
Salt Lake City, United States of America · Friday 24 July 2026
The event features a road marathon that begins at the top of Big Mountain, situated above Emigration Canyon near Salt Lake City. The 26.2-mile course is known for its significant net descent, dropping approximately 3,200 feet from start to finish. After descending through the canyon, the route follows the historical path used by the Utah pioneers when they first entered the valley. The race then continues into downtown Salt Lake City, where the final stretch guides runners along the Days of '47
Adjusted Time
4:22:19
Time difference: +22.3 minutes compared to a flat, road, temperate course.
Deseret News Marathon is a full marathon held in Salt Lake City, United States of America, scheduled for Friday 24 July 2026. The course is run on road surface with 145m of total elevation gain, reaching a maximum altitude of 2270m above sea level. For registration and full race details, visit the official Deseret News Marathon website.
With 145m of elevation gain, this is a moderately undulating course. The route ranges from 1293m to 2270m above sea level (977m total range). While not completely flat, the elevation changes are manageable for most runners and shouldn't significantly impact pacing strategy.
Based on historical weather data for July, the expected race day conditions are as follows. Hot conditions are expected, with temperatures between 21°C and 35°C. Heat is one of the biggest performance factors in marathon running — research shows that for every degree above 15°C, marathon times slow by approximately 1-2%. Extra hydration and a conservative start are strongly recommended. There is a low chance of rain (1%), so dry conditions are likely.
Deseret News Marathon is run on road surfaces, which provide the fastest and most predictable conditions for marathon running. Road courses allow for consistent pacing and are typically the best choice for runners targeting a personal best time.
Our difficulty rating for Deseret News Marathon is calculated using a model that combines elevation gain, temperature impact, and surface type. Use the difficulty calculator above to enter your target finish time and see exactly how many minutes this course would add or subtract compared to a perfectly flat, cool, road-based marathon. Faster runners and slower runners are affected differently by the same course conditions, so the difficulty is personalised to your pace.
Looking for an easier marathon or a tougher challenge? You can also compare Deseret News Marathon against other marathons to find the right race for your goals.
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