Warm up next week at Winter Sun 10K

It’s not too late to register for Moab Half Marathon’s Winter Sun 10K – its fourth and final event of the year.

Well-known as a favorite among local and regional participants, the Winter Sun 10K welcomes dogs and strollers, and it celebrates a less-populated Moab. The event is in its 34th year and is expecting over 500 participants – 100 more than last year.

Moab Half Marathon owner and race director Ranna Bieschke said the Winter Sun 10K is less than half the distance of other races, which is one reason it is more accessible for locals.

“It’s also a lot of downhill, which makes it fast. People like that,” she said. “Overall, it’s logistically an easier event, due to its location.”

The race starts at 10 a.m. at the Moab Golf Club, 2705 E. Bench Road, and finishes with a lap around the Grand County High School track, where the awards ceremony will kick off just after 11 a.m.

“The awards ceremony is much more community oriented – people really stick around and we give away a lot of raffle prizes donated by local merchants,” Bieschke said.

Shuttles to the start will be provided by the Moab Adventure Center, and will depart from the front of the high school between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m. Carpooling is encouraged as parking at the high school is limited.

Spectators are welcome to support runners along the bike path behind Rotary Park. Drivers who are traveling south of the creek on Mill Creek Drive can expect delays between 10 and 11 a.m.

Bieschke said that the Winter Sun 10K is less work and more fun for her as well. She looks forward to the variety of local and regional runners who are drawn to this particular event, including runners from Grand Junction, Colorado, who are returning for their second year.

“I get to connect with the runners more at this race,” Bieschke said. “They don’t have to be a sprinter and they don’t have to be a long-distance runner. And because it’s close to the holidays, we’ll see Santas and elves and tutus.”

The Winter Sun 10K has been held on the same day as the Christmas Electric Light Parade for more than 10 years. The two events used to overlap in time and space, causing amiable chaos. The same year the parade moved to the evenings, the Winter Sun 10K moved to its new location.

“People like to check out town and the craft fairs and the light parade,” Bieschke said. “It’s a good time to come to Moab because lodging has dropped their prices to be pretty reasonable.”

The Winter Sun 10K is the third event of the season that makes up the Moab Half Marathon’s Triple Crown. Runners in the Winter Sun 10K who also ran in the Canyonlands Half Marathon and The Other Half race are eligible to win the Triple Crown Award.

The Winter Sun 10K course is open to traffic. Race officials will strictly enforce safety – runners must run against traffic, on the left-hand side of the road.  Dogs and strollers will be required to position themselves at the back of the race. Water, Gatorade Endurance Formula, hot drinks and porta-potties are available at the start.

Low-key race on Dec. 3 welcomes runners from across the region

What: Winter Sun 10K

When: Saturday, Dec. 3, at 10 a.m.

Where: Moab Golf Club, 2705 E. Bench Road; shuttles will depart from Grand County High School, 608 S. 400 East, between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m.

Cost: $45 through Sunday, Nov. 27; $50 from Monday, Nov. 28, through Thursday, Dec. 1

Information: 435-259-4525; moabhalfmarathon.com/wintersun/index.cfm

Author: Jenna Talbott

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