What: Davis and Morgan County high point
Driving to the top of Francis Peak and hiking north to Thurston Peak is the easiest way to bag this peak. The 8 mile hike can turn into 10 miles if you summit Maggie and Molly. Maggie and Mollie are unofficial names coined by a local geocacher of the two peaks between Francis Peak and Thurston Peak.
Links:
View geosports’ trip at Everytrail.com
You can read more about getting to this and other high points in Utah with the book Hiking Utah’s Summits
When: 3rd Saturday in May
The bulk of this typically sold-out marathon is run in Ogden Valley which is actually east of Ogden City. The race starts in Huntsville, Utah and heads west towards Pineview Reservoir. The route goes around the reservoir on the North side before heading down Ogden Canyon to Grant Avenue and Historic 25th Street.
The Ogden Marathon made its debut in 2000. The race is now organized by the GOAL Foundation (getoutandlive.org)
Links:
Official Site: http://ogdenmarathon.com/
Maps:
When: First Saturday in August
This is not a typical race event. You must bring your own gear, food, water. It’s a hike/trail run up Bair Canyon toward’s Francis Peak and then down a dirt road through Farmington Canyon. The distance has been reported as between 12-14 miles depending on the trail you end up on. The trail is a zig-zag through scrub oak and other brush. It’s a steep climb at about 5000 ft and the finish line isn’t at the top or the bottom of the mountain. Like the name implies this is a crazy race. In recent years Strider’s Running has been the race organizer.
Links:
www.stridersrunning.com/
www.crazybobcrazybob.com
Course Descriptions:
http://www.localhikes.com/Hikes/Bair_7160.asp
http://www.summitpost.org/canyon/530857/Bair-Canyon.html
The Great Salt Lake Marathon may start in Clearfield but over half of it is run on the largest lake west of the Mississippi. 7 miles of asphalt called the Antelope Island Causeway travels through the Great Salt Lake. Since water isn’t hilly neither is most of the course. Except for the island itself. The last 2 miles are a bit heartbreaking as the elevation raises a bit just when you are the most tired.
Description of the course:
The starting line is at Island View Park on South Main Street in Clearfield. From there you run west on Antelope Drive for about 4 miles before it turns into the causeway. The last 2 miles are on the island. The course is mostly flat.
This is a one-way course and buses will take runners back to the starting line at the end of the race.
Antelope Island is a Utah State Park so spectators will have to pay to see the finish. Don’t plan on any concessions either.
Links:
Official Site: Clearfieldcity.org
When: Memorial Day (Last Monday in May)
One of my favorite running stores, Striders Running, heads up this increasingly popular Half Marathon that begins and ends at the Jensen Nature Park in Syracuse on Bluff Rd. The race runs on the paved trails that follow the historic Old Emigration Trail that runs along the bluff in Davis County.
This race first came to Syracuse in 2008. Previously, this race had been held in Kaysville, Utah but was moved to Syracuse due to some construction.
I personally think the Syracuse trail system provides a great place for a run. Most of the half marathon course will be on the trail system that runs through Syracuse and West Point.
The event also hosts a 5K and 1 mile Kids run.
Course Description:
The race begins at Jensen Nature Park in Syracuse and runs south along Bluff Road to Gentile Road then heads west to 2000 W. From there it heads north on 2000 W and after mile 3 is exclusively run on the paved trail. The turn around point is at 300 N in West Point City.
Links:
Official Site: http://www.stridersrunning.com/
When: The Saturday of Memorial Weekend
In 2007 this 5K race was started to honor the life of Elle Hullinger who died at 18 months old.
Sounds like a fun community race. But I’m most impressed that the family is doing such a great thing for the community. The Live wElle Foundation provides a yearly scholarship to a local high school student.
Description of the course:
The race starts and ends at Hobble Creek Park – 1250 S. 2200 E. — Springville, Utah. It is an out and back route.
Links:
Official site: http://livewelle.org
When: Second Saturday in May. Start time 8:30
The race for the Cure is probably the best known event for fund raising and building awareness for breast cancer and the Komen Foundation. Susan G. Komen died of breast cancer and her sister Nancy G. Brinker started the Komen for the Cure organization in 1982.
The race started in Salt Lake City in 1996. Since then the 5k run or walk along with shorter 1 mile walk has been as much a celebration for survivors and support for victims as anything else.
This event draws a lot of people and a lot of pink. The race isn’t officially timed but a timer at the finish line will give you an idea of how you did.
Description of the Course:
The 5K race starts at 300 W and N Temple and heads North to Warm Springs Park (900 N) before heading back toward The Gateway Shopping District along 400 W
Links:
Official Site: http://www.komenslc.org
Maps: http://www.komenslc.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=cms.page&ID=1023
The coolest thing about this marathon are the trails through the 55 acres of Thanksgiving Point Gardens and along the Jordan River Parkway. . The race is held in conjunction with the annual Tulip Festival. This is a beautiful area with surprising depth so close the freeway.
100% of the proceeds will benefit the Museum of Natural Curiosity Project.
The event also hosts a 3/4 mile Fun Run for kids.
The first half marathon was held in 2010 on April 24th. All finishers received a medal and the first place male and female received $500.
When: The 4th or 5th Saturday in April
2010: Saturday April 24
2011: Saturday April 30
Description of the course:
The race starts at the Thanksgiving Point Electric Park and heads North to the Thanksgiving Point Gardens. After the gardens you follow the Jordan River Parkway trails to Willow Park before returning to Electric Park along city streets.
Links
Official Site (2010) http://www.thanksgivingpoint.com/calendar/events/halfmarathon/index.html
This is a marathon that runs down the beautiful Provo Canyon. It starts in Wasatch County at the south-east end of the small town of Wallsburg. The course runs mostly down hill past Deer Creek Reservoir, Bridal Veil Falls and the Provo River. After exiting the canyon the course runs along University Avenue ending near the Provo Towne Centre Mall.
The Utah Valley Marathon donates 100% of their proceeds directly to the Children with Cancer Christmas Foundation, which donates 100% of their received money to help children with cancer.
The race occurs every year on the second Saturday in June.
The event also hosts a half-marathon a 5k race.
Links
Official Site:
UtahValleyMarathon.com
Course Map:
http://utahvalleymarathon.com/utah-valley-marathon-map.php
This 10K starts and ends at the Layton Commons Park. The course runs along Church street to Fort Lane and continues to Antelope Drive before returning to the park via Church Street and Fort Lane and Gentile Street.
The race is typically held the 2nd Saturday in September and hosts a 2-mile walk, a 5k and this 10k run.
Links
The official website is here: http://theclassicrace.blogspot.com/
The 10K course map is here: http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-states/ut/layton/203227639
History
For its first 22 years this race was known as the Standard-Examiner Classic. The Standard-Examiner handed the event to Intermountain McKay-Dee Hospital. While Intermountain has made some dramatic changes to the race, like moving it from Ogden to Layton, the cause remains the same – to benefit heart services in the northern Utah area.
–Post last updated 2/27/2010
