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Apr 30, 2024

Wyoming Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Wyoming Marathon Information & Reviews

Course 4.4

Organization 4.4

Spectators 2.3

Number of comments: 39 [displaying comments 11 to 21]

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Ron Steinhilber from El Mirage, AZ (6/1/2011) "Looking for a challenge, this race is for you" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Wyoming Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 I decided to do the Wyoming Marathon as my 'screw you 40' race. I had just turned 40 a couple of weeks before and I wanted to find a real challenge for myself as I entered my 5th decade. I was very successful, as this race was the most challenging marathon of the 18 that I have completed. The course is beautiful, although it can get sloppy if it rains, especially on the way back. There is a half marathon and 5K as well. We ran through the mountains just outside of Laramie. It is mostly packed dirt, with about 7-8 miles of pavement from miles 7-11 and 15-19. The winds can get nasty along this part of the course, so be prepared for that. I would suggest that you really respect this course. The last 5 miles are pretty much uphill. The last mile alone includes 2 significant hills, including finishing while going up. This is a race where I kept thinking, 'What goes down, must go up.' This is a simple, old school race. No chip timing, no expo, just a few people in a trailer. It is what adds to the charm. There are 3 aid stations where they had water and energy bars. God bless the volunteers for staying out there the whole time. There's also a double marathon, so these people were there all day long. Thank you for being out there for us. Spectators were limited to the support of family and friends. If you desire a big crowd, with a lot of fanfare at the end, forget this one. All in all, I loved this race. The runners seemed to form a bond together against the course. Everyone was friendly and helpful. I definitely found the challenge I was looking for.
P. I. from Cheyenne Wy (5/30/2011) "I had a great time my first ever 5k" (about: 2011) First Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I ran the 5k in Vedauwoo Wy - first race I ever ran. I had a great time, a little cold but with help from friends they showed me what to wear and gave some tips. I ran a 33:48, not the greatest time, but for my first, I now have something to improve on. Funny thing I never run outdoors, I use a tread mill sometimes - I'm a bike racer. I'm sore in many different places but it was worth it. I plan on doing a lot more outdoor running. Thanks.
T. V. from S.D. (5/31/2010) "The race director promises nothing..." (about: 2010) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Wyoming Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 ..and he delivers! Funny, but true. The Wyoming Marathon races provide for a different kind of marathon experience - not to say one that is all bad. I would not recommend it as a first marathon, or if you love a party atmosphere. Be prepared for cold, windy conditions and changing weather in the high altitude of Wyoming. If you are thinking of trying an ultra someday, this marathon would give a good preview, since it is a bare-bones race and will test your endurance. If you read all of the previous comments, you should find no surprises at this race. All negatives aside, I knew what to expect and had a good time. I must note that I was originally signed up for the Double Marathon, but decided to stop after 26.2 miles. The officals did not hesitate to hand me a finisher's medal for the marathon and list me as a finisher, even after I told them I was a DNF for the 52 mile - a very gracious offer. Also, we booked a very nice, inexpensive hotel in Laramie and had a 10-minute drive to the race start (which is a very convenient arrangement at the rest area).
Dick White from Cocoa Beach, Florida (5/27/2009) "The Beast is a Beauty" (about: 2009) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Wyoming Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Wyoming is #42 of my ongoing quest of 50 states + DC. I chose Laramie/Cheyenne because I wanted a CHALLENGE!!! I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED!!! Over the last 15 years, I've found that the small marathons are the BEST. Usually put on by a local Runners Club, the members are there to serve and support the participants - not to turn a profit. A MOST MAGNIFICENT COURSE, in a MOST MAGNIFICENT LOCATION, Wyoming provides the basic amenities to assure your marathon survival if YOU have the bones to attempt it. I could only salute the few who started out for the second loop (Western States Double Marathon Championship)!!! The barren beauty and rawness of the course inspired me to will myself up the nearly 500-foot climb of the final 2 miles. It has been nearly 20 years since just finishing a marathon is such a major achievement. Congratulations, Wyoming - your marathon is the BEST MARATHON for course, management and support!!!!!
T. A. from Amarillo, Texas (5/27/2009) "Great out-and-back Wyoming experience" (about: 2009) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Wyoming Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Overall, this was a well organized group of races and a great opportunity to experience the southern Wyoming countryside. The host hotel, Little America, was well worth the money. I recommend spending a few nights and visiting Cheyenne. The pasta dinner was perfect, and the RD gave some good pre-race advice and went over some of the race history. The marathon was a nice out-and-back course. Aid stations were perfect, and I really like the paperless set-up. People were very friendly (runners and volunteers). Give yourself plenty of time to get to race start from the Little America, as we were slowed by fog. The race promptly starts at 6:00 a.m. The marathon course was hilly, and be prepared for the last 4-5 miles of uphill. Super race for a 50-stater! I want to come back and camp at Vedauwoo.
