Run With the Horses Marathon - Race Reviews

This is a small town race with 40-50 marathoners. The course begins in a park at the Green River where J.W. Powell began his expedition to explore the Grand Canyon. The course is out and back. The first and last two miles are on pavement through town and the remaining miles are on a dirt road through Wild Horse Canyon. The road ascends for the first few miles then levels off with long rollers. The second half is much easier. There are dozens of wild horses on the route. In 2021 many of them were close to and crossing the road. What a joy. There is aid including food every 2 miles. The volunteers were friendly and the race director was very accommodating including staying beyond 7 hours to give everyone a finish time. The start and finish are at the town's small annual festival with car show, shrimp boil, music and food booths. The medal and shirt have horses on them and horses on a ribbon were awarded 3 deep for 10 year age groups. Salt Lake City airport is 2:30 drive. Plenty of hotel and restaurants in town or in Rock Springs 15 miles away. Sights to enjoy are Flaming Gorge, Yellowstone, Tetons and Fossil Butte. The race is put on by the Chamber of Commerce and there was a real goody bag with everything one could need to know about visiting Wyoming. No spectators just you and the wide open spaces and some friendly horses. There are plenty of porta pots on the course to avoid critters (rhymes with rake) off the dirt road. This was my second time doing the event. There is a half, 10k and 5k for your posse to enjoy.

I absolutely loved the Run with the Horses Marathon, the course is challenging but once you make it atop you will be amazed with stunning views of the canyons, see wild horses and enjoy rolling hills. The race is well organized and the volunteers go above and beyond for the participants. You will not be disappointed.

About 150 runners were in this year's event, so about 50 each for the half, full, and 10k. In other words, this is an intimate race in which you can chat with almost everyone in your event. Green River is a small town, and it hosts a festival on the same weekend, so there are events for after the run. The course is, as everyone has stated, tough. You start at very high elevation and run uphill for an elevation gain of 400 meters (1,200 feet), before turning around and coming back. I did the half, but my understanding is the full doesn't go much higher, since the course plateaus. If you want to do this one, being ready for the serious uphill work and elevation would be a good idea. Other than that, if you would like a small-town race with great medals and a scenic course, this is a sold option.

I read the previous years comments and thought, how tough could it be. It's tough. This is my 46th state and this is the hardest one I've done. The first 5-6 miles are a long and at times steep climb which leave you to run an out and back at 7300+ feet on a gravel road. Then you get to go back down. It is a small race (only 29 in the full this year) with water stops every two miles, which were occasionally self-serve. There are really no spectators with so few runners and a road that few travel without a race going on. The scenery is at times breathtaking or maybe it was just this flatlander struggling to breathe. If you choose this race, go with the spirit of accomplishing a challenge like few others.

The race is more of a side spectacle to the very charming local river and arts festival, so although there isn't lots of TLC at the packet pickup or finish line the mood was welcoming and it was fun to hang around the night before and on race day. I was a bit intimidated hearing about the heat, altitude, and grade of the race course, but I took it slow and enjoyed the gradual ascent to the rim while morning broke over the high desert. The aid stations, spaced every 2-3 miles, were well equipped and staffed. The views over the valley, occasional horse sightings, and some informational signs provided excuses to linger. The final stretch through town toward the finish was a bit confusing, since there were no course marshals and no runners to follow, but there were course markings discreetly painted on the streets. Loved the free shower available at the rec center a couple miles away. All in all, a memorable and beautiful race with small-town charm.

My fifty state pursuit had me running this Wyoming gem. The course is located on a high ridge just north of town. Spent the day before, walking and lunching there; there are scenic overlooks scattered along the way. Beautiful views of Green River and Rock Springs can be had, along with the wild horses. A very tough run it was but very enjoyable; it's you and this course, just the way a long distance runner dreams of. Great support by the volunteers and organizers.

Great race, but come with hill legs. Also come with water. Aid stations were spread every 2-3 miles, and always well stocked, but it was SO dry up there the exertions requires more. My clothing couldn't even accumulate sweat, it evaporated so fast. very well organized. If you need spectators, then you won't like this. There were sections of the race I didn't even see another human being. The scenery was breathtaking. Overall, it was a hard race in beautiful, unforgiving country. Definitely an adventure.

