SOUTHERN UTAH – The third annual Salt to Saint Relay comes to St. George at the Bluff Street Park, 600 N. Bluff St., on Saturday.
The 422-mile bike race begins Sept. 16, at the Capitol building in Salt Lake City and proceeds over Suncrest, through Nephi into Sanpete County down state Route 89 through Kanab and into St. George.
Two hundred and four participants have signed for this year’s race. Forty-six are females and 158 males. Each team consists of two to eight people, and the participants represent seven states, including Arkansas and Oregon.
Local insurance agent Brandon Price, 41, is competing for the first time in a relay race. His team has four members and each of them plans to bike at least 106 miles per person.
“I love the bike,” Price said. “I love Utah and the scenery. I wanted another challenge in my life. I have set a goal and I have to train and work for it.”
Price said he decided to compete in the Salt to Saint Relay after hiking the entire Grand Canyon in one day, and being extremely mentally and physically exhausted.
“Doing something like this gives you so much confidence to do whatever you want to do in life,” he said.
Race Director Clay Christensen said the idea of the Salt to Saint Relay came to him and a couple of his friends after one of the friends completed the relay course solo.
“The majority of the riders are doing it for the experience,” Christensen said.
However, Price said many are competing for bragging rights to say they have conquered the difficult course. The temperature and elevation changes are said to be the most difficult part of the competition; therefore riders must be prepared for it all.
The first competitors will around at the Bluff Street Park at approximately 7:30 a.m. and the public is encouraged to come support the competitors throughout the day. The cut-off time is 6:30 p.m. and the awards ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. at the park.
For more information visit salttosaint.com.
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