Southern Utah Half Marathon

The Southern Utah Half Marathon starts at 7:00 a.m. on March 27, 2027, from Highland Park in Washington, Utah, over a single 13.1-mile distance. The course runs net downhill, with sunrise views toward Zion National Park before a quick descent through the town of Washington.

From there the route joins the paved Virgin River Trail, where a steady, gradual descent over the last eight and a half miles sets up strong finishes and fast times. That profile makes this a natural pick for a personal best or a qualifying attempt, but downhill running punishes quads that have not trained for it, so add some controlled descents to your long runs in the final six weeks. Start conservatively rather than letting the early drop pull you into a pace you cannot hold.