2,180 racers participate in Zion Half Marathon; third consecutive title for men’s winner; STGnews Photo Gallery

Zion Half Marathon, Springdale, Utah, March 14, 2015 | Photo by Scott Young, St. George News

SPRINGDALE – Saturday, under clear skies and with the promise of pristine conditions, more than 2,000 runners gathered at the starting line in Virgin for the third annual running of the Zion Half Marathon.

The race is part of a half marathon series held near various national parks. Launched in 2012, the series now has eight races near various parks  Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Great Smoky Mountain, Lake Powell, Rocky Mountain, Yellowstone, Yosemite and Zion national parks

Finish line of the Zion Half Marathon, Springdale, Utah, March 14, 2015 | Photo by Scott Young, St. George News
Finish line of the Zion Half Marathon, Springdale, Utah, March 14, 2015 | Photo by Scott Young, St. George News

Operated by Vacation Races, the Zion Half Marathon is known both for its beautiful course and its environmentally friendly policy – among other things, the race is cupless, meaning racers must carry their own hydration pouch, belt or backpack.

For the third year in a row, Walter Brown, of West Jordan, took first place overall in men’s. This year’s first place overall winner in women’s, Katie Guisinger, of St. George, knocked the previously reigning queen for the past two years off her throne.

In all, the 2015 Zion Half Marathon had a total of 2,180 racers check in at the registration table to get their T-shirts and bibs, race owner Salem Stanley said. In 2013, the race’s first year, just over 500 people registered, he said. Of those 500 registered racers, there were six teams total; this year, 50 teams participated.

Runners traverse the beautiful Zion Half Marathon course that starts in Virgin and ends in Springdale, Utah, March 14, 2015 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News
Runners traverse the beautiful Zion Half Marathon course that starts in Virgin and ends in Springdale, Utah, March 14, 2015 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

The second year, Stanley said, the numbers almost tripled, reaching a surprising 1,400 registered runners and teams. A continuation of the pattern of exponential growth in 2016 could mean the fourth year of the race will top out and a cap will have to be put on registration in the future, he said.

“Year one, we only had like 500 (runners),” Stanley said. “But the next year we almost tripled, and this year we almost doubled that. By next year, we will probably max out on the number of racers we can have participate.”

Only about 3.5 percent of last year’s 1,400-plus participants were from Southern Utah, Stanley said.

With registered participants from all over the United States and as far away as Canada, Brazil and Denmark, Stanley said, the number of people could become a bit taxing on the small towns of Rockville and Springdale as traffic builds for travelers heading to Zion National Park.

“Right about now, there is a line of cars trying to get into the Zion park entrance and they are waiting about 10 minutes to get in,” he said. “That’s more like peak season. Usually, it’s only a couple-minute wait to get in around this time of year – if at all.”

Spectators hold up funny signs to encourage runners at the Zion Half Marathon, Springdale, Utah, March 14, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Hollie Reina, St. George News
Spectators hold up funny signs to encourage runners at the Zion Half Marathon, Springdale, Utah, March 14, 2015 | Photo courtesy of Hollie Reina, St. George News

One thing Stanley said he noticed this year was a lack of port-a-potties needed for runners. He said they thought they had a handle of what the needs would be for the race, but there were lines at each one he saw.

“Next year, we are definitely going to up the number of port-a-potties,” he said. “We think we have a good idea of how that will look and how we can fix the problem.”

With as many participants as there were this year, Stanley said, he was surprised there was not a single injury on the course that he was aware of.

“We all are pretty big fans of the national parks,” he said. “It’s hard to imagine doing anything that would be more fulfilling and (that would make us) more happy.”

St. George News reporter Hollie Reina contributed to this report.

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