Yeah, five people broke four hours (two of those by a second). The prior year reviews are pretty accurate; this is a very tough course unless you can somehow train at altitude. The run up the mountain between mile two and four is more long than steep. But after that you spend the next 22 miles between 7,200 and 7,600 ft; at about nine times the elevation of Ohio, it was a little too much. It was also a sunny, above average temperature day. There is no shade on this course!!! A significant portion of the course was a wide trail road so you really have to be disciplined about the taper or youll run 26.9 like I did. The people were very nice and happy to chat up the out of towners; there was a small town festival going on which provided something to do at the packet pick-up and after the race. No crowd support during the race unless you count the aid stations (for this race, you count the aid stations). It was pretty though.

Coming from MN, was concerned about mountains and altitude. I can't say the course wasn't difficult, it was. Ran about 30min longer than my recent average, but if you take it one hill at a time, the way down is fun! My breathing dictated my pace on flatter portions, so I felt so very good the next morning. The people at the aid stations are great (I consider them to be the spectators, because otherwise there weren't any until the finish line)! I did carry a handheld water bottle that I was greatful to have because it's dry and windy and I needed small sips between 2mi intervals. This race was a great challenge on terrain I am not used to. I would recommend it to anyone who runs from within and enjoys scenary over loud crowds and tons of runners around you at all times.

I now have a true appreciation for 'high desert'. The race starts with the 10-K, half and marathoners together at Expedition Island. It goes two miles up to the mountains where it continues until the turn around. It is very small and there is much support from very friendly support volunteers and fellow runners. As advertised, there is NO SHADE. It got pretty hot (even with a 6:30 AM start) but the stations were well stocked with water, gator aid and snacks. The road was not closed but through the mountains there was no traffic. The course is predominately gravel with some stones. It will never be your PR but you will have a great source of satisfaction at the end. It is very convenient logistically. The dinner the night before was full of locals and very inexpensive for huge quantities of food. The volunteers and race director tried hard and were very accomodating. The locals were very welcoming. The wild horses were along the course and beautiful. For the most part, be ready to run alone and be ready for some steep up and down hills along this out and back course.

A great destination marathon. Spectacular scenery and unique wildlife experiences in a high desert environment. I saw 56 wild horses and 1 golden eagle while running. Good organization and very helpful and friendly people. Forget about finishing times and spectators and experience the joy of running in some of the prettiest country you'll ever see. Coming down the red rock canyon toward the end of the marathon alone in the middle of the dirt road was truly a spiritual experience.

Tough run - significant climb out of Green River - but the downhill was a fun way to finish. Pretty desolate with only ~ 50 marathoners, there was lots of time when you didn't even see other runners. (For one stretch, I only saw wild horses and no other runners.) Great, well stocked (water, gatorade, cookies, pretzels, m&ms, potato chips) aid stations every two miles. Night before was sort of a local fair . . . good live music. It's different than other night before deals since runners are only like .05% of the crowd so you don't have the feeling you're connecting with other runners - mostly just local families enjoying the local fair. The $20 shrimp dinner was OK . . . rather tasteless shrimp but it worked. The 2011 weather was nice (not to hot and minimal wind . . . that could be a very different story given the location and timing.) The medal is pretty cool . . . esp. considering it's such a small marathon. It was almost 5 hr drive to get to this run . . . but, I'm glad I did it.

This was an extremely challenging course; the air is very thin up there, which makes running difficult. It's a good thing because you can take your time and look at some of the most awesome canyons you every want to see. The shrimp dinner was great; it's a small race and there was a lot of camaraderie on the course. I'm seriously thinking about doing it again next year. I would probably get in a couple of days earlier so I could be more acclimated to the altitude. It's a great race.

