s the point of that?
Nice people. They mean well. But are not equipped for a seamless experience.
Great Race!! (not all downhill)
I have participated in this race 2x. Once half marathon and once the full distance. This is a fantastic course. The scenery from the start is amazing and the race … MORE
I have participated in this race 2x. Once half marathon and once the full distance. This is a fantastic course. The scenery from the start is amazing and the race is impeccably organized. One thing that freaked me out on my first marathon was the shuttle to the start. I mentally freaked out a bit knowing how far I had to run by driving it first!
The aid stations are great. Fully stocked with tons of volunteers. I love that they had orange slices and a popsicle at near the bottom. Tons of great food at the bottom to help with recovery. I forgot to have some ibuprofen at the bottom and was able to get some from the aid station.
this Race is not all downhill. There is a large elevation drop but there are some hills that will challenge you on the course. Mile 7.4 to 9.2 is either flat or uphill as is mile 15.9 to 16.4. Don’t cheat on your hill work as you prep for this race because you will definitely run uphill for small sections.
Overall this race is great and reasonably priced. Would absolutely do it again!
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WELL RUN ARATHON!!!!!
Having been road racing since 1991 I've been to my share of the good, the bad and the ugly races. Utah Valley Marathon is among the best, and is one … MORE
Having been road racing since 1991 I’ve been to my share of the good, the bad and the ugly races. Utah Valley Marathon is among the best, and is one of my very favorite races. The expo is well organized and smooth. The race shirt is my just plain awesome. The busing to the start was well organized and very smooth. The course is very fast ( if you in your training practice/train on some downhill runs ) and the course is an incredibly scenic race . I love being able to see the Church spire near the finish from a few miles away. The finish was very well supported with plenty of support for those who need a little TLC ( which I’ve seen many other races lack the help for those in crisis). They had plenty of food and a great finish area for the finishers to relish the moment with each other before going to their friends and families. The medals are always great. They had a great live band and vibe at the finish. As tired as I was, I stayed with my family and friends for a few hours after finishing just enjoying the whole atmosphere/experience. Definitely a race I most highly recommend.
Favorite Race all Year
Of the many races I do during the year, the Utah Valley Marathon is my favorite. I have done this race 11 times and will do it again this year. … MORE
Of the many races I do during the year, the Utah Valley Marathon is my favorite. I have done this race 11 times and will do it again this year. Any marathon is challenging, but the beautiful scenery and downhill course make this race a joy to do. The course is always well staffed with many aid stations and friendly people. The finish area is well stocked to help with the race recovery. A great race for all runners.
Super fun race! Love the course.
The course is amazing. I love the scenery while running. The course is well managed. I love the food at the end. Plenty of volunteers at eight stations. The course … MORE
The course is amazing. I love the scenery while running. The course is well managed. I love the food at the end. Plenty of volunteers at eight stations. The course is super awesome downhill I got my PR.
Elevation got me again
Although many would not consider this course difficult due to its downhill nature, if you are not from the area and live at sea level, the altitude will impact your … MORE
Although many would not consider this course difficult due to its downhill nature, if you are not from the area and live at sea level, the altitude will impact your performance. Yes it was also unprecedented heat,but that did not seem bad as the majority was in the shade for me or it seemed that way. Yes my legs were tired but I felt panicky every time I would exert myself so I walked the last 1/5th. The race was organized, expo was nice (nice to finally attend one post covid), and the water stops were appropriate. The views were beautiful. Many complained about the late start, but I didn’t notice. The busing to the start was very organized and they had plenty of port a potties!!💩 if you are a post race party lover type, beware there is not a drop of alcohol to be found, which would be expected to where the race was.
Overall this is a great race, just not that great for me
Great Race and not a downhill
-- Buses are there from 3.15 to 4.15 - get a good sleep and rest before as you cant sleep before race day. - watch out on temperature as that … MORE
— Buses are there from 3.15 to 4.15
– get a good sleep and rest before as you cant sleep before race day.
– watch out on temperature as that will be changer for your race pace and plans.
Started late on a hot day
The weather is out of the race director's control, but starting on time IS. I did what I needed to do by getting on BUS 2 to the start (putting … MORE
The weather is out of the race director’s control, but starting on time IS.
I did what I needed to do by getting on BUS 2 to the start (putting me there at 4:15). Somehow at 5:50 I was not lined up. I listen to and follow directions. There was poor communication to the people standing around in the field at the top of the mountain about how to (and when) to line up. There was a lot of communication about the drop bags (on a hot day, is this necessary?). Knowing how hot it was going to be, and knowing I am a back of the packer, I was frustrated with the fact that we started 20 minutes late. It seemed much more chaotic than other point to point races I have done (OBX, Missoula, Revel Mt Charleston, and Pocatello)–all of which started on time.
