Testimonials & Feedback

Beautiful race, coming back next year!

Yes!!! I'm going [to Yosemite] in 2018 and I am super excited, but first Grand Canyon Half Marathon, Lake Powell Half marathon, Zion Half marathon... :) I love Vacation Races races...can you tell? ;)

I'll be back at Zion 2020 for my 50th bday!

Thanks, Vacation Races, for an awesome race. If you can lose the brief deluge at the start, you'll have a perfect race!

This land has my heart. I can't wait to return...

Probably the best run 1/2 I have run! Great logistics! Thanks!

Fun times & great course...Our very first VR

Already have my 2019 and 2020 races picked out! :-)

Loved this race. In fact, I had so much fun, I came home and signed up for Lake Powell.

Thank you for an amazingly beautiful and well run event!

I would love to do this race again

Everything about this race was fantastic! From signing up to crossing the finish line, everything was smooth, organized, and well done. I originally signed up for the 2018 Mount Rushmore Half, but a work conflict made that impossible, so the wonderful people at Vacation Races let me defer to this year. (Thank you!!!) The race info emailed out the week before the race included EVERYTHING I needed to know, which was incredibly helpful for planning the trip from CO to SD.As for the course, the first 7-ish miles are really difficult, but the views are stunning and the aid stations are spaced out well. (Also, I was 21 weeks pregnant during this race- thank you for having porta potties at every aid station! 🙂 Much appreciated! haha)The finish in Keystone was great, volunteers were awesome, and the post race snack box was the best (so many gluten free snacks!) I’ve ever gotten. Truly, I loved everything about this race. I mean, even the version of the National Anthem played before the race was amazing. I will definitely be signing up for another Vacation Races event! Can’t recommend enough!!

If you see Dehn, tell him he did a spectacular job coordinating the Yosemite Half. Mom and I had a blast. I get around and the Yosemite Half has been one of my favorite weekend getaways in my lifetime.

You are always the most organized and well put together, #1 in that category. The Course was challenging and amazing and I loved the route! When you said it was reverse of last year, I was so glad I did it this year because the views were to die for. Loved it more than Glacier, Teton, Zion, West, and when I heard it was more challenging than Glacier I won't lie, I was scared! But in the end another Love, I will do it again. ❤ Your races are my favorite!

Made it to the Tetons in '16 with college teammates, the Smokies this year with other college teammates. And plan on Glacier (and Smokies) in '18 and Zion in '19! I can't wait!!!!

I just wanted to send a note about the pacer for 3:30. She was fanatic. She was energetic, positive, and even stayed at the finish line to congratulate incoming runners. I done a lot of races but I have never seen a pacer go WAY beyond just pacing! She deserves a medal😊

Great event! Course was as difficult as it was beautiful. Vacation races are the best!

Easily the most difficult thing I've done in life. First Hundo in the bag!

Most beautiful place on Earth.

Stunningly well organized race experience. Everything about the day was just beautiful and well executed. So inspirational and fun, I would like to come work for you. Of course, it didn't hurt that I won my age group so my opinion might be slightly biased. ;)

I just wanted to extend a THANK YOU on behalf of myself and my 2 friends (who I dragged along to run the 50 miler) for putting on a great event! Please pass this message along to as many of the squad / volunteers possible for making the race so well run.

I would love to do this one again.

I did it and looooooved it!!!!

Great race. Couldn't of asked for a better first time running half marathon!

This is my third Vacation Race! I loved all of them! Mount Rushmore was fantastic! It was incredibly easy to get around the area! Keystone was so quaint! The course had many “holy moly” moments but so beautiful! Thank you for another wonderful race!

When can I sign up for the next one??? :D

Amazing race. Bravo Vacation Races you never disappoint

You all did a fantastic job putting this race on! Thank you!

