The Utah Desert Half Marathon will be taking place on Saturday, June 19 at 6:30 am in Carbon County. Marathon coordinators currently have reached their limit of runners so the race registration has now been closed but they are looking for local businesses and volunteers to assist with the marathon. Castle Country Radio was able to speak with Ryan Avila about the event.

“So the race is June 19, it’s starts at 6:30 am and all the runners are actually meeting at the Carbon County Senior Citizen Center on the big grassy lawn. The race starts near Horse Bench out in the southwest desert area of Price,” explained Avila. The race will run near the Pinnacle Peak area. The race will have over 200 runners from 14 different states. There will be a shuttle service available for the runners to get to the starting line.

Because the marathon has reached its limit, coordinators are still in need of volunteers to assist with the race and for local businesses to set up booths. “We just need businesses who want to promote themselves, maybe offer some samples or what not to the runners. We just need them to bring any kind of table they have, just a basic foldable table, a canopy if they have one, and basically just set up in the area. So we can meet the runners, tell them about what there is to do in Price, where to go eat after that race,” said Avila. Businesses would only need to be set up for two hours to accommodate the runners when they finish the race. It’s a free opportunity to show off your business or organization.

This area was chosen after Avila and his wife visited the area. “So one day my wife and I, we actually drove down there from Salt Lake City where we’re from. We just went mountain biking, we explored the area, and we thought, you know what, this would be a cool place to put on a half-marathon and then from there the ball got rolling,” stated Avila. Most of the course for the run is downhill from the Horse Bench starting point making its way back to the Carbon County Senior Center.

Any individuals who wish to volunteer or set up a booth can contact Avila by email wasatcheventsllc@gmail.com or visit the Utah Desert Half Marathon website at http://utahdeserthalfmarathon.com/

PHOTO COURTESY OF UTAH DESERT HALF MARATHON