Teton Dam Marathon

by Allison Jones

This Saturday, June 9, is the annual Teton Dam Marathon and Races.  For runners the day will start at 5:00 am as they gather for the race.  Marathon runners and those running the first leg of the relay will be bused to the starting line. 

The marathon is held in commemoration of the breaking of the Teton Dam on June 5, 1976.  The resulting flood caused $500 million in damages in downstream communities from Wilford to Blackfoot.  There is a museum dedicated to this event in the basement of the Rexburg Tabernacle.

The marathon and relay, both 26.2 miles, will start at 6:30 am at the site of the Teton Dam.  The half-marathon and 10K start at the northwest corner of Smith Park at 7:30 am and 8:00 am respectively.  The 5K will start at 8:30 am at the corner of 1^st North and Millhollow Road.  All of the races will end at the southwest corner of Smith Park.  

The routes will be closed off to traffic until 1:30 pm.  If you wish to cheer on the runners you can take alternate roads to an intersection along the route and cheer from there.  The majority of the runners should be in by 12:00 pm when the awards ceremony for the three longer races begins.  Frontrunners can be expected to begin finishing around 9:00 am based on previous years’ records.

Besides cheering for runners, spectators can also enjoy the expo held in Smith Park from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm.  There will be booths by sponsors and local businesses, crafts, food, and music.  Sponsors include Les Schwab Tires, Q 102 fm, Rainbow Lake Campground, Personal Best Performance, Westmark Credit Union, Salt Lake Express, the Standard Journal, Hammer Nutrition, Kettle Embroidery, Great Harvest Bread, Broulim’s, Sticks and Stones, A-1 Rental, Archibald Insurance Center, Rocky Mountain Power, Jamba Juice, Walmart, and AmericInn.

Volunteers are always welcome.  Jobs include packet pick-up, the potato bake dinner, water & aid stations, traffic control, course set up & take down, and finish line duties.  If you would like to volunteer, email Bob Yeatman at boby@rexburg.org with your name, phone number, email address, shirt size, and preferred job.  It can be fun be fun to volunteer at a race, though one should remember to wear sunscreen and perhaps a hat.

For more information go to www.dammaration.com.