I would like to compliment you and express my gratitude for such amazing races. In 2017, I ran the inaugural Joshua Tree. In 2018, I ran Yosemite, and this year, I ran Zion. Every race has been a truly remarkable experience. You are well organized and have such great communication to the participants. I know there were challenges due to inclement weather at Zion, but the manner in which you communicated was impressive. I also was there when there was the shuttle situation at Yosemite, and you were also very quick to communicate and acknowledge the problem. I love your medals. I love your courses, and I love they way you operate. I also love that you give free race photos. What a treat. Moreover, the fact that you recognize the military’s service to the country and provide a discount is so appreciative. Not that many do that. In fact, I can’t think of another race that does that. It means a lot. My father was a 21 year Army Vietnam Veteran, and my husband is a 21-year Navy Veteran. Thank you so much for doing that. I also have to say that my son was scheduled to run Yosemite in 2018, but he had to bow out, and I think I was a day past the refund due date, and you were so kind to still honor the refund. I just want you to know that your races have quickly become a favorite of mine. I am at 67 half marathons, and I don’t think any race(s) could compete with the Vacation Races. I want to do all. I don’t know how I can fit it all in, and it may take quite some time, but I will try. Thank you again for everything. I just really wanted you to know how much I enjoy and appreciate Vacation Races. Keep up the absolute amazing job!!! You are #1 in my opinion for half marathons. No one can compete.

Fun race, beautifully challenging course on an ideal day for running. The finish area on the East Glacier Hotel lawn was great. Well done to all organizers and volunteers.

Looking forward to my adventure with you guys next year 😁🎉

Thank you for putting on a terrific event! The volunteers were amazing, course was perfectly challenging, and I would definitely recommend this race to a friend. Thank you thank you!

We had an amazing time this year in Glacier.

On behalf of the Half Twisted Runners I want to thank Vacation Races for another AWESOME race experience. Time and time again you deliver a high quality and well organized event. Although the cousre change made it a bit more challenging, the views wre much better than last years race. You all should be very proud of this event and I look forward to coming back next year......You guys ROCK!!!!

Everyone involved in the course was helpful and friendly. The aid stations were fantastic and there were plenty throughout the course. The course was hilly but the views were beautiful. Love, love, love this race!

Ran this last year, great race!!!

Great race... few more hills than I expected, but after the "shower" around 6am everything else was awesome. Thanks!

Glacier was the most stunning, challenging course I’ve ever done. It was gorgeous. I can’t wait to get back in 2018!

I was recently featured on the Boldly Went podcast sharing the story of running my first 100-miler at Bryce (mine is the second story). I look forward to returning to Bryce for a do-over, but I also wouldn't change my first experience for anything. Thanks!

This was my 1st Half Marathon and I had a blast it was beautiful! Thanks for hosting a great race!

Love everything about you guys & need to run more with you in 2018! The locations, medals, support, merchandise - pretty unparalleled. When runners have so many choices, @VacationRaces stands apart.

I have been in an athlete and race coordinator for a lot of years! I was super impressed with the organization and flawlessness of this race. And special Kudos to your staff and volunteers - so helpful, supportive, and kind! I currently work for the Huntsman World Senior Games and LOVED your recycle bins - could you share with me where you get them? Thanks for an amazing day and a Race so Well Done!

Ran it the past two years. Love it! Waiting to sign up again, this time with my kiddos running it too!

This was a beautiful race and well organized! Thanks :D

We wanted to take a quick moment to congratulate you on such a wonderful first race of the year. I know it was not without its challenges, but those just made it all the more memorable experience! Our team has been talking about how this was truly a once in a lifetime experience and regardless of the bitter cold and travel challenges, it was more than worth it seeing Zion in a magnificent blanket of snow! VR 2019 Zion will go down as one of our all time favorite races. My only question is... can you make it snow like that every year? :) Just a quick update on how VR is impacting our mission at Make A Wish SC... we had 48 runners Run Wild for Wishes in VR events in 2018 and so far have 30 and climbing signed to run in 2019. We’ve raised over $75,000 and climbing since our VR teams inception. That has allowed us to grant an additional 10 plus wishes. That’s 10 children and their families that have been brought joy, hope and encouragement in a very difficult time in their lives. We again can’t thank you enough for being part of our mission and part of our family! We are doing something so wonderful while experiencing some wonderful wishes of our own. Your amazing races in amazing locations and providing the generous in-kind bibs are making this possible. THANK YOU!

