Escalante Canyon Marathon the earliest qualifying race for the Boston Marathon
By Soni Brown
Runners at the Escalante Canyons Marathon and Half-Marathon Oct. 13 will have one of the earliest chances to qualify for the 2020 Boston Marathon. This year, runners face a more challenging race since the Boston Marathon qualifying pace has changed to reflect shorter, more competitive times.
“Every year, our fastest runners are able to qualify for the Boston Marathon but that’s not why runners choose to run the race,” said Mary J. Parkin, race organizer. “The route between Boulder and Escalante is exactly 26.2 miles. Between Boulder and Escalante, there is no other town, just amazing scenery. There’s no fighting of crowds, yet the community members, family, and friends who cheer runners on are full of enthusiasm.”
The Boston Athletic Association, the governing body of the Boston Marathon, now requires race participants to submit a net or chip time that is 5 minutes faster than qualifying paces of previous years. This means runners who previously finished a marathon and qualified with 3 hours and 5 minutes will now need 3 hours to qualify for 2020’s Boston Marathon. The Escalante Canyon’s full marathon is one of the first in the nation to help runners meet the eligibility.
Now in its sixth year, the Escalante Canyons marathon and half-marathon races are USA Track and Field certified courses, and the race record obtained at Escalante is acceptable for national ranking.
Cash awards are also being offered to the top three competitors in each category. Each male and female first-place marathon winner will receive $600. Second-place winners will be awarded $300, and $150 will go to each third-place winner. The half-marathon’s first place winner will get $125 each, second place will get $75, and third place will get $50.
The full marathon will start near Hills & Hollows close to Boulder, Utah and finish in Escalante City Park. The bib fee is $80. The race starts at 7:30 a.m. and the course closes at 1:30 p.m.
The half-marathon will start on the westbound lane of Byway 12 at the marathon halfway mark. The half-marathon bib fee is $55. The half-marathon starts at 9 a.m. with the course also closing at 1:30 p.m.
Runners can receive a 50 percent discount when two or more people are registered at the same time.
“For runners, the Escalante Canyons race is like no other event and is spectacular even as it gets more competitive,” said Falyn Owens, executive director of Garfield County Office of Tourism. “We find race participants really appreciate running the All-American Scenic Highway 12, which is considered one of the world’s most beautiful roadways, just for the sheer scenery of the run.”
The course map can be viewed here, and runners can register at raceentry.com. Registrations will be open until Oct. 13.
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