Top of Utah Marathon - Race Reviews

I would highly recommend this marathon. The first 14 miles are scenic as you run down the canyon and the remainder is through some local communities which gives you a good mix of sites. The marathon is very well organized from pre-to-post race events. Everyone I encountered was extremely friendly and helpful. The awards are Awesome and in 2016 they gave out to the top 5 finishers in each category. The warming tent at the beginning of the marathon was a nice touch and the aid stations were well organized throughout the course. There was not a lot of spectators on the course but considering you are bused to the start line and the road is closed for the first several miles, it makes sense and the course itself makes up for the lack of spectators as you take in the views.

The race states 14 miles of gradual downhill and while it isn't steep, this amount of downhill WILL take a toll on your quads if you do not do proper training. I can't emphasize this enough as I went in not prepared for this. The last 8 miles you will experience some moderate rolling hills. Nothing intense, but if your quads are shot from the downhill then you will feel it on these small inclines. Run your tangents wisely as there are a lot of turns in this race. This was a great race and it went smoothly, and the tent at top is AMAZING. Perfect weather. Despite my quads giving out at mile 16 - I was able to get a PR and BQ.

I tend to be a fan of smaller marathons, and I signed up for this one, as my running friends in Salt Lake City told me it was the second best marathon in Utah after St. George. This was my eighth marathon. Registration: The race did not fill up quickly, and I was able to register just three weeks prior to the race date. Expo: The expo was very limited but not surprising given the small number of runners. It was associated with a pasta dinner, but I ate elsewhere so can't comment on the dinner. Shuttles: I had no trouble finding parking close to the shuttle loading location. Things were smooth and on time. Start line: I had to wait a while in the cold for the port-a-potty but then was able to get warmed up in the heated tent. It is much colder at the starting location because of the elevation, so I was glad I was prepared with some extra layers. Water and Gatorade were available, and I tossed my bag into the gear check a few minutes before the gun went off. The race start was pretty much on time. Course: The website touts the spectacular fall views in the Blacksmith Fork Canyon and a fast course. It was nice scenery, but it didn't blow me away. I did have a PR, though. The first 14 miles are a gentle and easy downhill through the canyon, and then the second half is much less scenic and flat. I was able to do a long downhill training run, which is something I would recommend to others planning to run it so that your quads don't get shredded in the first half. Spectators aren't allowed in the canyon, but I didn't mind the lack of people cheering and enjoyed the peaceful and uncrowded road. It got quite sunny and hot in the second half, but I think that is normal for the weather in Logan at this time of year. Aid stations had water and Gatorade; some had fruit and Gu. All were well stocked and organized. Pacers: There were several pacers for different finish times. My biggest complaint about the race was about the 3:55 pacer I tried to stick with. I realize individuals usually volunteer to be a pacer, which is a nice service, but the 3:55 pacer was running his own race. I couldn't keep up with him after the first 3 miles, and I knew he was going way too fast. Somewhere around mile 20, I passed a guy who had stayed with the pacer much longer but dropped off when the 3:55 pacer was starting to pass the 3:45 pacer. Apparently the pacer slowed down at some point. At mile 25, I passed the pacer and only one other runner who managed to stick with him and finished in 3:54. I don't know what kind of strategy the pacer used to run the race, but clearly it didn't work for me. Finish line: It was a fairly low key finish area with chocolate milk, goldfish crackers, fruit, and ice cream sandwiches. The line for the free massages was way too long to wait. There was some nice live music, but I didn't stick around for too long. Bling: The long-sleeved tech shirt is a great color and nice design. I'm not really into medals, so I can't comment much. It had a moose, which seems to be a symbol of the race. Overall: This is a smaller, well-organized race that I would definitely recommend to others.

