Yet again, Ogden Marathon doesn't disappoint

OGDEN — Never has the motto for the Ogden Marathon been more fitting, "Utah's Spring Run-Off." Not only was the Ogden River maxing capacity, so were the buses hauling a record number of runners 26 miles out of town for the 11th annual race.

This was my fifth time descending through the canyons with Ogden's South Fork at my side. I couldn't have asked for more perfect weather, a cool-high 40-something to start and a refreshing-high 50s at the finish.

It's my hometown marathon, the one I can still sleep in, the one I could almost walk home from and the one to which I'm most loyal. Even before the gun goes off, it's party time in Ogden.

For one thing, the Ogden Marathon Fun & Fitness Expo the Friday before is more like a neighborhood reunion party. There's definitely more fun than fitness going on. And as I casually stroll through the booths of running, cycling and nutrition products, I spend way more time catching up on the lives of friends and acquaintances.

It's not like most fitness expos, usually held in hollow, warehouse-style buildings with as much character as a box of rocks. It's at the Historic Union Station, a place with a long and colorful history and perfect for people to cross paths and share stories. If you're lucky, you may even spot one of the ghosts that roam through the allegedly haunted edifice.

After the expo, you have absolutely no reason to complain that there was no pasta dinner offered. As you spill out onto 25th St., you quickly discover a myriad of carbo-loading cuisine, most of which has been specially prepared by local restaurant owners who alter their menus to cater to marathoners.

Come marathon morning, I knew exactly what to expect, and I probably followed about the same routine I usually do.

Wake up, shower, get dressed, eat oatmeal, check the gear, lace up the shoes, rush out the door, catch the bus, etc., etc. It's a routine that has always worked well for me. That is, except the time I arrived and there were no more buses. I filled my Jeep with some other tardy runners and we drove up together that year.

In a nutshell, the course goes like this. The first seven miles drop about 500 feet as it comes down from Causey Reservoir along the river. The next 11 miles lazily meander through the farms of Ogden Valley and around Pineview Reservoir until you reach the top of Ogden Canyon. During this stretch of the course, runners are welcomed by a party, music and plenty of support as they pass the halfway mark.