JUNE 14: UTAH VALLEY MARATHON
Wallsburg to Provo, Utah
Founded 2008; 1,471 finishers
utahvalleymarathon.com
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Organizers boast of the fast course thanks to a 1,700-elevation-foot net descent, but the main reason this event has soared in popularity is the luxury of taking over a lane of the Provo Canyon Scenic Byway.
Route
The first 10 miles (all above mile-high altitude) descend past horse farms and a reservoir; then it's 10 more mostly downhill miles through a river canyon and past a waterfall in the shadow of the Wasatch Range. You finish with a jaunt past the BYU stadium to downtown Provo. The course is mostly on a gentle descent of 2 to 3 percent, but includes a few climbs.
Before
Expo and symposium: Past speakers have included RW's Bart Yasso; Run Less, Run Faster author Bill Pierce; and "Biggest Loser at Home Challenge" winner Deni Hill.
During
On-course bands and 13 aid stations, some with energy gels or fruit.
After
Figure on a feast of sandwiches, smoothies, and cinnamon rolls, while the kids are busy with bounce houses and costumed cartoon characters. Ice-filled spa tubs await your hill-pounded legs.
Swag
Tech shirt, medal, drawstring bag, race magazine, special tech shirt for Boston qualifiers.
Fee
$85 to $115
Also
Four-person marathon teams, half-marathon, 10-K, kids' 1-K. New in 2014 are text alerts that give family and friends your real-time splits.
More: 5 Marathon Fears and How to Conquer Them
June 15: VANCOUVER USA MARATHON
Vancouver, Washington
Founded 2011; 631 finishers
vancouverusamarathon.com
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This race is America's Vancouver—a city across the Columbia River from Portland, Oregon—thus the "USA" in the title. This Vancouver isn't as populous or cosmopolitan as its namesake in Canada, but its flat and scenic marathon starts and finishes in a pretty downtown park, and you don't need a passport!
Route
Runners take a spin through downtown Vancouver, along the Columbia River waterfront and wetlands, past Vancouver Lake, and into the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site. Ten miles are on paved recreation paths and seven miles on roads closed to traffic. View a 3-D course video on the race site.
Before
For the fourth year, RW Chief Running Officer Bart Yasso will open the three-day expo with a group run, offer marathon-racing wisdom, and announce all races. Also spanning the three days of race events is the Summer Brewfest at the race staging area, with live bands on Friday night.
During
Steel drummers at two restaurants on the route; 15 aid stations.
After
Sandwiches, snacks, fruit, beer, massages.
Swag
Tech shirt, medal, goody bag, beer.
Fee
$85 to $125
Also
Saturday 5-K, kids' 1.2-mile. All runners have a three-day access pass to the Summer Brewfest ($25 value), which includes a commemorative mug and tastes of tap beers from 25 Northwest microbreweries.