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PROVO — Final preparations are underway for the Utah Valley Marathon on Saturday. Eight thousand runners are registered for the race which begins near Deer Creek Reservoir in Provo Canyon and ends in downtown Provo.
This is just the sixth year of this marathon, but it's growing. One third of the runners are from out of state. It is bringing thousands of people to Provo, who really like the fact this marathon is all downhill. Tanya Collum came from Alabama to run the Utah Valley Marathon— one of a few marathons she runs every year.
The runners get right of way, so the best way is to go north or south on 900 East or Freedom Blvd. and go around the marathon itself.
–Lt. Mathew Siufanua, Provo police department
"I love Utah, it's beautiful and the downhill course," Collum said.
Her last marathon was April 15 in Boston. She had crossed the finish line a few minutes before the bombing, but isn't worried about any terrorism here.
"We have a lot more officers than we did last year," said Lt. Mathew Siufanua from the Provo police department.
Provo Police will have more than 80 officers, including a SWAT team, along the route for security. Right now, traffic is the biggest worry for police, as University Avenue will be closed and cars won't be able to go east to west.
"The runners get right of way, so the best way is to go north or south on 900 East or Freedom Blvd. and go around the marathon itself," Siufanua said.
There will also be a half-marathon, a 10K and a Kid's run.
"I'm going to run the kids fun run one mile and I am going to run as fast as I can," said Kid's run participant Thomas Welker.
We're super excited to have the race go off without a hitch. Things are going well and people are having a good time and we look forward to growing every year.
–Hyrum Oaks, Utah Valley Marathon race director
Hyrum Oaks is the race director and says as a Boston qualifier, the Utah Valley Marathon is getting a lot of interest. Runners from 49 states will be in tomorrow's race.
"We're super excited to have the race go off without a hitch. Things are going well and people are having a good time and we look forward to growing every year," Oaks said.
And for Collum, she looks forward to running every step of the 26.2 miles.
"Just looking forward to seeing the beauty of Utah," Collum said. "It is going to be a great day."
University Avenue will be closed from the downtown area in Provo to the mouth of the canyon until early afternoon. There will be some lane closures in Provo Canyon in the morning, but one lane of traffic will be open in both directions.
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