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Marathon Details - Park City Marathon

North America Marathons > USA > UT > Park City > Park City Marathon

Newpark Town Center Resort Hotel Park City Marathon & Half Marathon

location icon Park City, UT USA    calendar icon  August 16, 2014    calendar icon http://www.pcmarathon.com




Name: Jolie McTavish
Address: Utah Road Runners
PO Box 982062
Park City, UT 84098
Phone Number:  999-999-9999
Email: Email the organizers
 
 
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Reviews

Course Rating Course 4.6 
 
Oranization Rating Organization 4.7 
 
Spectator Rating Spectators 3.5 
 
 
Number of comments: 53 [displaying comments 1 to 11]
More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 > ]

 

M. S. from Dallas, Texas (9/5/2014)
"Scenic, beautiful course" (about: 2014)

6-10 previous marathons | 1 Park City Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 3


This was probably the prettiest marathon I've done. Beautiful views of valleys and mountains, ski resorts, golf courses, neighborhoods, the quaint Main Street area of Park City, the famous white barn, and even several hot air balloons (which likely had nothing to do with the race, but were fun) make for nice distractions throughout the run. Would be a tough course for a PR, as it is more uphill than down to mile 16, but well worth it. Aid stations were well-stocked, with most of them having oranges and/or bananas and a couple having GU, in addition to water and sports drinks. The volunteers were very nice and supportive. Not a whole lot of spectators otherwise, but I had my own little crew who went to several spots on the course, and I've run small marathons before, so not much of an issue for me. The medal was interestinga rather artistic one, but I thought fitting for the town. The packet pick-up was pretty spare: no bags and a non-tech shirt. But if you're interested in a very nice run in a place that normally has good weather, I'd definitely recommend it.
 

C. J. from Connecticut (8/19/2014)
"Once a great marathon, now on life support" (about: 2014)

11-50 previous marathons | 6+ Park City Marathons
COURSE: 3  ORGANIZATION: 3  FANS: 2


If you don't expect much, except a T-shirt, a plate of potato chips and a coke at the end, then this M is for you. First 16 miles are uphill. Nice gradual incline until about 13.5 miles then the real climb begins. The views of Deer Valley and downtown PC are beautiful. Well worth the uphill run. After Deer valley, it's 10 miles of rolling hills.
This is my 8th PCM and was startled to see how far the M has fallen since I last ran in 2011. No place to warm-up except outside, you don't even get a bag to put your clothes in. Hopefully, they will get better sponsors next year. Otherwise, avoid this marathon until they get their act together.
 

T. J. from Fitchburg, WI (8/27/2013)
"Well Organized!!!" (about: 2013)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Park City Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


The marathon was very well organized, and the planners made my experience stress free. Park City, Utah is very beautiful, and the people of the community were very friendly. Running at 7,000 feet altitude is very difficult, so don't worry about your marathon time. I hope to be back someday to run in the area again.
 

P. D. from Utah (8/21/2011)
"Beautiful but tough course" (about: 2011)

4-5 previous marathons | 1 Park City Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


This is a demanding high elevation course set amid beautiful mountain scenery. Weather was great - mid 50's at start and low 70's by finish. No humidity. I thought the course was well organized and executed.
The downhill trend descending from Deer Valley is a series of rolling hills and not all downhill. The worst part was the final 3-4 miles on mostly unpaved surface. The scattered gravel on the packed dirt trails was brutal on my feet. If I run this course again, I will wear trail shoes.
 

C. P. from Texas (10/17/2010)
"Beautiful - No Shortage of Climbing" (about: 2010)

2 previous marathons | 1 Park City Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 3


I expected a challenge and that's exactly what I got. The first 5 miles are rolling hills through a neighborhood. And then a long 6 miles on a gravel road and railroad bed that seems to go on forever. We kept climbing to mile 16 when we finally turned downhill... except for a killer one-block climb at mile 18!

Food could have been better at the end, but that was no biggie since our hotel was right there. Free massages at Massage Envy were wonderful!

The Newpark Hotel was right at the start/finish line, so getting ready for the start and walking back after the race were both very easy.

I will definitely be back!
 

j. c. from schenectady ny (8/29/2010)
"Beautiful, A Good Value, and Tough" (about: 2010)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Park City Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 3


My first trip to Utah was a pleasant experience. The host hotel is first-class and not expensive. No need for a car here, with free public transportation and the race starting right outside and bicycles for rent right there. Plenty of choices for eating within walking distance.

The course was easily the most difficult I have run. It starts at 6,300 feet and goes up to 7,300 feet, and it was tough for me. Beautiful sights along the way - horses and cattle in pastures. Aid stations were stocked and ready. Not a lot of shade on the course.