d. c. from colorado (5/25/2009) "REAL NICE TERRAIN - LOW-FRILLS" (about: 2009) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Wyoming Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 I like the RD's approach to "paperless" stations. Other race directors should take heed - there's too much waste at races. This course offers running at its purist; nice terrain, great folks and a low-key setting. The philosophy is that everybody is a winner; there's no reason for age-division medals here.
B. P. from Iowa (6/4/2008) "Felt a great sense of accomplishment." (about: 2008) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Wyoming Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I am from Iowa, so this course was rather difficult for me because of the high altitude. I usually get around 4:00 in each marathon I have run, and with this marathon, I got my worst time ever: 5:32!!! If you are going to run this course and are not used to high elevation or a lot of hills, then this course is not for you. After I was finished, however, I really felt like I worked hard and deserved the medal even though it was my worst time. I was not disappointed at all with the results because I knew what to expect. Wyoming is really a breath-taking state and the course was absolutely amazing. I loved the Little America Hotel, and it was really cheap. I highly recommend staying there. The pasta dinner was also very tasty.
K. P. from Boulder, CO (6/3/2008) "Tough, off-road, no-frills marathon!" (about: 2008) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Wyoming Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 If you're looking for a challenging and fun trail marathon, this is it! Only about 150 runners stood at the starting line when I ran it on 5/25/08. The start (and finish) consisted of a line of flour across the dirt road, and an orange cone next to the race-director's RV. After a short prayer and moment of silence for Memorial Day, we were off. The weather was nice, about 30 degrees at the start, but it got very windy (50 mph+) as the race went on. The course is mostly on dirt (about 77%), descends around 1,500 feet, and ascends around 1,500 feet total. Although this was my first attempt at marathons on consecutive weekends (I ran Fargo 7 days earlier), and this was my 2nd slowest time ever (5:12), but it was good enough for 30th overall, and 2nd in my division. This is NOT a fast marathon. Run it if you are craving some open space and a small, community-oriented bunch of die-hard runners. There are just 3 aid stations on the course, and runners are required to bring their own water bottles. Eliminating cups keeps the environmental impact to a minimum in the Medicine Bow National Forest area. All this being said, the race was well-organized, and the volunteers were magnificent (despite few aid stations, some of them drove the course offering aid to runners on the fly). Oh, and you'll be inspired by the several runners who turn around at the finish to run it all again for the Rocky Mountain Double Marathon!
D. M. from Fort Collins, CO (6/13/2007) "Reset your expectations for this run" (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 Wyoming Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 The positives: - No porta-potties! - Almost no spectators! - Too few aid stations! (and no cups at these stations) - No Gu shots! Negatives? None, really - so long as you keep your expectations realistic. This is a unique marathon: - Everyone is expected to respect the remote and pristine public lands it is run on (so no paper cups to blow around and no Gu-shot trash to litter the area). - The only toilets are at the rest stop facility at the start.... The rest of the race is an off-trail, au natural experience. - Enough friendly, well-stocked rest stops where you can fill up your required-to-bring water bottle with water or sports drink and grab a handful of potato chips, pretzels or trail mix. This is a most excellent marathon value ($45 in 2007) while still benefiting the Cheyenne Boys and Girls Clubs. Besides the benefit feature you get well-stocked aid stations, a medal (same every year) and an unusual color cotton t-shirt - this year bright yellow, which I prefer to the bright purple from a couple years ago. If you were to use a "cost per running hour metric" this is undoubtedly the best value in the US! (This is a slow race due to the wind, altitude and up/down topography.) Other considerations: - WEATHER: Be prepared for some challenging weather (it is ALWAYS windy here and it can be cool due to the nearly 9,000' starting altitude). - HUMILIATION/INSPIRATION: A significant percentage of the runners complete this challenging marathon... and then turn right around and run it ALL OVER AGAIN to complete the "Rocky Mountain Double." This is humbling to witness but at the same time it's inspiring to see runners of all age groups heading back out to run this difficult course a second time! If you're up for a different sort of race and an unusual challenge, sign up for the 2008 Wyoming Marathon!
M. C. from Alabama (6/8/2007) "A delightful solitary experience." (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Wyoming Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 This was my first marathon post knee surgery so I walked the course. It was one of the most enjoyable marathons I have completed. I was alone from start to finish but loved the solitude. The aid stations were well stocked and manned by friendly, helpful volunteers. Every runner smiled or waved at me as I trudged along. This is a very tough course, especially the last two miles. As promised, there are no frills, except the supreme satisfaction of finishing the marathon. Nevertheless, I recommend it to any runner or walker, not only because of the toughness but for the beautiful scenery and the kindness of the genuine men and women who are out on the course from crack of down to sundown to make sure you are okay, provide water, Gatorade or snacks, and offer moral support. The medal is a replica of the Great Seal of Wyoming, which I think is beautiful. My thanks to the race director and all the volunteers.

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