Ogden Marathon - Race Reviews

INTRODUCTION: I am a racewalker with a median marathon completion time of 5:24:57. The Ogden Marathon was my sixty-eighth 26.2-miler accomplished. COURSE: It was a great day for a marathon: 46 degrees, 31 percent relative humidity, clear skies and wind of 3 mph. Starting just outside the Dancing Moose Farm about eight miles east of Huntsville, the first part of our course was a five-mile descent westward along SR39. For the first five miles we ran downhill on a winding road alongside the South Fork Ogden River. At mile five, continuing on SR39, the course straightened and flattened out. At mile 8, we departed from SR39 and traveled on country roads on Ogden Valley farmlands at the base of the northern Wasatch range in the Huntsville and Eden areas, at times staying within sight of the north end of the Pineview Reservoir. The roads were straight and flat for up to the half way mark of the marathon. Ultimately turning on SR158, we skirted westward alongside the reservoir until reaching the dam just after mile 17. The most significant uphill portion of the marathon started before and ended after the mile 14 mark. Returning to SR39, we headed down the V-shaped Ogden Canyon. This downhill portion of the course, which ended around mile 22 1/2, was clearly the most scenic portion of the race. Marked by steep precipices and pine trees, the advice to look up during this downhill part of the race was sound. We also returned alongside the Ogden River for this course segment. The canyon trek was concluded by witnessing the 200-foot Ogden Canyon Waterfall before entering Ogden City. Until reaching mile 25 we travelled on the mostly flat Ogden River Trail and Park Boulevard alongside the Ogden River. Angling our way to 18th Street, we turned south on Grant Avenue for the final 0.7 miles of the race. The finish line could be seen as far as a half mile away. Weather at the finish was 61 degrees, 14 percent relative humidity, clear skies, and south wind of 7 mph. ORGANIZATION: Nicely run event by the Goal Foundation. Good traffic and aid station support throughout. Although it was not mentioned in the race literature, most of the course ran parallel to traffic convoys. Runners stayed on the right side of the road, the convoys remained on the left. SPECTATORS: Sparse. Some spectators on the course. For those who would prefer to listen to the river alongside the road and the birds in the air, this was the marathon for you. CONCLUSION: This is a road marathon for those who prefer running in the great outdoors as opposed to the inner city. In terms of scenic beauty, this would rank high on anyone's list. Well done, Ogden.

This was my first race and first marathon. I enjoyed my experience. I'll likely be back next year.

Great race, perfect weather in '18, cool at start, a bit warm at end, buses to start early and they had plenty of fires (for warmth) going and beverages at start. Almost entire course is downhill - a great chance for a PR. Few spectators until last 3 miles due to road closure thru the canyon (where the course runs). Awesome Utah scenery: placid lake and a waterfall. Great post-race, nice shirt & medal. :)

Prepare for downhill! I thought I was but my knees said otherwise. I did not care much how long it took to finish, the immense beauty of this area was worth every minute. This was a well organized marathon, from registration to the finish line. Keep up the good work! The volunteers were so friendly, the water stations were staffed with such energizing people (bikers in chaps and all others). The weather was perfect. If you want to run in UT, this is a good one to pick!

This was my third time running the marathon. The Ogden Marathon puts on a world-class event with a beautiful course that is (largely) downhill. The weather this year was challenging, due to rain and wind. That being said, you have to give a lot of credit to the awesome volunteers for braving the elements and being there for us. The course was well marked and aid stations were roughly every 2 miles (or better). Aid stations were all stocked with Gatorade and water and there were many stations with gels and food. The course has some rolling hills but most of it is downhill. To me, the course is a fast course, but be prepared for both up and downhill running. The final 3 miles (or so) are on bike trail. The finish line had the typical assortment of oranges, bagels, bananas, sports drink and some chocolate milk and soda. They also had ice cream bars. There were plenty of volunteers with the gear check and more vendors / exhibitors at the finish line as well. The finisher's medal was well done  it is heavy and definitely worthy of earning. The shirt was high-quality as well, although I wish it had said 'marathon' or 'running' on it a little more prominently. The Expo has certainly grown since I first ran it and had plenty of space to mingle and look at vendors. It was an easy in and easy out or you could spend some time there. The fan base gets more vocal and prominent the closer you get to the finish line. The first 10 miles are pretty lonely though but given the weather and the bucolic setting of the starting line, that is to be expected. I too dislike the long wait before the race started. I was up there for nearly two hours (arriving on one of the first buses). I came prepared and dressed appropriately, but if the weather had been worse, it would've been a super miserable experience. That being said, I felt that the bathroom situation was good and never had to wait more than 10 minutes. This race is worth traveling to and I look forward to completing it again in the future.