The marathon was spectacular. It was the toughest marathon of my life, in the high desert, with altitude over 7,000 feet above sea level, 6 solid miles of climbing up a rocky terrain, 7 miles of rolling hills (still going up though), and finishing with 6 miles of downhill. Wind gusts on the way down provided no reprieve for my body going down; plus, it hurts the quads something fierce. This marathon is not for the faint of heart or those looking for a PR. If the high desert elevation doesn't get you, going uphill for 13 miles will. However, the tougher the challenge, the sweeter the reward and the bigger the sense of accomplishment you feel as you are crossing the finish line. Coming in first in your age group doesn't hurt either. I still cant get over that one. I finished 1 minute slower than my slowest (read: first) marathon, but I still finished in the top 18.5% - sweet! Overall, this was an excellent marathon that will surely not be forgotten amongst the plethora of marathons I've run. With breathtakingly beautiful open spaces and postcard-worthy vistas - amazing landscape of striking mountains, mesas, dunes, buttes, and lakes. The Run With the Horses Marathon beckons anyone who craves nature, serenity, and adventure in a quintessential wild, wild West setting!

Great organization. Very accommodating. Course was the toughest I've run and the time the worst (of 35 marathons). I liked Green River and the small-town feel. The festival was great - lots of local artists. Great medal and fine shirt. Did not like the dirt road - I had to watch where I was going. I actually saw 5 wild horses up front. I'd return.

All I can do is echo what has already been said in previous comments: this is one tough, unforgiving race. The entire first half of the race is a steady climb uphill although you are rewarded with a nice downhill run the entire second half. However, there were no signs to denote the route on the return and because there are not many runners to start with, you find yourself alone for much of this race, especially during the second half. I had to slow down and finally someone came along who was from there and knew the way back. If not for him, I wouldn't have made it back in a timely manner and that would have been very upsetting. The medals are really nice and colorful, with lovely carved horses in the middle to denote the race name. The medal also includes the name of the race and the city and state, which I thought was a nice touch. The race website is very detailed and informative - one of the best I've seen. Green River is remote and small; without the festival that takes place during the weekend of the race, you would be hard pressed to have anything to do. The Hampton Inn is very nice and the people there couldn't have been nicer, but you will have to rent a car to get around. The Hampton is a good 1.5 miles from the start and there is no public transportation so you will need a way to get around. The drive from Salt Lake City is pretty but kind of boring after a while and it is every bit of 3 hours. This race is not disappointing as long as you know up front that it is a tough course, the city is small, and there is no big expo or perks of a large race. However, it is rewarding and not a bad way to get Wyoming checked off your list.

The 2009 Run With The Horses Marathon was my 12th marathon, and it was certainly the most difficult. Just a couple months earlier, I had run the Deadwood Mickelson Trail Marathon in South Dakota, and everything that made that race difficult was amplified in Green River. The altitude was even higher, the hills were even steeper, and the crowd was even thinner. For someone who lives just a few feet above sea level and had barely ever stepped foot at 7000' altitude - much less tried to run a marathon up there - I knew this would be hard. The ascent from Mile 2 to about Mile 4.5 was really rough. I had to slow to a walk before Mile 4! I couldn't help but think, "Wow, I still have 22 miles to go!" However, those same couple of miles on the return near the end of the race were by far my fastest. (Basically I fell downhill for a couple of miles.) Thank goodness the course wasn't the opposite. I never would have made it up those hills if they were at the end of the race. The scenery was beautiful, but rather monotonous. And with crowd support non-existent, it made you feel very alone. The race director, staff, and volunteers were all very nice and helpful. Near the end of the race, I was tired and cranky and I think I cursed out one of the nice volunteers for their sadistic course. Sorry about that! The town of Green River doesn't really have much to offer. There was a festival that weekend, thank goodness. Without that, I have no idea how I would have passed time the rest of the weekend. Green River was a cute little town to visit, but if I spent more than a couple days there, I probably would've gone crazy. This may sound like a mixed review, but I really did enjoy the race and my relaxing weekend in Wyoming. This race is clearly not one to run if you want to go for a PR. I was just happy to avoid my slowest time. But if you want to face a challenge, meet some friendly people, see some beautiful scenery, have a peaceful weekend, and check Wyoming off your list, then the Run With The Horses Marathon is a great choice!

Yes, like a mini-Badwater, this course was everything promised. I ran the half marathon and was glad for it! We recommend the dinner the night before; folks there are informative and pleasant, and so were the fellow runners. The 6+-mile climb (around 6900') was rewarded with a nice downward return at a 4-6% grade; tough for trucks, but great for entrants. Hardware and amenities exceeded expectations; I was happy that aid stations were stocked with cold drinks every 2 miles, as stated on the site. The 6:30 a.m. start was on time, too. Sticking points are: logistics; the SLC Airport is difficult to navigate; and the 175-mile drive to GR is a stretch, too. This town is a well-kept secret, though, and rightly so; and its people reflect the toughness and fun of the course. Do it again? You betcha.

