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Marathon Details - Top of Utah Marathon

North America Marathons > USA > UT > Logan > Top of Utah Marathon

Top of Utah Marathon

Altra Top of Utah Marathon & Relay, 5K

Logan, UT USA

September 15, 2018

http://www.topofutahmarathon.com/full-marathon-home

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Address:	Top of Utah Marathon PO Box 414 Providence, Ut. 84332-0414
Phone Number:	435-797-2638
Email:	Email the organizers

Runner Reviews (136)

Course 4.6

Organization 4.8

Spectators 4.0

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Number of comments: 136 [displaying comments 1 to 11]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 .. 14 > ]

J. M. from Detroit, MI (4/4/2017) "Scenic course and very well organized" (about: 2016) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Top of Utah Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I would highly recommend this marathon. The first 14 miles are scenic as you run down the canyon and the remainder is through some local communities which gives you a good mix of sites. The marathon is very well organized from pre-to-post race events. Everyone I encountered was extremely friendly and helpful. The awards are Awesome and in 2016 they gave out to the top 5 finishers in each category. The warming tent at the beginning of the marathon was a nice touch and the aid stations were well organized throughout the course. There was not a lot of spectators on the course but considering you are bused to the start line and the road is closed for the first several miles, it makes sense and the course itself makes up for the lack of spectators as you take in the views.
S. p. from USA (9/22/2015) "Be prepared by doing down hill training" (about: 2015) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Top of Utah Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The race states 14 miles of gradual downhill and while it isn't steep, this amount of downhill WILL take a toll on your quads if you do not do proper training. I can't emphasize this enough as I went in not prepared for this. The last 8 miles you will experience some moderate rolling hills. Nothing intense, but if your quads are shot from the downhill then you will feel it on these small inclines. Run your tangents wisely as there are a lot of turns in this race. This was a great race and it went smoothly, and the tent at top is AMAZING. Perfect weather. Despite my quads giving out at mile 16 - I was able to get a PR and BQ.
H. V. from Salt Lake City, UT (9/21/2014) "A pleasant marathon" (about: 2014) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Top of Utah Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I tend to be a fan of smaller marathons, and I signed up for this one, as my running friends in Salt Lake City told me it was the second best marathon in Utah after St. George. This was my eighth marathon. Registration: The race did not fill up quickly, and I was able to register just three weeks prior to the race date. Expo: The expo was very limited but not surprising given the small number of runners. It was associated with a pasta dinner, but I ate elsewhere so can't comment on the dinner. Shuttles: I had no trouble finding parking close to the shuttle loading location. Things were smooth and on time. Start line: I had to wait a while in the cold for the port-a-potty but then was able to get warmed up in the heated tent. It is much colder at the starting location because of the elevation, so I was glad I was prepared with some extra layers. Water and Gatorade were available, and I tossed my bag into the gear check a few minutes before the gun went off. The race start was pretty much on time. Course: The website touts the spectacular fall views in the Blacksmith Fork Canyon and a fast course. It was nice scenery, but it didn't blow me away. I did have a PR, though. The first 14 miles are a gentle and easy downhill through the canyon, and then the second half is much less scenic and flat. I was able to do a long downhill training run, which is something I would recommend to others planning to run it so that your quads don't get shredded in the first half. Spectators aren't allowed in the canyon, but I didn't mind the lack of people cheering and enjoyed the peaceful and uncrowded road. It got quite sunny and hot in the second half, but I think that is normal for the weather in Logan at this time of year. Aid stations had water and Gatorade; some had fruit and Gu. All were well stocked and organized. Pacers: There were several pacers for different finish times. My biggest complaint about the race was about the 3:55 pacer I tried to stick with. I realize individuals usually volunteer to be a pacer, which is a nice service, but the 3:55 pacer was running his own race. I couldn't keep up with him after the first 3 miles, and I knew he was going way too fast. Somewhere around mile 20, I passed a guy who had stayed with the pacer much longer but dropped off when the 3:55 pacer was starting to pass the 3:45 pacer. Apparently the pacer slowed down at some point. At mile 25, I passed the pacer and only one other runner who managed to stick with him and finished in 3:54. I don't know what kind of strategy the pacer used to run the race, but clearly it didn't work for me. Finish line: It was a fairly low key finish area with chocolate milk, goldfish crackers, fruit, and ice cream sandwiches. The line for the free massages was way too long to wait. There was some nice live music, but I didn't stick around for too long. Bling: The long-sleeved tech shirt is a great color and nice design. I'm not really into medals, so I can't comment much. It had a moose, which seems to be a symbol of the race. Overall: This is a smaller, well-organized race that I would definitely recommend to others.
