Utah Valley Marathon

Last updated
Utah Valley Marathon
Utah Valley Marathon logo.svg
DateUsually the first Saturday of June
Location Utah Valley
Event typeRoad
Distance Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, 1K kids race
BeneficiaryCharityVision
EstablishedApril 12, 2008;17 years ago (2008-04-12)
Last held2024
Course recordsMarathon Men: 2:15:52 (2025)
Melese Kifle
Marathon Women: 2:37:35 (2021)
Obsie Birru
Official site http://www.utahvalleymarathon.com/
Participants1,314 marathon - 2025 (2,000 limit)
4,568 all races - 2025

The Utah Valley Marathon (UVM) is an annual marathon foot-race in Northern Utah held on the first Saturday of June. The marathon course is USA Track & Field (USATF) certified and is a Boston Marathon qualifier.

Contents

Photo of the marathon finish line at University Avenue in Provo, Utah on Saturday, June 5, 2021. Finish Line Utah Valley Marathon 2021.jpg
Photo of the marathon finish line at University Avenue in Provo, Utah on Saturday, June 5, 2021.

History

The race was started in 2008 by Hyrum Oaks and Jeremiah West. The inaugural marathon was held on April 12, 2008. [1] Between 2009 and 2018, the race was moved to the second Saturday in June. Beginning in 2019, the race will be held on the first Saturday in June to avoid conflicts with local festivals. [2] In 2008, there were 120 marathon runners. [3] Since 2009, the marathon has been part of the Utah Grand Slam. [4]

The race is put on largely by volunteers. CharityVision (formerly Deseret International), Mentor's International, Mac's Gift (formerly the Children with Cancer Christmas Foundation), and Road to Success are the four primary charities. [5] The Children with Cancer Christmas foundation has been part of the race since its inception in 2008. In 2010, CharityVision (formerly Deseret International) was added as a second charitable recipient. In 2013, Mentor's International and the Road to Success charities were added. [6]

Between 2008 and 2011, the event included a 5K. In 2012, the 5K distance was removed in favor of a 10K race. In 2010, a half-marathon race was added. In 2009, twenty-five members of the Pleasant Grove Fire Department ran the marathon as part of their annual physical fitness test. [7] The same year, the UVM was the first local race to allow footbikes. [8]

Race courses

Marathon course

The 26 mile 385 yard course runs through Wasatch and Utah Counties. The marathon begins at 6:00 AM (MDT). The Utah Valley Marathon typically has a cap of 2,000 marathon runners. [9] The race begins in Wallsburg, UT at an elevation of 5,963 feet (1,818 m) and heads northwest through Wallsburg along Highway 222. At the intersection of U.S. Route 189, the course turns west and follows the Deer Creek Reservoir until U.S. Route 189 reaches Provo Canyon. U.S. Route 189 is also known as the Provo Canyon Scenic Byway. The race continues southwest through Provo Canyon along the Provo River until the road merges with University Avenue (U.S. Route 189) in Orem. The race continues south along University Avenue through Orem and Provo until the finish line at the intersection of University Avenue and Center Street at an elevation of 4,504 feet (1,373 m) [10]

2010 was the first year that a non-Utah resident won either the men or women's marathon race. Prior to Hillary Kibet Cheruiyot (Of Kenya) winning the men's 2010 race, and Claudia Camargo-Nero (a New York resident from Argentina) winning the women's 2010 race, only United States born, Utah residents had won the marathon race for either gender. [11] [12]

2013 marked a change in the marathon course. For the first time, runners ran against traffic. Barrel cones closed off the traffic lane to oncoming automobiles providing runners with a corridor within which to run. This change in traffic also allowed traffic to flow more smoothly at the Highway 222 and U.S. Route 189 intersection as runners do not need to cross across traffic, thus allowing traffic to flow continuously.

Half marathon course

The 21.0975-kilometre (13.1094 mi) course begins in Provo Canyon at the midpoint of the full marathon course. The starting line is just south of the Highway 92 and U.S. Route 189 intersection. The course follows the marathon course down through the canyon and along University Avenue until the finish line at the Provo Towne Centre mall. [13]

In 2010, USA residents Seth Pilkington and Lindsey Dunkley won the men's and women's respective half-marathon titles. In 2011, Brad Osguthorpe won the men's half-marathon title and Andrea North won the women's half-marathon title. In 2012, Kyle Perry won the men's half-marathon title. Kassi Harmon won the women's half-marathon title. In 2013, Joshua McCabe won the men's title and Kassi Harmon repeated as the women's half-marathon title winner. The Utah Valley Half-Marathon typically has a cap of 2,500 runners. [14] The half-marathon begins at 6:00 AM (MDT).

