5/5 Stars

Running with my friends and bonding over our love for the sport is my most favorite thing. I didn't PR, but I cheered and reveled in the joy of watching a friend complete her first half marathon. I'm so glad it was the Big Cottonwood...it's my most favorite half ever. Plus, the Diet Coke at the finish is awesome!!!

Sadly, no. I didn't PR. I had high hopes that I would, but it wasn't to be. I don't know what the qualifications for Boston are, but I highly doubt it.

Beautiful! Elevation doesn't affect me, I've lived and played here all my life. It's a steep canyon and I'm paying dearly for it today, but I grow stronger with each passing year and I'm able to really take in the beauty of the canyon and really appreciate it.

I would definitely spend more time downhill training. I think it's worth the effort.

You always get really warm, so don't be afraid to dress lightly. Even though it's freezing at the top of the canyon. The provided gloves really do the trick as well as the Mylar blankets. Thank you!

I go home shower and nap to my heart's content!

5/5 Stars

This was my first marathon and it was fantastic! The whole event was very professional and would highly recommend it to anyone. The two pacers for 3:35 were amazing and made the event light hearted and spirited! I am still in shock I conquered a marathon and I am so proud to say it was Big Cottonwood!

This was my first, so the longest I had ever run before yesterday was 20 Miles. I now have a PR and I did qualify for Boston! So pumped and proud!

The course was beautiful and all the aid stations came at just the right times.

More downhill training!

Love that pictures are free! I also got a massage which felt incredible!! The whole atmosphere was perfect! Thank you for making my first so fantatstic!!

4/5 Stars

It was a beautiful day, the shuttle to the start line was well arranged.

Unfortunately no

I thought the course was beautiful. The out and back was disappointing after the beautiful course through the canyon. It would have been awesome the have the course start farther back and be able to go straight down to the finish. There should have been more water stations.

Trained down a local ski hill

Make sure you train on downhills and in the heat. Once you hit the out and back you are exposed and the heat quickly saps your energy

I was disappointed in the expo and the after race festivities.

5/5 Stars

i was so nervous at first because it was my first full but it was awesome and so worth the nerves!!!!

I would say I did even tho it was my first.

awesome!! I loved the view and it was very easy to follow. the aid stations were in the perfect spots!

I trained perfectly! I only went as high as 20 miles and that didn't hurt me at all. I also only ran as high as 5 miles during the week and left the long runs for the weekend.

in the morning if your worried about what to wear...it is chilly, make sure you wear pants over your shorts and a long sleeve shirt or sweatshirt. you can always put them in the penskye trucks for retrieval at the end. that is what I did.

I came from riverton, wy and we didn't do much. I make sure and save my legs for the race!!

5/5 Stars

The race was challenging but the atmosphere and volunteers made it fun the whole way. The canyon was absolutely beautiful.

This was my first marathon, so technically it was my fastest also. I hope to improve my times as I do more.

The course was absolutely beautiful. The steepness of the canyon was a lot more tough on my muscles than I expected. My training included hills but not near as steep as the course had.

My training consisted of 2 short runs per week, 2 medium length runs per week, and a long distance run on Saturdays. I tried to train on downhill areas for longer runs. I would definitely suggest training for steep downhill sections better for this race.

This race was a blast. Be sure to train well prior and get used to the elevation a little bit but really just have fun with it.

I am from Alaska, but I go to university in the area and stayed at my in-laws house the night prior. So for fun I just spent time with family and relaxed.

5/5 Stars

I love this half. It's my favorite of all I've done because of the adrenaline rush and extra excitement of the beauty of the mountains, the sound of the river, and the downhill slope. :) It's a well-organized and professionally run event... you can feel that in every aspect.

No PR here this time, but it was my 2nd best.

The course is mostly a good downhill... a few spots of more intense slope make it helpful to have trained and learned how to effectively run a steep downward slope. Taking time to recognize the beauty of your surroundings and the sounds of the river and the peaceful miles of running down a canyon with very few vehicles is a rare opportunity and one I appreciated so much. I had run half of the course the previous weeks, and the high traffic was noticeable, so the difference of race day was even more gratifying.

I recently had a baby and wanted to prep for this in order to get back in better physical shape. My husband opted to join for his first half. Our time was limited quite a bit for training because of taking care of our baby and both running a longer 10 to 11 minute pace, so we were only able to run three times each (we took turns running on the other's off day). We simply each did two 3-4 mile runs a week and one long run. Ideally, more mileage would be better, but this is what worked for us and it worked well... We felt great on race day and beat our expected times and enjoyed it thoroughly, from beginning to end.

Do some downhill runs to prep, stretch well afterwards, use a foam roller after the run, and keep walking throughout the day. I did these things better this time around and, though I'm sore, I'm noticeably less sore than previous times running this course.

Carb loading at CousCous.

5/5 Stars

Beautiful course , perfectly run!! As I'm getting older (in my 60s), I was a little nervous about doing this one again. So glad that I did though. I have run either the half or the full every year since it began and can honestly say that it just keeps getting better and better!! So well run, awesome shirts, and runners are given exactly what is needed - both in the swag bags & at the finish

LOVE the course!! Can help even slow, old ladies like me get a fast time!

5/5 Stars

This is such a well organized and professionally managed race on what has to be the most beautiful course in the country! Everything went so smoothly and could not have been more enjoyable!

Yes - although my only previous half marathon was 2 1/2 years ago - and I only started running seriously a little over 10 months ago. I beat my previous PR by a little over 56 minutes!

The scenery and downhill nature make it a really special race... Almost pain free!

I started training about 10 months ago with the ultimate goal of finishing a marathon. Running this race was one of the intermediate goals that I set. I have done quite a few downhill runs this past summer, with several in the last month of about 10 miles. The only thing I would do differently is to be more consistent in my training... (might have to quit my job to make that work??)... and I would be more careful about diet and would mix in some other cross-training.

Love my Hokas. Haven't had any of the nagging injuries since I switched. The bag drop conducted by Revel made dressing in layers for the cold starting line very easy and pickup was convenient at the end.

This race was fun from packet pickup to after party! VERY WELL DONE and I will be back to run it again. I am local (South Jordan) but was surprised by the number of out-of-town and out-of-state runners that I met while participating. This race is definitely building a reputation outside the area.

4/5 Stars

Race organization 5 stars. Race pacers, 2 stars. My pacer (3:15) was right on time and running with a group of us at mile 19 and I was feeling good, then at around mile 21 he fell back at an aid station and I thought he'd catch up. Since he was behind me I felt pretty good about my pace and just kept it steady. However, at some point near mile 24 I realized that I had fallen off pace and probably couldn't make it up and there was no sign of our 3:15 pacer. Even at the finish I didn't see him. I was shooting for a 3:15 BQ, but I ended up coming in at 3:21. This is not to say that the pacer was responsible for my time, but it would be nice if there was a contingency plan for a pacer falling off. I was counting on him and it was a real disappointment to find that I fell off pace and could make up the time at the end.

Nonetheless, I had a great experience and I think the race was managed very well otherwise. The good news is that I did PR by at least 10 minutes. Thanks!

Yes, by at least 10 minutes. Unfortunately, I did not qualify for Boston.

Fun, beautiful, painful.

3/5 Stars

Yes! 5 minutes away from BQ!

Awesome!