My recommendation would be to arrive a couple of days early to acclimate to the thin air and visit the area, which has lots to see and do.
 

G. M. from New York City (8/29/2010)
"Amazing and challenging marathon!" (about: 2010)

2 previous marathons | 1 Park City Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 3


Coming from NY, I was just so pleased with this entire experience. The setting was beautiful, the weather moderate and the terrain incredibly challenging. At the end of the race, a nice fellow next to me joked, "Well, at least only the first 16 miles were uphill." I finished about 30 minutes slower than my previous marathon due to the altitude and terrain, but I wasn't here for a PR. The race was well organized and the entire experience went without a hassle - being able to park close to the starting line and a large grassy area to spread out after the race made this very easy to deal with. The race was a bit light on spectators but there were also two other races in the area that day (a 100-mile bike race and a triathlon at Jordanelle), so perhaps that affected the turnout. Also, after reaching the peak of the terrain at Deer Valley, I wasn't expecting so many additional hills (8th St. was brutal!) and at that point any decline was just as painful, as I was totally spent. It would be nice to find a way to have a more triumphant finish than meandering around the back end of Newpark, but, again, this is an amazing race and really one to add to your list. Thanks, organizers... I hope to be back one day.
 

Dotty Maddock from Phoenix, AZ (8/26/2010)
"Mixed Feelings" (about: 2010)

50+ previous marathons | 1 Park City Marathon
COURSE: 3  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 3


This was my 72nd marathon. I knew it would be tough, due to the altitude, summer temps, and hills. What I wasn't as prepared for was the long, monotonous miles in the relentless sun.

The host hotel is excellent and couldn't be located any better for this race. I think racers should automatically be given the option of a late checkout of at least 1 p.m., but you have to ask for it (while they act like it's going to be difficult) and then allow you a 12 noon checkout as the latest option available. Other than that, the hotel and logistics were great.

The 6:30 a.m. start is good, and could even be earlier in order to avoid the sun and heat. The race started right on time, and there was little risk of getting off course for us "middle of the pack" runners. The problem I had was that a good portion of the first 15 miles or so are a VERY boring along Interstate 80 and the rail trail, with absolutely NO shade. That stretch seemed endless and really sapped the strength out of me. Then you enter the "fun" portion with the pathway to Main Street, the circle around Deer Valley, and the return by Main Street to the Park City Mountain Resort. They seem to have cut out running by town lift bridge this year, but didn't say that anywhere or why. Then the last 6 miles are another long, BORING run on a paved path through fields (again, NO shade, and by then the temps were in the 70's). So portions of the course rate 5 stars, but the majority of the course is unremarkable. It was very helpful that they had ice cold washcloths at a couple of points on the course and at the finish line!

I like the finisher's medal, so they must have improved from prior years. The post-race refreshments were disappointing compared to others, but I don't run the race for that.

Park City is a beautiful resort town and well worth the visit if you've never been there. The race is small (capped at 500 marathoners) and basically well run. I was just disappointed in the monotony and brutal exposure to the sun on the majority of the course.
 

J. R. from Decatur, GA (8/23/2010)
"Tough and Beautiful" (about: 2010)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Park City Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


This was very well organized. The volunteers did a GREAT job of helping with the course along the way.

The course itself had a beautiful scenery. Up through mile 13, it was tough... but then came the real test between miles 14-16 (my legs were screaming). After mile 16 (with the exception of one small section right at mile 18), it was downhill the rest of the way.

There were plenty of water/Gatorade stations as well as port-a-johns.

This won't be a PR course, but it is one that is well worth the trip (I am from Georgia).
 

F. H. from Salt lake city (8/22/2010)
"An example of a well done race" (about: 2010)

50+ previous marathons | 6+ Park City Marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


This is my 7th consecutive year of running this marathon, and every year is an example of a well-executed race. There is a nice building to prepare for the race, and no bus ride. There were pre-race announcements, along with the national anthem. But here is what the rest of the race directors can learn from. At the first rest stop with bathrooms, there were FOUR of them: 500 runners, and 4 bathrooms to use. WELL done. I've seen other races with over 500 runners and only one bathroom at each stop, resulting in lines. I've seen even worse, with 1500 runners and again only one bathroom at each aid station. There is nothing more discouraging than watching a time goal bleed away while waiting in a bathroom line, while standing behind the guy in front of you who is also waiting in line. There were volunteers everywhere they were needed, and one of them tried her best to get a bus to stop to let us go by. The bus driver ignored her and went anyway; we had to wait behind it. I could just visualize Ralph Cramden from the Honeymooners driving that bus. At the end of the race I didn't feel too well, and the medics even came out on the lawn to check on me. If the rest of the race directors in this state want to learn how to do a marathon right, all they have to do is come up to Park City in mid-August.
 

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