Cedar Breaks at Night Half Marathon
Cedar Breaks at Night Half Marathon
the 2023 event has passed | Brian Head, UT
Brian Head, UT
Turn things up a notch with the Cedar Breaks at Night Half Marathon. Unlock a new challenge as we combine high elevation and dirt trails with darkness. You'll want your best footing for this one (and maybe hiking poles if that's your fancy).
The Cedar Breaks area is adjacent to Bryce Canyon which means you'll be near the top of the Paunsaugunt Plateau at the start line — just shy of 11,000 feet if you were wondering. From there, we don our headlamps and scurry downhill to a colorfully lit finish line. This is a course worth conquering if you're up for a darkened, downhill thrill!
Curious about preparing for a high altitude run? Check out Active at Altitude's blog post for tips.
Race Day
Bib Pickup
There is no expo, bit bib pickup will be available throughout the event.
Merchandise
Get to Know Your Half Marathon Course
I'm beaten, battered, and bruised
but I still loved this course!
- 2022 Runner (RaceRaves)
Maps & Elevation
This is a challenging trail run at high altitude. The temperature will be cooler, the air will be thinner, and the night sky will be clearly visible as you run in darkness. Runners will start at the main parking lot at Giant Steps Ski Lodge & Lifts where they will ride a ski lift chair to the start line at just under 11,000ft above sea level. The course begins on a well groomed trail that climbs about 600ft up to Brian Head Peak.
At about mile 3 runners will pass their first aid station and then hop onto pavement temporarily as they run a mile out and back to Brian Head Peak which overlooks Cedar Breaks National Monument and will give the best view of the night sky and the meteor shower.
Runners will return to the trail, passing the same aid station again around mile 5. The next 3 miles the course are fairly level with some rolling ups and downs. This trail portion is a little more technical with some single track and loose rock. From about mile 7.5 to 11 is a steady downhill. At about mile 8.5 the course becomes less technical and is more like a dirt road which descends the mountain and wraps around back into town where it ends back at the ski lodge parking lot. There will be another aid station which runners will pass twice: at mile 9.2 and again at mile 10.7 on their way to the finish line.
Time limit
All runners will have 5 hours to finish the race. That is an 22.9 minute mile - plenty of time for walkers and for everyone to conquer this course! If at anytime we deem it unsafe and need to pull a runner off the course we would hope for understanding and immediate cooperation. Failure to comply will result in being banned from future events.
Ski Lift Requirements
A ski lift will take all runners up to the start line to begin your race. No one under 36 inches may ride the chairlift, meaning small children are not permitted to run this race. There is no way to access the course without riding the lift.
Location Note
To be clear, this race doesn't take place inside the National Park. It's difficult to get permission to conduct private business activities on national land (and rightly so.) Having said that, this is about as close to the park as it gets.
Dirt Trail
This is a trail run with loose rocks and uneven terrain. Runners should wear trail shoes and train on trails to prepare for their half marathon. When in doubt - walk it out!
Course Markings
We will have a variety of course markings for this event. They include pink reflective ribbons and additional signage to keep you on track. (click the image to expand)
Headlamps Required
This is a nighttime race with rough terrain. All participants must wear a headlamp on course to prevent injuries
Course Difficulty
Factors:
Nighttime, rough dirt trail, high elevation
Training:
We recommend training on trails with downhill portions and uneven ground. If possible, try to run at high elevation a few times before this event. Check out training tips for high altitude running.
Accommodations:
This race has an extended 5 hour time limit to give you ample time to conquer the course!
Aid Stations (Bring your own cup!)
All aid stations are cup-free so remember to bring your own hydration solution or request a FREE Nathan reusable cup when you register.
Expect about 3 aid stations on the course near mile 2.8, 4.4, and 8.5 (Exact locations vary).A medic will be stationed typically at the aid station at or near mile 9. Aid stations include toilets, water, Gnarly Hydrate, Honey Stinger gels, basic first aid supplies, and sometimes more.
Cups are not provided on course to help reduce waste.
Cedar Breaks at Night Details
Come here to prepare for your race!
Race Logistics:
• All runners must ride a ski lift to the start line. You will need to fill out a Brian Head Ski Resort waiver in advance (sent to you via email).
Note: The ski lift has a minimum height requirement of 36 inches. This means small children under 36 inches tall are not allowed to participate in the race.
• Runners may arrive no earlier than 30 minutes prior to their assigned start time, and can start no later than 30 minutes after their assigned start time. Each time wave will have a rolling start to help disperse runners.
• This is a cup free event. This race will have only 3 aid stations. Runners will need to bring their own form of hydration to refill. Reusable cups will NOT be offered.
• Due to the nature of this event and how start times are spread out through the night, we will not be offering photography at this race.
Safety Guidelines:
• A headlamp, flashlight or some sort of light is required. This race takes place at night! The course will be marked, but not lit. This is both for your safety and that of the other runners.
• When passing on course, do so with consideration and communication.
• Trail shoes aren't required, but highly recommended. There are technical parts of the trail with loose rock.
