The Wasatch Back Ragnar Relay in Heber City, Utah, unfolds as a rigorously paced journey through some of the most dynamic terrain Utah’s mountains offer. This signature 200-mile relay stitches together a relay of runners across three days and two nights, covering rugged trails, forest roads, and highway stretches that dare teams to maintain momentum through a landscape fiercely itself.

Your course begins in Heber City, where alpine air sharpens the senses and the Wasatch Range looms, pushing runners upwards and forward. The relay challenges include cumulative elevation gains nearing 15,000 feet—legs climb steep ridges and descend into shadowed valleys, with terrain shifting from technical single-track to worn gravel roads. Forests here seem to lean in, shifting from aspen groves to dense evergreens, as if urging runners onward.

Navigating these legs requires not just stamina but smart planning: hydration becomes a tactical element, as water stops are spaced unevenly, and night runs demand headlamps that slice through the dusk. Footwear needs to balance grip with cushioning to handle rocky stretches and hard-packed surfaces. Timing your effort around weather shifts is crucial—summer heat can swell by day while temperatures plunge after dark.

The relay’s chaotic excitement is balanced by moments of solitude where neither crowds nor noise intrude. Here, streams murmur persistently beside the trail, daring the runner to pause or sprint past. The sky, sometimes a blazing cobalt, other times a sheet of clouded gray, plays its part, as mountains cast long shadows or glare through morning light.

For newcomers or seasoned racers, the Wasatch Back is an engagement with a landscape that demands respect, preparation, and commitment. Approach it with a clear plan: stretch before running, know your legs’ mileage, embrace aid stations without over-relying on them, and pack layered clothing suited for rapid temperature swings.

Heber City provides a convenient staging ground, with lodging and provisions close enough to the start line for easy access. The surrounding region also invites exploring post-race, from gentle hikes by Jordanelle Reservoir to the cultural draw of nearby Park City.

Whether you’re chasing a personal best or experiencing the thrill of an ultramarathon relay for the first time, the Wasatch Back Ragnar offers a raw, unvarnished experience—rough, beautiful, and alive with challenge. It’s a race that respects the participant as much as it demands commitment, rewarding those who enter its rhythm with camaraderie and views that linger far beyond the finish line.