Race Information
If you have not enjoyed the City Creek Recreation Area before, this is the perfect opportunity to come out and get introduced! Race day is May 9th, 2026.
Registration:
PDF Map file for OTT 2026 https://pocatellorunningclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/overthetop20202620rev1-1.pdf
Distance/Start Times
30K – 7:00am
1/2 Marathon – 8:00am
10K – 8:15am
5K – 8:30am
Race Packet Pickup:
Friday, May 8th, 2026 at Centennial Park from 4:00pm – 6:00pm. If you are unable to swing by on Friday, you can get everything on race morning if you come early. Everyone still must check in on Saturday before their race for a timing chip on their race bibs. Chips and race bibs will not be handed out until race morning. Pre-race meetings are 15 minutes before each race starts on Saturday, May 9th 2026, race day!
Start / Finish Line
The Start / Finish line is at Centennial Park in Pocatello Idaho.
Parking & Carpooling
Please follow signage and park in legitimate parking spaces. We must ensure adequate egress for emergency vehicles if necessary. Please do not try to park at Centennial Park or the Lower City Creek Trailhead. Please do not park on Idaho Street or Grant Avenue. Parking is limited so please make arrangements to carpool if possible. Please park at the following locations:
Parking Option A
Park at Rainey Park on South Arthur Avenue and walk across the footbridge to Centennial Park.
Parking Option B
Park along the road outside Centennial Park. Please note that parking is not allowed on Idaho Street or Grant Avenue, so choosing this option may require a longer walk.
Check-In at Start
Every racer is required to check-in at the start/finish area in Centennial Park with the registration table with a timing chip attached to the bib so we know exactly who we have on the course. Please get there in plenty of time to check-in and to attend the pre-race meeting. Pre-race meetings are about 15 minutes before the start of every race.
Your Responsibility as a Runner
Stay on and run the marked course and only the marked course. Check-in with each aid station by telling them your number. They are keeping track of who is on the course at all times. Please obey all Trail User Responsibilities: Please refer to the Pocatello Trail User website for a list of rules and recommendations. Please also refer to the RRCA Trail Running Tips on the RRCA website.
Pacers
No pacers are allowed for this race at any distance.
Aid Stations
This is a PAPER-LESS RACE. There will be no paper cups provided at the aid stations. Our goal is to have a minimal impact so you must bring a water bottle or collapsible cup to carry for hydration on the course. You will not be allowed to drink out of the cooler spouts. Please plan ahead.
Aid station locations
5 Kilometer – no aid station
10 Kilometer – 1 aid station: Water and nutrition products.
Half Marathon – 2 aid stations – Water and nutrition products around mile 5.5 at Over The Top Aid Station and at The Lichen Aid Station.
30 Kilometers – 3 aid stations – Water and nutrition products at Over The Top Aid Station and at The Grove Aid Station and finally at Lichen Aid Station.
Start/Finish – water and light post-run snacks
On-course aid stations are to fill up water vessels with water from a cooler. There will also be various nutrition options but ultimately you are responsible for any food, electrolytes, and nutrition you need on the course.
Drop Bags
Drop bags are only allowed at the start/finish line. There will be no provisions to haul drop bags out to the aid stations.
Cutoffs
For runner safety and consideration of our aid stations and sweepers, we firmly enforce these cutoffs.
30K – Runners must pass Grove Aid Station before 11am. Runners must pass Lichen Aid Station before 12 noon. Runners must finish by 1:00 pm.
Half Marathon M – Runners must pass Lichen Aid Station by 12 noon. Runners must finish by 1:00 pm.
10 Kilometers – Runners must pass Lichen Aid Station by 12 noon. Runners must finish by 1:00 pm.
5 Kilometers – Runners must finish by 1:00 pm.
Changing Race Distance Before the Event
If you sign up for a distance and would like to change distances, you can do so through ultrasignup.com up to a week before the race. Go under your login to “Registration History,” click the OTT event, click “Edit” and choose your desired distance. ONCE THE RACE STARTS RACERS CANNOT SWITCH DISTANCES MID-EVENT. THIS WILL RESULT IN A DISQUALIFICATION.
Refunds, Roll-Overs, Transfers
There will be no refunds or transfers. Roll-Overs are accepted based on individual cases. Please contact the race director.
Dropping
If you are unable to participate, please drop your name from the race so others from the waitlist can be added. Log into ultrasignup.com, click the top right on your name, click “registration history,” click “edit,” and click “drop.” There are no refunds for dropping.
Weather
Weather can be anything from temps in the 90s on dry dirt, to 20s with very slick mud or snow for miles. Some years there is a large snowdrift on the top of the OverThe Top climb. Come prepared, mentally and physically. We live in Idaho. Expect the unexpected and always be prepared.
Course Summary
Over the Top is beautiful but can be rugged as it is quite exposed at the top of the the half marathon and 30K. The 30K is 90% single track, the half marathon loop is 98% single track, the 10 kilometer loop is about 75% single track, and the 5 kilometer loop is about 90% single track.
The first 0.8 miles for all three races follow a very wide single track to the Bench Trail and Rim Trail. It turns into a true single track dropping down into Death Valley which is a very narrow gulley but it has the occasional pullout here and there to pass people or let people by.