J. E. from Illinois (9/22/2013) "Why Don't More People Run This Race?" (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons \| 4-5 Top of Utah Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 As I was descending Blacksmith Fork Canyon with my daughter and her friend (who were both running their first marathons), I wondered a loud, 'Why don't more people run this marathon?' A near-full moon guided us down the beautiful canyon lined with colorful fall trees. With the gradual downhill and the spectacular views, my daughter and friend were amazed at how fast the miles were clicking by. Once out of the canyon our support/cheer team of friends and family found it very easy to drive to and cheer us on at seven places between there and the finish or once every 2-3 miles! That was a huge lift for my running companions. The course was well stocked with Gatorade, GU, water, bananas, oranges, etc. The volunteers were extra friendly and helpful. I know there are many more marathon in Utah but this has to rank at the very top as one of the best; and not just in Utah but the USA. Yes, they could have a more eye-popping website and a bigger expo but is that really why we run marathons? If you want to run a marathon with a breath taking, spectator friendly, well supported course, this is the one!
Jason Ball from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, USA (9/3/2013) "Beautiful scenic marathon!" (about: 2013) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Top of Utah Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is a fast course, coming down through scenic canyon roads. Prepare for high altitude running, and the possibility of snow or rain. Even though unprepared for snow, in 2,000 I ran a PR (2:59:23), but I would have loved a shell jacket and warm gloves!
D. R. from Dallas, TX (9/16/2012) "Great Organization & Course" (about: 2012) 50+ previous marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 I chose this race for the course, but I was most impressed with the organization. From the heated pre-race waiting tent to the design of the course to minimize uphills, this medium-sized race was organized as well as any of the large mega-races. I highly recommend this race to others. The course is scenic, fast and (at least in 2012) the weather is cool.
J. S. from Utah (9/16/2012) "Outstanding marathon" (about: 2012) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Top of Utah Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I just ran this marathon and it was a wonderful experience. The organization was especially impeccable. At the start line, they had set up 2 huge heated tents with very strong burners which allowed the runner to relax and stay warm until just before the race. I was even able to completely lay down, close my eyes and relax close to the burner until I heard the gun. What I also loved is the fact that they had no loud music or stupid speaker trying to be funny at 5am at the starting line. You could stay relaxed to focus on your race, in the tent, in the dark (loved that it was not lit) until the very last second. Bravo organizers this is my very best marathon pre-race staging experience. The course was beautiful, running down the canyons with no cars ( cars not allowed at the time of the marathon). The temperature and weather were perfect, all the turns were well indicated with staff at all the strategic points, Seating provided for cheering at the finish line. Well, what else can you ask in a marathon? Of course, this is not a big city marathon, so don't expect big crowds. But the experience you get is outstanding. Beautiful country side canyon road, the air is pure, very fast course (I PR'ed and BQ'ed). Nice!! I have run 9 marathons and this is my favorite so far.
L. G. from Vermont (9/16/2012) "beautiful part of the country for a marathon" (about: 2012) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Top of Utah Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 The volunteers and race organizers put on a top-notch event. Pack pick-up was easy and the pasta dinner delicious and good value. We stayed at the Springhill Suites, where the pasta dinner and packet pick up also occured which made everything easy. The start at the top of the canyon at sunrise was gorgeous, and the 14 mile run down through the canyon gave me a lot of opportunity to look around and enjoy the scenery. After that, the course winds through suburbs and downtown Logan which isn't as interesting, but the mountains are always in the background. There aren't a lot of spectators and they weren't particularly loud or encouraging. I loved being able to soak my feet in ice-cold water at the finish! Everyone was friendly and helpful, and we thoroughly enjoyed visiting this part of the country.
R. M. from New Jersey (10/27/2011) "Very nice race" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Top of Utah Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 The Top Of Utah Marathon was my 20th marathon (in 20 different states) on my way towards completing a marathon in all 50 states. The race was quite enjoyable. As noted by others, the first 14 miles or so were all downhill, and the remainder was flat. I was hoping that the downhill aspect would give me a new PR, but I couldn't do it. Maybe the downhills shredded my quads too much, or maybe living at sea level made the mile-high altitude too much for me. Nonetheless, the scenery was beautiful, especially during the first half down thru the canyon. There's nothing like that in New Jersey! There were almost no spectators in the first half (non-runners weren't allowed to enter the narrow canyon road), but there were a number of spectators in town, and they were all quite friendly. The streets certainly weren't jampacked like you'd see in a big city race, but that's to be expected for a small town. And the race was very well organized. The town of Logan wasn't the most thrilling place to spend a weekend, but maybe I just think that because I'm an East Coast city slicker. Overall, I really enjoyed the race, and I was happy to run this one to check Utah off my list.
J. L. from Logan Ut (10/19/2011) "Good, fast, scenic race, one of the the best." (about: 2011) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Top of Utah Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I am 16 and just did the 2011 Marathon It was my first martahon. It was a blast, although a bit wet. I would recommend this course to others, and hope to race it next year.

