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 7th. 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.
START OF RACE
Section 2 is the fastest 5 mile 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 to the starting area. Both races will start at 7:30 am.
SECTION 2
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 3
SECTION 4
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.
FINISH DESCENT & FINISH
SNEAK PEAK THE BEAUTIFUL VIEWS
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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.
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COURSE INFO
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Where are the aid stations?
- Aid Stations are located every 3 miles. All aid stations will have water and sports drinks. Energy gels and item drops are at 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18
- FRUIT & FOOD available at the Finish Line
RESTROOMS: Start line, MILE 2, 13, 20, Finish line
- EMS: Patrolling car & at the Finish line
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Where is the finish?
- The finish for both the Full and Half marathon is at 620 Black Locust Ave, Bluff Utah. Awards, EMS, vendors and more will all be present! There will be a shuttle back to the start, leaving approximately every half hour.
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Where is the start?
- The Full Marathon Starts at 500 N Bronco Way, Blanding Utah.
- The Half Marathon Start line is around Mile 13, right outside of White Mesa. Half-Marathoners will be bussed to their start line the morning of. ​
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What is the running surface?
- Both the full and half marathon will be running along highway 191 and other paved surfaces for the extent of the race. The race is run on the northbound side of the highway. Traffic will be at reduced speeds on most of the course and in the canyon before Bluff.