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Nov 4, 2024

Deseret News Classic Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Deseret News Classic Marathon Information & Reviews

Course 3.8

Organization 3.3

Spectators 3.2

Number of comments: 96 [displaying comments 21 to 31]

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R. H. from Billings, Montana (8/31/2010) "First-Timer, Enjoyed It" (about: 2010) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Deseret News Classic Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I too picked this as my first marathon and it was a mistake in that the downhill creamed me. That being said, I loved this course. The downhill section is gorgeous - I love those canyons. I ran fine until the mile 15 aid station, at which point I stopped to refill a water bottle, and my knees stopped also (IT band flare up). After hobbling for 3 more miles I had to walk the last 8.2. I thought the organization was great for a small race and the volunteers were excellent. I finished in 5:30 and got no support after hitting the finish line. Thankfully my family helped me find popsicles and water. I guess the volunteers had checked out by that point. Overall, I enjoyed it and I'll be back so I can "run" the marathon the whole way.
S. A. from Idaho (8/13/2010) "Great Race Course and Organization" (about: 2010) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Deseret News Classic Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Course: Beautiful course. There are canyons, mountains, the sound of streams and a view of the valley in the early morning that is truly spectacular. Volunteers/Spectators: Not many spectators until you reach the Salt Lake Valley, but the ones who were present were very supportive. The spectators for the parade route for one block definitely noticed us and were very encouraging. A big thank you to the volunteers. They all got up very early on a Saturday (including children). All of the aid stations were well staffed, supportive and helpful. I am very grateful. There were many cyclists passing us and sharing the course. They were without exception very respectful and actually very encouraging. Organization: This marathon has been held for over 40 years. That says it all. It is very well organized with great staff. The following are intended to be comments and suggestions (not criticisms) for future participants and the race directors: 1) Heat Factor: completely overrated. It is actually very cool before the race and I was shivering waiting for the start unless I kept moving. Bring sweats and something to sit on. Most participants did. This marathon is held to celebrate the 24th of July and the date is not going to change. It is summer in Utah, with high temperatures in the 90s, but not during the race. The real heat does not set in until after about 11:30 and the race directors have clearly stated that that is the time limit and there is not going to be support afterward. That is completely fair. Everyone knows it beforehand. 2) Train for downhills. The only real uphill is between miles 6 and 7 and it is not excessively steep. What is really needed is prior training running down hills at a 10% grade. Have someone drive you to the top of a long hill for several miles and train running down it - not up it. 3) Bring a small flashlight for before the race. 4) Increased number of port-a-potties are definitely needed at the start of the marathon and during the first half. After that, it becomes less important. 5) The water at the stations was cool and not warm (see comments from prior years) and the finisher medal and tech T-shirt are very nice, without excessive amounts of advertising. 6) You will wear a chip (to record your finishing time?), but the actual start is not chip timed. I would like to see the entire race chip timed. 7) A huge thank you to Sam Wood for all of the extra effort to send us a second T-shirt after the race at a nominal cost that made no real profit for the marathon whatsoever. Summary: I only enjoy running for fun. I have been lucky enough to run marathons and ultra-marathons on three different continents in the world. This is a great marathon. The staff/volunteers deserve a huge thank you for a great job. I will definitely be back.
E. D. from Kuwait (previously Maryland) (7/27/2010) "Not for slow runners" (about: 2010) 11-50 previous marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This marathon is not for slow runners. They say specifically that they open the roads after 6 hours, and they are serious. What confuses people is that past results do list times of up to 7 hours. BUT there is no course support after 6 hours and it is easy to get lost. Once in the city, it is really hot, and course support is essential. My biggest complaint: lack of signage. Only a few directional signs. I think I saw only 2 signs with arrows. I would have missed one crucial turn had I not been with someone who has run the course before. Once, in the city, there were several turns that were hard to find. I was still within the allotted time, so I was fine and had police tell me where to turn; but those who missed the 6-hour cut-off didn't know where to go. Past reviews talked about people watching the parade not knowing that there was a marathon and not cheering - not only do they not cheer, but they also walk in front of runners. I was in UT for a few days before the marathon, and while the news talked about the parade and festivities non-stop, not once did I hear any mention of a marathon. So, the locals really know nothing about a marathon. I had one bicycle almost run me over, and when I told her she was on a marathon course, she asked what I meant. I then screamed, "DON'T RIDE YOUR BIKE INTO ME." Otherwise, the volunteers were great and the course is beautiful in the mountains. I just wouldn't recommend this for any runner who is going to be near 6 hours or over 6 hours. And I think they can hang up a few arrows telling people where to turn.