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 .. 14 > ]



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J. M. from Detroit, MI (4/4/2017) "Scenic course and very well organized" (about: 2016) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Top of Utah Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I would highly recommend this marathon. The first 14 miles are scenic as you run down the canyon and the remainder is through some local communities which gives you a good mix of sites. The marathon is very well organized from pre-to-post race events. Everyone I encountered was extremely friendly and helpful. The awards are Awesome and in 2016 they gave out to the top 5 finishers in each category. The warming tent at the beginning of the marathon was a nice touch and the aid stations were well organized throughout the course. There was not a lot of spectators on the course but considering you are bused to the start line and the road is closed for the first several miles, it makes sense and the course itself makes up for the lack of spectators as you take in the views.
S. p. from USA (9/22/2015) "Be prepared by doing down hill training" (about: 2015) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Top of Utah Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The race states 14 miles of gradual downhill and while it isn't steep, this amount of downhill WILL take a toll on your quads if you do not do proper training. I can't emphasize this enough as I went in not prepared for this. The last 8 miles you will experience some moderate rolling hills. Nothing intense, but if your quads are shot from the downhill then you will feel it on these small inclines. Run your tangents wisely as there are a lot of turns in this race. This was a great race and it went smoothly, and the tent at top is AMAZING. Perfect weather. Despite my quads giving out at mile 16 - I was able to get a PR and BQ.
H. V. from Salt Lake City, UT (9/21/2014) "A pleasant marathon" (about: 2014) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Top of Utah Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I tend to be a fan of smaller marathons, and I signed up for this one, as my running friends in Salt Lake City told me it was the second best marathon in Utah after St. George. This was my eighth marathon. Registration: The race did not fill up quickly, and I was able to register just three weeks prior to the race date. Expo: The expo was very limited but not surprising given the small number of runners. It was associated with a pasta dinner, but I ate elsewhere so can't comment on the dinner. Shuttles: I had no trouble finding parking close to the shuttle loading location. Things were smooth and on time. Start line: I had to wait a while in the cold for the port-a-potty but then was able to get warmed up in the heated tent. It is much colder at the starting location because of the elevation, so I was glad I was prepared with some extra layers. Water and Gatorade were available, and I tossed my bag into the gear check a few minutes before the gun went off. The race start was pretty much on time. Course: The website touts the spectacular fall views in the Blacksmith Fork Canyon and a fast course. It was nice scenery, but it didn't blow me away. I did have a PR, though. The first 14 miles are a gentle and easy downhill through the canyon, and then the second half is much less scenic and flat. I was able to do a long downhill training run, which is something I would recommend to others planning to run it so that your quads don't get shredded in the first half. Spectators aren't allowed in the canyon, but I didn't mind the lack of people cheering and enjoyed the peaceful and uncrowded road. It got quite sunny and hot in the second half, but I think that is normal for the weather in Logan at this time of year. Aid stations had water and Gatorade; some had fruit and Gu. All were well stocked and organized. Pacers: There were several pacers for different finish times. My biggest complaint about the race was about the 3:55 pacer I tried to stick with. I realize individuals usually volunteer to be a pacer, which is a nice service, but the 3:55 pacer was running his own race. I couldn't keep up with him after the first 3 miles, and I knew he was going way too fast. Somewhere around mile 20, I passed a guy who had stayed with the pacer much longer but dropped off when the 3:55 pacer was starting to pass the 3:45 pacer. Apparently the pacer slowed down at some point. At mile 25, I passed the pacer and only one other runner who managed to stick with him and finished in 3:54. I don't know what kind of strategy the pacer used to run the race, but clearly it didn't work for me. Finish line: It was a fairly low key finish area with chocolate milk, goldfish crackers, fruit, and ice cream sandwiches. The line for the free massages was way too long to wait. There was some nice live music, but I didn't stick around for too long. Bling: The long-sleeved tech shirt is a great color and nice design. I'm not really into medals, so I can't comment much. It had a moose, which seems to be a symbol of the race. Overall: This is a smaller, well-organized race that I would definitely recommend to others.
J. E. from Illinois (9/22/2013) "Why Don't More People Run This Race?" (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons \| 4-5 Top of Utah Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 As I was descending Blacksmith Fork Canyon with my daughter and her friend (who were both running their first marathons), I wondered a loud, 'Why don't more people run this marathon?' A near-full moon guided us down the beautiful canyon lined with colorful fall trees. With the gradual downhill and the spectacular views, my daughter and friend were amazed at how fast the miles were clicking by. Once out of the canyon our support/cheer team of friends and family found it very easy to drive to and cheer us on at seven places between there and the finish or once every 2-3 miles! That was a huge lift for my running companions. The course was well stocked with Gatorade, GU, water, bananas, oranges, etc. The volunteers were extra friendly and helpful. I know there are many more marathon in Utah but this has to rank at the very top as one of the best; and not just in Utah but the USA. Yes, they could have a more eye-popping website and a bigger expo but is that really why we run marathons? If you want to run a marathon with a breath taking, spectator friendly, well supported course, this is the one!