This race had it all: The challenge of a mountain, the heat, and the competition. I met the Marathon Maniacs and the speedy 180 Energy Runners at the Hampton Inn. The place to stay is the Hampton that sits at the two-mile mark. This is a small marathon, which means lots of pluses including the fact that you can leave 30 minutes before the race starts and find plenty of parking. Also, there were no lines for the bathrooms. It was a blast watching Chuck Engle (the MarathonGuide runner) overtake Jackson Johnson (the 180 Energy runner) and then hear all the stories at the Hampton Inn. I truly enjoyed getting to eat breakfast with those who came in in the top 5. Chuck had to make up a mile to get Jackson. At around mile 5ish, I saw a rattlesnake - I think it was dead. Bottom line: if you are looking for a tough marathon, on back mountain roads, then this one is for you!

The heat, altitude and hills kicked my butt. The sun was brutal and there was NO shade to be found. I should've worn stuff like they do at Badwater. That said, I must say that we had a wonderful time and the race folks were awesome. I'd also say that the people at the Hampton Inn were the best. They did way more than what we expected and offered even more. The two mile split is directly in front of the hotel and they gave me a bottle of water on the way by. We flew into Jackson to see some countryside, but Denver or Salt Lake would be better. Overall, we loved it. There were virtually NO cheering crowds - thus the single star for "spectators," but the race folks were out there with us the whole way. There were several Marathon Maniacs and Fifty Staters too. I'd probably still be out there were it not for them. God bless 'em all. We'd love to go back... if we ever recover from this one.

The marathon was run as part of the river festival, which provided some entertainment the night before the race. The organization was good. There was a good variety of options available at many of the aid stations, bananas, crackers, granola bars, etc. My favorite thing at the aid stations was that, as the race wore on, there was ice in the water and Gatorade. Perfect for the hot day. Also, there was not a race shirt, but rather a nice windbreaker that was embroidered, which was a nice change from other events I have done. I will not sugar coat it: The course was out-and-back, and it was the hardest I have ever run. After the race my GPS listed the total elevation gain for the entire race at 3,510 feet, and it starts at 6,000 feet. There are some nice views, but not much variation. If you can bring someone with you or find someone to run with, it helps the time pass. The medal was nice, but not my favorite. Overall, a small but good race.

The course for this race was a challenge - starting at a high altitude (6,000 feet) and then going up even farther (1,000 foot-climb) for the first half. Then it was sort of downhill in the second half. It was also a rather warm day on that hill! The views were pretty nice, and we could see a horse or two. The ground was mainly rocky, so that was another layer of difficulty! Along the course, there were a fair number of water stations. They probably could use a few more, as well as more potties! But the stations were pretty well stocked, and the people were nice. Packet pickup was easy - a few goodies were handed out from a small trailer. Pre-race was also a cinch - just drive to the start! And the post-race area was good, with lots of fruit, drinks, and snacks. I think a welcome addition would be some nuts, peanut butter and pretzels, but that is a personal preference for some protein and SALT after a hot race. (The only salt available was some chips!) Overall, the race director is pretty cool and helpful, and the course has a lot to offer.

Starting in town at 6,100 feet, and topping out around 7,500, the elevation was noticeable for a sea-leveler like me. It started with a relentless climb up the canyon from mile 2-4, and then it was mostly rolling hills (mostly up). Despite Rock Springs shattering its record by three degrees for August 22 (92), it was cool in the morning, with a 6:30 start. Once you break out on top of the plateau, there is no shade; but it was still early enough that most of us avoided the worst heat. Also, there was a welcome headwind after the turnaround. There were wild horses in the distance. For an "out and back," it felt like all new scenery coming back in. There was a little confusion with the course markings in town, with a few runners at the head making a wrong turn. There were lots of Maniacs and 50-Staters, with plenty of conversation as usual. There were plenty of munchies at the end.

