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Casper Wyoming Marathon Information
Surface:
Asphalt 90%, Concrete 10%
Type:
Loop (Miles 0 to 7), Point to Point (Miles 7 to 10.5), Out and Back (Miles 10.5 to 26.2)
Net Elevation Loss:
170 feet
Course Elevation:
5120 feet above sea level (Comparable to Denver, CO at 5280 feet)
The starting line is located just beyond the statue of city namesake Lt. Caspar Collins, the U.S. Cavalry officer killed in an Indian battle in May 1865. (Yes, Lt. Collins' name was spelled "Caspar," while the city name is spelled "Casper." The spelling changed at some point in the long ago past; no one quite knows when or how.) The route proceeds along Events Drive, then turns north onto East Road. The course passes the Model Airplane facility and the Casper Speedway, two of a number of City of Casper recreational facilities in the area. Watch for antelope herds in the area. Turn left on East Road past the East Road/ Amoco Road aid station at mile .75 onto Amoco Road, and up a slight uphill stretch. To the north is Soda Lake, originally an oil refinery wastewater site, now a bird sanctuary. The next left puts you on North Poplar to the Poplar/Events Drive aid station at mile 2.5. The course turns back on Events Drive and the East Road/Amoco Road aid station at mile 4.0. Turn right on Amoco Road leads to a rolling stretch to Bryan Stock Trail road at mile 5. The view to the south is of Casper Mountain, elevation 8200 feet. The Mountain is a recreation gem for the City, with downhill and cross country skiing facilities, and mountain bike and running trails. This section of the course drops 120 feet to the Platte River, and the Platte River Parkway aid station at mile 6.
The rest of the course follows the Platte River Parkway, a paved recreational trail operated by the Platte River Parkway Trust, and the recreational trails at the Platte River Commons. This recreational corridor extends 11 miles following the North Platte River through Casper. The softball field bridge at mile 6.5 is the second of nine river crossings. The next mile and one half runs through Crossroads Park, an undeveloped park that once was part of the Oregon Trail. Wagon ruts are still visible here. Watch for wildlife in the area. At mile 8 the Crossroads Aid station is adjacent to the year-old Crossroads Adventure Park, a Casper Rotary Centennial Project. The trail passes behind the outfield fence of Lansing Field, named for former Major League Baseball player Mike Lansing, a product of Casper. Lansing Field is the home of the Casper Rockies, the Rookie League affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. Runners pass the Holiday Inn on the River and cross the North Platte again at mile 8.5.
After you cross the North Platte River and loop beneath Interstate 25, the Parkway Plaza comes into view. The course parallels the North Platte and passes several boat launching areas and the Old Town miniature golf course at Mile 8.7/25.8. A loop under First Street leads to another crossing of the North Platte to the Basko Building, former home of the Wyoming Oil and Gas Commission. Oil and gas production spurred the growth of Casper when the famous Salt Creek Oil Field opened in the 1880''s. The infamous Teapot Dome Oil Reserve Field, thirty miles north of Casper, was central to a national scandal during President Harding's administration in 1922. The oil derrick at mile 9.5/ 25.3 celebrates the oil industry. Across the river is the former site of the Amoco oil refinery, which operated from 1910 to 1990. It has been redeveloped into the Platte River Commons Business Park and the Three Crowns Golf Course.
The course proceeds through Amoco Park to the Casper Whitewater Park, which opened in 2003. It includes 4 drops for kayaks, canoes, and other watercraft. There will be an aid station at mile 10.3/24.3, near the half-marathon turnaround. Marathon runners continue west to the Town of Mills First Street Park aid station at mile 11.5/19.7/ 23. The next stretch of trail passes behind the WOTCO plant, a manufacturer of huge coal mile hauling equipment. The course crosses Wyoming Boulevard at Mile 12.5/18.8 and across the river one last time on the outbound loop. On the right is Fort Caspar Park, a city-operated museum containing a wealth of information about the history of Casper, especially the military and immigrant trails. The next aid station is at Morad Park, mile13.7/17.3. The trail continues through Murie Audubon Park, then past the Wyoming Game and Fish headquarters and BLM Casper office. The trail leaves the river and goes up a short, but steep, little hill to Magnolia Street at mile 14.5/16.5. A gradual downhill leads to the turnaround point on Paradise Valley Park aid station at Mile 15.5.
The return trip follows the same route back to the Mills First Street Park, where runners turn right across the bridge to the Platte River Commons Business Park trail system. This section is new this year. The trails loop the Business Park and Three Crowns Golf Course, a Robert Trent Jones-designed course. The very first rounds at Three Crowns were played just two weeks ago. The Three Crowns Golf Course aid station is at mile 21.5, and then you run back across the North Platte to the Mills First Street Aid Station at mile 23. You only have 3.2 miles to the finish, and the Amoco Aid Station lies ahead at mile 24.4. Go back the way you came, to the Holiday Inn on the River! There you will enjoy food and drink at the finish line area.
Your entry fee includes:
commemorative T-shirt
runner's packet (bib number, coupons, and information)
course aid stations (approximately every 2 miles)
post race refreshments and food
shuttle bus transportation from host hotel to starting line
first aid medical personnel at finish line (and bike/foot patrols on course)
finisher's medal
prizes for overall and age group categories
free parking at starting line (Casper Events Center)
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