The late start came firmly to mind at mile 22.something when we started to enter town. I looked over and saw one of those bank message boards with the time and temperature. 11:08. 92 degrees. Sob. If we had started on time, I would have been there 20 minutes earlier. It would have made a difference–I really only fell apart for about 1-2 miles.
The good news:
* The swag is nice.
* The course was beautiful (equal to Missoula, Mt Charleston) and straight. There were (too) brief parts with shade (tunnel, canyon wall, trees) even at the last 10K.
* The water stops at mile 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and so on were so regular that it really helped mentally somehow. They were all well stocked–important on a hot day. At the end they were giving out handfuls of ice–which I accepted. There was a frozen popsicle at 23. Two misting arches. Bonus residents misting runners, handing out ice cubes.
* The downhill was nice (didn’t feel as crushing as Mt. Charleston–maybe I did a better job pacing?), and my Garmin says 520 feet of gain (not a big deal for me, but I’m from a rolling hills environment).
* The Marriott host hotel was very convenient, as was the convention center for packet pickup.
*Good size race–it felt like a pre-pandemic race! Fun once I got started to mile 22ish. T
Another complaint:
The finish line area was too, too crowded, and corralled in with metal gates. I happened to finish when the kids 1K was finishing. There were TONS of kids/toddlers moving erratically, moms with strollers trying to keep the family together between me (finishing the right chute) and the water table (on the left). It was frustrating. I did get a Jamba Juice cup (frozen and yummy), and was forced around to the moon bounce area before I could maneuver out to cross the course to head back the Marriott host hotel.
Not for a back of the packer
The course has a 6 hr time limit and I thought I would be cutting it close. Halfway thru the race, I began to have back issues and decided to … MORE
The course has a 6 hr time limit and I thought I would be cutting it close. Halfway thru the race, I began to have back issues and decided to walk. My hometown race, Route66 in Tulsa, holds the finish line open until the last person crosses, regardless of time limit. I crossed my fingers and hoped Utah Valley would do that for me. At no point, did any volunteer or safety official tell me that the timing mat would be pulled. I did finish the entire course in over 7.30 hrs. It was over 90 for the final 5 miles. I am proud of myself for not quitting. They gave me my marathon medal and the additional medal for doing both races but no official results. Fortunately the 50 state marathon club allows you to count 2 races like this if you have your bib and finisher medal. Utah is a beautiful state but there are prettier marathon races than this one. Their medals and tech shirt are really nice.
Small Downhill Race, Get Your PR Here
I really really enjoyed this race, it had a lot of unique things that I had not experienced in a race before and of course setting a new half marathon … MORE
I really really enjoyed this race, it had a lot of unique things that I had not experienced in a race before and of course setting a new half marathon PR after more than 4 years since I had set my previous PR leaves you with really good feelings in regards to a race.
I flew in to Salt Lake City on Friday afternoon, got picked up by my cousin at the airport and drove straight to Provo so I could pick up my packet at the EXPO. Plan on at least 45 minutes to an hour to Provo from the airport.
EXPO: The expo was quite small and so was the parking lot associated with it, although parking was free. Packet pick up was quick and easy and had several freebies in the bag. Overall nothing special about the expo other than a few booths but it is a small race so it is about what you would expect.
T-Shirts/SWAG: The T shirt for this race is a little unique, it had bright red sleeves and a black shirt. The Utah Valley logo on the front and giant “Pain You Enjoy” letters on the back. I actually like the shirt in the sense that it stands out from the rest of my race shirts but i definitely heard some complaints that people didn’t care for it. The race medal was really nice, it is a large spinner medal so the outside of the medal is a solid ring with a disc in the middle that can spin. Another unique addition to my collection, the only negative would be that it doesn’t have anywhere to have my name and PR time engraved but I still really like it. Another thing they do that I liked is that the race bib isn’t simply a rectangle. The top of the bib is jagged and has a mountainous design, I have done a few other races that did something unique like this but little touches like this are things that I love about a race.
