I visited Jackson, Wyoming, for the first time during a solo trip in 2025. The trip was centered around one event: The Jackson Hole Half Marathon. This would be my third half marathon race, and the first time running any sort of marathon event without any support system physically with me. I had been dreaming of exploring Wyoming, fueled by Instagram-inspo reels and country music fantasies. Running through Jackson with the Tetons decorating the race course was one of the coolest experiences I’ve had in my running journey. Now, a year later, I’m sharing the play-by-play of my race day. If you’re considering running the Jackson Hole Half Marathon or full Marathon and want more insight into what the race is like, here’s a look at my training and race-day experiences.
Training Season
While running has always been a bit of a chore, I love the motivation of signing up for a big race to push myself to train consistently. During my research for a new half marathon to work towards, I was looking at random races out west, in National Parks, and even in my friend’s backyard.
My first two half-marathons were in Asbury Park, New Jersey, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I knew I wanted to travel for my third race, mostly because I wanted to take a bigger trip and felt I needed a good excuse to leave the Northeast.
The Jackson Hole races take place in September, which means most of my long runs took place in the heat of the summer. Not ideal for training, but it helped me train my breathing. I had the difficult task of training to run a half marathon at altitude. Some people suggested running with a special mask to simulate running at altitude; I laughed. I’m what you would call a hobby jogger–I wasn’t looking to win the race, just to enjoy the journey and cross the finish line at my own pace.
I remember lacing up my sneakers after work each day and getting some miles in around the very flat Jersey City. I champion Coach Bennett’s half marathon training plan on the Nike Run Club app. It’s free and provides a week-by-week plan of long runs, recovery runs, and speed work through guided runs. It’s like a podcast where the coach reminds you to breathe, pay attention to your form, and shares other meditations to reflect on.
These guided runs guided me all the way to the airport, where I found myself boarding a flight to Wyoming (by way of Dallas airport) to take on the Jackson Hole Half Marathon.
Traveling To Wyoming
I landed late at night at Jackson Hole Airport, two nights ahead of race day. I wanted to have enough time to get a sense of Jackson, pick up my race packet, and see what the course looked like.
Landing at Jackson Hole Airport is truly a one-of-a-kind experience. The airport is the only commercial airport in the United States situated inside a national park, and the first thing that greets you is the Grand Tetons in the near distance. The airport is small, which made it easy to step off the plane and get right to my rental truck.
Pre-Race Jitters
I wouldn’t call my day-before-a-half-marathon itinerary optimal. The day before the race, I got up at 5 AM to watch the sun rise over the Tetons, ate a tasty breakfast burrito at D.O.G., took a guided horseback riding tour, and strolled around town until I picked up my race packet. Those Wyoming trip details will be saved for a future post…
Packet pickup was simple. I got my race number and swag bag, and got to browse some other race day merch that I regretfully did not end up purchasing. My race bag included my bib number (duh), pins to secure the bib to my shirt, a sticker, a Jackson Hole Marathon branded t-shirt, and some coupons for some local stores.
For my pre-race dinner, I planned on eating a big bowl of pasta at a local Italian joint. Sadly, they were booked, or they just didn’t want to seat a really cool party of 1, so I pivoted and went to a local pub. I decided a bison burger and fries was good enough and enjoyed my meal and some pages of a book at Roadhouse Pub.
After a full day exploring, I called it an early night. I laid out my race day fit and watched some TV while I drifted off to sleep in my little motel room.
CHECK IT OUT: A Day Trip To High Point State Park, The Highest Point of New Jersey
The Jackson Hole Half Marathon Race
Race-day anxiety woke me up before my alarms did that morning. I rolled out of bed at 6 AM and took my time getting ready. It felt odd to get ready for a race by myself, knowing I wouldn’t know anyone at the start or finish line. There was also a feeling of excitement, knowing I was going to accomplish 13.1 miles on my own.
I got in my truck and drove to the race day shuttle. Because the race is a one-way course, I opted in for the shuttle ride to take me from my truck, parked at the finish line, to the starting line. I joined my fellow runners and boarded the school bus at 7:50 AM. Because the half marathon started at 9 AM, I got to take the “later” shuttle at 8 AM (compared to the marathon runners who took off at 7:30 AM).
