This was my first time running St George and I chose this because it was scenic. As my 8th marathon it was one of my favorites. The elevation was a little rough because I am used to training at sea level, but overall it was great. If you have trained downhill and uphill (like I did) it is a great course. Volunteers were awesome and aid stations were well laid out and well stocked. I would run this race again, but would spend some more time acclimating to the elevation.

I have ran this race the past 4 years and this year was the best shirts, I actually wear it. Thanks for getting it right.

Everything about this race is perfect. Congrats to the organizers and volunteers for such an excellent job.

The only suggestion I have is to get a different supplier for the shirts. The shirts sizes always run too small (and it's not because I'm too fat).

I love this race. The course is beautiful, the race is very well organized and the support is great for a point to point race in the mountains. This was my second time running St. George and I would definitely run it again.

The only negative I took away from the race was the shirts. My men's size L fit my petite 12 year old daughter perfectly.

Marathon #23 for me and my first in St. George. I was expecting a nice, downhill race and while it was, it was anything but easy! I did come in a little undertrained and not heat ready and paid dearly for it. Definitely not the fault of the race staff!!

All in all, the expo was a bit on the small side but very easy to navigate. Getting a hotel wasn't too tough and I managed to stay about 1/2 of a mile from the finish. Getting a bus to the start was easy and didn't take too long until we were seated and to the start

You'll run the first little bit in the pre-dawn darkness. It was very cool running in the desert w/only the sounds of feet hitting the pavement and darkness surrounding. Once the sun came up, it was warmer than I had hoped and the nice hills from 7 to 10 were far tougher than I had imagined. Miles 13-16 were surreal as the backdrop was one of the best I've ever seen while running. Vivid colors surrounded!! Definitely a fun trip down the mountain!

My only complaint was I think there needed to be 2 more water stops. While most races every 2 miles should be sufficient, if you're having a bad day and out there doing 12+ minute miles, being 25 or so minutes or more between aid is a little long in 90 degree heat. I probably should have carried something but really hadn't planned on being out there that long. Otherwise, a great day and fun race.

I'd put this on the must do list for anyone looking for someplace to run!

This is my favorite marathon. It is incredibly well organized. The scenery is awe-inspiring. The weather is great. What more could you ask for?

If you want to try for a BQ or a PR, this is the race for you. First timers might look at the elevation drop and (falsely) assume this is a straight downhill course. No so! If you run this smart, you will have a negative split and a fast time. Like a golf course has a signature hole, the signature mile is Veyo Hill (mile 7.5 - 8.5). This is about a 6% uphill grade with a view of the volcano on the right. Don't blow it here! You have 3-4 miles uphill following this, but after mile 13, it is just about all downhill except for a gradual uphill at mile 19.

The scenery is unbeatable. The organization from the expo to the finish area is top shelf. The organizers are great people. The city is very welcoming. The fee is a GREAT value compared to other marathons. The weather is generally favorable. For most participants, the little warmer weather this year was actually a relief from the temperatures we had to train in this summer. I got a PR and a BQ this year! I will run this race every year until I can't run anymore! You have to really be nitpicking to find complaints about this one.

fantastic marathon, was able to PR (in my senior era) by 30 minutes, 3:55. No complaints about the heat as I trained in the heat in preparation. Only suggestion would be more handicap parking near the finish for family. Will definitely enter lottery again.

This was my 13th marathon and also one of my hardest, slowest, and most muscle-cramp inducing. So much for the BQ I originally planned to go for this time out! Yes, there is a lot of downhill in the second half of the race, but after spending miles 7-11 in a fairly relentless uphill climb, your legs might not even want it. A nearly 90-degree day  didn't help. 

All the positives that people rave about hold up, though (well-stocked aid stations, beautiful Southern Utah scenery, general organization). 

If you do it, do it for the scenery and experience. But if you do it for the 'easy downhill' cruise or a good race time, you might be sorely (literally) disappointed. Two days later I'm still taking Epsom baths and ibuprofen to soothe the leg aches, a first for me!

This is a great event which I recommend to all marathoners:

Pros:
1) easy packet pickup
2) nice expo with interesting vendors
3) beautiful course
4) excellent support with wonderful volunteers and helpful spectators (several gave out popsicles and one family actually turned on their garden hose for the very hot runners toward the end of the race)
5) support included vaseline and sports cream (which they applied to runners legs) at every aid station
6) lots of free parking close to start/finish (with option to take shuttle to start and finish from hotel)
7) great, supportive hotels (I stayed at Townplace Suites by Marriott and they could not do enough for the runners...wonderful support...I will stay there again)
8) Nice technical shirts without advertisements and with gender-specific sizing
9) beautiful medal using sandstone, so color varies from medal to medal
10) nice finish line with ice cream (yum) and other goodies

It was very HOT (unseasonably) on race day, but this did not take away from the beauty of this course...was not a PR for me due to the heat, but I paced myself to accomodate the heat and enjoyed the race thoroughly!