5/5 Stars

This was my fifth half and first big cottonwood half. It has become my favorite. It was so gorgeous and VERY well organized. Thank you.

I did PR. I ran the Ogden half in 2:29 and that was my fastest until big cottonwood. I ran 2:11!!

The course was fast and gorgeous. Breathtaking in spots. The "S" curve was my favorite.

I trained three days a week and tried to incorporate down hill training.

Train down hill as well as strength training.

I drove from Tooele Utah that morning. Left my house at 3:30am. The canyon didn't feel that cold and it was a nice area. The finish area was the best I have seen. So organized and thought through. I loved the cold towel to clean up a bit. Very nice touch.

5/5 Stars

Very tough course. Good running surface but extreme steep(for me) at times.
Well run event. Had a never forget day- thanx

No but, my 3:53:01 was my fastest marathon in almost 4 years and 4 th fastest of 16.

More difficult then I thought. I train on mostly flat so I'm having difficulty walking today(day after)
More steep AND highest altitude I ever saw for an event. Challenging and stunningly beautiful.

About 40 miles/wk. track WO with repeats and long runs on weekends. Did dome hill trading but not nearly enough.

Train running repeats downhill

Drove course- wow- scenery

5/5 Stars

Had a great race despite an injury. Had a PR for this race and I'm already looking forward to next year!

Not my fastest half PR but my fastest "Go Big" PR. Nine minutes but missed my goal by six minutes.

It is the best course I have ever run, love it.

Training was right on track but three weeks before the race my right It band started to kill me. I had to rest for a week then I rolled twice a day and stretched it multiple times a day. I have never taped before but I had my knee taped free by Alta View Hospital the day before at the Expo and I feel like it really helped. Had no pain during the race just tightness.

sign up!!!!!!

local, I'm one of the lucky ones that has a home up the canyon, so I didn't even have to ride the bus.

5/5 Stars

I have raced in 20 1/2 marathons since starting to run three years ago (at age 56). This is one of the best run races I have participated in, the the top race in Utah. This was my third Big Cottonwood and will continue to run this race in the future. Great job!!

No. Ran a race two weeks ago, so just took this one easy, but finished in under 2:00.

Beautiful!

I run 8 half marathons per year, so I am always in training.

Run this race! Be prepared for the downhill.

Live in Sandy, so headed to the race and back home!

5/5 Stars

Only complaint is the Wasatch out and back but not a lot you can do about that when trying to chart 26.2 mules

No

Above.

Would have trained on Wasatch vs my normal courses

5/5 Stars

Was a good experience, very well organized event. Aid stations were well stocked and had all the right items. Only thing I could have seen that would better improve, is a the very start at the top. Maybe have some fire pits. Nebo and Bryce Canyon 1/2's had this and it was well appreciated. Other than that great race!!!!!!

No, not enough training.

Very beautiful course, made the trip down so much nicer having all the scenery.

Not much, really need to do some so that the ending part, the flats are much smoother. Have completed about 7 half's this year but no prep other than a few small practice runs on the treadmill.

Train more, know the course, prepare for the downhill, its much different than other courses.

We live here in SLC area (Hooper, UT), so we just stayed in a hotel near the race because of the early rise but really just nothing special...

5/5 Stars

I have never done this race before. I have done other halves. I loved it and thought it really was a perfect half marathon. Everything was so well organized, volunteers were so happy and cheerful. I do mean all of them from the packet pick up (asking if it was my first race, be sure to kill it, etc.) volunteers at water stations, and after party. The course was just gorgeous and I like how once you get out of the canyon there are only 3.1 miles. left. I loved how the last 3 miles were just a straight road to the finish line!!!! Totally doable. Picking up my drop off bag was such a cinch and quick. There were a couple races that part took forever. Yesterday I had my bag in less than 30 seconds. I really was impressed with it all. Thank you so much!

Yes! By 7 minutes! my other PR was with the Salt Lake Half at 2:21

Gorgeous! Absolutely no complaints. I think it will become one of my favorites. Leaves were just starting to change. In the shade for 95% of the race. Could hear the water of the canyon......

Training went well. Just increased long runs each week by one mie stopping at 10 miles two weeks before race and then just leaving that last week to do small 5 to 6 mile runs. I trained both up and down hills

5/5 Stars

I enjoyed the bus ride up because I was able to make friend with those around me on the bus and share their stories. At the top I used the bathrooms and then sat with everyone wrapped in my silver blanket. I was rushed between trying to get to the bathroom one last time and drop my bag and had about 1 minute to get into the corral. The start went well and I enjoyed the views during the race and was holding my BQ pace effortlessly. I was having a great race until my IT band acted up and I had to drop at the half.

I DNF-Ed because a prior IT injury acted up, but prior to that I was on pace to BQ and finish with a huge PR that felt effortless because of the hills.

I loved the downhill, although the steep uphill at 3 after so much steep downhill completely knocked the wind out of me and I had to walk a bit to catch my breath. After that the downhill allowed me to catch all the way up to my BQ pace and continue on easily. I enjoyed the scenery the whole way.

I practiced downhill running (to the extent I could being from Ohio) and I did a lot of leg press, squats, and planks to strengthen my quads and knees for the downhill. When we went uphill at 3 and again around 9, I completely felt like I could not breathe because of the lack of oxygen. After talking to my friends from Utah, they too had this happen but were used to it so they did not hyperventilate like I did which made it worse. I would tell others to expect this and to relax and push through it. I would also say, don't hurt your IT band two weeks before the race because you'll only make it halfway (kidding, sort of).

Any stretch of flat after downhill is going to feel rough and any slight uphill it going to feel impossible, so train your brain to handle that and practice downhill to flat or rolling hills. Don't throw your gloves at 3, you will want them later. Additionally, dress warm, it doesn't get sunny until about 16/17 miles in and even then it's still very cool. On the downhills, don't fight it and hold back, that trashes your quads, just let gravity pull you. Relax your breathing on any uphill and don't push too hard up the hill like you would at lower altitude.

Visited the Olympic park, visited the homestead crater, horseback riding, visited park city, drove both sides of Big Cottonwood Canyon, outlet shopping, met up with runner friends from Instagram. I am from Cleveland Ohio.

5/5 Stars

Overall, a fantastic experience!! Very well organized and put together perfectly! I've done plenty of races, and this one is by far, my favorite!

Yes I did PR, by 2 minutes! Was hoping for more, but I'll take it!

Fantastic and beautiful!

Since having two hip surgeries a year ago, I've had to really cut down on running. In fact my doctor told me not to run anymore, but I can't stop!

Do it! Freezing at the waiting point, but is perfect after that! Don't layer up too much.

The booths at the end of the course are fantastic. Such a fun atmosphere! I'm sad it's over.

4/5 Stars

Super fun!

No, I really wanted to but the lines for the port o Potts completely threw off my game.

Absolutely stunning..

I should have trained much more for the downhill aspect.

Bring a throw away/donatable sweatshirt for the beginning. Take it all in and enjoy, it's stunning..

Lots...