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.

Utah Valley Marathon
DateUsually the first Saturday of June
LocationUtah Valley
Event typeRoad
DistanceMarathon, Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, 1K kids race
BeneficiaryCharityVision
EstablishedApril 12, 2008; 16 years ago (2008-04-12)
Last held2024
Course recordsMarathon Men: 2:18:19 (2021)
Bashash Walio
Marathon Women: 2:37:35 (2021)
Obsie Birru
Official sitehttp://www.utahvalleymarathon.com/
Participants1,212 marathon - 2024 (2,000 limit)
4,365 all races - 2024
Photo of the marathon finish line at University Avenue in Provo, Utah on Saturday, June 5, 2021.

History

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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. In 2009, the number of marathon runners had grown to 748.[3] Since 2009, the marathon has been part of the Utah Grand Slam.

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.[4] 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.[5]

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.[6] The same year, the UVM was the first local race to allow footbikes.[7]

Race courses

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Marathon course

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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.[8] 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)[9]

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.[10][11] In 2011, Hillary Kibet Cheruiyot (KEN) won the men's race for the second year in a row. Utah resident Kassi Harmon (USA), a Brigham Young University (BYU) steeplechase All-American, won the women's division.[12] In 2012, Peter Kemboi (KEN) won the men's race for the first time. Utah resident Emily Bates (USA) won the women's division. In 2013, Bryant Jensen (USA) won the men's race for the first time. Amber Green (USA) won the women's division. Both winners are Utah residents. 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

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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

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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

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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)

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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

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  Current course record
  Course record

Marathon distance

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Year Men's Winner Time Country Women's Winner Time Country
2008 [18] Steven Ashbaker 2:37:08.60   United States Josse Tobiasson 3:15:40.40   United States
2009 [19] Seth Wold 2:26:22.90   United States Mary Ann Schauerhamer 3:00:41.60   United States
2010 [20] Hillary Kibet Cheruiyot 2:21:28.9   Kenya Claudia Camargo-Nero 2:46:21.9   Argentina
2011 [21] Hillary Kibet Cheruiyot 2:19:18   Kenya Kassi Harmon 2:49:19   United States
2012 [22] Peter Kemboi 2:28:56   Kenya Emily Bates 2:56:49   United States
2013 [23] Bryant Jensen 2:20:27   United States Amber Green 2:51:43   United States
2014 [24] Ezekiel Kiplagat 2:25:36.6   Kenya Danya Crawford 2:51:21.5   United States
2015 [25] David Tuwei 2:30:10.0   United States Natalie Callister 2:48:52.2   United States
2016 [26] Stanley Boen 2:23:41   United States Amber Green 2:50:37   United States
2017 [27] Bryant Jensen 2:20:20   United States Ramona Sanchez 2:46:47   United States
2018 [28] Nicholas Arciniaga 2:21:26   United States Kayla Brown 2:51:31   United States
2019[29] Jonathan Kotter 2:21:04   United States Ashley Paulson 2:47:37   United States
2020*[30] Adam Hendrickson 2:31:05   United States Jackie Hendrickson 2:47:48   United States
2021[31] Bashash Walio 2:18:19   United States Obsie Birru 2:37:35   United States
2022[32] Fikadu Tegene 2:24:00   Ethiopia Lindsay Tollefson 2:51:28   United States
2023[33] Fikadu Tegene 2:21:28   Ethiopia Kassi Harmon 2:41:48   United States
2024[34] Fikadu Tegene 2:18:57   Ethiopia Grace Clements 2:41:55   United States

*Virtual marathon only in 2020.