This was a fun event. It is pretty small and low-key, but I like that sort of thing. My sister and I enjoyed the shrimp boil and the arts festival the night before. The course is a tough one, but I like a marathon with personality. This was the first year it started and ended at the same spot. That was nice to have the car right there at the finish to change clothes, but it also made for a significant climb from about mile 2 through 8. Twenty-two miles of this run were on dirt roads, which they watered down in the morning. I would encourage spectators not to drive on the dirt road during the race to keep the dust down. I loved the homemade awards, too. Green River is a little out of the way, but overall, I would recommend this race. :)

This was a great, low-key, laid-back marathon. The race organizers did a wonderful job, with outstanding communication and response to emails, questions, etc. Packet pick up couldn't have been easier. The volunteers were awesome and aid stations well stocked. The reason I gave "spectators" a 5 was for the volunteers. I didn't find any issues with course marking or mile markers. Actually, it would be hard to get off course. The course is on a dirt road that was a bit uneven, so those of us who shuffle along had to watch our step a bit more. Don't let the altitude or hills keep you away unless you are going for a PR. I live at sea level; however, the altitude was of little consequence other than slowing my pace a bit. That gave me a little more time to enjoy the course. The hills were a bit tough, but far better than a flat boring course through metropolis. The downhill at mile 22-25 was great and certainly welcome as the end of the race was in sight. I was about 25 - 30 minutes off my average time, but I wasn't in a hurry either. I don't think I have ever run a race where the participants were friendlier; this was a great group of people to run with and hang out with after the race. Overall, this is a great run for 50-state marathoners, given the opportunity I would run this one again.

This was the hardest marathon, out of 80, that I've run so far. If the overall elevation (all over 6000 ft) didn't get you, the climbing in the first 5 miles (700-feet gain) and the drop in the last three would do you in. Buses to the start were great. The occasional "rich" smell of sagebrush help to revive me, as did the cups of ice cold water dumped over my head, as I ran along the dirt gravel road. It had the same constant view of rocks, sagebrush, hills.

I knew I was going to have a hard time when my breathing became labored walking up the motel steps to get to my room. Sure enough, the marathon was a challenge for someone not living at altitude. However, knowing that going into the race minimized the pain of the run itself. For me, finishing the race was a source of great satisfaction. The stuff that happened after the race was incredibly fun. There was a beer fest, an antique car show, beautiful art exhibits, and music for everyone. In a small community such as this, people still come up and talk to you. I was alone and it provided a great source of pleasure to me. There were volunteers everywhere and all my questions were answered. I would highly recommend this race to anyone.

This was an interesting marathon and it was a lot tougher than the elevation profile suggests. The first 13 miles were roller-coaster type hills, with each successive hill higher than the one before. You'd crest one hill, and look up to the next one. (I totally missed the drop to 7,300 feet at mile 9, and it looks pretty significant on the map.) Then there was a flat spot from mile 11 to 12. The sun crested the eastern horizon right after the race started, and was almost immediately obscured by the clouds - a good thing. This made the uphill climb in the first half more bearable, with no solar radiation heating up the runners. The sun came back out about 2 hours, 45 minutes into the race (my mid-point time), and was pretty much with us the rest of the way. The uphill portions were not as steep in the third quarter of the race. About mile 19, the grade started back down, and then at 21.5, the course took a steep turn downward, flattening out at mile 24.5, passing under Interstate 80. Then, down community streets - with excellent law enforcement support - to the finish line near the bridge to Expedition Island. One interesting thing happened about 1/4 of the way through the race: It started to rain, and while not enough to make mud, it quickly cooled us off, then a strong blast of hot, furnace-like air came from the south and reminded us that we were in the desert in the summertime. Then it was gone. The aid stations were every two miles, starting at M.P. 2, all the way up to 26. They all had PowerAde and water; some had Pringle chips, M&Ms, granola-type bars, and the like. The aid station workers were the only fan support that we had. There were frequent patrols of marathon officials and/or medical EMT-type folks on ATVs ensuring runner safety. The race was small - maybe 100 marathoners - and people got really spread out early in the race. I ran most of the race alone, but met up with another Marathon Maniac runner about mile 23.5 and finished the race with her. Of course, it was high desert, and territory for roaming wild horses with desert vegetation covering the landscape. Others reported horses coming up to the road, and there were plenty of road apples indicating the presence of horses, but I did not see one horse. Having run the ET Midnight Marathon last week and turned in a poor performance, I was told that this race would be easier. Personally, I thought that this race was tougher than ET, and I think I did better today because I was more rested and nourished for this marathon (minor details, as they say). I have a couple of comments about the organization for this race: The Chamber of Commerce puts on this race, and the Green River Runners Club does much of the work. It seemed to work out okay, as far as getting everything done, but some of the folks doing the work seemed less than thrilled with the COC. Personally, my application and check got lost, so I was not on the list at packet pickup. I had no receipt or canceled check to show, so I was at their mercy. A registration official named Terry quickly had me fill out another application, issued me a packet, T-shirt, and dinner tickets, and said we'll sort it out later. It was supposedly a COC error, and the lost application showed up in a COC file only minutes later. I still gave them 5 stars for organization because they were right on top of the situation and made the effort to ensure continuity in the process. It might have been less favorable if it had it been a huge race. Also, Race Director Ellen was accessible to the runners - both during registration, and after the race. That was really cool. And she was there at the finish line cheering the runners, taking pictures, and chatting with folks. The medal was a bright brass medallion with three horses going down the middle, with a runner on the left and the right. The post-race food was bananas, apples, bagels, watermelon (a great choice!), M&Ms, chips, Jolly Ranchers, granola-type bars, soda, and water. Thank you to Ellen, her staff, and volunteers for another great marathon event! And if you are interested in adopting a wild horse, you can probably find one in Sweetwater County, Wyoming to bring home with you.

