Sick and tired of the same-old scenery on the Park City Half-Marathon’s out-and-back course? Well, the good news is that it’s all going to change this year. The Mountain trail Foundation has announced that the new half-marathon will now be a loop that showcases some of the best trails and scenery in the Park City area. If you’re signed up for this year’s race, or are planning to, then check pout the full press release below:
PARK CITY, Utah (April 28, 2014) — The Mountain Trails Foundation, a nonprofit that has built, maintained and advocated for human-powered recreation on hundreds of miles of trail in the Park City area for the past 20 years, is proud to announce a brand-new route for the Park City Half-Marathon this summer.
“We’re very excited about this new course,” Mountain Trails Foundation Executive Director Charlie Sturgis said. “It’s just one slice of the hundreds of miles of non-motorized Nordic, hiking and cycling trails in and around Park City, but it showcases so much of what Park City, the Wasatch Range, and the local trail network have to offer.”
The race takes place Aug. 16. and rather than an “out-and-back” course, the new route will instead loop around the greater Park City area, rolling along side a wetlands nature preserve, past the historic Kimball’s Hotel and through quiet neighborhoods. The course continues along the Old Ranch Road Recreation Corridor and the McLeod Creek path offering expansive views of the Wasatch Back before it loops back through the Willow Creek Open Space and the historic Wallon Farm site en route to the finish at the Newpark Resort Center.
“We’re really happy that we’re able to include McLeod Creek this year,” Sturgis said. “Its plank bridges, beaver ponds and aspen stands will offer some spectacular scenery to our racers and spectators.”
Sign-ups are already underway, and be sure to register soon! Registration currently costs $50 for the half-marathon and $70 for the marathon through April 30. Starting May 1, rates rise to $60 and $80 the day-of, and then $70 and $90 the day-of, limited to space availability.
Sign up on the Mountain Trails website, www.mountaintrails.org.
The Mountain Trails Foundation also plans to host three more events this year: the Jupiter Peak Steeplechase on Aug. 2, the Mid-Mountain Marathon on Sept. 13, and the 35th annual Tour des Suds on Sept. 21. Racers can also take-part in the “Triple Trail Challenge,” which combines the results of the steeplechase and two marathons.
For those looking to offer financial support to the foundation, a host of additional sponsorship opportunities are also available, Please contact Mountain Trails to learn more.