This is such a great race that I hate to point out the obvious negative. Runners are dropped off at the start 90 minutes before race time where we waited in the rain. I know they can't control the weather, but I can't see why we need to wait this long for the race to start. That being said, the course is amazing, lots of aid stations, the party at the finish was great, the expo had lots of sponsors, etc. and Ogden is a great town with great people.

For anyone considering a race in Utah - RUN OGDEN! This is a beautiful course & a very well-organized race. I've run Ogden 8 times & it gets better every year. Thank you for the great shirt & hefty medal. Its nice to receive high-quality stuff for your money. A big thank you to the volunteers who were so helpful & supportive on a rainy race day. They were wonderful! Any chance you could start the full marathon earlier? Even 15 minutes (7:00 am) would help those of us who will be on the course longer. See you next year!

I would have liked to have seen the Star Spangled Banner sung right before the start of the race. There were way too many people trying to get there excess equipment bags taken care of before the gun. Maybe move the truck departure up by 5 minutes.

I have run this marathon twice - both times in the pouring rain. (One was a BQ) First of all, the course is beautiful. Enough downhill to get a little boost from gravity; enough rollers and flat spots to give he legs a break. The race is organized to a T. This year, in the cold rainy conditions, volunteers were on the course offering space blankets to help stave off hypothermia. Plenty of food and water - more aid stations than many races. Great after party (had it not been raining). Great shirt and medal But most important, given the conditions, I could tell the director is putting runner health and safety first.

Fast, scenic marathon. If you like downhills, this race is for you. First eight miles are down - seven of those are precipitous. Miles 8 through 15 are rolling (with only one significant uphill at mile 14 - about 1/4 of a mile.) Miles 15-18 are a gentle downhill along the west shore of Pineview reservoir. Miles 18-22.5 are through Ogden Canyon (this is the favored relay section for the 5-person relays,) and miles 22.5-25 are a very gentle, subtle downhill along bike paths and streets. Finally, the last mile is along Grant - flat, with the finish line in sight all the way. Organization is very good, with packet pickup, buses, start area, and finish area very well thought out. The race has aid stations about every two miles - plenty of support. I've run four of the Utah marathons and this is my favorite. St. George may be a little faster; however, I believe this marathon wins for sheer beauty (and St. George is no slouch.)

This was my 39th different marathon. The scenery is worth the potential altitude issues if you are a flatlander. From Texas, I felt it and it slowed me down in the valley portion, but the downhill canyon portions almost made up for that. Organization of race, expo, all great. My complaints are few: The loud PA system in front of the Ben Lomond hotel blaring music at 4:15 AM. Not everyone in Ogden is there for the marathon! No mylar sheets at the finish, or if they were at the finish I never saw them. They should be handing them out right after they hand us our medals. Extra kudos to the volunteers on a cold rainy day to be out there - you are awesome!

There were only two bright moments in this race: a few minutes of sunshine before the start and a big relief at the finish line. The rest of the story is simple: rain, rain and more rain. The course was beautiful, volunteers and organizers did a great job and suffered in cold, wet weather along with runners and spectators. Thank you Ogden for one of the most miserable races in my life (I may be back).