As I was descending Blacksmith Fork Canyon with my daughter and her friend (who were both running their first marathons), I wondered a loud, 'Why don't more people run this marathon?' A near-full moon guided us down the beautiful canyon lined with colorful fall trees. With the gradual downhill and the spectacular views, my daughter and friend were amazed at how fast the miles were clicking by. Once out of the canyon our support/cheer team of friends and family found it very easy to drive to and cheer us on at seven places between there and the finish or once every 2-3 miles! That was a huge lift for my running companions. The course was well stocked with Gatorade, GU, water, bananas, oranges, etc. The volunteers were extra friendly and helpful. I know there are many more marathon in Utah but this has to rank at the very top as one of the best; and not just in Utah but the USA. Yes, they could have a more eye-popping website and a bigger expo but is that really why we run marathons? If you want to run a marathon with a breath taking, spectator friendly, well supported course, this is the one!

This is a fast course, coming down through scenic canyon roads. Prepare for high altitude running, and the possibility of snow or rain. Even though unprepared for snow, in 2,000 I ran a PR (2:59:23), but I would have loved a shell jacket and warm gloves!

I chose this race for the course, but I was most impressed with the organization. From the heated pre-race waiting tent to the design of the course to minimize uphills, this medium-sized race was organized as well as any of the large mega-races. I highly recommend this race to others. The course is scenic, fast and (at least in 2012) the weather is cool.

I just ran this marathon and it was a wonderful experience. The organization was especially impeccable. At the start line, they had set up 2 huge heated tents with very strong burners which allowed the runner to relax and stay warm until just before the race. I was even able to completely lay down, close my eyes and relax close to the burner until I heard the gun. What I also loved is the fact that they had no loud music or stupid speaker trying to be funny at 5am at the starting line. You could stay relaxed to focus on your race, in the tent, in the dark (loved that it was not lit) until the very last second. Bravo organizers this is my very best marathon pre-race staging experience. The course was beautiful, running down the canyons with no cars ( cars not allowed at the time of the marathon). The temperature and weather were perfect, all the turns were well indicated with staff at all the strategic points, Seating provided for cheering at the finish line. Well, what else can you ask in a marathon? Of course, this is not a big city marathon, so don't expect big crowds. But the experience you get is outstanding. Beautiful country side canyon road, the air is pure, very fast course (I PR'ed and BQ'ed). Nice!! I have run 9 marathons and this is my favorite so far.

The volunteers and race organizers put on a top-notch event. Pack pick-up was easy and the pasta dinner delicious and good value. We stayed at the Springhill Suites, where the pasta dinner and packet pick up also occured which made everything easy. The start at the top of the canyon at sunrise was gorgeous, and the 14 mile run down through the canyon gave me a lot of opportunity to look around and enjoy the scenery. After that, the course winds through suburbs and downtown Logan which isn't as interesting, but the mountains are always in the background. There aren't a lot of spectators and they weren't particularly loud or encouraging. I loved being able to soak my feet in ice-cold water at the finish! Everyone was friendly and helpful, and we thoroughly enjoyed visiting this part of the country.

The Top Of Utah Marathon was my 20th marathon (in 20 different states) on my way towards completing a marathon in all 50 states. The race was quite enjoyable. As noted by others, the first 14 miles or so were all downhill, and the remainder was flat. I was hoping that the downhill aspect would give me a new PR, but I couldn't do it. Maybe the downhills shredded my quads too much, or maybe living at sea level made the mile-high altitude too much for me. Nonetheless, the scenery was beautiful, especially during the first half down thru the canyon. There's nothing like that in New Jersey! There were almost no spectators in the first half (non-runners weren't allowed to enter the narrow canyon road), but there were a number of spectators in town, and they were all quite friendly. The streets certainly weren't jampacked like you'd see in a big city race, but that's to be expected for a small town. And the race was very well organized. The town of Logan wasn't the most thrilling place to spend a weekend, but maybe I just think that because I'm an East Coast city slicker. Overall, I really enjoyed the race, and I was happy to run this one to check Utah off my list.

I am 16 and just did the 2011 Marathon It was my first martahon. It was a blast, although a bit wet. I would recommend this course to others, and hope to race it next year.

