SALT LAKE CITY — Ultrarunner Dakota Jones and community members initiated a five-day, nearly 260-mile relay around the Great Salt Lake on Tuesday. The event, titled 'Where the Water Was,' began at the Utah State Capitol and is scheduled to conclude on October 17. Organizers aim to raise awareness and secure funding for critical water conservation efforts impacting the lake.
The project, spearheaded by Footprints, is specifically designed to underscore the significant challenges currently facing the Great Salt Lake. Beyond raising awareness, organizers hope the relay will actively encourage broader public involvement in crucial conservation efforts. Jones stated that the event's name reflects both the region’s deep history and the constantly changing shoreline of the lake. He explained that participants are running along a section of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail where the water was located some 30,000 years ago. Jones also noted that despite running where the lake shore *should* be, runners frequently will not be able to see the water due to how much the lake has receded.
The demanding relay route comprehensively circles the entire Great Salt Lake, covering its roughly 260 miles over the five-day period. Jones, an experienced ultramarathon runner, acknowledged that completing such a distance represents a significant physical challenge, even for those with years of dedicated training. He emphasized the sheer scale of the natural landmark, stating, "It's a big place."
Beyond the considerable physical endeavor, organizers specifically stated the relay is intended to bring focused attention to ongoing conservation efforts and to actively connect local residents with tangible ways they can contribute and help. Jones clearly outlined three key calls to action for community members interested in participating. First, he urged donations to a fundraiser that directly benefits the Utah Rivers Council and Grow the Flow, which are organizations actively working on issues critical to the Great Salt Lake. Second, he called for support of the People’s Charter for the Great Salt Lake, a petition created by high school and college students that advocates for specific actions to protect the lake. Third, Jones encouraged participation in the upcoming election, stressing that residents' voices are heard when they engage in the democratic process.
While the run itself represents a major physical undertaking, Jones affirmed that organizers hope the entire event will feel accessible and deeply community-focused. He emphasized that the relay is a community effort rather than a race or competition, inviting people to join. Organizers expressed a desire for the event to foster conversation, and for all people to feel welcome and included. They reiterated that community members are warmly invited to participate along various sections of the route and at event gatherings scheduled throughout the week, as the runners make their demanding way around the Great Salt Lake.
