One of Utah’s oldest road races and one of the oldest marathons west of the continental divide, the Deseret News Classic Marathon added the half marathon distance for the first time ever at its summer 2013 running, for a race that has drawn more than 2,400 runners each year in all races combined.
Deseret News Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K & 5K
Date
Jul 24, 2025
Starting Time
6:00 AM
Course
Road
Fees
$60+
Location
Salt Lake City
Participants
500-1000
Terrain
Fast & Flat
Environment
Lakefront
Temperature
High: 90°
/ Low: 68°
Overview
Course Description
Like the full marathon, the half marathon will start in the Wasatch Mountains that overlook Salt Lake City, along Emigration Canyon Road. Runners will start at between the 9 and 10 mile markers of the full marathon near Mountain Dell reservoir lake, and from there they’ll make the long, gradual descent along Emigration Canyon Road, the onetime route of the historic Pioneer Trail.
Beautifully scenic with mountains and valleys all around, the highway features a gentle descent into the city, where runners will meet up with the outskirts of Salt Lake City near the campus of the University of Utah.
They’ll run along the edge of campus for about two and a half miles, making their way along East South Temple toward Temple Square. After passing the mile 11 marker, the course flattens out as they head south toward Washington Square and Liberty Park, where the finish line lies.
The half marathon features an elevation drop of about 1,600 feet over the course of the race, and the course will close after 5 hours. As the race organizers describe it, “this is a course designed with a PR [personal record] in mind.”
Past Results