Beautiful course. Great organization. Lots of spectators at 2nd half. I have run this race 5 times. For me, a welcome part of the race is that I can pick up my race packet on race day morning. I didn't have to make an unnecessary trip as other Utah marathons force me to do.

Highly recommended!! Normally I'm not a fan of 'point-to-point' courses but this is the exception. Must do it!! Pros: + First 14 downhill and scenic + Very well organized - lots of aid stations - well stocked and staffed + enthuasistic volunteers + nice that the half-marathoners were on a separate date - kept the number of participants down and make a better experience for the marathoners (sorry 1/2ers) + great shirt + great food after race - did a great job of making sure only the runners got to the food - yum chocolate milk too Items that could be changed: - took bus from hotel to finish area (where buses took you to the top); however, buses leaving from the finish after the race were tough to find and there was really no signage or help to know when and if the next bus would show up - wish the expo would be open earlier than 5pm on Friday

I have run the TOU half marathon twice before, and loved the course so much that I decided to do the full this year. This is a PERFECT course... gradual downhill for the first 16 miles, then flattening out with a few rollers for the last 10 miles. There is GREAT volunteer support. This year, there was wind, rain, and even hail... and the volunteers were still there with smiles on their faces! The one possible downside is the fact that there are no spectators for the first half of the race because the canyon is closed, but the spectators really come out in full force for the last 10 or so miles. Amazing fall scenery, great race shirt, perfect fast course, and a fabulous medal. Don't miss this race!

I love my shirt!! I wear it to all of my fall/winter races! My husband can always easily find me! Don't change the bright colors! I'll be back this year to run it again! I loved the course, the volunteers and the Medal!

pros: 1) excellent course 2) great support, lots of volunteers 3) plenty of aid stations and JJohns 4) chip-inside-bib 5) ALL YOU CAN EAT TREATS & DRINKS in the finishers section at the end. 6) lots of trophy awards 3-deep in every category. Cons: (director wrote me back apologizing saying he'll work on fixing these for next yr) 1) UGLY shirt. Not only long sleeve but florescent yellow. Give us something we can be proud to wear in public!! 2) I was in the middle of the pack and yet they had already ran out of the promised GU at the two GU aid stations. Luckily I had my own for backup. 3) The cool new promoted feature of 'System-will-auto-text-your-fav-5-when-you-cross-13-22-and-finish-line' did not work. At least it did not work for mile 13 & 22. My fav 5 only got text for my finish line. I confirmed there were problems with the vendor's system and that it did not work as planned. Bummer. 4) Ugly medal that 'has to have a moose on it somewhere for tradition'. Fine, but at least make it a cool looking moose on the mountainside in the background and not a huge Bullwinkle in running shoes which represents finishers as cartoon goofballs. Overall = great race, great people, treated like king & queens. Definitely recommend to all destination marathoners & I'll do it again someday.

I loved running this marathon. I ran it three times. It was also my first. I ran it when I was 10 years-old, and loved it so much that I came back for two more years. This course was scenic, the race was well organized, the fans were great, and it was well worth it.

This was my first marathon, though I have done other organized races in the past. I have to say that the organization of this is top notch. So well done, from the expo, to the registration, to the end - it was great. A minor con to it was the end of the course. It seemed to wind around a lot through residential areas, and just seemed monotonous. The first half can't be beat as you are able to fly down the beautiful canyon with the mountains and fall colors. I loved the heated tents at the top. The aid stations were well placed; however, for slower runners like me, most of the GU and fruit was gone by the time I got there, and same with the end of the race - the Fat Boy sandwiches were gone by they as well. I was disappointed in how expensive the pictures were that we were emailed about a few days later - $50 for a single 8x10? Have a spectator take some good shots for you. I would definitely do this again. The only things I would personally do differently is book a hotel earlier and do some hill training; the downhill killed my quads and knees. Otherwise, great event and race. Great memory for my first, and hopefully not last marathon!

