calendar icon Nov 5, 2024

Run With the Horses Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Run With the Horses Marathon Information & Reviews

Course Rating Course 4.3 
 
Oranization Rating Organization 4.4 
 
Spectator Rating Spectators 2.2 
 
 
Number of comments: 61 [displaying comments 1 to 11]
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N. W. from Florida (8/27/2021)
"Wide open spaces and Wild Horses" (about: 2021)

50+ previous marathons | 2 Run With the Horses Marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 1


This is a small town race with 40-50 marathoners. The course begins in a park at the Green River where J.W. Powell began his expedition to explore the Grand Canyon. The course is out and back. The first and last two miles are on pavement through town and the remaining miles are on a dirt road through Wild Horse Canyon. The road ascends for the first few miles then levels off with long rollers. The second half is much easier. There are dozens of wild horses on the route. In 2021 many of them were close to and crossing the road. What a joy. There is aid including food every 2 miles. The volunteers were friendly and the race director was very accommodating including staying beyond 7 hours to give everyone a finish time. The start and finish are at the town's small annual festival with car show, shrimp boil, music and food booths. The medal and shirt have horses on them and horses on a ribbon were awarded 3 deep for 10 year age groups. Salt Lake City airport is 2:30 drive.

Plenty of hotel and restaurants in town or in Rock Springs 15 miles away. Sights to enjoy are Flaming Gorge, Yellowstone, Tetons and Fossil Butte. The race is put on by the Chamber of Commerce and there was a real goody bag with everything one could need to know about visiting Wyoming. No spectators just you and the wide open spaces and some friendly horses.

There are plenty of porta pots on the course to avoid critters (rhymes with rake) off the dirt road.
This was my second time doing the event.

There is a half, 10k and 5k for your posse to enjoy.

 

L. N. from Chicago, Illinois (8/26/2021)
"Great Race, amazing views!!!" (about: 2021)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Run With the Horses Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


I absolutely loved the Run with the Horses Marathon, the course is challenging but once you make it atop you will be amazed with stunning views of the canyons, see wild horses and enjoy rolling hills. The race is well organized and the volunteers go above and beyond for the participants.

You will not be disappointed.

 

Fergus Hodgson from Lehi, Utah (8/22/2021)
"Scenic, Tough, Small-Town Event" (about: 2021)

4-5 previous marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 3


About 150 runners were in this year's event, so about 50 each for the half, full, and 10k. In other words, this is an intimate race in which you can chat with almost everyone in your event. Green River is a small town, and it hosts a festival on the same weekend, so there are events for after the run.

The course is, as everyone has stated, tough. You start at very high elevation and run uphill for an elevation gain of 400 meters (1,200 feet), before turning around and coming back. I did the half, but my understanding is the full doesn't go much higher, since the course plateaus.

If you want to do this one, being ready for the serious uphill work and elevation would be a good idea. Other than that, if you would like a small-town race with great medals and a scenic course, this is a sold option.

 

J. A. from MN (8/20/2018)
"Not for the faint of heart" (about: 2018)

50+ previous marathons | 1 Run With the Horses Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 3  FANS: 1


I read the previous years comments and thought, how tough could it be. It's tough. This is my 46th state and this is the hardest one I've done. The first 5-6 miles are a long and at times steep climb which leave you to run an out and back at 7300+ feet on a gravel road. Then you get to go back down. It is a small race (only 29 in the full this year) with water stops every two miles, which were occasionally self-serve. There are really no spectators with so few runners and a road that few travel without a race going on.

The scenery is at times breathtaking or maybe it was just this flatlander struggling to breathe. If you choose this race, go with the spirit of accomplishing a challenge like few others.

 

R. B. from Washington, D.C. (11/30/2017)
"A lovely, lonely morning in the high desert" (about: 2017)

50+ previous marathons | 1 Run With the Horses Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 3


The race is more of a side spectacle to the very charming local river and arts festival, so although there isn't lots of TLC at the packet pickup or finish line the mood was welcoming and it was fun to hang around the night before and on race day. I was a bit intimidated hearing about the heat, altitude, and grade of the race course, but I took it slow and enjoyed the gradual ascent to the rim while morning broke over the high desert. The aid stations, spaced every 2-3 miles, were well equipped and staffed. The views over the valley, occasional horse sightings, and some informational signs provided excuses to linger. The final stretch through town toward the finish was a bit confusing, since there were no course marshals and no runners to follow, but there were course markings discreetly painted on the streets. Loved the free shower available at the rec center a couple miles away. All in all, a memorable and beautiful race with small-town charm.

