First run in 1970, the Deseret News Marathon is the oldest road race in Utah and the fourth oldest marathon west of the continental divide. The marathon follows the path that the Utah pioneers traveled when they first entered the valley. This event is truly a part of Utah’s heritage and history!

The Deseret News Classic takes place on July 24th, Pioneer Day, every year in downtown Salt Lake City. The Marathon, Half Marathon, 10k and 5k routes all join the Days of 47 Parade route where runners will be greeted by over 100,000 cheering Utahns! Running along the parade route is one of the most fun and unique aspects of the Deseret News Classic. All of the races finish at the same location on the north side of Liberty Park. Once you cross the finish line, enjoy the post race festivities and join your friends and family watching the parade come in!

Events

Marathon / ½ Marathon / 10k / 5k
July 24, 2015

MARATHON

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The Marathon starts at 5:30 am at the top of Big Mountain, above Emigration Canyon. The course continues down the canyon with a 3,200 foot total elevation drop and finishes along the Days of 47 Parade route where runners will be greeted by over 100,000 cheering Utahns! The marathon course is USATF Certified and a Boston qualifier. The prize money (for Utah residents only) is $1,000 for 1st place, $500 for 2nd place, $250 for 3rd place. All finishers will receive custom finisher medals!

Marathon Buses will pick up runners from Rice-Eccles Stadium promptly from 3:30 am – 3:45 am to shuttle runners to the start line location. These buses will be lined up along the west side of the stadium. It is your responsibility to arrive early enough to park and be seated on a bus in time to ride to the top of Big Mountain. Do not plan on driving to the top. The marathon starts at 5:30 a.m. After the race there will be shuttle buses at the finish line area lined up along 700 East of Liberty Park to transport runners back to their vehicles. Due to the state holiday, the parade and the race route closures and traffic, these shuttle buses will take some time to make their rounds so plan accordingly.

Aids Stations for the Marathon will be at every other mile after mile 3. LG Energy gels will be at the aid stations at miles 15 and 19. Powerade and water will be available at every aid station.

July 24, 2015

½ MARATHON

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The Deseret News Classic Half Marathon is a USATF certified course and was designed with a PR in mind, with a gradual 1600 foot elevation drop. Runners will sail down Emigration Canyon along a gentle downhill course that follows the historic pioneer trail and ends along the Days of 47 Parade route. While on the parade route runners will be greeted by over 100,000 cheering Utahns to help push them towards the finish line celebration at Liberty Park! The prize money (for Utah residents only) is $1,000 for 1st place, $500 for 2nd place, $250 for 3rd place. All finishers will receive custom finisher medals!

Half Marathon start time is 6:00 am. Buses will pick up runners from Rice-Eccles Stadium from 4:15 a.m. – 4:45 a.m. to transport runners to the start line location. The buses will be lined up along the west side of Rice-Eccles stadium. Do not plan on driving to the start line as Emigration Canyon will be closed! After the race there will be shuttle buses at the finish line area lined up along 700 East of Liberty Park to transport runners back to their vehicles. Due to the state holiday, the parade and the race route closures and traffic, these shuttle buses will take some time to make their rounds so plan accordingly.

Aids Stations for the Half Marathon will be at approximately every other mile, with powerade and water available at each station. There will be LG energy gels at mile 6.

July 24, 2015

10K

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The Deseret News 10k is the fastest and most competitive 10k in Utah. This downhill course drops over 600 feet to the finish line! The race begins at 6:00 am at Research Park on Chipeta Way (University of Utah campus) next to Fort Douglas Cemetery. The prize money (for Utah residents only) is $1,000 for 1st place, $500 for 2nd place, $250 for 3rd place. All finishers will receive custom finisher medals!

All 10K runners need to get to Research Park at the University of Utah on their own. There are numerous parking lots around the area to park in, however as there is only one main road in and out of the Research Park and over 1,000 10k runners, be sure to arrive early to account for traffic. After the race, there will be shuttle buses lined up along 700 East of Liberty Park to transport runners back to their cars at Research Park. Due to the state holiday, the parade and the race route closures and traffic, these shuttle buses will take some time to make their rounds so plan accordingly.

Aid Stations – there will be 2 aid stations along the 10k course.

July 24, 2015

5K

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Bring the entire family along to join in on the festivities by participating in the Deseret News Classic 5k. The run begins at 7:00 at the Wasatch Elementary School Playground, located at 1150 E. South Temple, Salt Lake City, and finishes at Liberty Park where runners will be cheered on by over 100,000 spectators! This event will be chip timed so get your competitive spirit going and prepare to run! For those kids and families who would prefer to walk rather than run, we will doing two start waves, the first for runners and the second for walkers. Everyone will be timed regardless of if you choose to run or walk, and all finishers will receive medals!

Participants will need to park or be dropped off at the start line location by Wasatch Elementary School. There will be shuttle buses at the finish line area lined up along 700 East of Liberty Park to transport runners back to their vehicles. Due to the state holiday, the parade and the race route closures and traffic, these shuttle buses will take some time to make their rounds so plan accordingly.

Volunteer

PARTNERS