In short, I really enjoyed my marathon experience in Layton. This race is a small one, getting a few hundred runners. The course changes from the hilly island (where you can easily see some wildlife) to the flat causeway to farmland / residential areas. I really enjoyed my experience on the island, but the last third of the race was a bit dull.

Don't expect much for crowd support - as it consisted of a few people cheering for their spouse / family. The volunteers were absolutely wonderful (thank you all!) and water stops were available at every 2 miles like clock work. The course was also accurate and well laid out, although there was one section where there was only a little bit of a shoulder and the traffic seemed to be too close for comfort.

The expo was very small and bib pick-up was an easy in and out.

The finishers medal was nice as was the t-shirt  something that clearly states I've run a marathon.

Tips / suggestions:
1) Stay hydrated! There isn't any shade on this course and if it is warm, you'll feel it.
2) Need more porta-potties at the start. There was a line-up and most guys could go in the weeds, but the women, not so much.
3) It warms up quickly, so dress appropriately.
4) Be prepared to deal with wildlife. I didn't see any close-ups during the race, but I went back to the island later in the day and the buffalo were crossing the road in multitudes.

Again, if you are looking for an honest marathon course (no major downhills) and a well run event, look no further. I'd definitely put this on my list to do again and if you want a scenic race, Layton is worth the visit.

This race was by far one of my favorite races. It was my 50th marathon and I picked the right one to celebrate! The course was beautiful, it was well organized, and everyone I talked to was friendly. I really don't have any complaints! For a small marathon, they had it all.

I love the scenery of the island, causeway and native wildlife in abundance. The race director puts on a fun race every year. While most marathons have room for improvement and can be improved, the race director listens to the creative input and makes it better each year. In my last 15 marathons, the Layton Marathon is my favorite smaller marathon. It gets better each year. If this is your first marathon, the terrain profile is perfect.

This course was great. It starts on an Island in the Salt Lake and runs across it with Buffalo and the city to the East. We had a delayed start but I found out it was due to the timing company being late. I would definitely recommend this event. Not too large but not too small with support.

I signed up for this race because it was close to my home (10 minute drive) and not very expensive.

If you live within driving distance, I think this is a good fall marathon. However, make sure you have realistic expectations. I do not recommend this race for your first marathon experience.

Layton is a nice area with lots of hotels, restaurants, and several places to shop.

The Expo was mostly just a packet pickup with a couple of tables of items being sold by local sponsors.

I didn't attend the pre-race meal.

I ran in the marathon, which started earlier than the other races, so parking was easy and close to the bus transportation and finish area.

I ended up on a bus with a broken window near the back, so we had cold air blowing in on the 45 minute ride to the start line. That was the biggest negative for me.

Due to not having enough porta potties they had to delay the race start 10 minutes to give everyone a chance to go once before the start. Hopefully, they'll have a few more next year.

Once the race started the experience was good. I enjoyed running on Antelope Island and and the causeway. The final 9 miles aren't steep, but there is a steady incline to the finish. If you're trying to BQ there are faster courses in the area.

Course support and volunteers were excellent, and when I needed to use a porta potty on the course, there was only one person in front of me. I didn't need medical support, but medical support appeared to be good along the course.

Food at the finish was okay.

I was disappointed that they gave out the same medal for the full and half marathon. The medal wasn't bad, but not as good as medals I've had for other races. I guess that goes with the lower price.

Before the race started they had a truck where you could put your gear bag, but not a fancy gear check. The area has a couple of thrift stores, Savers and Deseret Industries, where you can buy clothing you want to take off at the start of the race or along the run.

In summary, I think this is a nice, small, convenient, fall marathon for people who live within driving distance. I wouldn't recommend flying to Utah for this race, unless you want to see the Great Salt Lake, visit Salt Lake City, and/or know people who live in the area.

They sell the course as being the only one in Utah where you can set a world record, but that does not apply to more than 99% of us. The 6 miles run along the causeway from the island to Layton was the only part of the course that was interesting and memorable. They delayed the start of the race until everyone used the portapotties, so it started late while most of us just had to stand around waiting. The medal was ok but nothing special and it was disappointing to see they gave the exact same medal to full and half marathoners. The volunteers were great but I was not impressed with the organizer of the race. Late registration was offered but both my friend and I who registered late were lectured by him about it being so late. I am always glad when I complete a marathon but overall this is not a race I would do again.

I thought the organization did a great job. We didn't have a long wait at the start line before the race began. The race did seem very long because the course is very flat and a lot of miles can be seen during most of the race.