Wonderful Race. I was able to break my PR in 2017.

Love Vacation Races!! You guys are the best!! You handle your business best to your ability!! You even address issues that have gone wrong. I have nothing but good things to say about your organization, especially whenever I come across someone who is doing one of your races for the 1st time. ❤❤❤

Y'all weren't lying when you said "challenging course"...it was almost my first DNF! Support from fellow runners and volunteers saw me to the finish though. Keep doing what you guys do, these races will always be a favorite of mine.

Awesome race!!! I couldn’t believe that I PR :) :) :) Knocked down 2:05 and finished in 2:02:19 :) :) :)

Yup...DO IT!!! Best race experience I've ever had.

It was amazing!! Thanks!

13.1 miles of gorgeous countryside and some hills for good measure. The rain held off and it was great running weather!

Awesome race - thank you!!!

This race is awesome.

I have been tracking all the races for several years now trying to find the courage to try one. I was afraid I bit off more that I could handle but ended up having my best time so far this year! It was challenging and beautiful and you can tell the staff are all passionate about what they do and helping others find and keep the passion too! I thought the attention to “details” was the best. A trash can at ever mile marker, aid stations every two miles during the toughest parts, a gear drop between miles one and two, coffee and hot chocolate with reusable cups. I could go on and on. To top it all off the club challenge is an amazing add on! Very worth it!

This race was amazing, fabulous job everyone!!!!

Standing in the middle of nowhere at 5 AM with almost 2000 other runners, watching the sky turn pink and waiting for this run to start, was definitely a highlight so far this year. Hope to do it again.

Thanks for putting on such a great event! Also a huge shout out to all the volunteers, and the folks cheering us crazy people on!

Rocky mountain and Joshua Tree were the two hardest races I've done, but they were completely worth it! Grand Canyon has so far been my favorite! Beautiful course, spirited people, and amazing staff. Not to mention the race shirts always have great designs! My goal is to complete all NP half marathons. I will be doing Zion, Yosemite, and hopefully Lake Powell next year 2018! Thank you Vaction Races for the fun times and everlasting memories.

Yes!! I just want to road trip around the US and do all of them. It'll take almost a year, but think of all of the food and fun!!

Thank you for an amazingly beautiful and well run event!

Loved, loved, loved this half marathon!!! The scenery was absolutely beautiful!!! The elevation picture really had me worried but the hills were nothing, which allowed me to enjoy the scenery even more. This race was organized amazingly well, definitely not their first rodeo!! Thank you so very much vacation races for giving me this opportunity to run in the Smokey’s!!!! Great memories for a lifetime!!!

Would love to run this amazing race again!

The course was challenging but one of the most beautiful courses I’ve ever run. Great event, as always, Vacation Races!

Great race at beautiful place...and I love my medal

I just wanted to say this was my first time doing a Vacation Race. Everything from the expo to the course to the extra medallion challenges was Amazing! Thank you to all the volunteers, race expo workers, race directors and timers! I am a race timer myself and have worked a zillion races and you all did such an amazing job! I'm so happy we chose Glacier National Park. It was the best trip and best race of my life!! Thank you all so very much! We are already choosing a Vacation Race for Next Year!😎

I want to say how much I enjoyed both the Yellowstone and Glacier half marathons I ran last year, and if my knee starts cooperating I will participate in the Teton half this summer. They were both very well organized and had beautiful courses.

The Half Twisted Runners brought 33 runners to this years event and looking to bring more in 2018. This is by far the best race and National Park I have ever been to. You dont have to take my word for it........come check it out for yourself.

