By Julie Murdock
Instead of hitting the slopes this season, many BYU students are pounding the pavement.
Both avid and beginner runners are preparing for the Canyonlands Half Marathon and Five Mile Run on March 17 in Moab, Grand County.
Race director Joe Cresto said several hundred BYU students participate each year.
The Moab race is appealing to BYU students because it allows them to shake the winter blues for warmer weather said Seth Johnson, 22, a junior from Gilbert, Ariz., majoring in marketing, who ran the half marathon in 1997.
“It was good to escape the freezing cold of Provo and get down to where the sun was shining and just beautiful weather,” he said. “I got a sunburn down in Moab.”
The half marathon stretches for 13.1 miles along the Colorado River and ends in Moab City Park. Participants are taken care of along the course by volunteers at water and first aid stations, Cresto said.
“Without city backing it wouldn”t work,” he said.
Most of the money is donated back to the community organizations that volunteer their services.
Non-runners may wonder why someone would want to run five to 13 consecutive miles without rest.
Cinthia MacArthur, a UVSC student, loves the “runners high” she experiences after a good run.
“It”s just the feeling that you get, I really enjoy it because you can let out so many different emotions when you run,” she said. “You”re so free and don”t have to think about anything.”
MacArthur has been running a little less than a year but has already completed a marathon and hopes to be able to place at Moab.
“You feel good about yourself and it”s an accomplishment,” she said. “It”s a good goal that you can set for yourself and if you stick with it then you feel really good afterwards.”
MacArthur will have plenty of competition to overcome at this year”s race.
Cresto is expecting close to 3,200 runners to cross the finish line this year.
Quite a jump from 1976, the race”s first year, when only 21 runners participated.
This year”s race will feature “chip timing,” Cresto said. Each runner has an electronic chip attached to their shoe, which is activated when they cross the starting point.
“The chip has your bib number, personal data and records your exact time,” Cresto said.
Cresto”s word of advice – don”t be late.
“I insist on starting on time,” he said.