Much like 2013, the weather really made this a challenging race. It started raining about 20 minutes into the race and didn't let up. However, with the foul weather, it didn't stop the crowds and the wonderful supporters to be out there cheering people along. I've never had more enthusiastic volunteers passing out gels, fluids and food in the other marathons I've done. The course is conducive to a PR as it is mostly downhill but the downhill isn't something that will shatter your knees. It is very gentle. There are some pretty good sized hills after the half way point and some rollers in the early miles. The expo this year had plenty of parking and actually quite a few exhibitors. In the past, it was a pain to find parking and it very cramped. This time around, there was plenty of fanfare and room to move around. I definitely liked the shirt. It was a high quality tech shirt with a zipper neck area. They have different colors / insignia to differentiate between the half and the full marathon. In addition, the medals were different between the races and incredibly heavy. Very nice bling. They have improved the waiting area for the full marathon. In the past it was basically a cow pasture. It has been cleaned up, but I would love to see a tent or some sort of shelter on days when there is a good chance of really bad weather. As a runner, I would suggest those going to the top to bring plenty of warmer gear, as the temperature can be up to 10 degrees cooler than Ogden and you'll have over an hour to kill up there. This is definitely a premiere event and 50 staters looking to knock Utah off your list should consider this race. You'll not be disappointed with the support and beautiful views you'll get even on bad weather days.

Pro: I have participated 3 times and each year they continue to improve. Very well organized and supported by volunteers. Significant improvements to the start area and bag pickup. Incredible mountain and river scenery! Con: The runner area at the finish needs significant improvement. It was stripped clean with little support for runners finishing later like me at 4:40. Unfortunately due to the course layout there are not many areas for spectators until the last 4 miles.

Great organization, great scenery. Was by far the best organized and stocked for the slower runners of the marathons I've done. Very fun aid stations and the medal was fabulous.

Pros Incredible scenery. The aid stations were well stocked with water and power aide, cliff bars, GU, oranges, bananas and even fried chicken at one of the last ones! You could have gained 10 pounds. The volunteers were awesome and the people whose homes were not accessible due to the run were outside cheering you on. Thanks to the kids with the hoses spraying us down (I thought it was a warm day) Cons I came in at 4:44. I was not impressed with the recovery areas offerings (again the volunteers were wonderful). Warm water? All te ice cream had been taken by half marathoners and the those who came in before me. I know, run faster. If the run down the canyon was on the left oncoming lane you'd have a lot of shade for the run. Ogden was my 15th marathon since this old man started running 9 years ago. The most impressive recovery area I've ever been so far has been St George. But overall this is the most scenic run I've ever been a part of. Good job Ogden. Thank you volunteers.

Despite the rainy / cold weather, I really enjoyed my experience with the Ogden Marathon. The mostly downhill course is really pretty with picturesque views of snow capped mountains, reservoirs, and water falls / bubbling spring brooks. Don't be fooled though; this race isn't 100% downhill and there are some challenging moments, particularly in the early stages of the race. The volunteers and water stops were spot on. I was surprised at the number of them who braved the elements and were there for us - thank you! Some of the Powerade dispensers need to be cleaned out - as some of them were off-tasting. The coach bus ride to the race start went off without a hitch. However, I was disappointed with the accommodations once we reached the start. It was raining, the field was muddy and yes there were cowpies. The fires were smokey on account of the rain, which was an irritant. While I was able to make friends with many of the runners during the wait period, it seemed that we were hurried to the starting area only to sit and wait for a long time. The t-shirt and finisher medal were good and the expo went beyond my expectations. Overall, I was happy with my experience but I hope they make the full marathon's starting area a bit more accommodating in regards to potential weather issues (also get us up there no more than an hour ahead of time). Would I run this race again - yes. Expect a well run race in a beautiful setting.

Let me share a secret about marathons: They can be very tough. Marathons are designed to inflict pain and discomfort. You have to be prepared for anything and everything. If you forgot to make allowances for rain, that's your fault. If you are cold, you should have worn warmer running gear. When you got to the finish why didn't you anticipate the need for something to stay warm? Did the complainers below only train on nice weather days? Take some accountability for your lack of planning and judgement and don't blame others! This is a marathon, not a day at the beach! If you want to be cared for like you are at a 5 star hotel, go stay at a five star hotel. Cowboy up! I didn't like the weather either, but that's part of the gamble you take when you sign up for a race. I've run 44 marathons, four of which were in the rain. I prefer to run in nice, dry weather, but lousy weather marathons add texture to running and help create some great tales to share with friends and family. Now that I've got that out of the way, congrats to the Ogden Marathon for a great job. Fantastic scenic course, great volunteers, and excellent organization. I'll be back next year.