Great people in Green River, and the race organizers are very laid back - a no-hassle marathon! Nothing fancy, but well set up for the remote terrain, from the bus ride to the start to the finish line with no "finish" banner. (First one I've done without a banner, but that's not a big deal.) There could have been more port-o-jons at the start, and for those of us who lost sight of the runners ahead, the course markings were lacking in a few places; thus, there was a bit of confusion on the route. A lot of hills, and 3 miles of a steep decline from miles 20-23. Don't plan on a PR or BQ at this one. Great medal and unique finisher's awards made of horseshoes! No horses this year, though.

This was a great race. The repeated hills and the climb to 7500 feet were challenging. Coming from 2000 feet, my breathing didn't set into a rhythm until about mile six. The temperature and the breeze/wind made the conditions ideal, despite having no cloud cover. Running on about 24 miles of dirt road made this a nice change from other marathons. I highly recommend this race. It's a great small race but is probably going to grow very fast!

This was my 37th marathon and it is also one of the best organized. The race director was very responsive to questions (yeah, I started asking questions months in advance) and great with follow up. This is definitely the toughest marathon I have done to date but the scenery more than made up for it. The vistas were gorgeous and the horses were amazing, definitely worth the lack of oxygen at that altitude (I live at 1,200 feet above sea level). The aid stations were about 2 miles apart and the volunteers were incredibly supportive. Two of the water stops had run out of water and just as I was panicking along came the race director with jugs of water, my bottle was replenished and I was on my way. Did I mention how wonderful the volunteers were? They were the only spectators along the course, except the wild horses. If you need lots of spectators, this isn't the race for you. But if you want a well organized, friendly, runner-oriented race, I encourage you to run this one. However, due to the altitude and the steepness of the hills, I wouldn't recommend it if you plan on a fast finishing time. My only complaint: more porta-potties are needed at the start, as two weren't enough. I finally made it to the front of the line, when the race started. Nothing like a little panic to get you started up the hills. The race organization was great, packet pick-up was incredibly easy, and the pre-race shrimp dinner was incredible. And tons of food at the finish for us back-of-the-packers, something we aren't used to having. Also being a back-of-the-packer, they had run out of medals when I finished. Not to worry - a medal would be mailed to me. True to their word, 10 days later my medal arrived in the mail. I agree this race won't stay small for long!

