FAST,
SCENIC,
BOSTON QUALIFIER
RACE WITH VIEWS OF BEARS EARS NATIONAL MONUMENT, MONUMENT VALLEY, SHIP ROCK, THE SLEEPING UTE, COMB RIDGE, & THE ABAJO MOUNTAINS.
GRADUALLY DROPPING MORE THAN 1,700 FEET NET OVER 26.2 MILES, THE BEARS EARS MARATHON COURSE IS DESIGNED TO BE A FAST, POINT-TO-POINT, SCENIC RACE.
AS A USATF CERTIFIED COURSE THAT MEANS BECOMING BOSTON QUALIFIED JUST GOT EASIER... FASTER COURSE FOR BETTER RESULTS
TOE THE LINE NOV 2, 2024
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The Bears Ears Marathon staring line is in Blanding, Utah. Line up to race at the intersection of 500 N and Bronco Lane. The Half and Full Marathons will begin at 7:30 am on the morning of November 4th. Starting line elevation is 6,150.
After two quick turns racers will head south on Main Street / HWY 191. From there the racers will have a gradual descent through mile 9 on the course.
Section 2 is the fastest 5 miles section of the course, and the most scenic. The course continues downhill through White Mesa, a Ute Reservation, and into the heart of San Juan County.
Mile 13.1, marked on the map, is the starting line for the Half Marathon. Half Marathon Racers will be bused down at 6:00 am to the starting area. Both races will start at 7:30 am.
Section 3 features the first of two large descents. Just after mile 14, racers will head drop off of White Mesa into Recapture Pocket and run alongside Bears Ears National Monument. This first large drop takes runners from 5,200 feet to 4,900 in elevation.
Section 4 features miles 17 - 24. After nearly 17 miles of gradual downhill, section 4 has uphill features. Racers can expect a 5 miles stretch of small rolling hills that can be unexpected if not planned for in training. Luckily section 4 ends with a return to the gradual downhill feature friendly to racers.
Finish Line in Bluff, Utah. After 25 amazing miles, racers will reach Cow Canyon and Bluff, Utah. This final stretch features the last large descent through Cow Canyon and into the town of Bluff. Here racers will exit HWY 191 and turn onto Navajo Twins Drive / 7th East. Racers will finish at an elevation 4,300, resulting in a downhill course that drops over 1,700 feet.
COURSE MAP
ELEVATION
The course has a net loss of 1,700 feet with a gross decent of approimately 2,100 feet and a gross ascent of 400.