M. B. from Reno, Nevada (7/24/2010) "Beautiful but train for those hills!" (about: 2010) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Deseret News Classic Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I live in the mountains and thought I had trained for hill running BUT I did not anticipate that much downhill running. The size of the race was great. So many friendly runners! Not sure why they have such early shuttles. I took the latest shuttle at 3:15 a.m. (as there was a bit of confusion at the host hotel) and we arrived at the start at 4:15 a.m. The race didn't start until 530 a.m., so bring blankets, a sleeping bag, or something, because it's REALLY cold. The spectators were great, enthusiastic and really supportive. The weather was perfect. Glad they start so early because if you finish within 3-5 hours you can avoid most of the heat. Definitely the most beautiful marathon I've run.
H. S. from Utah (7/26/2009) "Love it or Hate it, It's Utah's Marathon" (about: 2009) 11-50 previous marathons \| 4-5 Deseret News Classic Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Des news is fast, theoretically anyway, but don't be fooled. The first half is very fast, and then it gets REALLY hot when the sun comes out. It's July in Utah and things can happen that second half. They have very good traffic control, and aid stations every few miles, but there is not a lot of pampering in this race. It gets tedious in the heat. The race takes place on Pioneer Day, and generally follows the pioneer trail to this is the place Utah. Coincidentally, it is also the same route as the ill-fated Donner Party of 1846, but it is doubtful that things will go that badly for you in the marathon. It's a low-key race, with maybe 500 people in the marathon. You get a decent tech shirt and standard finisher medallion. The expo is basically a packet pick-up; there's not much there. There is a rodeo, and fireworks, and a parade all on the same day as the marathon. If you got particularly beat up in the marathon, the rodeo may make you feel better after the race. These events are not really associated with the marathon. There is a 10K that is associated, and is basically the last 6.2 miles of the course. The 10K is much more popular then the marathon and has a large field of runners. Do not expect the world to stand still because you ran 26.2 in 98-degree weather. Most of the fans are there for the parade, not the marathon. They are basically indifferent to the runners as they approach the finish, gawking if you look really bad. That last bit is somewhat like the twilight zone, people getting ready and waiting for the parade, just sort-of clueless that you might be tired at this point in the race. If the history and challenge aspects appeal to you, the Des News is a low-cost, low-expectation marathon that is a unique and fun way to celebrate Pioneer Day and be a Utah Pioneer for a day.
N. M. from Salt Lake City, Utah (7/25/2009) "A Tough Course with Great Scenery" (about: 2009) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Deseret News Classic Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 This was my first marathon. (I know, not the greatest pick for a first marathon!) I had no idea what to expect. I showed up for the bus at about 2:55 a.m. I was one of the first to arrive. The buses were very nice. We arrived at the top and were dropped off in what I think must have been a gravel parking lot (it was so dark that it was hard to tell). There was one small tent, with drinks and shopping bags with markers for your stuff. There was also one light outside near the U-haul truck for the bags. Once at the top, I wished I'd brought something to sit on. The tiny rocks you have to sit on really hurt your rear! The wait seemed to be reeeeaaaally long. There were HUGE lines at the bathrooms. More bathrooms would have been nice. Also, next time I will bring a small flashlight because it was pitch black inside the bathrooms (hope no one fell in!). After what seemed like a long wait, we all lined up. There was no timing mat at the beginning, so everyone crammed together as close to the front as possible. This is something that should be fixed. Your time should start when you leave the starting line. The course itself is beautiful!! It got light after only 10 or 15 minutes. I could see the twinkling lights of the city down below, and the mountain scenery was breathtaking! I especially like running past little Dell reservoir. I was smiling like a giant dork the whole time. The aid stations were pretty good, but there need to be TWO bathrooms and not one at EACH station. I wasted 10 minutes waiting to pee! It's so painful to wait for a bathroom when you've trained so hard for every second. Ice or at least cold water would have helped too. This is a marathon held in the hottest part of summer. Warm water just isn't as refreshing. Charge everyone a dollar more and buy some ice for goodness sakes! The hill around mile 6 was brutal. Just when you think you're done, you round a bend and there's another HUGE hill. The last 4 miles were hard. It was brutally hot and there's little or no shade. I was fortunate enough to find some sprinklers running on South Temple. I happily ran through them to cool off. The last few miles were rewarding for me too. I was very conservative in the beginning of the race. I was near the back of the pack as everyone was screaming down the first six miles. I was proud of my restraint as I passed many of these people the last few miles as they walked. The winner of the race this year said, "It was a tough course - too tough!" I'll have too agree with that; it was hard! I had no goal other than to finish and have a great time. I think it really paid off in the end. I ran a great time for me and had so much fun doing it! I may run this one again.