Half marathon distance

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Year Men's Winner Time Country Women's Winner Time Country
2010 [35] Seth Pilkington 1:06:05.8   United States Lindsey Dunkley 1:13:33.0   United States
2011 [36] Brad Osguthorpe 1:05:03   United States Andrea North 1:17:54   United States
2012 [37] Kyle Perry 1:06:43   United States Kassi Harmon 1:21:16   United States
2013 [38] Joshua McCabe 1:06:53   United States Kassi Harmon 1:18:44   United States
2014 [39] Tylor Thatcher 1:05:45.8   United States Natalie Como 1:19:54.2   United States
2015 [40] Brett Hales 1:05:45.2   United States Natalie Como 1:18:38.0   United States
2016 [41] Brett Hales 1:05:45   United States Sariah Long 1:19:35   United States
2017 [42] Nicolas Montanez 1:04:29   United States Samantha Diaz 1:17:00   United States
2018 [43] Nathan Peters 1:07:04   United States Joy Miller 1:18:50   United States
2019[44] Travis Morrison 1:04:16   United States Emily Barrett 1:18:44   United States
2020*[45] Jeff Callister 1:15:15   United States Reanna Jereb 1:20:58   United States
2021[46] Sean O'Connor 1:05:08   United States Alycia Hill 1:16:26   United States
2022[47] Habtamu Cheney 1:05:08   United States Amanda Moore 1:21:19   United States
2023[48] Habtamu Cheney 1:02:57   United States Savannah Berry 1:11:40   United States
2024[49] Michael Ottesen 1:03:49   United States Hannah Branch 1:12:42   United States

*Virtual marathon only in 2020.

Number of finishers

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Year 5K 10K Half-Marathon Full Marathon TOTAL
2008 102 --- --- 102 204
2009 356 --- --- 595 951
2010 622 --- 783 1,445 2,850
2011 365 --- 1,948 1,656 3,969
2012 --- 432 2,511 2,044 4,987
2013 --- 358 1,972 1,471 3,801
2014 --- 316 1,513 1,426 3,255
2015 --- 419 1,660 1,145 3,224
2016 --- 371 1,276 955 2,602
2017 --- 879 1,943 1,176 3,998
2018 --- 403 1,177 889 2,469
2019 --- 534 1,187 880 2,601
2020* --- 123 277 248 648
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)
2024 381 648 2,124 1,212 4,365

