St. George Marathon - Race Reviews

Well organized marathon and the views are awesome. I did not prepare for how cold it would be once bused up the mountain where we started so bring throw away clothes or blankets. They had plenty of port a pots, bonfires and space blankets. Volunteers were great, I especially liked the Icy Hot rub stations at the water stations, saved my screaming calves. Run the course as a negative split, the first half is hillier than I expected so prepare, second half you can fly! Definitely go to Zion National Park!

I thought it was a great experience overall. The start was chilly but they had space blankets available, hot drinks, food, lots of port a potties and fires going at the start. It started right on time with a strong tail wind. Once I got moving it wasn't too cold. Mostly downhill with a few uphills. Lots of well staffed aid stations. Great volunteers, very friendly with well supporting spectators. Only my third marathon but I got a PR by almost 12 minutes and got a BQ time. Finish line was amazing and I loved the scenery along the course. Would love to do it again sometime.

In most marathons, I think wouldn't it be nice if they had this or that. This marathon anticipated every runners need. I caught the first bus to the start leaving me close to two hours to hang out and it was cold. So prepare yourself (better than I did) for whatever conditions you'll be waiting in prior to the start of the race.

The positive out way the negative. Amazing views. Have to be careful on the steep downhills. Not enough buses. Had to wait for last bus over 20 min. Happened last yr also.

I travelled to St. George as a destination marathon from Milwaukee. My wife and I went a few days early, rented a car, and checked out Hoover Dam and Zion National Park. Both were worth seeing! The St. George Marathon is known for it's organization and I can verify that it is on point! No issues at all with packet pickup, bus transportation, etc. It was raining while we were waiting for the marathon to start and the rain continued through the first half of the race. I thought the altitude would hit me but this was not an issue. First part of the race was enjoyable and then came miles 7-11 where you are running up a mountain. This took A LOT out of me and wound up hurting for most of the back half of the race. The scenery was awesome even on an overcast/rainy day. I normally run around 3:45 but given the challenge of this event, I had a goal of under 4 hours. I was getting close to the finish and sprinted the last .2 of the race. Crossed the line and stopped my watch at 3:59:39...just made it. I then get the 'official' race results and see it sits at exactly 4 hours. Emailed the race director and they sent me a one line statement back saying I finished at 3:59:59.8 and they rounded up? That is the only disappointing thing I can say about this event. Medal was cool as it looks like the color of the mountains we ran through. