Bear Lake Wyoming Marathon

This was a well executed small-town race. If you're looking for killer swag or big crowds, or even big fields, Wyoming's probably not for you. This is an intimate and informal small town race, on farm roads, with a 50-runner field. The field, unlike larger races where it may be hard to know, has a lot of "50-staters" - I know runners from CA, NC, AL, IL, MN and more were there. It makes for a cool vibe and the runners were great. The crowds are mostly non-existent but made up for by the volunteers and friends and family who follow the runners - it has a relay race feel in that respect (which I liked). Also, the RD made a great decision to run an out and back, which allowed for water and snack stations almost every mile, and mostly manned. They had a great spread, from water, Gatorade, Gu, pretzels, bananas, chips, fruit snacks, beans, and more. I have not seen any other race that had comparable offerings. Toilets were thoughtfully placed and spaced. The route itself was beautiful, Wyoming foothills, and not particularly challenging, and very quiet. There is zero cover so sun exposure is something to be careful about. This is probably my favorite race out of the 8 marathons I've run now.

Wow! Envision beautiful Rocky Mountain meadows in a bright green hue with clear blue streams meandering through them. Add just the right number of cows and a few homesteads. Bracket the scene with hills and, in the distance, pine- and even snow-capped mountains. The whole landscape was serene and peaceful to the point of being filled with Grace. True, there were basically no trees. But who cared?? I had no idea this part of Wyoming was so beautiful. Organization: flawless! Trish (and her sister!) were supportive throughout. Even the Hideout Hotel in Cokeville was great. I chatted with the owners for 15 minutes when I checked in, and they were more than friendly as they tried to get their heads around why we runners do this. ;-) This is not a big-city marathon so forget about massive cheering crowds. About 50 people ran the marathon. For a race this size, the crowd support was amazing. Cowbell. Cheering. Even the kids at the aid stations were sweet and encouraging. I just returned to my condo in Park City and I have a sweetness filling me. I ran with kind, good people in a stunning place. Please run this marathon. You will be glad you did.

This marathon is the second race of a three day trifecta involving the states of Idaho, Wyoming and Utah. The race is an out and back race on flat terrain. On each side of you, in the distance, are two ranges of mountains. There were not many runners but the organizers did their best to take care of us. Port-a-potties and various snacks at every water stop. Remember your sunscreen because there is absolutely no shade. The best part of the races for me was the camaraderie that developed among the runners as we worked our way through the three races.