21 June 2021
Ultra-Marathons in Davis
by cheyenne
There are so many things that make Davis a unique destination- 6 amusement centers, Antelope Island State Park, and our proximity to some of the best ski resorts in the world, just to name a few. But another unique characteristic of Davis has emerged over the last several years: ultra-marathons. Thanks to beautiful landscapes and over 500 miles of trails, Davis has quickly become a hotspot for ultra-marathon training and races.
Ultra-marathons are long-distance races that are longer than the traditional marathon length of 26.2 miles. Common ultra-marathon distances include 25 kilometers, 50 kilometers, 50 miles, and 100 miles. Dedicated trail running athletes have long been using Davis trails to train for these impressive feats and as the sport has gained popularity, there are now several annual ultra-marathons hosted in Davis! The newest race to make Davis its home, DC Peaks 50, debuts this year with a 50-mile race beginning at East Mountain Wilderness Park in Kaysville and finishing at Tunnel Springs in North Salt Lake.
Davis not only has breathless landscape views, but the impressive elevation gain found across our trails will also leave you breathless. Below, explore all of the ultra-marathons held annually in Davis, as well as other marathon and triathlon events.
Ultra-Marathons in Davis
Elephant Rock Trail Run
ABOUT: The Elephant Rock 50k is one gnarly, stunning point to point course connecting major Davis trails such as Holbrook Canyon Trail, The Great Western, Sessions Pass, Mill Creek, Kenney Creek, Mueller Park Trailhead, Cave Peak, Rudy’s Flat, and Elephant Rock. Now in its 5th year, the challenging and popular Elephant Rock consists now of four races: the 7-miler, the 13.8-miler, the 26.8-miler and the 50K throughout the Mueller Park area in Bountiful.
RACE DISTANCE: 50K, 26.8 miles, 13.8 miles, 7 miles
RACE DATE: August 14, 2021
RACE LOCATION: Mueller Park, Bountiful, Utah
Wasatch 100
ABOUT: The Wasatch Front 100 Mile Endurance Run is held the first Friday and Saturday after Labor Day each year. The run stretches from East Mountain Wilderness Park in Davis to Soldier Hollow and covers some of the most beautiful scenery the Wasatch Mountains have to offer. This is a premier run that will test the endurance of any runner.
The course begins in Davis at East Mountain Wilderness Park, running south to the mouth of Bair Canyon at the foot of Francis Peak. The trail then turns south and follows the crest of the Wasatch range past Francis Peak, through Farmington Flats and Arthur’s Fork, along Sessions Ridge, over City Creek Pass, and continues on along the Wasatch Mountains.
RACE DISTANCE: 100 miles
RACE DATE: September 10, 2021
RACE LOCATION: Starts at East Mountain Wilderness Park. Ends at Soldier Hollow.
DC Peaks 50
ABOUT: The DC Peaks 50 is a brand-new point-to-point ultra-marathon that will have you breathing heavy through a big smile. The race begins at East Mountain Wilderness Park in Kaysville and takes you on an adventure of trails, service roads and 2.5 miles of paved road. You’ll hit a sweet climb on the Great Western Trail, go through some of the most popular hiking trails in Mueller Park, and end at Tunnel Springs Park in North Salt Lake. It’s a tough course with 12,000 feet of vertical gain. This race was designed by ultra-runners who felt Davis needed its own ultra-marathon, so you know it’s a good one!
RACE DISTANCE: 50 miles
RACE DATE: October 9, 2021
RACE LOCATION: Throughout the Wasatch Front in Davis. Starts at East Mountain Wilderness Park (Kaysville). Ends at Tunnel Springs (North Salt Lake).
Antelope Island Fall Classic 50K
ABOUT: The Antelope Island Fall Classic is a 50-kilometer ultra-running race that takes place annually each November. This race is organized by the same group that hosts the Buffalo Run each spring. This route differs slightly from the Buffalo Run 50K but still takes runners across iconic Antelope Island trails like White Rock Bay, Elephant Head, and Sentry Trail. Total elevation gain is 3,500 feet. Antelope Island is the largest island in the Great Salt Lake and is sure to offer spectacular views throughout the length of the race. You may also catch a glimpse of wildlife like bison, pronghorn antelope, deer, coyotes, and countless bird species.
RACE DISTANCE: 50K
RACE DATE: November 5, 2021
RACE LOCATION: Antelope Island State Park
Buffalo Run
ABOUT: The Buffalo Run is an annual series of races held at Antelope Island State Park in the early spring. All race distances guide you through many of the most popular trails at Antelope Island such as White Rock Bay, Elephant Head, Mountain View Trail, and more with total elevation gain of 2,000 or 3,8000 feet (depending on distance). This race is hosted at Antelope Island State Park which is home to 600 bison and is the largest island on the Great Salt Lake.
Training runs are often held monthly during the wintertime. Learn more at Buffalo Run’s Facebook Page.
RACE DISTANCE: 25K, 50K, 50M, 100M
RACE DATES: 2022 dates TBD. Typically held in March
RACE LOCATION: Antelope Island State Park
Marathons and Half Marathons in Davis
Handcart Days Half Marathon
Race Options: Half Marathon, 5K, Youth 1K
Date: July 24, 2021
Location: Bountiful, Utah
Antelope Island Marathon
Race Options: Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, 5K
Date: October 9, 2021
Location: Antelope Island State Park
Mountain View Trail Half Marathon
Race Options: Half Marathon
Date: November 5, 2021
Location: Antelope Island State Park
Triathlons in Davis
South Davis Labor Day Triathlon
Race Options: Sprint Triathlon, Sprint Relay Triathlon, Novice Triathlon
Date: September 6, 2021
Location: Bountiful, Utah
The Brineman Triathlon
Race Options: Sprint Triathlon, Olympic Triathlon, Olympic Relay Triathlon, Long Course Triathlon, Kids Triathlon
Date: September 11, 2021
Location: Syracuse, Utah
South Davis Indoor Triathlon
Race Options: Indoor Triathlon
Date: December 11, 2021
Location: Bountiful, Utah
PAST TRIATHLONS
Legacy Duathlon
Race Options: Sprint Duathlon, Sprint Relay Duathlon, Olympic Duathlon, Olympic Relay Duathlon
Date: April 24, 2021. 2022 date TBD
Location: North Salt Lake, Utah
Splash-n-Sprint Triathlon
Race Options: Sprint Triathlon, Sprint Relay Triathlon, Novice Triathlon
Date: May 8, 2021. 2022 date TBD
Location: Bountiful, Utah