Jordan River Marathon

Jordan River Marathon is held in South Jordan, Utah, on September 19, 2026. Runners can choose between a marathon (26.2 miles) and a half marathon (13.1 miles), both listed as trail formats. The organizer's website is Happy Trails Race, and the event name refers to the Jordan River, which flows through the Salt Lake Valley.

A river course generally means a relatively flat profile, which makes this an interesting option for runners who want to try a marathon or half marathon on trail without heavy climbing. If you have run a road half, the trail half is a reasonable next step; if you are eyeing a first marathon, the flatter terrain reduces the difficulty compared with a mountain course. A 16-week build for the marathon, or 12 weeks for the half, with a weekly long run and one tempo session, is a good framework. Keep in mind the Salt Lake Valley sits at over 4,000 feet, so give yourself a day or two to adjust if you arrive from sea level.