A beginner’s guide (from a beginner) to planning, training and successfully running your first marathon or half marathon in Utah.
I never considered myself a runner. I grew up playing soccer, which means there was no point in running if it didn’t involve chasing a ball around. When I sporadically decided to start training for a half marathon a year and a half ago, I couldn’t imagine running six miles, let alone thirteen (and 26.2…that was like the end of the world)! It’s overwhelming to start training for a long distance race like I did, but as I took it one day at a time, I found that I fell in love with running in a way I never expected to. Even without chasing a soccer ball.
April is here, the sun is warming up Utah, and many of us need something to help revamp our New Year’s Resolutions—why not soak up the vitamin D by beginning your first half marathon training? To help you get started, I’ve compiled a list of beginner-friendly advice.
Pick a Race
The first step is to commit. Pick a race, sign up, pay for it. There’s no backing out now!
When I started my quest to cross the finish line, I made my way all around Utah by training and racing. There are hordes of full and half marathons in the Beehive State where you can explore new places while pushing yourself to achieve something. Here are a few of the races I have done:
- The Utah Valley Marathon down Provo Canyon is one of the biggest races in the state, so it’s easy to navigate everything from sign-up to post-finish line chocolate milk. They host a marathon, half marathon, 10k, and 5k in June. This is a great first race.
- Some say the Drop 13 Big Cottonwood is the fastest half marathon in Utah. Starting at Solitude Ski Resort, you descend over 3,200 ft. This is the race I ran my personal record, or my fastest half marathon!
- Most people know Draper’s Corner Canyon for its fantastic network of mountain bike trails, but the Corner Canyon Trail half marathon guides you run up and through the trees and across the Bear Canyon Suspension bridge, and that feels (almost) as fun as biking.
- Also one of the biggest races in the state, the St. George Marathon is a great option for a first marathon because it has a lot of downhill that winds through St. George, Veyo, and Snow Canyon. This was my first marathon course—it’s incredible!
- In both Provo and Salt Lake, the Runtastic Haunted Half is an unforgettable Halloween-themed race. I’ll always remember running next to snails, Marios and bananas during my first ever half marathon. It’s surprisingly motivating.
- The Goblin Valley Trail Run near Moab is the most awe-inspiring half marathon I’ve done. Running around hoodoos and buttes is surreal, and the small size of the race makes it even easier to enjoy the views.
There are tons of marathons and half marathons in Utah, both road and trail. For more options, click here.
Buy Gear
There’s good news for gearheads and shopaholics (like me)—new gear! The most important part of running is getting the perfect shoe. Get fitted somewhere like Salt Lake Running Company or Runner’s Corner to find the best shoe for your foot. You also need specialized ware such as socks, tank tops and shorts, water bottles, running vests and nutrition.
Schedule a Training Plan
Most half marathon training plans take 10-14 weeks, and marathon training plans take around 16-20 weeks. This makes April the best time to get started on your training for a summer or fall race. Buy a calendar, fill each week out with your running schedule, and stick to it! In each week, it’s good to have one long run, one recovery day, and a day or two for cross training. Some good ideas for cross training are lifting, cycling, or swimming (why not train for triathlon while we’re at it, right?).
Find a Support Group
Whether it’s a die-hard training buddy or a supportive spouse, find someone who will tie your shoes on the days that are a little too hard to step outside, someone who will be there with a cold cup of chocolate milk when you first cross the finish line.
Push Yourself, but Have Fun!
Running is hard. You can’t get around that. But that might just be what’s so addicting about it—pushing yourself, running places you’ve never visited before, crossing the finish line right as you feel like you might collapse, just in time to put that medal around your neck and say, “I did it! I did it!” That is an addicting feeling.