I couldn't agree more with the posted review 'Mother Nature Throws Curveball'. I too looked so forward to running this beautiful course but the non-stop cold rain, in 40 degrees, the entire 26.2 miles, definitely made a negative impact. It was so cold my legs were numb! The race organizers could not do anything about the crazy weather, obviously, but they were far from prepared. Perhaps even handing out garbage bags at the starting area would have helped (since we had to sit on the muddy, wet, and yes, cow-pie full field for 1.5 hours). And most importantly, we needed the space blankets or some protection at the finish area where it was still pouring, cold rain. I guess they gave them all to the half-marathoners? I was an early finisher and saw none. Like many others it was a serious struggle to wander through the finish area and back to my hotel in this exhausted, frozen condition. Regardless, kudos to the volunteers, race organizers, and spectators who endured the awful weather to cheer us on and support us. I would run this course again, hopefully enjoying it more the 2nd time in better weather.

I applied to run this race in the lottery, and I can see why it's so popular. Not only was it well-organized, but beautiful as well. The night before the race, the weather forecast called for rain between 5 am - 7 am. I brought my fashionable garbage bag and grocery sack shoe covers for the longish wait at the start. Plenty of porta potties and firepits made this wait enjoyable. When the race started at 7:15, the rain never let up. I wondered how many runners, like me, had really nice rain gear sitting at home. Oh well, such is life. I bring up the rain thing because I was at least running in it and staying warmish. Kudos to the volunteers who sat through it as well, with smiles on their faces. We couldn't find my bag at the end...it was pouring...so I went back to my hotel. The team later found it and was great to communicate with. My timing results were not posted, which stressed me out, but the race director and timing company resolved the issue quickly. I qualified for Boston - could not think of a better place or race to do so.

Although I left Ogden satisfied that I had completed one of the most mentally tough marathons of my 33, I had a profound sense of disappointment as well. Ninety-five percent of my disappointment was out of the hands of the organizers and everybody else because Mother Nature decided that it was time to soak Ogden, Eden, Huntsville and the entire course with an unrelenting and cold rain on Marathon Day. Hence, my disappointment, I chose Ogden because it is billed as one of the most beautiful marathon courses in the country. And although I still saw most of this beauty with roaring streams and waterfalls and steep canyons and the fog dancing in the hills, the true grandeur of my surroundings (the snow-capped peaks, the blue water of Pineview reservoir, the morning light glowing through the tall trees) was unfortunately lost. Let me make myself perfectly clear, this was obviously no fault of the race organizers, but still a disappointment. On the other hand, the conditions made for a mentally tough race which was very satisfying to complete. Constant cold rain for 26 miles takes its toll even when appropriately dressed. It's just plain hard to stay dry and warm in those type of conditions. And then there's my best friend who, while we were running together, enjoyed sharing the story by science fiction writer, Ray Bradbury, of astronauts trapped on Venus where it was constantly raining and they ultimately commit suicide because they can no longer stand the rain! Getting back to the remaining 5% disappointment: I have to lay this on the race organizers. Although they did their best, I feel they were significantly ill-prepared for the conditions. Yes, they kept us nice and warm at the starting line with the fire pits - a nice touch. But there was a major problem at the Finish Area. After running 26 miles in these conditions and suddenly stopping with continued rain and cold, there is a significant risk of hypothermia. Although I saw a few space blankets on some runners, the crew either ran out of them or at the very best didn't make them very prominent. There was no warm-up tent or equipment that is common in other marathons. We were left to fend on our own. I know my body temperature had significantly dropped - it took me an hour to stop shivering even back in my toasty hotel room under the blankets of my bed. My friend experienced the same. I heard that the Ogden Marathon has enjoyed excellent weather for 11 of its now 13 runnings but I hope the organizers take 2013 as a lesson and become better prepared for inclement weather in the future. Other thoughts: 1) Nice but not spectacular finisher's medal 2) Bus rides to start were easy and seamless 3) The pre-start runner's holding area was a pasture that had been used by cows...beware of cow pies! 4) Volunteers are wonderful and nice 5) Gear pick-up at Finish Line was easy - fortunately so, I had to get into some warm dry clothes STAT! 6) Bus pick-up and Finish Line are very close to hotels. 7) 25th Street (Finish Line) is a blast!