10K Course

Beginning in 2012, the race added a 10-kilometre (6.2 mi) event. This distance starts in the neighborhoods just south of the mouth of Provo Canyon near Canyon Crest Elementary school in Provo, and ends at the common finish area in downtown Provo at University Avenue and Center Street. The Utah Valley Marathon 10K typically has a cap of 2,000 runners. [15]

5K Course

The 5K was included as one of the race distances in 2008, but was discontinued in 2012. However, the 5K is now offered as a race again. [16]

1K Course (kids race)

In 2012, the race added a 1-kilometre (0.62 mi) kids race. This race is for children 12 years of age and under. The race is free for all participants. The race ends at the same finish line as the full marathon, half-marathon, and 10K. The Utah Valley Marathon Free Kids' 1K typically has a cap of 2,000 children, ages 12 or under. [17]

List of winners

Key

  Current course record
  Course record

Marathon distance

YearMen's WinnerTimeCountryWomen's WinnerTimeCountry
2008 [18] Steven Ashbaker2:37:08.60Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Josse Tobiasson3:15:40.40Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2009 [19] Seth Wold2:26:22.90Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Mary Ann Schauerhamer3:00:41.60Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2010 [20] Hillary Kibet Cheruiyot2:21:28.9Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya Claudia Camargo-Nero2:46:21.9Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina
2011 [21] Hillary Kibet Cheruiyot2:19:18Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya Kassi Harmon2:49:19Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2012 [22] Peter Kemboi2:28:56Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya Emily Bates2:56:49Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2013 [23] Bryant Jensen2:20:27Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Amber Green2:51:43Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2014 [24] Ezekiel Kiplagat2:25:36.6Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya Danya Crawford2:51:21.5Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2015 [25] David Tuwei2:30:10.0Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Natalie Callister2:48:52.2Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2016 [26] Stanley Boen2:23:41Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Amber Green2:50:37Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2017 [27] Bryant Jensen2:20:20Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Ramona Sanchez2:46:47Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2018 [28] Nicholas Arciniaga2:21:26Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Kayla Brown2:51:31Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2019 [29] Jonathan Kotter2:21:04Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Ashley Paulson2:47:37Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2020* [30] Adam Hendrickson2:31:05Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Jackie Hendrickson2:47:48Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2021 [31] Bashash Walio2:18:19Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Obsie Birru2:37:35Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2022 [32] Fikadu Tegene2:24:00Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia Lindsay Tollefson2:51:28Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2023 [33] Fikadu Tegene2:21:28Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia Kassi Harmon2:41:48Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2024 [34] Fikadu Tegene2:18:57Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia Grace Clements2:41:55Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2025 [35] Melese Kifle2:15:52Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia Lindsay Tollefson2:46:20Flag of the United States.svg  United States

*Virtual marathon only in 2020.

Half marathon distance

YearMen's WinnerTimeCountryWomen's WinnerTimeCountry
2010 [36] Seth Pilkington1:06:05.8Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Lindsey Dunkley1:13:33.0Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2011 [37] Brad Osguthorpe1:05:03Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Andrea North1:17:54Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2012 [38] Kyle Perry1:06:43Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Kassi Harmon1:21:16Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2013 [39] Joshua McCabe1:06:53Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Kassi Harmon1:18:44Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2014 [40] Tylor Thatcher1:05:45.8Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Natalie Como1:19:54.2Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2015 [41] Brett Hales1:05:45.2Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Natalie Como1:18:38.0Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2016 [42] Brett Hales1:05:45Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Sariah Long1:19:35Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2017 [43] Nicolas Montanez1:04:29Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Samantha Diaz1:17:00Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2018 [44] Nathan Peters1:07:04Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Joy Miller1:18:50Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2019 [45] Travis Morrison1:04:16Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Emily Barrett1:18:44Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2020* [46] Jeff Callister1:15:15Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Reanna Jereb1:20:58Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2021 [47] Sean O'Connor1:05:08Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Alycia Hill1:16:26Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2022 [48] Habtamu Cheney1:05:08Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Amanda Moore1:21:19Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2023 [49] Habtamu Cheney1:02:57Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Savannah Berry1:11:40Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2024 [50] Michael Ottesen1:03:49Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Hannah Branch1:12:42Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2025 [51] Noah Jenkins1:04:05Flag of the United States.svg  United States Elizabeth Chikotas1:12:22Flag of the United States.svg  United States

*Virtual marathon only in 2020.

Number of finishers

Year5K10KHalf-MarathonFull MarathonTOTAL
2008102------102204
2009356------595951
2010622---7831,4452,850
2011365---1,9481,6563,969
2012---4322,5112,0444,987
2013---3581,9721,4713,801
2014---3161,5131,4263,255
2015---4191,6601,1453,224
2016---3711,2769552,602
2017---8791,9431,1763,998
2018---4031,1778892,469
2019---5341,1878802,601
2020*---123277248648
2021 (Virtual)455 (17)982 (10)2,092 (21)1,351 (13)4,880 (61)
2022 (Virtual)322 (5)533 (1)1,541 (2)921 (1)3,317 (9)
2023 (Virtual)384 (1)581 (3)1,765 (2)995 (0)3,725 (6)
20243816482,1241,2124,365
20253476302,2771,3144,568

*Virtual race only in 2020, virtual race results in subsequent years in parentheses.

See also

References

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  2. Merkley, Lisi (2020-05-11). "Utah races canceled, organizers look to virtual runs for revenue". The Daily Universe. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
  3. "Pleasant Grove firefighters gain unity through marathon run". Daily Herald. 2009-06-19. Retrieved 2009-11-29.
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  6. Ruth. "Mentors International – Philanthropy That Works". Mentors International. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
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