I've completed 185 marathons/ultras and this makes my top 10 for uniqueness. Might also make my top 10 in degree of difficulty. To give you some idea of that: I ran a 4:13 and yet was able to recover and run a 3:54 at the Pocatello, Idaho Marathon seven days later. Those two finishing times are unremarkable, but at 59 years-old I think they show that the Green River marathon is fairly tough, but also forgiving on your body because of the dirt road surface. Green River was pretty much up and down for the first 20-plus miles and then you pound your quads a little downhill from about miles 21 to 24. There were three or four vehicles that created some dust, but I didn't find that to be a major problem. The road surface certainly was easier on your legs than most marathons. The race was very well organized and the marathon officials, volunteers and Green River folks were friendly folks. I had never loaded on shrimp before a race before, but the shrimp boil was quite a feast. They also provided a pasta dish and garlic bread for the carbs. A lot of marathons for me are one-timers. I'd go back to this one.

Some of the previous comments had me a little concerned; however, it was not as bad as they made it sound. The start was a little tough to us flat-landers due to the elevation, but it turned out to be a perfect day (once the immediate incline was over and the breathing returned to normal). The hills were there but nothing extreme, except for the steep decline at the end. Water stops were as promised even though they were off of the beaten path. The worst part was dust thrown up by a few drivers who didn't slow down when passing the runners. I skipped the shrimp boil due to the long line but the portions they were handing out were fair. I did partake of the buffalo and beer on race day. The festival was small but nice (dog show, local artists with impressive works, etc.). I even won a horse-shoe for being fastest in my age group (got to love the small races). It won't stay small for long since it was a good time with great views and friendly people.

My friends and I took a 1 week road trip from Wisconsin to Green River. We camped each night or just slept in my van. Each morning we'd play a round or two of disc gold and hit as many hot springs as possible. The Green River course was difficult but very beautiful. I enjoyed it very much because of the challenge. Getting home was not fun. As soon as we finished racing we drove 20 hours straight back to Wisconsin and went back to work. Ouch.

I love running the smaller races because I can normally do better in my age group but this race was an eyeopener. By mile 2 I was taking walk breaks and it didn't get any faster as the course got longer. It was very pretty and the weather we had was just about perfect. There was an aid/water station every 2 miles for the entire course so I got to talk to a lot of folks at the stops. The full marathon runners did get to see a small herd of horses early on the race but the 1/2 runners saw 2 or 3 herds. The course was along the ridge line, so it is HIGH - I think from 6300 ft. to 7500 ft. Being a flatlander from Chicago, where it is only about 30 feet above sea level, the altitude was brutal. I had a great time even though my time was about 30 minutes off of what I normally run. We passed on the pasta shrimp feed on Fri. night but did go to the buffalo BBQ on Sat. It was very good. The race director was great and everyone connected with the race was helpful and friendly. It is not what I would consider a Boston qualifying race but if you run close to a BQ time here, any low-level race would be a piece of cake. This is a race to take easy and enjoy.

This race was definitely worth the trip. I had considered one of the flatter WY races but was encouraged to run this one "while my knees were still young," and I'm glad I did. I didn't expect a PR and didn't have one, but the course was beautiful and the volunteers fantastic - plus horses! Aid stations every 2 miles. Cool in the a.m. and nice and warm at the finish. The race was well organized and small enough to be personal - we got emailed driving directions due to a road closure and a list of all items left along the course that they'll mail out - can't say I've experienced that before!

I just moved to Ogden, and scheduled this marathon because of that. Unfortunately, I was not as well trained as I could or should have been. So, with that, a warning: Do not run this marathon if you're not ready for it. At a 7,500-foot starting elevation you will need all the aerobic capacity you can muster. I thought that once we climbed up onto the plateau west of Rock Springs, the going would be flat to gently rolling hills. The hills were a little more than gentle. And, I was counting on the precipitous decline after mile 20 - forget it, my legs were so trashed at that point that even gravity seemed to hate me. Still, it's a beautiful course. We did see a large herd of wild horses in the distance at about mile 3. That was spectacular - something about the tightly packed herd, the energy of the group, and the dust they were throwing into the air as they galloped across the prairie was truly magnificent. The organization of the race is very good for a small marathon (113, I believe, finished the race). No details were missed as far as I could tell. Even better, though, were the weekend activities surrounding the river festival. Don't miss the shrimp boil, the duck race, or the 24-hour sculpting contest (that really was pretty incredible). I only wish I could have stayed through Sunday to enjoy the other scheduled events. It's definitely a weekend that Green River does well - worth the trip!