The scenery in this race was amazing (forests, streams, rivers, waterfalls, greenery, moutains, canyons, log cabins, farms, horses etc). The organization was top notch. The transportation to the starting point was very well organized. The aid stations were plentiful, well manned and stocked with goodies (water , G2, mini Clif bars, fruit, gum?). The course started above 5,000 feet and descended to about 4,200 feet. The course was generally down hills but there were a few places where you had to go up hill. The scenery was entertainment enough and there was also minimal entertainment at some of the aid stations. Though it rained the entire 26.2 miles the race was a treat. You will not be disappointed. OGDEN MARATHON ORGANIZERS SHOULD REMOVE MARRIOTT (SUMMIT HOTEL) AS A SPONSOR OF THIS RACE. ***HOTEL WARNING*** HOWEVER: The Marriott Hotel (now named Summit Hotel) should be ashamed of what they did that weekend. This hotel was listed as a sponsor of the race on the official website. The race started at 7:15 and they expected you to be checked out at noon. They would not waive the check out time. I repeat, they would not waive the check out time. They only offered for you to pay an additional charge for additional hours. We were not the only group complaining to management about this. They explained that they booked some other large party for Saturday night and could not extend the check out time. Outrageous and poor managing. I came across 10 other people who were just as bitter about how the hotel was completely missing the point of being a sponsor hotel of this event. I suggest that the marathon organizers remove this hotel from future participation. We spoke to the on site manager and the head manager of the establishment with no satisfaction. Do the math: Race starts at 7:15. Finish race in four hours. (11:15). Ten minutes to get out of runner corral and 10 minutes to walk back to the hotel. You now have 20 minutes to shower and get out of the damn room. All that would have been needed was an hour. NOPE. Pay an additional $50. Were they out of their minds? Now they will get a whole boat load of negative feedback.

This was my first marathon ever, and I loved it. It was perfect. The predominately downhill course is great. I hadn't trained adequately, but it was still a great experience. I was sad to hear that it went to a lottery this year, but hopefully I can get in to run it again. The medal was great. The finish line food was great. The spectators at the end were great, although I wasn't a huge fan of the last mile or two being through the city streets. If you have a hard time with downhills, maybe this isn't for you. The vast majority is downhill except for the last mile or so and a hill around mile 14 (which isn't that bad. It looks bad, but it isn't). Run a lot of hills, and you'll do just fine on this course. It's awesome!

I've now run this race 8 times and keep wanting to come back for more. This race is a jewel that's getting harder to get into and sells out very quickly. The course is highly scenic and overall pretty gentle without too many hills. There's really no room for improvement with this event...except in my running.

This was my first marathon and it was perfect! Beautiful course, perfect weather, great support and spectators, beautiful medal, and the greatest recovery food ever at the finish!!!! My favorite surprise was the ice cold sponges offered toward the middle of the race. Very nice touch! Perfect race! I would do it again!

This is my second Ogden marathon and am impressed with all the effort that goes into it. I wa planning on this being my last marathon but now I'm having second thoughts

I have run this marathon twice: once in 2007 right after I ran the Boston, then again in 2008. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking, the course is gentle on the knees and joints, and the organization couldn't be any better. This marathon course is, by far, my favorite because of the beauty and 'easiness' (like a full marathon is easy - but you runners know what I mean.....for instance, the St. George is very hard on the joints because of the downhill stretches) on the body. I hope to do it again in the future!!

The scenery in this race is, in a word, stunning. I can't imagine a more beautiful location or more perfect weather. Add to that wonderful organization and a great shirt and medal and in my opinion you have the perfect marathon. I see why this race is so popular and rumored to be going to a lottery next year. I read another comment mentioning a late bus. I boarded a bus at exactly 5:30 when they stated it would leave. Also, I had no problem getting my gear bag into the truck before the race began. If the marathon started late, that is news to me - it could only have been a few minutes late since I checked my watch 5 minutes before start time. There was plenty of food at the end including fresh bread, bananas, and smoothies. Ogden puts on a great end party. Honestly, if you can get in, you will be hard-pressed to find a better race.