Steve Haddox from Hurricane, UT (8/29/2008) "I was hurting... but smiling!" (about: 2008) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Deseret News Classic Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This was my 3rd marathon. I'm 59 years-old and was sure I was done with marathoning. But my son wanted to run one before he turned 18 (on Aug. 14), so I trained and ran with him. I'm not a fast runner. I hate hills. I'm not afraid to walk when I get tired. I choose to enjoy the experience. I believe the best part of a marathon is the benefit to the body that results from the months and months of training. Having said that, I had already made the conscious choice not to kill myself. After all, this is a race in July and the heat is oppressive. My next comments come from that type of mindset. I loved this race. It was very hard for me. The big uphill at mile 6 was much easier for me than the hardly perceptible uphill on Wasatch Rd. and Foothill Blvd. The severe downhill just sapped it out of me. The trees coming down South Temple made it bearable but the lack of shade going down 3rd East and to the end of the race made the heat difficult to deal with. Running for a block down the parade route was really cool. Good finish area - it was nice and shady. I heard a lot of people complaining about organization, water stops, etc. I imagine they complain about most everything in life. I choose to enjoy whatever it is I'm doing, so this race was a good positive, no matter how tough it was on my body. One comment I must make: I could not find my bag containing my sweat clothes. It also had a $300 pair of eyeglasses I placed in it. A few days after the race, I emailed Bob Wood and he personally went down and sorted through all the unclaimed stuff and found my bag and made arrangements to get it to me. Thank you, Bob. My closing comment will have to be this. Like I said, I'm not a fast runner. My two previous marathons were 4:54 and 4:24. This one was 5:27. That says it all. But, after spending the rest of the day sore, I was up and about the following day without any physical problems. I just enjoyed the scenery and the experience.
F. H. from Salt lake (8/26/2008) "Water problems, both ends" (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons \| 6+ Deseret News Classic Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 The course is what it is, so come prepared for it and enjoy. Overall, organization went quite well, with an on-time start and nice buses to ride up in. The problems with leaving too early in prior years were not apparent this year. But there are still just a few problems that need to be addressed. This is the only marathon I can think of that only has Gatorade available at every other stop. This has been commented about in the past, but continues to be a problem. On the other end of the water problem, there were two issues. Issue number one comes back to a problem we saw two years ago, where each rest stop only has ONE porta-potty. There is nothing more discouraging than watching a time goal bleed away while standing in line for the only ONE bathroom that is available at any stop. There were also not enough bathrooms at the start. This was made painfully apparent when one female runner tried to sneak into the bushes only to be discovered by the rangers who were lurking about in the dark. After yelling at her and shining a million candle power flashlight on her for the whole time until she came out of the bushes, I guess he managed to make his point. I'll be back for this one next year; it offers a unique challenge with the course design. But if you read the comments from past years about this marathon, there are a lot of negative things said, which you don't see at other marathons. Solve the water problems at both ends of the course and maybe a lot of the negative comments will go away.
D. S. from Virginia (7/28/2008) "Tough But Worth It" (about: 2008) 11-50 previous marathons \| 3 Deseret News Classic Marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 Definitely a tough marathon... I could barely walk for two days afterward because of sore calves. But the course is beautiful. I appreciate that organizers let us penguins run on the parade course for a block. I will do it again, but will slow down the first 6 miles.
b. y. from Montrose, Colorado (7/25/2008) "My first marathon. It was a great experience." (about: 2008) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Deseret News Classic Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 It was a great experience. The only drawback was the heat as you entered the city. There is no way to get around this. The organization was excellent. Volunteers were great. The course was easy to follow. Law enforcement staffed the intersections well.

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