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

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Get the runner's high". Daily Herald. 2008-05-08. Retrieved 2009-11-29.
  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.
  4. ^ "Get the runner's high". Daily Herald. 2008-05-08. Retrieved 2009-11-29.
  5. ^ Ruth. "Mentors International – Philanthropy That Works". Mentors International. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
  6. ^ "Pleasant Grove firefighters gain unity through marathon run". Daily Herald. 2009-06-19. Retrieved 2009-11-29.
  7. ^ "Kick it! Footbikes great for fun, fitness". Deseret News. 2009-08-12. Archived from the original on August 16, 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-29.
  8. ^ "Utah Valley Marathon: Learn About the Utah Valley Marathon". Utah Valley Marathon. 2013-11-15. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
  9. ^ "Utah Valley Marathon: Course Map & Elevation for the Utah Valley Marathon". Utah Valley Marathon, Half-Marathon & 5K. Retrieved 2009-11-29..
  10. ^ "Hillary Kibet CHERUIYOT | Profile | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
  11. ^ "2011 Utah Valley Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K & 5K Results". www.raceentry.com. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
  12. ^ "Thousands turn out for Utah Valley Marathon". Deseret News. Retrieved 2011-12-20..
  13. ^ "Utah Valley Half Marathon: Course Map & Elevation for the Utah Valley Half Marathon". Utah Valley Marathon, Half-Marathon & 5K. Retrieved 2010-03-07..
  14. ^ "Utah Valley Half Marathon: Come Run the Utah Valley Half Marathon in 2014". Utah Valley Marathon. 2013-11-15. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
  15. ^ "Utah 10K Race: Utah Valley 10K Race Information". Utah Valley Marathon. 2013-11-15. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
  16. ^ Park, McKell (2022-06-05). "Runners fill Provo streets to participate in the Utah Valley Marathon". The Daily Universe. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
  17. ^ "Utah Valley 1K Kids Fun Run: Utah Valley Fun Run". Utah Valley Marathon. 2013-11-15. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
  18. ^ "Utah Valley Marathon & 5K Overall Finish List - April 12, 2008". Stride Racing. Retrieved 2009-11-29.
  19. ^ "Utah Valley Marathon & 5K Overall Finish List - June 13, 2009". Stride Racing. Retrieved 2009-11-29.
  20. ^ "Utah Valley Marathon & 5K Overall Finish List - June 12, 2010". Stride Racing. Retrieved 2010-06-22.
  21. ^ "Utah Valley Marathon & 5K Overall Finish List - June 11, 2011". Race Day Timing. Retrieved 2011-12-20.
  22. ^ "Utah Valley Marathon Results Marathon". RaceIT & Race Day Timing. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
  23. ^ "Utah Valley Marathon ON 2013-06-08". RunSum Timing. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
  24. ^ "Utah Valley Marathon ON 2014-06-14". RunSum Timing. Retrieved 2014-08-31.
  25. ^ "Utah Valley Marathon ON 2015-06-13". RunSum Timing. Retrieved 2018-06-29.
  26. ^ "Utah Valley Marathon ON 2016-06-12". RunSum Timing. Retrieved 2018-06-29.
  27. ^ "2017 - Utah Valley Marathon, Half Marathon & 10K Results". RaceEntry LLC. Retrieved 2018-06-29.
  28. ^ "Utah Valley Marathon ON 2018-06-09". RunSum Timing. Retrieved 2018-06-29.
  29. ^ "2019 Utah Valley Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K & 5K Results". www.raceentry.com. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
  30. ^ "2020 Utah Valley Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K & 5K Results". www.raceentry.com. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
  31. ^ "2021 Utah Valley Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K & 5K Results". www.raceentry.com. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
  32. ^ "2022 Utah Valley Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K & 5K Results". www.raceentry.com. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
  33. ^ "2023 Utah Valley Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K & 5K Results". www.raceentry.com. Retrieved 2024-06-04.
  34. ^ "2024 Utah Valley Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K & 5K Results". www.raceentry.com. Retrieved 2024-06-04.
  35. ^ "Utah Valley Marathon & Half-Marathon Overall Finish List - June 11, 2011". Stride Racing. Retrieved 2011-12-20.
  36. ^ "Utah Valley Marathon & 5K Overall Finish List - June 11, 2011". Race Day Timing. Retrieved 2011-12-20.
  37. ^ "Utah Valley Marathon Results 1/2 Marathon - June 9, 2012". RaceIT & Race Day Timing. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
  38. ^ "Utah Valley Marathon ON 2013-06-08". RunSum Timing. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
  39. ^ "Utah Valley Marathon ON 2014-06-14". RunSum Timing. Retrieved 2014-08-31.
  40. ^ "Utah Valley Marathon ON 2015-06-13". RunSum Timing. Retrieved 2018-06-29.
  41. ^ "Utah Valley Marathon ON 2016-06-11". RunSum Timing. Retrieved 2018-06-29.
  42. ^ "2017 - Utah Valley Marathon, Half Marathon & 10K Results". RaceEntry LLC. Retrieved 2018-06-29.
  43. ^ "Utah Valley Marathon ON 2018-06-09". RunSum Timing. Retrieved 2018-06-29.
  44. ^ "2019 Utah Valley Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K & 5K Results". www.raceentry.com. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
  45. ^ "2020 Utah Valley Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K & 5K Results". www.raceentry.com. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
  46. ^ "2021 Utah Valley Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K & 5K Results". www.raceentry.com. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
  47. ^ "2022 Utah Valley Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K & 5K Results". www.raceentry.com. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
  48. ^ "2023 Utah Valley Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K & 5K Results". www.raceentry.com. Retrieved 2024-06-04.
  49. ^ "2024 Utah Valley Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K & 5K Results". www.raceentry.com. Retrieved 2024-06-04.
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