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May 18, 2024

Top of Utah Marathon Runner Comments

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Course 4.6

Organization 4.8

Spectators 4.0

Number of comments: 136 [displaying comments 101 to 111]

More Comments: [ < 1 .. 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 > ]

C. O. from Southern California (9/26/2004) "Good race, but not for back of the packers" (about: 2004) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Top of Utah Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 I am a walker, and this was my 10th marathon. I read the reviews and thought I could handle the lack of support. Most of the other marathons I have done haven't been so strict on the time limit. When they got to the 6 hour people, roads were opened. And they mean it. The canyon opens at 3 hours. And you are in the canyon for the first 14 miles. Once it opened, I was nearly run over by trucks pulling ATVs. You had to be off of the road. Going through the towns wasn't bad, but again, at 1 pm, you are on the sidewalk. I hadn't planned on this being a problem, as this was to be a PR race. No one planned on the heat (85 dF at 1:30 pm!), so everyone was slow this year. Pasta dinner was nice. I got a cool watch as a door prize (everyone gets a door prize!) Coolmax shirts are nice (but were big). They do their best, but this is best for runners, not walkers. By the time I got there, nothing left in the post-race area. Really cool moose trophies!
Jonathan Crampton from Orem, UT - from England originally (9/24/2004) "One of the best marathons, the best medal ever" (about: 2004) 11-50 previous marathons \| 3 Top of Utah Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The BEST medals of any marathon. Some races seem like they spend 50 cents of of your $40 on a medal (take note, Ogden). Not TOU, it is heavy and well designed. This year was hot (still better than the year it snowed the entire way), well put together and, yes, it was hot this year, but can't be perfect all the time. My 34th marathon and I will be back at TOU next year. See you all in St. George next week!!
E. W. from Magalia, CA (9/21/2004) "Great first half!" (about: 2004) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Top of Utah Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 TOU was my 29 marathon, would have been a great experience if not for heat and wind. The first half of course is very beautiful, after 20 miles there are to many turns, you just want to hurry up and finish. Overall it was a good experience!
R. M. from Boulder, Colorado (9/21/2004) "Great race if you like walking the last 6 miles" (about: 2004) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Top of Utah Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 This is a great race if you like walking the last six miles. Just got back from the 2004 Top of Utah Marathon. Ahhh, what a killer run. It was very downhill and very hot. Now I understand why downhill marathons are so hard. They just burn up your quads and leave your legs trembling like a little puppy dog who just wet the carpet. The day began on the wrong foot when the bus the organizer scheduled to pick up about thirty folks from our hotel never showed up. This caused a mad dash with people running around trying to figure out what to do to get to the start of the race. Great way to start an ulcer; bad way to start a race. I knew it was going to be trouble when it was up to about 70 degrees at 7:00 am start. The downhill canyon section is beautiful but boy does it burn up your quads. By the time you get to mile 17 you've run your entire race. The course would be a perfect and very fast half marathon. The last part of the race snakes through town. A lot of turning and ups and downs make for a slow finish. Everybody I spoke with after the race seemed really tired and bewildered by the fact that they just ran their personal worst.
Jeffery Dalebout from Orem, UT (9/21/2004) "So-So" (about: 2004) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Top of Utah Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This was a hard marathon, mostly because of the heat. As soon as we got out of the canyon it was hot! The aid stations had nothing but warm Gatorade and warm water which was really bad for hot weather. The one thing that would make this marathon better would be starting it at least an hour earlier. The medal was cool and the event is very well organized otherwise.
S. W. from Portland, Oregon (9/20/2004) "The scenery and organization were the best!" (about: 2004) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Top of Utah Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 The scenery for the first 14 miles through the canyon were exceptionally beautiful. The organizer made the race very user-friendly, up to and including taking care of the smallest of details, such as marking each manhole cover and pothole on the course which after 18 miles, is very much appreciated. The pre-race pasta dinner was worth every penny, and the race crowd was friendly and enthusiastic. The medallion is awesome, however, the shirt design could be improved.
B. M. from Colorado (9/20/2004) "Best Kept Secret?" (about: 2004) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Top of Utah Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 The only 'best kept secret' about this marathon is that it is NEITHER fast NOR pleasant. The day started out with the shuttle buses 'forgetting' to make their second stop at our hotel; which resulted in about 40 runners making a mad leap into the cars of anyone who would take them to the bus at 5:30 am. Stress? You bet. My advice would be to park at Merlin Olsen Park... plenty of street parking was available. Positives: - Great shirt and medal! - Good pasta dinner with nice prizes for everyone! - Beautiful scenery... for about 14 miles - Toilets at every mile - Warming tent and bonfire at the start Negatives: - The website promised 'gentle' downhill of '1-2%.' It is more like a 5-6% quad-crushing gradient. Once you hit the flats at mile 15 or so, it's like hitting a wall. - Comatose-like spectators... (note to onlookers - runners' names on shirts are meant to be shouted out!) - The last 10 miles you snake through towns (lots of turns to slow you down)... sometimes on roads that weren't completely closed. The exhaust fumes complemented the 85 degree temperatures nicely. - Fill-up the water cups! Had to ask for 3 or 4 cups at each stop. Overall, a nice attempt at a small-town marathon. But for those flying in to set a PR, don't bother... everyone we talked to was at least 15 minutes-plus off of their PR.
L. B. from Riverton, Wyoming (9/19/2004) "Excellent marathon experience." (about: 2004) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Top of Utah Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 My companion and I just ran this race yesterday. We were both impressed by the organization and the support of the community. The weather was very warm and very windy, but that wasn't their fault. The first 14 miles of the course down the canyon are extremely scenic, the spectators are encouraging, the volunteers at the aid stations and the medical people on the course are friendly and helpful, the shirts and medals are great, EVERYTHING is done right. I was very impressed with the clothing pick-up after the race. I just can't say enough about our experience. There is absolutely no doubt that we will enter this marathon again. One caution for those who get carsick -- the bus ride up the canyon will definitely do it to you, so be prepared. Fortunately I got over my queasiness before the race started, but it wasn't fun!
K. N. from KC, MO (10/21/2003) "DELIGHTFUL!" (about: 2003) COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 TOU was my 22nd marathon in 21 states and this ranks up there with the best. The course was great, the race organization was wonderful, and the volunteers were absolutely delightful. And as a bonus, the city of Logan could not have been friendlier. We had a marvelous time at the restaurants and shops. The visiting Tibetan monks were an awesome surprise. As you may surmise, the actual marathon is not the only part of the experience that I enjoy - marathoning has been a great way to see the USA and Logan, Utah. Cache Valley is certainly a treasure. THANK YOU!
R. B. from Utah (10/19/2003) "FIRST-CLASS EVENT" (about: 2003) COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I have run several marathons, but this was my first Top of Utah. This was a first-class event. The race committee did an excellent job. I honestly cannot think of one thing they could do better. The course is beautiful with the leaves in their bright fall colors. The aid stations were well staffed with enthusiastic volunteers and plenty of Gatorade, water, Gu etc. The band in the park at the finish line was a nice touch. They played for 3 hours straight, from the time the first runner finished until the last runner finished. This added to the party atmosphere. The finisher's medals are HUGE. Definitely the best I have ever received from any marathon. If you want to run a first-class marathon, I highly recommend the Top of Utah. It is not a big race, only about 2,000 runners. But that is part of its charm. Not too many runners. The course is fast. The first 14 miles are down a canyon, but it is a nice 1% grade. I hope to do this marathon many more times. I hope to see you there too.

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