Annual Top of Utah Marathon brings thousands to Cache Valley
Winning the women’s division of the Top of Utah Marathon last year was a surprise to Lisa Mangum, but this year it’s her goal.
“I didn’t have any idea I could win,” Mangum said of last year.
Mangum, 32, of Providence, started running 11 years ago after she had her first baby. She has five kids now and is running her 14th marathon.
She ran a personal best 2:57:25 last year, setting a women’s course record for the marathon only five months after having a baby.
Her goal was to break three hours, which she did for the first time, but she’s confident she can do better this year.
“I should be able to run a 2:55,” Mangum said.
She also expects the competition to be tougher.
“The winner may have to run five minutes faster this year,” Mangum said.
Mangum has been focusing all year on this marathon, running as many as 95 to 100 miles a week during training, but has tapered down to about 30 miles the week before the race.
The Top of Utah Marathon celebrates its fifth year Saturday as runners of all ages and from across the world come to Cache Valley to run.
The marathon begins at the Hardware Ranch in Blacksmith Fork Canyon and ends at Merlin Olsen Park.
Bob Henke, race director of the marathon, said the location of the marathon is one reason people come to run.
“It’s the beauty of running through the mountains and small towns,” Henke said.
Other highlights runners mention on why they come is how well-organized the race is and how helpful the volunteers are. Henke said about 600 people have volunteered to help with the race this year. Volunteers run checkpoints along the route, helping runners to refuel with food and drinks.
The race is certified by USA Track and Field as a qualifier for the Boston Marathon and the Olympic Games.
The overall men’s division was won last year by Hobie Call of Laverkin, Utah with a time of 2:25:13. Jackson Omweri of Kenya and Alexander Pachev of Provo finished second and third.
Paul Peterson of Logan was the first local runner to cross the finish line, winning the Men’s 20-24 division at 2:40:17. Aaron Hale, also of Logan, won the 25-29 division with 2:47:33. Peterson and Hale will compete in this year’s race.
Julie Godderidge of Smithfield was second to Mangum in the overall women’s division, followed by Rebecca Walter of Salt Lake.
The Cache Chamber of Commerce organized the annual event to promote tourism in Cache Valley.
Henke said it’s difficult to tell how much economic impact the marathon has had.
“I’ve heard between $500,000 to $1 million,” Henke said. “We get 1,500-plus runners and their families, and they usually spend a night or two in hotels.”
The majority of racers are from Utah, but there are runners from all over the United States.
Some runners come a long distance to run a long-distance race. This year’s race will feature marathoners from Canada, Japan, Great Britain and the Netherlands.
Henke said, in 2000, an article in Runner’s World listed the Top of Utah Marathon as one of the best-kept marathon secrets in the United States.
The article “helped quite a bit” to make the race more well-known, Henke said.
To promote the race now, Henke said, every year an advertisement is placed in Runner’s World. Other marathoners find out about the race through the Internet and by word of mouth.
The race could continue to grow, Henke said, but the organizers are limited by the amount of hotel space in Cache Valley, as well as other logistics like being able to provide enough portable bathrooms.
However, Henke said ways to allow more runners are being considered.
The Top of Utah Marathon also shows that running is a sport for all ages. This year’s racers cover a spectrum of ages from 9 years old to 71.
Despite snow falling in the mountain in Cache Valley on Wednesday, Henke said the weather forecast looks good for the race Saturday.
No matter what the weather, Henke said, the race will go on.
-royburton@cc.usu.edu