The 5K runners will hook a right-hand turn about 1.5 miles in and they have a smooth flowing descent back to the finish line.
The 10K, half marathon, and 30K runners will continue climbing up Burrito to Meadowlark Trail and onto Serenghetti. The 10K will turn right at the top of Meadowlark to traverse over the skirt of the foothills on a very runnable and distinct two-track multi-use trail and then drop into the narrow Lichen’s draw. Lichen re-joins where the 5K descended to the finish line.
Those running the Half Marathon and 30K Over The Top Trail will split off at the intersection of Serenghetti and Sullivan’s to the Over The Top Trail. They will climb up the Over The Top trail to Under The Top, and run Under The Top counter clockwise. Runners will hit the Under The Top connector and Over The Top connector and continue running Over The Top trail clockwise. Runners will climb multiple switchbacks up to the saddle and then out to the “OTT Lookout.” Both distances will drop down the other side of the mountain until they reach the “T-intersection” of Over the Top and Sullivan’s. Half Marathon and 30K runners will turn left at that intersection and head out on Sullivan’s down to the Gut.
Both the Half Marathon and 30K courses continue along the Gutto Cone Trail until reaching a viral split. At that point, the Half Marathon route proceeds along the Gutto until they hit Bridge Eleven where they will take right for a final climb on Serengeti toward the Lichen aid station. From there, runners rejoin the main course, where all distances descend to the finish line.
The 30K will continue down the Gut to Cone Trail, turn left and cross the City Creek stream climb up The Grove on a beautiful single track shaded by trees until they hit The Grove Aid Station at the top of the gulley. Out of the aid station, they will climb up a short steep road to Outlaw singletrack trail and then drop suddenly down Black Cairn. At the bottom, runners will take a right and climb up Short Bus’s switchbacks to the ridge and then drop back down Switchbacks on the City Creek side. Turning right onto White Cairn, you will follow the flattest section of the race across the foothills to City Creek Road, crossing bridge 11. Save your climbing legs for one last climb up Serenghetti to the Lichen Aid Station and runners will re-join where all the other race distances descended to the finish line.
Course Markings
Course map and markings will be shown at racer check-in. Please check-in 15-30 minutes before all start times at the latest. City Creek trails have many branches and not all branches are marked with city signs. The course will be marked at every intersection. If you come to an intersection that is not marked, turn around because you are probably off-trail. Every intersection will have multiple flags, ribbons, and/or little signs to ensure the correct route is obvious.
Trail Etiquette
Though the course is mostly single track there are many places to pass or be passed throughout the four courses. Please be respectful of other racers and follow appropriate trail etiquette. If you want to pass someone, it is usually best to verbalize your intention and pass when appropriate on the runner’s left side. A friendly bit of encouragement is always appreciated on both sides!
Please be mindful of those around you. If you are running with music, wear just one ear bud, keep your music down on low volume so you can still hear someone’s footsteps behind you, or just don’t wear your music during this race and enjoy the company of your fellow runners and nature.
Share the Trails
Bikers, hikers, horse riders, and ATV enthusiasts may be sharing the trail with us on race day. Please be courteous and respectful, minding the national trial user guidelines. For example, pedestrians have the right to way over a bike. Horses have the right of way over a pedestrian (runner). Uphill traffic has the right away always.
Stay on Course
There will be a ZERO-TOLERANCE POLICY for those cutting trails whether intentionally OR unintentionally.
The trails in City Creek are heavily used therefore much care has been taken to prevent erosion and damage. Please help us keep our trails healthy and clean. If a racer is reported for cutting switchbacks and this is verified, he or she will be assigned a DNF, will not be allowed to be part of the prize drawings and will be banned from future races.
The race director and volunteers will make every effort to ensure the courses are clearly marked. The 5K racers will follow orange flagging. The 10K racers will follow blue flagging. The Half Marathon racers will follow pink flagging. The 30K racers will follow white flagging.
Use Common Sense
You will be on uneven ground: rocky, muddy, narrow, steep, and possibly up to 3 miles away from help if you are injured. Be aware that we have variable weather conditions. Do not participate in this run if you are not in reasonable physical condition to spend an hour or so on flat to rugged hilly terrain. Please drink enough water, the aid stations are there for a reason. If you are not in the proper physical condition to undertake the Half Marathon run, please check your ego and bump over to the 10K or 5K. You can switch distances up until a week before the race. Ultimately, Pocatello Running Club, race organizers, and volunteers are not responsible for costs associated with search and rescue or any costs associated with any injuries. Use common sense, know your limits, and enjoy our beautiful trails!
Dogs
No dogs are allowed on the race course during the race. If you have a dog at the finish line, it must be on a static leash 6 foot or shorter AND under voice control.
Post Race
We will serve some light post-run snacks. Kiosks will be set up at the finish line to see your time and splits. There will be music and awards at the pavilion. Awards Ceremony for each race distance will start when the majority of the racers in that distance have crossed the finish line. There will also be a raffle with some prizes near the end if you choose to stay and cheer your fellow runners into the finish line.
Questions
If you would like any more information, or if you still have a question that was not answered, feel free to contact Melissa Merrill Arrington, the OTT Race Director via the email listed on the registration’s website. Train hard, have fun, and see you at the Starting Line, Saturday, May 9th 2026!
POCATELLO RUNNING CLUB 