by Jennica Watson Hirrlinger

TETON DAM MARATHON: It’s a race!  Well, several actually.   Rexburg is hosting an event with several distances for runners of all ages to choose from.  Included in these festivities will be a one mile fun run, a 5k, a 10k, a half marathon, a marathon relay, a full marathon distance (26.2 miles) as well as an expo for racers and spectators to enjoy. The event is called the Dam Marathon, named after the Teton Dam Flood that occurred here on June 5, 33 years ago. I’ve lived here most of my life and when this flood occurred, I was only about 9 months old. Too young to remember the actual happenings, I’m going to pretend, if you will permit me, for the purposes of this arcticle that I have first hand knowledge.

My family lived at the head of the Archer/Lyman highway and my dad ran the batch plant at the Teton Dam site. On the day the dam burst in 1976, a small leak deteriorated quickly. After running down into the spillway under the dam to evacuate the other workers, my dad followed the last of them up the hill to the parking area near the batch plant. His was the last in the line of vehicles racing up to a high point above the dam as the ground crumbled and washed away behind them. The men stood and watched four years of work fall apart and rushed down the countryside towards their homes and families.  It was heart-breaking for them.  It was terrifying for them.

The Teton Dam Flood left many homeless and the mess was incredible: I’ve heard this flood caused about 500 million dollars in damage. Staggering, right? I think, oftentimes, when something tragic happens, there can be an initial paralysis, a space where one experiences the shock of it, then, a decision is made about how to proceed.  One step at a time, right? And that, I believe, is what happened.  People struggled, and then, they picked up their shovels and went to work. Along with those who were directly impacted, there were many, many invaluable volunteers that served this community.  And we survived.

So, this weekend we remember this time, though we haven’t forgotten. In honor of that event, the runners who choose the marathon distance will begin their race at the site of the former Teton Dam and they will run into Rexburg. The other racers will start within a block or two of Smith Park and follow specific courses, where at certain mile markers, volunteers will be at the ready to provide the fuel and fluids neccessary to assist them. This year, I’ll be running the half marathon, and I must say, it’s not an easy course. In fact, as far as races go, all of the Teton Dam courses are pretty hilly. Except for the one mile fun run; it’s flat as a board.  But as runners, we’ve prepared and though we may have moments where the course is tough, we will climb those hills, get water from awesome volunteers and we will race on to victory just like we did 33 years ago.  One step at a time.

The racers will finish on the southwest corner of the same park beneath a giant blue and white balloon archway with spectators screaming support. Other volunteers will then place finisher’s medals around their necks and send them to the tennis courts to receive post-race refreshments.

The Teton Dam races were started as a way to commemorate an anniversary, of sorts, of something terrible that happened 33 years ago but I prefer to think of it as a celebration- a way to challenge ourselves and find out how tough and resilient we really are, a fulfillment of a dream or a goal.

It’s also a way to give back.   Did I mention a portion of the entry fees get donated to help find a cure for cystic fibrosis? Any one can be involved, too.  It’s not just for the runners and their families: Come out and see what the Teton Dam races inspire you to do. Or, you could always join us.  I believe registration is still open.  See you there!