Course: The first half is running marathons at its absolute very best during the fall. There are views and the sounds of a beautiful canyon, stream, small lake and mountains. After 14 miles, you exit the canyon and run another 4 miles on straight roads through a peaceful setting with shade trees. The next 8 miles have an amazing number of twists and turns through residential areas, downtown and the finish at the park. Although the turns are many, they are all painted and well marked. They were also staffed with at least one volunteer. Volunteers: Committed, enthusiastic and helpful. Could not do it without them. A huge "thank you" for getting up early on a cold morning and making this race possible. Organization: Attention to many, many details made the organization of this marathon far above the norm. They truly understand and are sensitive to what participants need. Suggestions (NOT criticisms): 1) The warming tent was extremely helpful before the start, but too small for all runners to really be able to enter. Consider making it a little bit larger. 2) It would be nice if there was any way to take a few of the turns out of the course between miles 18-25 and still be allowed to have this race on a Saturday morning. Nevertheless, I loved the course overall and the finish at the park where there were lots of shade trees and room to recover. 3) Even though we successfully tested the system exactly as we were instructed prior to the race, my family did not get the advertised text messages from miles 13 and 20 - only a text message when I finished (which they saw). 4) Different T-shirt color next year. Get rid of the neon yellow and neon orange from the past. I saw many people at the packet pickup/expo holding up the shirt and laughing at it, while making comments about the neon yellow. I haven't worn it yet and probably won't. 5) Finisher medal. Well designed, no advertising and very much appreciated. 6) Thank you for the extra aid stations for the final miles. Very well thought out with runners in mind, and I am very grateful. This is a "five-star marathon" without any hesitation. It should be sold out in the future. A huge "thank you" to all who made this marathon possible.

A very well done and well organized marathon! The first part of the race runs through a canyon, and it is beautiful! Afterward, the race wanders through Logan and maybe another little town. The race was well marked and well supported. There were porta-potties at every mile so I never saw a line waiting for a porta-potty! The volunteers and the police were very helpful and supportive. There were ample hotels near the finish. I would recommend this race!

Often times one negative will outweigh the many positives of any marathon... but the thing is, there is not a single negative to report! From early online registration to the post-race recovery area, it was all good. Early online registration was reasonably priced and the registration process was very simple. If you are used to shelling out at least$100, registration for this marathon was a welcome relief. The marathon expo and pre-race pasta party were at the Marriot Springhill Suites hotel where I stayed, so I did not have to drive all over town to get from event to event. And by the way, there was no price gouging at the hotel. I paid $105 per night for a very nice room. The expo was medium-sized and did not swarm with runners. There was enough space in the room to successfully maneuver from booth to booth. Most of the vendors were smaller, local types, and there were even some interesting and unusual products available. If you are used to seeing the same vendors selling the same products, this was a refreshing change from the norm. Picking up our race numbers and long-sleeved t-shirts was very simple. The lines moved quickly and the volunteers were very friendly and helpful. The timing chip was embedded in the race number so there was nothing to attach to our running shoes. The long-sleeved t-shirt was a bright yellow. This was the first time that I had ever attended a pre-race pasta party and I am glad that I did. The price was reasonable and the food was good. There were two different types of pasta and a two different types of sauces available. Neither of the sauces were overly spicy or seasoned. Salad, bread, drinks and goodies were also available. There was a spin-the-wheel-for-a-prize game, in which all participants were allowed one spin, and everyone was a winner. The prizes were quite nice... not lame, as some might expect. On the morning of the race, there was a bus that stopped at several hotels in town to transport the runners to the finish line. Since the race was a point-to-point, there was bus transportation from the finish line to the starting line. The drive to the starting line took about 40 minutes. The bus dropped us off in front of the porta-potties, which were numerous and available. An hour before the start, the temperature was about 40 degrees. A heated tent area was available for the runners to stay warm. About 10 minutes before the start, the runners began to line up in the starting area. Drop bags were available and a bus transported the bags to the finish line where they would be waiting for us later. For the most part, runners lined up according to the honor system and there were no walkers, baby stroller pushers or Team-In-Training participants where they did not belong. Unlike so many other events, there was no half-marathon... this was strictly a marathon. There were about 2,000 runners lined up and the race began on time. The course was beautiful. It was so refreshing to be running on a closed road down a canyon with nothing but nature and other runners. Overall, the course would drop about 1,000 feet from start to finish, but the downhill was very gradual and I cannot recall any steep downhills. The morning air was crisp, clean and cool as we ran on a windy road next to a stream. For the first 20 miles or so, there were water/sports drink stations every two miles. After that, they were at each mile. In addition, there were porta-potties at each station. Finally, for at least the first 10 miles or so, there were drop-boxes in case runners wanted to toss in gloves or sweatshirts as they warmed up during the marathon and no longer needed the clothing. The boxes were clearly marked so that runners could retrieve their discarded clothing at the finish line. The aid stations were well-staffed and organized. After about 14 miles, the course turned off into a rural area and the roads were no longer closed. Spectators became commonplace and they cheered loudly. As we came closer to the city, there were more spectators and the cheering got louder. Traffic was controlled quite well, and even though we were running through various small towns, one did not feel as if they were running in an urban marathon. Throughout the marathon, there was a small-town feeling. As we made a final turn onto the straightaway, spectators lined the course and the cheering was intense. An announcer called our names and home towns as we approached the finish line. After crossing the finish line, we were awarded a nice finisher's medal and our picture was taken. We then moved into the recovery area where water, sports drinks and goodies were made available. In this age of for-profit marathons where large fields and high entry fees are the norm, the Top of Utah Marathon was a refreshing, rewarding event. It is certainly an event that each marathoner should experience at least once.