This was a very scenic, very fast and well organized marathon. The weather was perfect, adding to a great experience. One added bonus was that the marathon was on a Saturday instead of a Sunday. Perhaps this was because the marathon was held in religiously-minded Utah. But religious aspects aside, it is so nice running on Saturday and then being able to enjoy another day of rest and relaxation before returning to work. My only complaint was that an annoying helicopter buzzing overhead wrecked the tranquility of the race for the first few miles as we ran down a beautiful canyon. Aside from that, I highly recommend this race.

Traveled far for this race and it was beautiful, and had great volunteers; but it also had a few cons that mean a lot to a runner. The buses at the start were late, and throwing bags onto a truck as it drives by is NOT bag check. Also, I was a mid-pack finisher and there was no food to speak of at the end - Creamsicles and oranges? I had fun with a friend, but many races are falling down in organization

This was my seventh year to run Ogden  I wouldn't keep coming back if it wasn't good. The course is spectacularly pretty, the organization is solid, the weather is nice, and the volunteers are extra special at the aid stations. This is not a race with many spectators as it is a rural course. However, the snow-capped mountains, rivers and streams, waterfalls, lakes, and trees make up for lack of spectators. The solitude (not counting the other 2,000 runners) is refreshing. What could be improved? An earlier start time (6:30 a.m.) would be nice. It's plenty light by then and it would help avoid the warmer temps later in the day. Also, the finish area is very congested and it's hard to move around. More space would be nice. Kudos to the team that puts on this great race. I plan to be back next year!

The course was great. The most beautiful I have ever run. The volunteers were great. I liked the shirt and medal. Enjoyed staying downtown. Could walk to everything you needed. Race started late due to problems getting the buses out of the way. Would like water every mile, 2+ is too far between for the early miles. Overall, great experience and would do again.

As others have already expressed, this marathon is well executed. Its scenic and quite simply breathtaking. You can't really ask for a nicer course! As a 50 states member, this was my 38th state and 40th marathon. My only suggestion would be to dial back the time on the shuttle bus departures. I got on a 5:15 a.m. bus to the start and waited 1.5 hours before the start. Too much time, in my opinion. These buses could easily leave closer to 6 a.m. Otherwise, nothing but a great experience, and I would HIGHLY recommend this marathon (or half, for that matter). By the way, my favorite part was when the announcer called my name and mentioned my location. He even thanked me for coming to Ogden as I was crossing the finish line - very nice touch!

Having now done several marathons, I can say that no race has measured up to this gem. There cannot be a nicer course anywhere. Organization is excellent. Volunteers are the best - the cold sponges at mile 15 were pure genius! Great shirt. Great medal. What else can you say? The only inconvenience is the fairly long wait at the start - but that happens at any race. Every year this event sells out earlier and there is good reason for that. If you want to experience the fun in 2011, sign up before Christmas! You will not regret doing this one!!

Everything about this race is terrific, but it's getting harder and harder to get into the race. So, to make it easier on me, don't run this race. That leaves more spots for me! The course is totally stunning with snow-capped peaks, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, and green pastures. The organization was excellent as usual. The volunteers at the aid stations were terrific. This is a rural marathon so there are not many spectators. My only complaint, and it's a minor one, was about the congestion in the park at the finish. Getting into and out of the amphitheater to retrieve my clothes bag took about 20 minutes. There are too few ways in and out of the area. This truly is one of the best marathons in the U.S.

The positives were a beautiful course, a fast course, great weather, easy packet pickup, and frequent, well stocked aid stations. The biggest negative was the buses leaving (or at least scheduled to leave) 2 hours before race time. That left well over an hour for us to wait at the start line. It was OK this year, but if it had been really cold or raining, it would be a different story. The size is about right. Probably can't get many more people down the canyon safely. Spectators who were there were great. It's just not easy to get spectators up the canyon, so numbers were small. Overall, much more positive than negative. I will be back.

Beautiful course, and amazing volunteers who really took care of us!