Register for the 2017 Escalante Canyons Marathon and Half Marathon.
WELCOME TO THE 2017 ECM!
As we prepare to update the website for this year, we want to welcome everyone to the sixth annual running of the Escalante Canyons Marathon, scheduled for Saturday, October 14, 2017.
We also want to announce the inaugural run of the Escalante Canyons Half-Marathon, which will, at least this for this year, replace the ECM 10-Miler. Although we’re doing this in response to feedback from many runners that they would prefer the more traditional distance, we know that those dedicated 10-milers who have turned this race into their own tradition may be disappointed with the change. To these valued participants, we want to say a few things:
We are treating this first ECM Half-Marathon as an experiment, as we want to see if it does indeed prove to be a popular course. We also need to make sure the logistics of the longer course are feasible. Our preliminary race route, which we’ll finalize soon, will include the full length of the 10-miler course, with the additional 3.1 miles at the starting end on a beautiful, mostly downhill, groomed dirt road.
So we hope you 10-milers who’ve been planning to return this year are ready to put in a bit more training and join us for the ECM Half-Marathon. We’d truly love to see you again!
As we prepare to launch registration for the 2017 races, we’ll be making a few other changes as well. We’ll be working with ITSYOURRACE.com as our registration platform; this company works closely with our Blue Dome, our timing partner. The link to register via ITSYOURRACE will be up within the next week or two.
We’re also arranging to have much improved, interactive course maps as an integral part of escalantecanyonsmarathon.com, in hopes that participants in both races will be able to plan ahead for the terrain and elevation changes.
Stay tuned! We’ll be up and running before the end of the month. We hope you’ll add us to your calendars!
Photos from Fans
Here are a few awesome shots submitted by fans!
YouTube Video of the Hog’s Back!
Okay, one of the more famous stretches on this course is known as the Hog’s Back. It is a stretch of Highway 12 that has drop-offs on both sides of the road. The road is it’s normal width, but let’s just say there really isn’t an option to “pull over.” As a local kid who grew up in the area I have friends who would ride the school bus from Boulder to Escalante 5 days a week. The bus driver, who is about as good of man as you can find, would drive this road two times a day (the regular school schedule and a late schedule for kids involved in after school activities). He’s driving this stretch for over 20 years. I have heard stories of this bus driver having to get out of the bus on the Hog’s Back to help drive a tourists car across this section because they were too afraid to do so themselves. I’ll bet he has a few more stories to tell beyond that one. It’d be awesome to hear some more.
There are a couple of pull outs that offer truly spectacular views. It is an experience of its own just driving Utah’s highway 12. Can you imagine running a marathon along this inspiring stretch of road. Well don’t imagine anymore. Sign up today to run the Escalante Canyons Marathon and bring the family to take in the sites.
Here is a random video I found on YouTube that offers kind of a fun perspective on the Hog’s Back: click here for video
The Hog’s Back is about 2/3’s into the video.
Bring the family with you while you run!
The Escalante Canyons Marathon is truly a great opportunity to accomplish something great. First, this course takes you over and through some of the world’s most diverse and spectacular scenery. You’ll have a hard time deciding if you should run or stop to take it all in. It’s a challenging course as well. You’ll definitely earn the right to brag!
The second great accomplishment is that Escalante is home to one of the great family vacation destinations! Haha! Say that ten times fast.
You and your family can see and do so much while here. Choose from slot canyons like Spooky Gulch and Zebra Canyon, the 130 foot Calf Creek Falls, a historic Hole in the Rock pioneer trek, mountain meadows on the Griffin and Barney Top, pristine lakes on the Boulder Mountain, ATV and Hiking trails all over, and day trips to two of Utah’s many National Parks (Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef).
Bottom line is, get registered and book your stay today. You’re gonna love it.
Photo courtesy Josh Grant
Utah’s Highway 12, the worlds 2nd most beautiful highway
Here is an article that talks of Utah’s Scenic Byway 12. This article rated Highway 12 the worlds second most beautiful highway in the world. But don’t take their word for it. Come and see it for yourself this October. Come run this amazingly majestic route this October/
