Three Utah runners set to run Olympic marathon course post Olympics

PARIS, France — At least three Utah’s are set to participate in an event called the Marathon Pour Tous — a public race being held right after the Olympians run the Marathon. Thousands of athletes will get to run the historic Olympic course, but at night.

“Running through the streets of Paris like that just sounds so cool,” Anna Camp Bennett, a local pro runner, said.

Getting to run an Olympic course in Paris has had special meaning for her since she tried to make the Olympic team, but fell just short.

“I ran in the trials here in the US, fell short of my goals of making it, but I still get to go over and run a 10K and watch my teammates,” she said.

Related: Salt Lake City had a last-minute hurdle before it was awarded the 2034 Olympic games

Camp Bennett is one of three Utahns who will represent the 2034 Olympic Bid Committee to participate in the race. Another happens to be State Senator Mike McKell.

“Running the Olympic course as a runner, this to me is, you know, as close to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

The pair will be joined by Jared Ward, who runs the Run Elite Program in Utah, and a former Olympian from the Rio Games.

The event will feature 20,024 runners for the marathon, and the same amount for the 10k – to represent 2024.

“Runners from all over the world (will be there),” McKell said. “I know more than 120 countries are represented.”

The event is a way that the Paris Games has tried to bridge the gap between the public and the games. To qualify, one had to complete a series of running contests. McKell, Ward, and Camp Bennett are getting their chance by representing the 2034 Host Committee, who also got some race bibs to give out.

Read the full story from KSL TV here.