Jason Ball from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, USA (9/3/2013) "Beautiful scenic marathon!" (about: 2013) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Top of Utah Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is a fast course, coming down through scenic canyon roads. Prepare for high altitude running, and the possibility of snow or rain. Even though unprepared for snow, in 2,000 I ran a PR (2:59:23), but I would have loved a shell jacket and warm gloves!
D. R. from Dallas, TX (9/16/2012) "Great Organization & Course" (about: 2012) 50+ previous marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 I chose this race for the course, but I was most impressed with the organization. From the heated pre-race waiting tent to the design of the course to minimize uphills, this medium-sized race was organized as well as any of the large mega-races. I highly recommend this race to others. The course is scenic, fast and (at least in 2012) the weather is cool.
J. S. from Utah (9/16/2012) "Outstanding marathon" (about: 2012) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Top of Utah Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I just ran this marathon and it was a wonderful experience. The organization was especially impeccable. At the start line, they had set up 2 huge heated tents with very strong burners which allowed the runner to relax and stay warm until just before the race. I was even able to completely lay down, close my eyes and relax close to the burner until I heard the gun. What I also loved is the fact that they had no loud music or stupid speaker trying to be funny at 5am at the starting line. You could stay relaxed to focus on your race, in the tent, in the dark (loved that it was not lit) until the very last second. Bravo organizers this is my very best marathon pre-race staging experience. The course was beautiful, running down the canyons with no cars ( cars not allowed at the time of the marathon). The temperature and weather were perfect, all the turns were well indicated with staff at all the strategic points, Seating provided for cheering at the finish line. Well, what else can you ask in a marathon? Of course, this is not a big city marathon, so don't expect big crowds. But the experience you get is outstanding. Beautiful country side canyon road, the air is pure, very fast course (I PR'ed and BQ'ed). Nice!! I have run 9 marathons and this is my favorite so far.
L. G. from Vermont (9/16/2012) "beautiful part of the country for a marathon" (about: 2012) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Top of Utah Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 The volunteers and race organizers put on a top-notch event. Pack pick-up was easy and the pasta dinner delicious and good value. We stayed at the Springhill Suites, where the pasta dinner and packet pick up also occured which made everything easy. The start at the top of the canyon at sunrise was gorgeous, and the 14 mile run down through the canyon gave me a lot of opportunity to look around and enjoy the scenery. After that, the course winds through suburbs and downtown Logan which isn't as interesting, but the mountains are always in the background. There aren't a lot of spectators and they weren't particularly loud or encouraging. I loved being able to soak my feet in ice-cold water at the finish! Everyone was friendly and helpful, and we thoroughly enjoyed visiting this part of the country.
R. M. from New Jersey (10/27/2011) "Very nice race" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Top of Utah Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 The Top Of Utah Marathon was my 20th marathon (in 20 different states) on my way towards completing a marathon in all 50 states. The race was quite enjoyable. As noted by others, the first 14 miles or so were all downhill, and the remainder was flat. I was hoping that the downhill aspect would give me a new PR, but I couldn't do it. Maybe the downhills shredded my quads too much, or maybe living at sea level made the mile-high altitude too much for me. Nonetheless, the scenery was beautiful, especially during the first half down thru the canyon. There's nothing like that in New Jersey! There were almost no spectators in the first half (non-runners weren't allowed to enter the narrow canyon road), but there were a number of spectators in town, and they were all quite friendly. The streets certainly weren't jampacked like you'd see in a big city race, but that's to be expected for a small town. And the race was very well organized. The town of Logan wasn't the most thrilling place to spend a weekend, but maybe I just think that because I'm an East Coast city slicker. Overall, I really enjoyed the race, and I was happy to run this one to check Utah off my list.
J. L. from Logan Ut (10/19/2011) "Good, fast, scenic race, one of the the best." (about: 2011) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Top of Utah Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I am 16 and just did the 2011 Marathon It was my first martahon. It was a blast, although a bit wet. I would recommend this course to others, and hope to race it next year.

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Marathon Details - Top of Utah Marathon