The first 14 miles are run down Blacksmith Fork Canyon in the Cache Mountains - spectacular vistas and not-to-be-missed scenery. The road is closed to traffic and descends at an easy 1 to 2% grade. In the cool, dry mountain air, racing doesn't get much better than this. The remaining 12 miles of the course are more ordinary, with some flat stretches, some hills, and lots of twists and turns in the final miles before a very nice finish chute into Merlin Olsen Park in downtown Logan, UT. The Park was very nice - a pleasant setting to recover from the race with lots of grass and room to stretch out in. Race organization was superb, with lots of attention to small details; a warming tent at the start, glow sticks from the porta-johns to the starting line, well-stocked and frequent water stops, etc. Volunteers were friendly and enthusiastic. My only minor complaint was that, with all of the turns in the course over the last 8 miles, there were a few without cones or course marshals. These turns were marked with spray-painting on the road, but in at least two cases, I felt it would have been easy to miss them. Highly recommended race for anyone looking for a fast, scenic, early fall race with great organization and runner support.

This was a wonderful race to run for my first marathon. The scenery was spectacular. Also, the water and aid stations were wonderfully placed and stocked great. There were plenty of spectators along the route. My only wish is that there would have been more cheering from them. Overall, this was wonderful event and I would recommend it to anyone.

Good race and course management. Course turns were well-marked by arrow and moose outlines. The last 6 miles had several turns. Effective traffic control on roads and at intersections for runners' safety. The abundant fluids, at closely spaced aid stations staffed by enthusiastic volunteers, were greatly appreciated as the day heated up. Finish line announcer did a professional job with vital stats. I couldn't find the food court nor was I directed there by volunteers, but I was handed a cup of water at the finish. The results were posted expediently. There was a ceremony and wooden moose carvings awarded 5 deep for age divisions. Prize money and moose statues were awarded to the top 5 men and women finishers. The $14 pasta meal was basic chow. A band played and some runners got a chance to spin a wheel for prizes. The expo was not a big deal. The gender specific lime green shirt is very vivid. The moose-inspired finishers' medal was a whimsical touch. My major complaint pertained to all of the bicycles on the course after mile 14. Allowing bicyclists to ride alongside runners is disruptive and hazardous.