Bib Pickup
When you register, we ask you to indicate when you plan to pick up your bib. If your plans change, don’t worry about it. We only ask to help us plan in terms of numbers.
Option #1: Shipped Before the Race
There is a cost of $30 if you want to have your bib and shirt mailed to you. We do this as a convenience for runners not wanting to drive to the area early.
You can add a shipped bib to your registration until one month before the race by logging into RunSignup, clicking Manage Registration, and Add Ons.
Refunds: Once your package is shipped, you are officially checked in to the race and no longer qualify for our refund, deferment, or transfer options.
Option #2: At the Race
Since we have no expo at Cedar Breaks at Night, you can pick up your bib near the start line just before your race start time. Please do not come significantly early. You should plan to pick up your bib packet up to 30mins before your specific starting time.
No expo, but you can still get merch!
Although we won't have an expo the day before the race, you'll find our merchandise tent at the start and finish line. Stop by for race gear and swag - from shirts and tanks to our favorite Hydro Flasks and everything in-between.
Schedule Breakdown
All times listed are in MST.
Note: Check back closer to the race date for a complete schedule!
Looking for when to pickup your bib? Plan to arrive at most 30 minutes before your start time in order to check in and warm up at the start line with hot chocolate and Summit Coffee.
Note: Check here the week of the race for a map of the parking and start line staging.
We will have plenty of parking to accommodate all of our runners. Runners will park at the lodge and then ride the ski lifts to the start line!
Start Line Parking
Brian Head, UT
Please do not arrive more than 30 minutes before your wave start time!
Drop Off
Drop-offs will take place at the runner parking lot. Please drop your runner off promptly and exit the lot to avoid slowing down traffic.
Ski Lift to the Start Line
All runners will need to submit Brian Head resort waiver and ride a ski lift to the start line. This waiver will be sent to you by email. Please fill it out before arriving at the event, though we will have QR codes for last-minute waivers available.
Size Limit
Only runners who are 36 inches or taller may participate in the Cedar Breaks at Night Half Marathon. This is due to a height requirement when riding the ski lift.
Spectators are welcome, however, due to the remote nature of the event (and the fact that it will be nighttime...) we ask spectators to ONLY attend the start and finish line area to greet their runner. You'll be able to park at Giant Steps Ski Lodge & Lifts along with the runners.
Unsure how to spend your time during the race? Consider volunteering at the event to cheer on your runner while earning money towards a future race entry! You can sign up to volunteer via Runsignup.com once registration has opened.
We recommend downloading the RaceJoy app to track your runner's progress and send them cheers along the way! Once your runner has crossed the finish line, please exit the runner recovery area to avoid crowding. The beverages, supplies, and medical tent at the finish line are for runner use only - thank you!
As nature lovers, we are committed to keeping our events sustainable and managing negative impacts on the environment. Our goal is to send less than one bag of actual “trash” to the landfill after each event. We have managed to meet this goal at events with over 3,000 participants!
Here's how you can help us:
CUP-FREE RACING
Single-use plastic is a huge source of waste at any public event. We have reduced that impact by making our events "cup-free".
What does that mean for you?
Coolers of Water and Gnarly Hydrate (electrolyte drink) are available at all aid stations, but cups will not be provided on course or at the finish line. In order to stay hydrated, we ask you to bring one of the following:
1. Reusable water bottle
2. Nathan reusable cup - These light-weight cups fold down so you can have them on-the-go. We will not have any at the race, so plan to bring your own!
3. Hydration pack - These are refillable backpacks meant for running that allow you to access fluid via a built-in straw.
ZERO WASTE CONTAINERS
You can help us reduce trash by sorting disposable items into the appropriate container.
You’ll notice three containers at our events:
Please avoid putting organic waste and compostable items in the wrong bin. It gets gross to sort through.
Race Results
Visit RunSignup for 2022 and future race results.
Because of the nature of our timing system for this event, results won't be instantly available. Please allow about 48 hours for us to get the results posted online.
Since start times will stretch through the night, we will not have an official awards ceremony. After the event, we will verify and mail out age group awards to the top 5 in each of the following age groups: 11 & under, 12-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70 & up
Got questions about your placement? please email timing@runsum.com.
Photos
We do not offer free race photos for this event - the majority of the race takes place at night with steep elevation and difficult access. For that reason, we do not have a photographer on course taking participant photos.
Share your experiences with us!
Be sure to use #CedarBreaksHalf in any photos you post from the race or your adventures exploring the park so we can share in the fun with you!
Exclusive Cedar Breaks at Night Half Marathon merchandise will be available near the start and finish line! When possible, we'll have race merch for sale in our online store after the race is over. Please allow time for us to add items online.
Please note: We ask all participants to arrive no more than 30-minutes before their start time. Plan to do your shopping right beforehand or after you have finished the race.
Only you can bring this event back!
Join the email list to let us know that you're interested in running a future Cedar Breaks Half Marathon.
Other events you're Going to Love!