PARKING/ACCESS: This is a point to point course so you park near the finish and take a bus up to the start in the mountains. Parking was at a shopping mall and more than abundant. The buses were easy to find and had plenty of room although I got there pretty early so there wasn’t much of a line yet. Once on the bus you drive up a highway into the mountains where they drop you off at the start area. There were plenty of outhouses at the start, especially if you kept walking towards the start line from the drop off area and didn’t just stop at the first one you found. One thing to know though is that even during the summer it gets very cold up there at 4:30 am, waiting for the 6am start time. They do however have camp fire barrels set up along the start area to keep warm which I really welcomed. They had a big truck right by the start line to check your bag which really just meant have your bag labeled and throw it in the back of a UPS truck but that did allow you to keep your warm up clothes on until only 10-15 minutes before the race. As for getting back to your car after the race the finish and the parking lot are over a mile apart and while you could walk it they do have buses to get you there which were easy to use.
Course/Aid Stations/Elevation: Aid stations were spaced every 2 miles or so throughout the course and were well stocked with water and electrolytes. Because you are running through a canyon there isn’t much crowd support during the majority of the course until you get near Provo/the finish but you don’t really mind it. The canyon portion of the course is very pretty, there are waterfalls and nice views and while you are running the sun is rising so it only adds to the beauty. As for the elevation I found this to be the easiest elevation race I have ever run. It was almost entirely a very very gentle downhill with only 2 minor uphills. The great part about the downhills was that the gradient was so slight that it helped you keep running fast while never feeling like you were pounding your knees trying to slow yourself down as you would if you were running down a steeper hill. The only reason I didn’t rate this as a 1 star elevation difficulty is that all downhill running can be very hard on your quads. I’m sure the people in the full marathon felt it, I didn’t have any issues during my race but during the next 1-3 days I thought it was weird that my quads were really sore until I realized that the elevation is what did it. I’m sure some people started to feel it during the race which could at least add a little difficulty. This race is made for you to PR and I managed to finish in 1:29:56 for a PR, finally breaking 1:30.
Race Management: I really enjoyed the execution of this race. Busing to the start was smooth, fires and plenty of bathrooms at the start was great. They have a beautiful downtown finish location by the courthouse after you pass by BYU (the edge of campus so unless you know its there you wouldn’t assume it was a university you were passing). They have several other nice touches like a PR gong which you can ring, you tube videos of the finish so that you can see how you finished, and FREE pictures. They had finish time printouts which you could get to show your results.They also had lots of free food at the finish including Popsicles and cinnabon. The bag pickup area is a little concerning because they just lay everyone’s bags out and you just grab yours with no real security but it didn’t seem to be an issue.
I do want so give one final shout out to the race management for going above and beyond for me. For the first time in my life I placed in my age group at a race but I didn’t realize that they gave awards out all the way to 5th in your age group instead of 3rd so after my wife finished we went home. I later realized that if I had waited around for 15 more minutes I would have received by age group award but by that time I had already flown home to Washington state, after several emails I was able to get a hold of the race director who I offered to send money to in order to ship me my plaque. They said they would figure something out and then shipped it to me for free. I know it only cost them a few dollars but it did take their time and it was just a really nice gesture on their part which I appreciate. I have my eye on this race for future years when I might try to get my full marathon BQ here.
Destination Utah
This race has a sunrise start in the mountains, meaning a super-early arrival at the boarding zone for the shuttles. Plan accordingly for the cold morning, but realize it will … MORE
This race has a sunrise start in the mountains, meaning a super-early arrival at the boarding zone for the shuttles. Plan accordingly for the cold morning, but realize it will be hot at the end of the race down in the valley (there was about a 45 degree difference). I was glad a booth at the expo gave away space blankets which I had brought with me to the waiting area. There were campfire pits where the runners could huddle around to stay warm.
The scenery is something else. The first 20 miles are all coming down the mountain, and the final 10K is through the urban sprawl around BYU. Aid stations were set up every couple miles, pretty much at every other mile marker, so it was easy to know when to expect water. The course is pretty much all downhill, so I elected to restrain my pace. I wasn’t able to ring the BQ or PR gong at the end, but I did complete my first a negative split marathon. If you do qualify for Boston, the race gives you another t-shirt celebrating this achievement. In the week leading up to the race, I sustained a strain on my knee. I feel fortunate I was able to complete this event without being 100%. After the race, the massage tents were worth the wait!
Beautiful Downhill Race + Cool Weather
The race starts early in the morning. Be prepared for cold weather because the start is higher in elevation than the finish. The course is mostly downhill with a few … MORE
The race starts early in the morning. Be prepared for cold weather because the start is higher in elevation than the finish. The course is mostly downhill with a few moderate climbs. The medal was nice and they included a light jacket for their 10th anniversary. Aid stations every 2 miles a big plus.
Utah valley marathon is the best
I have run the Utah valley marathon seven times and have my personal best (2:58) on the course. The race is well organized, and the swag is better than most. … MORE
I have run the Utah valley marathon seven times and have my personal best (2:58) on the course. The race is well organized, and the swag is better than most. I will be coming back to this race again and again.
