Race Overview
The Utah Valley Half Marathon takes place on June 6th, 2020. It begins in the Provo Canyon and there are buses that offer transport to Provo Town Centre Mall which is the location of the starting line. This is one of the fastest marathons available in the country and is often regarded as one of the most beautiful.
Where Will You Travel?
This spring marathon will take users across the US 189 highway through the mountains of Utah. This marathon does not have any turns and as such is largely considered to be ideal for beginners as well as veteran runners. As well as being able to view the mountains, the marathon provides a backdrop of Provo Tabernacle as well.
The half marathon ends at Utah County Courthouse Grounds and everyone who finishes will receive a prize from Sierra West. This includes a $262 gift certificate that can be used at Sierra West Jewelers. The marathon ceremony begins at 9:15 am.
There are other prizes too with the main prize for the men and women champion being $500 in cash, champion cup as well as a Rockwell watch. If you complete the race within a certain time, you will also qualify for the Boston Marathon and gain a t-shirt to commemorate the occasion. Times differ depending on the age group with men between 18-34 needing a three hour completion time and women needing to complete the race in three hours thirty.
Records for completing the race are quite impressive. The fastest time was completed by Travis Morrison who ran the course in just over one hour and four minutes. Nicolas Montanez also completed the course with a similar time while the fastest woman champion is Lindsey Dunkley. She completed the course in just over one hour and thirteen minutes.
How Much Does It Cost?
To run the half marathon you will either pay $104 through May 15th, 2019 or $109 through May 31, 2019. Be aware that registration is limited to 2,5000 participants. There is also a VIP option available for 50 runners which is $150. Benefits include advice from experts, a VIP dinner before the race, a guaranteed seat on the bus and no waits in line.
All proceeds go to charity. You can also run for free if you raise $400 for your chosen charity. Charities represented include Mac’s Gift Children’s Cancer Foundation and Charity Vision.
Facilities
As well as the transport to the starting line, there is music playing through the course of the marathon. There are also restrooms along the route ensuring a comfortable event.
Alternate Races
There are a variety of different alternate race options including a 10K course, 26.2-mile marathon and a 1K course perfect for kids. The half marathon is 13.1 miles long so it can still be quite a challenge despite the rapid pace. The 10K course provides a gentle option and follows the last miles of the marathon.
Each course provides an elevation change of -1,653 feet.
Race Review
One of the main benefits of running this half marathon has to be the scenery. It is a truly spectacular course that certainly won’t disappoint your expectations. While this is a rapid half marathon, the gorgeous mountains on either side of the road guarantee that you will love every moment of it. While this can be quite a challenging course there are several options so you can select the one that best suits your level of skill. The elevation isn’t difficult at all and is mainly a gentle downhill slope. Although, there are a couple of minor uphills. This ensures that you can keep running without feeling like you’re putting pressure on your knees. The only issue is that sometimes an all downhill slope like this can take you a little off guard. However, in general, you’ll find that the elevation is a breeze.
A great bonus is that the swag available from this race is awesome and highly unique. Indeed, the colorful and creative t-shirt designs are not your typical marathon gear. This simply means that they are incredibly special and are sure to be a treat for new marathon runners. There are also goody bags filled to the brim.
You do run through a canyon during this half marathon so there isn’t much of a crowd around you. Some runners are sure to love this because it means that it’s far easier to maintain concentration. The crowd does pick up towards the finish with a welcome burst of energy. It’s the canyon portion that provides the most tremendous views with stunning waterfalls.
Event the finish provides a beautiful conclusion by the courthouse. There are also lots of fun touches at the end including Youtube videos, free pictures, and a Gong that you can ring.
The half marathon is well managed too and you will find that packet collection is both fast and easy. This ensures that you don’t need to worry about a stressful experience at the start of the half marathon. While the expo itself is quite small the VIP options are a treat and well worth considering. There is also plenty of parking at the shopping mall and the buses are easy to find with plenty of room, ensuring that you won’t be late for the race.
There is plenty of water stops too and you’ll spot them every two miles for the first ten miles. As you reach the end they become more common with one every mile. You’ll find both Powerade and water here to provide the burst of energy you need. There is also a wide range of different food options when you finish the half marathon including delicious cinnamon buns.
It can get quite cold here even through the spring months. That’s why you’ll be delighted to find that there are fire pits that are set up to keep you warm. You can also drop your bag off in transport before the start of the race and this means you can wear your warm-up clothes right up until it’s time to begin.
All in all this is by far one of the best marathons America has to offer and certainly one of the most visually striking.
