Ogden Marathon
Ogden, United States · May · Independent
Why people love it
- Net drop about 333 m (1,091 ft) from 1,646 m (5,400 ft) to downtown Ogden.
- Passes Pineview Reservoir and runs down Ogden Canyon beside the river.
- Boston qualifier; 2025 winners finished within 16 seconds of course records.
- Water roughly every 2.4 to 3.2 km (1.5 to 2 mi).
- Finish on Historic 25th Street with a festival.
Watch out for
- Everyone rides a bus loading 4:45 to 5:15 for a 7:00 start.
- Expect over an hour in 8 °C (46 °F) cold, with long toilet lines.
- 462 m (1,516 ft) of descent is hard on quads; one runner was sore for days.
- Sold out about 3 months ahead in 2026.
- Start altitude 1,646 m (5,400 ft); hydrate more.
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 28% of the overall score.
Toughness: Tough
- Racer satisfactionBucket list4.5
RaceRaves 4.7 of 5 from 107 ratings. A blogger called it her most beautiful course and ABC4 runners a bucket-list race. One racewalker gave 3.3. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.0
Organisation, volunteers and frequent aid praised. Over an hour of cold waiting, long toilet lines and no cell reception in staging cost points. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.7
Downhill and scenic with a 7 hour cutoff, but a 4:45 bus, a 1,646 m (5,400 ft) start and a quad-pounding descent are demanding. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast4.2
Net drop about 333 m (1,091 ft) and a Boston qualifier. 2025 winners finished within 16 seconds of course records. · Medium confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course scenerySpectacular4.7
RaceRaves scenery 4.8: valley fields, Pineview Reservoir, steep Ogden Canyon with a waterfall near 35 km (22 mi). Multiple reviewers call it the highlight. · High confidence
- Room to runRoomy3.9
A reviewer said the course was narrow in spots but runners were spread out enough not to matter. Small field of about 1,350. · Medium confidence
- Road surfaceGood3.8
No surface complaints found. Canyon road and river parkway. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed3.1
The canyon closes to traffic only for part of the morning; a 2022 racer noted runners and traffic convoys sharing the road. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessMostly flat3.8
Gain 114 m (374 ft), with a hill after 21 km (13 mi) and a climb near 22 to 24 km (14 to 15 mi). · Medium confidence
- Net downhillBig drop4.7
Net drop about 333 m (1,091 ft), organiser-advertised downhill Boston qualifier. · High confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSome waiting2.7
Everyone takes a bus, loading 4:45 to 5:15 for a 7:00 start. Reviewers describe over an hour in the cold and long toilet lines. · Medium confidence
- Pacers and timingGood3.9
Sunrise Run Co lists pace groups. Timing details not confirmed. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportDecent3.2
Reviewers describe sparse spectators on the road section, with loud support on the downtown greenway and last stretch. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.2
Water about every 2.4 to 3.2 km (1.5 to 2 mi) in a 2017 blog, good aid in 2022, and good post-race food per RaceRaves. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindMostly calm3.9
2022 reported light wind; canyon sections are sheltered. · Low confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant4.2
A start near 8 °C (46 °F) warming to 17 °C (63 °F) is ideal, though standing at the start is chilly. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.3
Race-date highs ran 15 to 29 °C (59 to 84 °F) across five years. Reports of both cold and warm years. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyTricky2.4
Point to point on mountain roads with bussed starts. Easiest spots are Eden and the downtown finish. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeElevated2.0
Start 1,646 m (5,400 ft), finish 1,313 m (4,309 ft). A blogger advised drinking more and acclimatising. · Medium confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityBook early3.4
Ogden has a modest supply and the race brings thousands. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.8
Smaller city, not verified for race weekend. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.3
Finish is downtown on 25th Street near hotels, but the start requires a bus from Washington Blvd. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.0
SLC is about 60 km (37 mi) away and the start is a bus ride. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.3
Assigned bus load windows and a drop-bag truck work, but start-line waiting is long. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood3.9
Historic 25th Street, Ogden outdoors culture. · Low confidence
Entry
How hard it is to get a place, and what you get for the fee. Counts for 8% of the overall score.
- Getting inRegister early2.7
Reportedly sold out about 3 months ahead, with returned spots gone in under a minute. · Medium confidence
- Value for moneyGood value3.8
RaceRaves swag 4.1 and production 4.7. Medal quality praised but branding busy. Fee not found. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Ogden, Weber County, United States
- Typical month
- May
- Latest or next date
- 15 May 2027
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 1,350 athletes
- First held
- 2001
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- point-to-point
- Climbing
- 114 m (375 ft)
- Descent
- 462 m (1,520 ft)
- Start time
- 07:00
- Cutoff
- 7 hours
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- Asphalt road and river parkway path
- How to get in
- open
- Sells out
- Yes
- Air temperature
- 7–19 °C (45–66 °F)
- Humidity
- Dry
- Altitude
- 1,646 m (5,400 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Salt Lake City International (SLC), 60 km (37 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Downtown Ogden near 25th Street, Near the Eccles Conference Center
- Booking
- Book Ogden hotels early, buses to the start load from 4:45.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRavesRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
Reviewers agree on beautiful scenery, strong volunteers and organisation, frequent aid and good post-race food. The recurring weaknesses are a cold crowded wait before the start, long toilet lines and thin spectator support on parts of the course.
“It doesn't eat your quads like other marathons here.”
- Bucket List TummyRaced 2017 · blog · Positive
Ran 3:31:05, 11 minutes faster than her first marathon. A VIP bus left at 5:00, the start was chilly at altitude, the descent hurt her quads for days, water came every 2.4 to 3.2 km (1.5 to 2 mi) and the downtown greenway finish was loud. Her husband ran 2:47 and qualified for Boston.
“It was the MOST beautiful course I have ever run.”
- MarathonGuideRaced 2022 · aggregator · Mixed
Racewalker rating of 3.3. Start 8 miles (13 km) east of Huntsville at 8 °C (46 °F), five-mile (8 km) descent, canyon the most scenic section. Good traffic and aid support but sparse spectators and runners sharing the road with traffic convoys.
“Good traffic and aid station support throughout.”
- ABC4Raced 2025 · article · Positive
Local news on the 25th edition. Two first-hand runners: one called it a favourite race, another travelled from Texas for his first marathon and called it a bucket-list item. The finish festival has a DJ, kids activities and food vendors.
“A bucket-list item.”
- Standard-ExaminerRaced 2025 · article · Positive
2025 race report. Runners praised ideal weather. The marathon had 1,351 participants and the half 2,967. Both marathon winners were within 16 seconds of the course records.
Show 2 more
- Sunrise Run Coaggregator · Positive
Stats page: downhill point-to-point, gain 114 m (374 ft), loss 462 m (1,516 ft), 6 hour limit listed, pace groups yes. Reviewers on the page praise the medal but find the design busy.
- BibRaveaggregator · Positive
Five BibRave reviewers, 80% of whom recommend the race.
Raced Ogden Marathon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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