Deseret News Marathon

Spectator and parent of runner

This seemed to be well organized to begin with, but my daughter and her girlfriend could not get to their volunteer positions easily up Emigration canyon. (Officer questioned them and wouldn't let them past a certain point, there was no proof that you were indeed a volunteer) My son, who ran the race to completion, was out of water toward the end. There were not enough water stations. There was no known medical help along the route. Officers were only at busy intersections.Liberty Park had no medical assistance, just bananas, cookies, milk, water and massage. Coming to the end runners closely collided with horses from the parade and security groups at each corner did nothing to prevent this. Could do much better! Announcer was long winded on some who crossed the finish line and others didn't even get announced. Volunteers weren't asked their sizes and didn't get appropriate shirts that fit. And much more that i probably didn't see behind the scenes. Shouldn't you want this to go over well, being it's a replicated route of they pioneers that we celebrate that day? and not run into the parade crowd. Less chaos would be much better end results. Change the ending to be at the other side of the park possibly. Guide the parade animals and floats to go one direction, not 600 east and 900 South and into the park.. But one direction only that's doesn't interfere with the runners coming in after 9..