It was a sunny, chilly morning. I couldn’t stop gawking at the views of the Grand Tetons; I think at one point my face may have been pressed up against the bus window. My jitters started to subside, comforted by the beauty of the mountains.
Using the drawstring bag I got at packet pickup, I dropped off the things I needed after the race at bag drop-off. I did some stretches, took a quick lap around the parking lot to warm up, and got ready for the official start of the Jackson Hole Half Marathon.
The race is an open course, with plenty of signage along the route. Not only did it help me count down the miles to go, but there were also plenty of funny signs to keep my spirits up. We were also told to keep our eyes out for wildlife throughout the race. There was a brief warning about a moose on the course, but sadly the moose must’ve moved on before I raced through.
It’s also a cupless race, meaning all the water stations didn’t have cups. Runners were encouraged to bring their own cups, or if you’re like me, use a hydration pack. My running mantra is “don’t stop,” so I preferred to have my hydration pack keeping me going. The volunteers at the water stations had pitchers ready to go to fill up reusable cups for runners who opted to go that route.
Racing at altitude, I was happy to see the race course was relatively flat. There was a very short incline in the first mile, but afterwards it was very smooth coasting. Not having to worry about huge hills helped ease any concerns I had about my athletic abilities.
It was hard to put my phone away while I was running. Call me queen of multitasking; I was snapping photos and videos as I ran through Jackson. Since it was late September, the trees were turning the most beautiful shade of gold. The morning sun was glistening on the Snake River with the ragged peaks of the Tetons in the background, and the air felt cool and crisp.
I started off a little excited, making my pace a little quicker than I planned on. I hit my stride around mile 7, feeling strong and confident. I took my running gel to keep my energy going, but I think running at altitude got to me around mile 10. I was losing steam fast, and my mile splits back that up. Like I said before, my running mantra is, “don’t stop.” In that moment, I knew if I started walking, I wouldn’t have the energy to start running again (the drama).
Almost all of the course is run on paved roads and/or paved pathways. That last .1 mile to the finish line is on grass. While I didn’t think the grass would affect me much, I was tired and winded at that stage of the race, and the terrain was a little tough on my legs.
As tired as I felt, I still pumped my arms up in the air as I crossed that finish line. I heard the cheers of spectators and music pumping from the post-race party. I collected my medal and made my way over to a patch of grass at Teton Village to catch my breath.
I think running at altitude made my recovery time a little longer than normal. Nothing too major, just a couple extra minutes drinking water and lying in the Wyoming sun. Once I caught my breath, I called my parents to let them know I survived, but more importantly, finished the race.
The first thing I did after recapping the race on the phone? I collected my free post-race beer. That Michelob Ultra was the best-tasting beer I had the entire trip. I took plenty of photos with my medal and some elk antlers. I took some time to chill and watch other runners finish their races before making the slow walk back to my truck.
Post-Race Reflections
I absolutely loved my experience running the Jackson Hole Half Marathon. Not only was it a beautiful course, but I felt it was a well-run event. The website has plenty of details that calmed my anxiety-ridden brain. I got plenty of emails leading up to race day, and everything was well marked, from picking up my packet the day before to returning to my truck after I finished running. The race also organized The Hobble that year, a bar crawl through Jackson the day after the race, to chat with other runners and enjoy a beer (or two) at local bars. I met two amazing women who also traveled to Wyoming solo, and got to learn their stories.
The strangest part of the race was being there by myself, although I never felt alone. My friends, boyfriend, and family were very supportive, even if they were hundreds of miles away. I got texts before, during, and after my race. While it was weird to cross the finish line knowing there was no one waiting for me, looking at all the kind messages on my phone comforted me.
Would I fly halfway across the country to run a half marathon race by myself again? Probably not. While I love solo tripping and I enjoyed my time at the race, I do love sharing these moments with cool people I love.
I have so many more amazing Wyoming moments I share over and over again with friends. I can’t wait to share them with you! Up next are some fall Adirondack adventures, but my Wyoming Weekend Guide is also cooking. Be sure to subscribe to Erin Goes Everywhere so you can plan your own trip to Jackson Hole.