WOW
My first FULL and not a disappointment. I wasn't truly ready as I had been sick and trained little due to an injury but I ran it any ways and … MORE
My first FULL and not a disappointment. I wasn’t truly ready as I had been sick and trained little due to an injury but I ran it any ways and I am so glad I did. I FINISHED and that was all I expected of myself. Wasn’t pleased with the start due to where we had to wait but once we started it was great. Beautiful neighborhood and met a runner to keep pace with until mile 14. I am looking forward to running again.
A downhill course sounds fun, but.....
Run in Provo, Utah, which has to be one of the most scenic cities in America. It was gorgeous. This was a point to point course, and starts early enough … MORE
Run in Provo, Utah, which has to be one of the most scenic cities in America. It was gorgeous. This was a point to point course, and starts early enough in the morning that it was freezing! Wish I had taken plenty of warm clothing, but instead huddled up to one of the many bonfires the organizers had set close to the start line. I had read that it was a downhill, fast course, but this turned out to be a detriment to me. Did not train for so much downhill. The course itself was beautiful!! The whole way!! For 21 miles you run through some of the most scenic hills that Provo has to offer. The final 4-5 miles is pretty flat, right through downtown, people watching, so you don’t dare walk ( I did ). The expo was very small, but the few that were there gave out a few freebies. Although I have learned my lesson about downhill courses, I would love to return to this city and enjoy its beauty.
Easy downhill course with scenic views
This was a point to point downhill course, so we had to catch a shuttle bus by 4:15 for a 6:00 a.m. start. I'm not sure why we had to … MORE
This was a point to point downhill course, so we had to catch a shuttle bus by 4:15 for a 6:00 a.m. start. I’m not sure why we had to leave so early because we had to wait around for over an hour before the start. The organizers had set up campfires for the runners to warm up before the start, which was a nice idea, but the smoke was terrible. There weren’t very many spectators along the route, but the views of the Wasatch Mountains made up for it. The course started out with a steep downhill section and then flattened out for about the last 4-5 miles, which were through city streets in Provo. I thought the expo was very nice with Ryan Hall as one of the first speakers. If I had to do it over again, I’d still do it.
Net Downhill, but still tough
This race is advertised as fast and breathtaking. It is a net downhill of about 2000 ft, and the views are pretty. It's also pretty damn hot in Utah in … MORE
This race is advertised as fast and breathtaking. It is a net downhill of about 2000 ft, and the views are pretty. It’s also pretty damn hot in Utah in June.
As a destination race, they make this pretty easy. Provo, Utah is an adorable little town, and they are happy to have the runners of this race – I think now in it’s 8th year. We found great restaurants in town – although liquor laws can be tricky if you’re looking to drink. The race itself is somewhat small, but because of the course, it draws some fast runners.
The expo is tiny, but sufficient. Ryan Hall was the keynote speaker. Race swag is okay. The race shirt is gender specific – the additional branded gear was all by greenlayer, and pretty thick material. They also give you a nice bag that can be used for bag drop.
Logistics. This is a point to point race, so you get bussed up to the top of the course. The only downside is that you have to catch the bus at 3:45-4:15 for a 6 am start. And woooo, is it chilly at the top! All other race administration went well – the volunteers are super, the aid stations were plentiful (every 2 miles till 23 and then every mile) and well-stocked. We got icees at mile 23 too!
As for the course, it’s pretty. I’m spoiled, I live in CA, run in Marin. This is a different kind of pretty. I think I like the first half better. The roads were more residential, we saw horses, goats, cows, farms, people sat out on their driveway and cheered us on. The second half still had the beautiful mountains, but you are literally running on the highway – it’s divided and one whole side is shut down for the race. Then you run into Provo. You can see the finish when you’re about a mile and a half away. Which is tough!
Overall, not my worst race, not my favorite. I wouldn’t got back and run it again, but I enjoyed myself.
Popular race for many reasons!
I've run over 30 marathons in my life, and this race is one of the best. It has a fantastic, scenic course. The downhill is just right with enough slope … MORE
I’ve run over 30 marathons in my life, and this race is one of the best. It has a fantastic, scenic course. The downhill is just right with enough slope to give you a fast time while still being gentle on quads and joints. The short uphills are just enough to mix things up without wearing you out or slowing you down too much. You never know what the weather will be on race day, but early June is almost always beautiful in Northern Utah with cool temps in the morning hours. Races are very difficult to organize but this event is well put together with good nutrition options, plenty of port-a-potties, and a great finish line experience. This is a race I strongly recommend.