Imagine running through the valley of a beautiful Wyoming mountain-scape. Snowy peaks ridging across the sky. Wildflower grasses rustling in the breeze. Domestic horses galloping alongside you on a nearby ranch.

Sounds dreamy, right? Sometimes I can’t even believe that I ran a half marathon in Grand Teton National Park!

Vacation Races

I have a strict rule when it comes to running half marathons: if I’m running 13.1 miles, I’m sure as heck not doing it at home. Half marathons are hard enough as it is, so why not make an adventure of it? My first half marathon was in Disney World, so naturally I had to step it up a notch by running through a national park!

I found this half marathon through Vacation Races, which is a company that organizes 5ks, half marathons, and ultra marathons throughout the U.S. national parks. They’re a zero-waste company that prioritizes environmental sustainability in all of their races. That mainly meant that they didn’t provide water cups for racers. Instead, they encouraged racers to bring their own hydration pack or reusable cup to fill up at the hydration stations.

They also raise funds for the preservation of these national parks. Really, this company is all about creating sustainable adventures for runners, and I am so here for it.

They also put on international excursion races. Some of these destinations include Ireland, Croatia, Patagonia, and New Zealand (umm…yes please!). While the races in the U.S. are structured like any other 5k or half marathon, the global adventures are a little different. These races are all-inclusive adventures. You’ll hang out with your group of runners for a week, hiking and running through the gorgeous trails of the country rather than running a full half. This is a great way to get in your exercise while also going on once-in-a-lifetime excursions!

Why Wyoming?

Whether this is your first half marathon or this is your first destination race, I highly recommend doing the race through Grand Teton. I chose this race because their website said it was their most beautiful finish line (can’t argue that) and was also the easiest race course they offer. Gorgeous views and minimal effort? Sign me up!

While all of their races are marketed for beginner runners, I’ve found that some of their other races may be way more strenuous. However, if you’re into that, some of these other national park destinations include:

• Yosemite
• Zion
• Mount Rainier
• Glacier

Overall though, I fell in love with Grand Teton National Park by doing this trip. Do yourself a favor and lace up your running shoes!

The Race

We had to wake up at 3 a.m. to get to the starting line by 5, which was when the race lot closed. The race itself didn’t start until 6:30 a.m., but that gave us plenty of time to watch the sunrise, stretch, and take a couple snack breaks. Watching the sunrise over the Teton range as we lined up to start this incredible accomplishment was one of the most beautiful and rewarding moments.

While the course didn’t go through the actual national park, it did have incredible views of the Teton range throughout the entire race. It started at the Stilson lot in Wilson, Wyoming and finished more towards Jackson Hole. The finish line crossed into a gorgeous wildflower meadow that overlooked the Teton mountain range, and it was STUNNING.

This is coined the easiest course because the majority of the trail was on paved bike lanes, which makes running easier on your muscles and joints. The last couple miles transitioned onto gravel, and that was rough on my ankles and knees. I can’t imagine doing a race fully on gravel.

It was also easy because of the minimal elevation gain. Because their courses are based in the national parks, that means most of them are through mountainous landscapes high above sea level and have long inclines. Compared to some of their other courses, this trail was fairly flat and had minimal incline. I’m from the east coast, so my body is acclimated to lower elevations. I was super worried that, because I’m not used to higher elevations, I would have trouble breathing while running such a long distance. The elevation actually didn’t bother me though, but I still allowed my body breaks when I needed it and took extra care to concentrate on my breathing.

Pre-Race Checklist

1. Practice your incline runs.

Even though there’s minimal inclines on the course, it’ll help your body adjust to the terrain if you practice incline runs in your training. Focus on diversifying the incline in your runs so you can train your body to handle the Wyoming valley.

2. Arrive in Jackson a few days before the race.

Your body will need some time to acclimate to the elevation, so I recommend arriving at least 2 days before the race. Drink lots of water and eat potassium rich foods to help with elevation sickness.

3. Buy a hydration pack of wrist bottle for water.

Because the race doesn’t provide water cups, you’ll want to make sure you have a mechanism to hold your water. When registering for the event, you can also buy a reusable cup that you can pickup at the race expo.

4. Pack layers.

The race is in early June, but even then the air in Wyoming is still chilly. You’ll want to pack layers so that you aren’t freezing.

5. Reserve an Airbnb ASAP.

We stayed at the gorgeous Teton Valley Resort, but it was a little far from the race. We had to drive up and through the mountain pass at 4 a.m., which was not ideal. The pass from Victor, Idaho down into Jackson Hole is steep and curvy, which is not the type of road you want to be on in the dead of night. Because the race is right around the time tourist season picks up, you’ll want to reserve your Airbnb as far in advance as possible so you can snag something close by.

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