Brothers Christian and Thomas Hales have organized a 55-mile ultra-marathon known as the "Holy Ultra" to celebrate the rivalry week between BYU and the University of Utah. The race follows a route from Y Mountain to Mount Van Cott on the day of the football game.
The route begins at Y Mountain and follows the Provo River Trail before joining the Murdock Trail. Once the race reaches the Point of the Mountain, it turns into a frontage road near Geneva Rock and proceeds into Draper. From there, it joins 13th East with a sidewalk all the way to Sugarhouse and continues to the U.
Christian Hales said the brothers chose this specific path to ensure runners have access to food, bathrooms, and parks where they can meet family. During a test run in May, the brothers completed the course in approximately 14 hours, starting at 4 a.m. and finishing near 6 p.m.
To accommodate the 10 a.m. football kickoff, the race is organized into two heats. Runners interested in attending the game can start at midnight and, at a 10-minute mile pace, should finish before kickoff. Other participants start at 5 a.m., which may allow them to listen to the game while running.
As of Thursday, 22 runners were signed up for the event, including 19 BYU fans and three Utah fans. Most participants are in their 20s, though there are several runners in their 40s.
The Hales brothers have personal ties to both institutions. Christian Hales said that while both he and his brother attended BYU, they grew up in Salt Lake City, where their father works for the University of Utah and several other relatives attended the U.
The organizers are still working on the details for prizes for this inaugural race. Christian Hales said a long-term goal is to create a point system to encourage participation from both schools and potentially offer prizes like sideline tickets to the game.
