Say what?
SOGONAPMIT is Timpanogos backwards. And? Ok, the Timpanogos is a half marathon which starts at the Tibble Fork Reservoir in American Fork Canyon Utah. It traverses down the canyon as the sun rises, providing spectacular views. The course is primarily downhill until it flattens out and heads into the outskirts of town. So....the marathon starts at the FINISH of the half marathon and runs the course backwards. It is timed such that the half marathoners are waiting for the full marathon participants to make it to the top before the half starts. The full marathoners are greeted by approximately 2,000 cheering people as they summit, then prepare to turn around and run their "2nd half" with the half marathoners on the way back down. Thus the marathon SOGONAPMIT.
As I read about this event my mind started racing with regards to crazy logistic issues. Like time. The half marathon starts at 6:00 AM! Yikes. The full marathon starts at 3:20 AM! You have 2 1/2 hours to complete the half (keeping in mind that it is primarily UPHILL as you leave town and head up the canyon and it's DARK). I didn't even mention altitude. The Tibble Fork reservoir sits at over 6,000 feet. The town of American Fork is at about 4500 feet. Ouch. Marathoners are provided head lamps and are required to wear reflective vests. Carrying fluids is also suggested, as the aid stations are on the course, but not yet manned. My mind couldn't get past how the pace timing was going to be handled for those that run the first half faster then 2 1/2 hours. (Not to mention having to stop running for a potentially lengthy amount of time before starting up again). Not that I think this would be an issue for ME, but reading further I see that it is chip timed, so I am assuming they take your chip times and add them at the finish. I have never heard any race like this before! Sounds crazy!
Ok so here are the stats:
2013 marks the third year for this race, and from the start it has been an organizationally top-notch race. The numbers from last year appear to be about 2000 people for the half, and only about 100 for the full. There doesn't appear to be an expo--merely a packet pick-up, which is disappointing. Still, the event appears to have a lot of sponsors for their race packets, and runners also receive gender-specific short sleeved tech tops.
The medals get rave reviews every year. This year's marathon medal appears to be a "spinner". Very big and colorful too. The race director has been quoted as saying, "It's all about the medal". This is my kind of race director.
Race day logistics seem pretty easy. The half marathoners take a bus up to the canyon start. I believe the full marathoners can have a bag taken to the top in order to drop off the "night time accessories" and pick up items for the 2nd half of the run.
Terrain wise, this would be an extremely difficult marathon, but one reviewer said, "the mountain isn't as visually intimidating in the dark", another person said it wasn't as hard as he expected, and another said the downhill 2nd half was incredible and went by fast. Finally one person practically screamed, "DO IT!"
I doubt there are any spectators on the course, but running with the half marathoners would make the 2nd half less lonely, and too, the scenery will make up for the loss of "hoopla", as always.
American Fork is a small town, but seems to have enough hotels and restaurants to make it work without having to stay in Provo (15 miles away) or Salt Lake City (a bit further away). Getting to American Fork via Provo or Salt Lake City looks to be pretty simple too.
Weather-wise, it will most likely be hot and dry, with the lows in the 60's and the highs in the 90's, but it will be considerably cooler in the canyon before sunrise, and running the first half in the dark will be a blessing.
I'm not sure I can get up enough nerve to run this marathon, mainly because I am still scarred from the elevation battle during Utah's Wasatch relay. That HURT. I really like the race concept though, and I think it would be really unique to run the entire first half of a marathon in the dark. Everyone says that hitting the summit with the half marathoners cheering for you is incredible.
Here is their web-site: http://timphalf.com/
They also have a facebook page and several videos on you-tube.
So, interesting, yes! Do-able, yes! Maybe I should take the runner's advice and DO IT!
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