Here are the things I really liked about this marathon: The course was nice; the first half was downhill and scenic, with nearly no traffic, and the second half was flat. It was really nice to have bathrooms every mile and aid stations every mile on the second half. When we arrived at the starting line it was early and freezing; amazingly there was a huge heated tent that we could wait in so we didn't have to freeze for an hour. Here's what I didn't like as much: The shirts were ugly, tennis ball-yellow; great visibility, but not a good color for everyday wear. The race bags had nothing in them but a couple of ads - no samples or anything. The road was not blocked as advertised, so there were cars coming down the canyon, and in town there were many spots where there was traffic in all lanes and we had to run basically in the gutters. It felt kind of dangerous. Overall, though, I thought that just the level of support (e.g. frequency of bathrooms and aid stations) made for a really good run. I will probably do this marathon again next year.

Make sure to bring a coat to the top.

Top of Utah is the first marathon I've run twice. There's just too many good things about the event to resist, including the impeccable organization, the beautiful scenery, the terrific volunteer and aid station support and the fun finish line atmosphere. The bright orange tech shirt is one of my new favorites; if I'm going to run a marathon, I may as well brag about it with gusto! The medal, on the other hand, was rather disappointing. With such a classy-looking shirt, the cartoony medal just seemed odd and out of place. While I love this event, I don't think I'll run it again unless it's just for fun. The twists and turns of the last 10K wreak havoc on my momentum coming out of the canyon. When there are endless corners to turn as the minutes tick by, it tends to become frustrating and disheartening. Despite my few complaints, this is definitely a top-notch event that every marathoner in the nation should experience at least once!

Great value! I can't think of a single major flaw in the organization of this marathon. Minor Cons: - The text messaging of my times to my friend (available on the official website) didn't work. - Some complained about all of the turns later in the race, but it makes have the start and end locations at the best possible choice work. - If you're not a morning person, beware; you have to get up early to catch the bus (no worse than big marathons), but that makes closing the road and the start up the canyon at Hardware Ranch possible. Pros: - Start at Hardware Ranch (best view of stars I've seen in a long time). - Course: beautiful run through the canyon, with fall colors. (But downhill, so my quads were sore for days.) - Organization was great, with warming tents at start, efficient planning (with buses to the start line), well stocked aid stations, and a nice and well stocked recovery area for runners at finish. - Volunteers were friendly and helpful. - It's a good value; you get a long-sleeve tech shirt and unique medal, as well as good snacks at end. Low price if you sign up early. - Nice size - you're never overwhelmed with the crowd, but never isolated either. - It's a Saturday race, so it's nice to have an extra day to recover before work.

This is one of my favorite races. The organization is flawless, the course is beautiful, and volunteers are great. There are no spectators coming down the canyon, but that's okay. The scenery is enough. The spectators at the bottom of the canyon were the best, cheering loudly for everyone. There were plenty of aid stations, and they were all well-stocked. I really like the medal and shirt this year too. Be sure to include downhill runs in your training; although the canyon isn't steep downhill, running downhill for almost 15 miles can do a number on your quads. Great race!

This marathon is outstanding for a number of reasons (scenery, course, etc), but primarily because of its superb organization. From packet pickup to bus loading, to bag retrieval at the end, everything was perfect. I have run this marathon 3 times, and plan to be back for more.

This was my first marathon. I was disappointed in my time, but that just means I will be back. The first 18 miles are great! I loved coming down the canyon. However, there is no rhyme or reason to the zig-zagging route for the next few miles. It would be nice to have the course re-done so that it is a little more of a straight shot. The volunteers were absolutely wonderful and there was plenty of Gatorade, oranges, bananas, water and GU at the aid stations. I really enjoyed this marathon and hope to come back next year and improve my time.

This was only my second marathon, but running it was sheer joy! The organization was great, the rest stops were well stocked, and the canyon was beautiful! The people of Logan were awesome to come out in such great numbers to cheer us once in town. Thanks for a great experience!

