Your plan in four answers
Set for June 5, 2027, about 32 weeks out.
- Distances
- Marathon, Half marathon, 10K, 5K
- Sport
- Running
- Taper starts
- May 18, 2027
Course
The Utah Valley Marathon course
The marathon is a point-to-point course that starts at 6:00 AM in Wallsburg and descends into Provo Canyon, following the Provo River past Bridal Veil Falls before finishing on the Provo Historic Courthouse grounds in downtown Provo. The net drop is 1,444 feet on a consistent downhill grade, and the course is USATF certified and Boston qualifying.
Read the full course notes
The half marathon starts on US 189 near the Sundance turn-off, runs the second half of the marathon route with a 698-foot net drop and has zero turns. The 10K starts at 7:00 AM at Canyon Crest Elementary and drops 284 feet along the last miles of the marathon. Shuttle buses take every runner to the start, and the marathon has 14 aid stations with water and sports drink.
- Distances
- Marathon, Half marathon, 10K, 5K
- Weather on race day
- Early June in Provo is usually dry and comfortable: June averages a low of 55 °F and a high of 83 °F, and the average high around June 7 is 79 °F. Muggy days are essentially absent in June, and it is the month with the fewest wet days of the year. The 6:00 AM canyon start is the coolest part of the day, so bring a throwaway layer for the wait. The sun climbs quickly as you reach the valley, so wear sunscreen and drink at the aid stations.
What to train for
A long downhill course rewards strong quads as much as aerobic fitness, so add downhill repeats and steady runs on gentle descents in your final 8 to 10 weeks.
Practice holding goal pace on a decline without overstriding, keeping your cadence quick and your feet under your hips.
Schedule a few early morning long runs, because buses leave before dawn and the marathon starts at 6:00 AM. Marathoners who finish in under 6 hours earn a medal, so build an even pacing plan and enjoy the canyon views on the way down.
Sample week
A sample Utah Valley Marathon training week
A week from the middle of the build, about six weeks out. Your plan sets the real distances and paces from your own fitness and adjusts them every week as you train.
- Monday
- Rest, or 20 minutes of mobility
- Tuesday Key session
- Intervals: 5 × 1 mile at 5K to 10K effort, easy jog between
- Wednesday
- Easy run, 6–7 mi
- Thursday Key session
- Goal-pace run, 10 mi with 6 mi at race pace
- Friday
- Recovery run, 4 mi, or cross-train
- Saturday Key session
- Long run, 16–18 mi, the last 4 mi at race pace
- Sunday
- Easy run, 4 mi, then 6 relaxed strides
Your build to race day
Taper
Tapering for the Utah Valley Marathon
Start the taper two to three weeks before race day. Cut your weekly volume by about a third, then by half in race week, and keep a few short efforts at race pace so your legs stay sharp. With the race on June 5, 2027, your taper starts around May 18, 2027.
Also in Claude
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Build me a training plan for the Utah Valley Marathon on June 5, 2027. I run [distance] a week, [days] days a week, easy pace [pace].
Utah Valley Marathon training questions
How long should I train for the Utah Valley Marathon?
Most runners give a marathon sixteen to twenty weeks of focused training on top of an existing base. The plan above counts back from your actual race date, so if you have less time than that it builds the best plan the remaining weeks allow rather than pretending you have longer.
Is the Utah Valley Marathon course hilly?
The marathon is a point-to-point course that starts at 6:00 AM in Wallsburg and descends into Provo Canyon, following the Provo River past Bridal Veil Falls before finishing on the Provo Historic Courthouse grounds in downtown Provo.
What is the weather usually like at the Utah Valley Marathon?
Early June in Provo is usually dry and comfortable: June averages a low of 55 °F and a high of 83 °F, and the average high around June 7 is 79 °F. Muggy days are essentially absent in June, and it is the month with the fewest wet days of the year. The 6:00 AM canyon start is the coolest part of the day, so bring a throwaway layer for the wait. The sun climbs quickly as you reach the valley, so wear sunscreen and drink at the aid stations.
When should I start tapering for the Utah Valley Marathon?
Start the taper two to three weeks before race day. Cut your weekly volume by about a third, then by half in race week, and keep a few short efforts at race pace so your legs stay sharp. With the race on June 5, 2027, your taper starts around May 18, 2027.
Do I need an account to get a Utah Valley Marathon training plan?
No. The plan above builds in your browser with no account, no email, and no card. Make a free account only if you want to keep it, log your runs against it, and have the coach keep adapting it as your training goes.