We had an amazing time. Thank you!

Terrific from start to finish - fun expo, nice to see no litter along the course, and Odie the goat was an awesome mascot. Hopefully only my first of many Vacation Races. Thanks to everyone who made this race happen.

I’ve run two of their races and they were both great experiences. Well organized and breathtakingly beautiful settings.

Best put together race ever!...Definitely running Lake Powell Half Marathon 2018.. Team Don't Worry 'Bout it!

I ran Bryce as my first 50k last year. Ultra adventures races are tough but breathtaking.

Thank you for another great run!

Great and beautiful race.

Ran this in 2017 and 2018. Very well ran, thank you. Aid stations were very good! Grafton mesa marking was much better this year. I have mixed feelings on the cemetery decent and climb missing, that detail likely helped my overall time but was looking forward to that challenge. Although during the race I was like thank God I'm hanging a left here and not a right down that switch back. Found myself questioning the direction of the path several times, however I expected that and am OK with that. I did not catch the name of the person that did most of the talking at the pre run meeting and did the MC at the finish line this year. Maybe I caught he was the race director. Any way, I was impressed with him. Great character and professionalism with genuine concern for the runners. Such a good race. Next year I will do another VR event.

This wasn't my best race -- not by a long shot. But it was my favorite.

Hardest 50k I've done.

It was a great race! I would really recommend this one!

Woohoo! We’re coming back for more, with more next year. (Let us know when 2018 registration opens). LP planners/coordinators are awesome, thank you!

This was an awesome race and the area is beautiful. Highly recommend.

I remember how it felt running through these tunnels. It was such an amazing run! Gorgeous scenery the entire 13 miles!

Can confirm, as a 2016 finisher of the Caldera Triple. Lifechanging great experience. See you in 2019 at Zion and Glacier! <3

Definitely one of my favorite VR routes. Incredibly challenging, but breathtaking scenery.

Always love Lake Powell, one of my favorite Vacation Races!!!

loved this race

This was such a fun and beautiful race. And the three days of camping were awesome, right near the finish line.

The 55km this year was the best race experience I've ever had. Every single thing went perfectly. And the views...my god the views.

It was a loop course through the Gallatin National Forest which, for a non-trail runner, was challenging but very beautiful. There were plenty of aid stations well-stocked with wonderful volunteers and port-a-potties. They had a very nice snack box at the end and the volunteer fished out an extra cold chocolate milk for me.The shirt is best tech tee I've ever received, a beautiful hunter green with a classy design.But what you really want is the medal. That -ish is ridiculous!

So far, of all the races I've ran, VR have been the best supported races with the coolest finish. This was a tough and rewarding course. I will do it again.

My family's visit to Grand Teton has so far been the best vacation of my life. Glacier has been on my bucket list ever since. This race is 6 days after my 50th birthday so this will be an awesome birthday gift!

Can't wait to race it again with the Sole Sisters!

I loved the course, thank you to all the great volunteers out there!

Have done Rocky Mtn twice and Yosemite once and can second that you guys are great. So much easier to deal with than a certain Mouse controlled race series and the courses are always incredible. Looking forward to Teton in June!

A tricky, first half marathon, but I'll be back... Looking forward to next year!

This was the hardest and most rewarding race I have done in my entire life. It felt like we were running in the clouds. I literally felt my mother presence when I got to the top of the mountain and shed a tear. Thank you for putting on an amazing race. We will be back next year for sure.

I did the Inaugural Half (Oct 10, 2015) and it was one of my favorite races!!!

Thank YOU for an incredible race! The scenery was beautiful and I personally feel that the organization and amenities were fantastic. Great job, I'm already looking forward to next year!

Pouring rain before the start everyone gathered under anything we could find lol great sportsmanship from all participants. Very well organized even being a first race, like the sip cup great way recycling method. Wonderful people organizing and vendors giving great information. Can't wait to get my 4th place age group award. Thanks Vacation Races see you again for a fun race.