Excellent organization - kudos to the race director and staff of volunteers for how they handled this event. I stepped out of the shuttle bus at the start, and the stars were amazing! The run down the canyon was awesome - with the beautiful mountains, fall leaves, and river following along the course, it was a beautiful run. The downhill really makes for some fast running - there are some hills near the end, but for me it was a welcome break even though I could not run the same pace (but probably could not anyway by that time). There was plenty of course support. I'm glad there were no spectators in the canyon - I really didn't need them at that point - but plenty met us when we exited the canyon, and there were folks out in the neighborhoods cheering us on the rest of the way. Logan is a beautiful city, and a great location for side trips too.

I just ran the TOU Marathon and had a fantastic time. This was my third marathon and I would do this one again. I did not rate the course 5 stars only because there was so many turns on the last miles of the race that it tended to take the momentum out of the run, and coming down the canyon we kept getting scooted over for traffic to get through because a permit was not obtained to have the road closed. Otherwise I would give this course a 4.9. The canyon run was breathtaking (no pun intended). Even after getting out of the canyon, there was still quite a fair amount of downhill running. I love that the top five in each age group received a moose trophy. Whoever made the trophies, kudos to you. I wish the shirts were as cool as the ones I saw others wearing from the years before - the moose logo just seemed to be missing this year.

Wow! What a great marathon - deserving of all of the praise by other posters. I do have a few minor complaints (see below), but I should start with the positives since they far outweigh the negatives. First, the course is breathtaking (figuratively speaking, although that might be literal for some runners coming from sea level). It's also quite fast. The first half is downhill, but the key is that it's all a very gentle grade so your legs don't get too beat up. The second half is almost pancake-flat. I wasn't as bothered by the twists and turns at the end as some other posters, but I suppose the course would be even faster with a straight shot. The organization is also superb. I wish other cold-weather marathons with a crack-of-dawn start would put up a warming tent with propane heaters. It was really nice. The glow sticks and bottles of hand sanitizer around the portable toilets were also great. And as others have noted, the large runners-only area at the finish is an excellent idea. Post-race food was good (especially the ice cream) and I enjoyed the live music. I was surprised at how many fans there were on the second half of the course, given that Logan is a fairly small college town. Not the most vocal, but still pretty good support. The volunteers at the aid stations (which were all well stocked and well organized) were phenomenal. As for my admittedly minor gripes: 1. There were only two portable toilets at the bus-loading area. Not NEARLY enough. 2. Another poster wondered why so many other runners were raving about the medals and I fully agree - the cartoon moose is very cheesy. Why not go with the moose silhouette printed on the T-shirt instead? 3. And speaking of the shirts, the quality is very nice, but construction-cone orange? That's probably the LAST color I'd pick for a race T-shirt. I guess I can always wear it for dawn and dusk training runs to increase my visibility. All things considered, this is a terrific marathon that I would definitely run again.

I honestly cannot think how anything about this marathon could be improved (other than my time, of course). Everything about this race was perfect - from the hauntingly beautiful high-mountain start to the crowds lining the all-American, small-town streets to the volunteers and, finally, to the idyllic park at the finish line. Well done, Logan! I plan on doing this race every year.

This was my first marathon and was an absolute joy. The scenery was breathtaking and the organization was outstanding. Can't think of any better way to experience a first marathon than running down an alpine canyon with beautiful fall colors, rippling streams, and very well staffed aid stations. The whole of Logan, UT appeared out along the course toward the end and the finisher's medal and runners shirt are an A+. I highly recommend this race and commend its wonderful leaders and volunteers!

The scenery in Logan was just breathtaking. There were many times during the first 14 miles that I couldn't believe my luck in picking such a beautiful race. The altitude was a bit of a struggle for someone from the Midwest, but not a deal-breaker. I might suggest a new route for the last 12 miles, as there are so many turns that, at times, could interfere with one's momentum. The volunteers and spectators were great. The race was planned extremely well and I hope to enjoy it again. Thanks to everyone for making it possible.