Top of Utah Marathon: Pacing & Race-Day Strategy
A net-downhill romp out of Blacksmith Fork Canyon into Logan — fast, scenic, and BQ-friendly.
- Where:
- Logan, Utah
- When:
- September
- Course:
- Canyon net downhill
- Best run as:
- Even pace
Course & elevation
Top of Utah falls net from a high start in Blacksmith Fork Canyon down through Cache Valley to a finish in Logan. The descent is concentrated in the canyon’s opening miles, then the course settles into gentle valley grades and a flat run through the farm country into town. It’s a smooth, moderate downgrade — fast without the punishing steepness of the steepest canyon courses.
- Start → Finish
- 5,400 → 4,500 ft
- Net
- −900 ft
- Total gain
- ≈ 0 ft
Key moments
- Mile 1–7The canyon descent out of Blacksmith Fork — the fastest miles; stay light and relaxed.
- Mile 8–18The grade gentles into Cache Valley farmland — settle into even goal effort.
- Mile 23–26.2A flat run through Logan to the finish — a controlled start lets you close strong.
Pacing strategy
Get downhill reps in training so the canyon miles build speed instead of debt. Roll the early descent on a quick, soft cadence, then hold steady effort across the flatter valley — even pacing on this profile naturally yields a fast, Boston-legal finish.
Plan your mile splits
Enter your goal time to get a mile-by-mile pacing band for Top of Utah Marathon. The even pace option is pre-selected to suit this course.
| Mile | Pace | Elapsed |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9:09/mi | 9:09 |
| 2 | 9:09/mi | 18:18 |
| 3 | 9:09/mi | 27:28 |
| 4 | 9:09/mi | 36:37 |
| 5 | 9:09/mi | 45:46 |
| 6 | 9:09/mi | 54:55 |
| 7 | 9:09/mi | 1:04:05 |
| 8 | 9:09/mi | 1:13:14 |
| 9 | 9:09/mi | 1:22:23 |
| 10 | 9:09/mi | 1:31:32 |
| 11 | 9:09/mi | 1:40:41 |
| 12 | 9:09/mi | 1:49:51 |
| 13 | 9:09/mi | 1:59:00 |
| 14 | 9:09/mi | 2:08:09 |
| 15 | 9:09/mi | 2:17:18 |
| 16 | 9:09/mi | 2:26:28 |
| 17 | 9:09/mi | 2:35:37 |
| 18 | 9:09/mi | 2:44:46 |
| 19 | 9:09/mi | 2:53:55 |
| 20 | 9:09/mi | 3:03:05 |
| 21 | 9:09/mi | 3:12:14 |
| 22 | 9:09/mi | 3:21:23 |
| 23 | 9:09/mi | 3:30:32 |
| 24 | 9:09/mi | 3:39:41 |
| 25 | 9:09/mi | 3:48:51 |
| 26 | 9:09/mi | 3:58:00 |
| 26.22 | 9:09/mi | 4:00:00 |
Fueling & hydration
Aid stations roughly every 2 miles with water and sports drink. The cool, dry canyon air masks fluid loss while the descent makes the pace feel free — keep a fixed fluid and gel schedule from the start.
Weather
Mid-September in Cache Valley delivers a cold canyon start warming to mild, dry conditions — crisp early-morning temps make for ideal racing through the fast opening miles.
Train for Top of Utah Marathon
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