 

Stephen James from Colfax, Indiana (8/25/2015)
"A wonderful and difficult course in high desert en" (about: 2015)

50+ previous marathons | 1 Run With the Horses Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 2


My fifty state pursuit had me running this Wyoming gem. The course is located on a high ridge just north of town. Spent the day before, walking and lunching there; there are scenic overlooks scattered along the way. Beautiful views of Green River and Rock Springs can be had, along with the wild horses. A very tough run it was but very enjoyable; it's you and this course, just the way a long distance runner dreams of. Great support by the volunteers and organizers.

 

D. H. from Albuquerque, NM (8/18/2014)
"Beautiful & tough as the wild west, itself" (about: 2014)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Run With the Horses Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 1


Great race, but come with hill legs. Also come with water. Aid stations were spread every 2-3 miles, and always well stocked, but it was SO dry up there the exertions requires more. My clothing couldn't even accumulate sweat, it evaporated so fast. very well organized.

If you need spectators, then you won't like this. There were sections of the race I didn't even see another human being. The scenery was breathtaking.

Overall, it was a hard race in beautiful, unforgiving country. Definitely an adventure.

 

J. L. from Columbus, Ohio (9/22/2013)
"Tough as advertised" (about: 2013)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Run With the Horses Marathon
COURSE: 2  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 1


Yeah, five people broke four hours (two of those by a second). The prior year reviews are pretty accurate; this is a very tough course unless you can somehow train at altitude. The run up the mountain between mile two and four is more long than steep. But after that you spend the next 22 miles between 7,200 and 7,600 ft; at about nine times the elevation of Ohio, it was a little too much. It was also a sunny, above average temperature day. There is no shade on this course!!!

A significant portion of the course was a wide trail road so you really have to be disciplined about the taper or youll run 26.9 like I did.

The people were very nice and happy to chat up the out of towners; there was a small town festival going on which provided something to do at the packet pick-up and after the race. No crowd support during the race unless you count the aid stations (for this race, you count the aid stations).

It was pretty though.

 

J. G. from St. Paul, MN (8/21/2012)
"Don't be intimidated!" (about: 2012)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Run With the Horses Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


Coming from MN, was concerned about mountains and altitude. I can't say the course wasn't difficult, it was. Ran about 30min longer than my recent average, but if you take it one hill at a time, the way down is fun! My breathing dictated my pace on flatter portions, so I felt so very good the next morning.

The people at the aid stations are great (I consider them to be the spectators, because otherwise there weren't any until the finish line)! I did carry a handheld water bottle that I was greatful to have because it's dry and windy and I needed small sips between 2mi intervals.

This race was a great challenge on terrain I am not used to. I would recommend it to anyone who runs from within and enjoys scenary over loud crowds and tons of runners around you at all times.

 

K. M. from NH (8/20/2012)
"As promised!" (about: 2012)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Run With the Horses Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 3


I now have a true appreciation for 'high desert'. The race starts with the 10-K, half and marathoners together at Expedition Island. It goes two miles up to the mountains where it continues until the turn around. It is very small and there is much support from very friendly support volunteers and fellow runners. As advertised, there is NO SHADE. It got pretty hot (even with a 6:30 AM start) but the stations were well stocked with water, gator aid and snacks. The road was not closed but through the mountains there was no traffic. The course is predominately gravel with some stones. It will never be your PR but you will have a great source of satisfaction at the end. It is very convenient logistically. The dinner the night before was full of locals and very inexpensive for huge quantities of food. The volunteers and race director tried hard and were very accomodating. The locals were very welcoming. The wild horses were along the course and beautiful. For the most part, be ready to run alone and be ready for some steep up and down hills along this out and back course.

 

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