This was my seventh marathon, and by far my most enjoyable. The bonfires in the morning were a great way to stay warm and meet new people. The scenery was awesome, and the run into town fantastic. Great organization before and after the race. Plenty of aid stations and lots of friendly people make this a must-do marathon.

It's a myth that this is a fast course! Durango, a week later, has no killer hills. The bonfires at the start and the stone plaque, ten deep per age group, are special. I recommend the Painted Pony for fine dining.

This was a PR for me by over 4 minutes, and my first BQ. If you include hills in your training you won't have any problem. The scenery is spectacular and the fan support is amazing for a small town. When you come into St. George it feels like the whole town is there to cheer you on. This is definitely one I would like to do again.

St. George is the fastest marathon in Utah. It's hard, though all marathons are hard, and it's mostly downhill. Running downhill can hurt too; you are definately feeling it when you hit Bluff St. There is one significant climb at Veyo. It's great watching the sun rise over the course as you head downhill. If you have a shot at qualifying for Boston, St. George is a good place to take it.

Visit Snow Canyon & Zion while you are there.

This course is not a PR Course, nor is it the fastest. In fact, Chicago and Twin Cities regularly post faster times (both of which I've run nearly ten minutes faster!). The course is very scenic, but that doesn't compensate for the fact there are many hills and the only true flat and downhill is in the last four miles. If you've run Boston, it's quite similar with rolling hills that punish your legs.

Don't buy into the hype about this race. I've run fifteen marathons and it is not even the best small town marathon.

Pros: A net downhill course can definitely run a negative split if you run it right. Did about 2-3 minutes less on the the second half. Course is beautiful, and the crowds are really supportive, especially when you finally start reaching town at mile 23-26. They provided a great mix of Gatorade/water gel packs and even ice cream and more at the finish.

Cons: If you plan on running this race, book a room now! Even when I got in the lottery, when I called around everything was booked. Had to stay in Mesquite which is 45 minutes away and an hour behind. However I will say I live in Las Vegas so I only planned on using the room for one night.

This was my first marathon and I loved every moment of it. I especially liked how they allowed the slower runners (such as myself) to run in and still be celebrated even one or two hours after the course had closed!

My wife and I had a great time in St. George. I highly recommend the Green Gate B&B. The marathon was remarkable in every way. It is difficult to think of ways to improve it. Several water misters on the way and at the finish were very nice, as were the small cold towels at about mile 25. Overall it is downhill, but the few hills in the first 10 miles are tough! The elevation map on the website do not do them justice. Overall an excellent experience.

Have run 21 marathons. This one is an absolute must. The scenery is spiritual... especially as you run with the sunrise. Friendly start, hot chocolate, sunscreen, bonfires, etc. Real hometown finish line, then hopped in the car and went to Zion. It's a wonderful time of the year to visit Utah. Take your family, eat at The Painted Pony....

I did not think I would get accepted in the 2005 lottery, but I did. I enjoyed the marathon a lot, although it was tough to get up for, due to the early start time. The best part of the course is running through the Pine Valley Mountains. Running through Pine Valley was just as scenic as the Napa Valley marathon without the wineries.

I was disappointed with my finish time. I was hoping to break 3:05, but I finished in 3:24. The course may have its share of descents, but you cannot run too fast on some of those descents, such as at Mile 14. Mile 14 has a 6% downgrade and Mile 20 has an 8% downgrade. If you run the descents too fast, you put a lot of strain on your knees and quads. You need to save your knees and quads for the last 3-4 miles heading into St George. The course does have that one long tough 1-mile ascent at mile 7 at Vejo. Had it not been for that tough hill, I would probably would have had a better finish time. I did train on hills, but that hill at mile 7 is hard to prepare for.

The expo was nice and small, not too crowded. The pasta dinner at the Dixie Center was great; only $8.00, all you can eat. I was amazed by how much food they give out after you finish the marathon. Ice cream sandwiches, drumsticks, popsicles, bread, fruit, and energy bars. It was a pretty well organized marathon. You get your money's worth for a $45.00 entry fee. Despite my disappointing finish time, I enjoyed seeing the rugged beauty of southwestern Utah. I was able to go to Mt. Zion National Park afterward. I would probably do this marathon again.