As the days get colder and tourism slows down, winter is truly the locals’ season in Moab. For runners in the region, the Moab Locals 10k marks that change, offering a fun and festive chance to enjoy a great event that has, in some form, been a staple of this community for decades.
The Winter Sun 10k began in 1983, organized by the Rim Rock Runners and later taken over by Ranna Bieschke, who spearheaded the race until selling it in 2017. The race fizzled out shortly after that transition, and Bieschke says locals kept telling her how much they missed the event. So, last year, she brought it back under a new name – the Moab Locals 10k.
[Courtesy Photos by Ranna Bieschke]
Much of the revived race is the same as the one that was hosted since 1983. The course has been slightly altered to finish at the hospital, but holding the event on the weekend of Moab’s Tree Lighting, Holiday Craft Fair, and Electric Lights Parade is key to the spirit.
“It’s that big festive weekend with the parade, tree lighting, and craft fair, so it kind of adds to the whole celebration of the winter festival,” Bieschke said.
The race begins at the Moab Golf Course (2705 E. Bench Rd.) at 10 a.m. on Saturday, December 7, and will finish at Moab Regional Hospital. Walkers and runners of all ages are welcome to sign up, including “well behaved dogs on leashes.” The 10 kilometer (6.2 mile) course, mostly downhill, traverses Murphy Lane and Mill Creek Drive before taking runners into town.
Participants can shuttle to the start from the Moab Regional Hospital Recovery Center Parking Lot on Saturday morning, and are encouraged to carpool, bike, or walk if possible.
The event is sure to be a fun one – racers are highly encouraged to wear costumes, with an award for the best one, and will receive goody bags and post-race refreshments. Fire barrels will keep participants warm at the starting area, and a post-race raffle will add another layer of excitement to the event.
The hyper-local spirit extends to the raffle, featuring donated prizes from businesses around town, including Love Muffin, Poison Spider, Desert Bistro, Sunset Grill, Moonflower, Sweet Cravings, Cactus Jacks, and Dewey’s. First place in various categories will receive awards, but any runner is automatically entered into the raffle drawing with their entry and has a chance to win one of the great prizes.
Bieschke hopes to have close to 200 runners participating this year. Interested participants can sign up at https://runsignup.com/Race/UT/Moab/MoabLocals10K.
“There’s not a lot of things here that are just for the locals,” Bieschke said. “This one is for the people who live here.”
