Bryce Canyon Half Marathon

After picking up our race packets for the Bryce Canyon Half Marathon, we checked into our lodge (Ruby’s Inn!), we drove into the park to watch the sunset in the canyon. On our way in we saw some Prong Horn Antelope grazing by the road.

We walked to Sunset Point. Fitting!

Bryce Canyon was part of a previous family trip in 2004-but we didn’t ever go down into the Canyon. That was on my to-do list for the this trip!

The next morning, it was time to run the half marathon! It was Jordan’s very first half marathon, so he was nervous/excited about running. I had signed up for this race a few months back when I saw there was going to be a half marathon in Bryce the same time we were going to be there on vacation. I had to run it! Jordan signed up a few days before determined to run his first half marathon while on our epic trip. The race began at 6:00AM to avoid the high temps (it gets up into the 90s-100s in Utah in the summer) and began right at our lodge. How convenient.

It was chilly enough to even wear my light running jacket! It was perfect running weather. After about a mile, I stowed it away in my pack. I wore the Gregory Pace 5 Hydration Pack during the race because I like having water and a place to store gear.

The race is point-to-point, beginning in Bryce Canyon right outside of the National Park through Tropic to Cannonville.

It was such a cool experience to race in Utah!

It was such a beautiful race! Because I didn’t particularly train for this race, I knew I’d be on the slower side. I took my time and enjoyed the scenery. I think the elevation got to me after a while, though. The race began at 7,640 feet of elevation! There weren’t many hills, though, just a descent that flattens out near the end.

Jordan did awesome! He ran his first half in about 2:10, which is impressive considering he didn’t train. 😉 Unfortunately since I was still running, I didn’t get to see him finish-but he saw me.

This race was definitely a highlight of the trip for me, and it gets better!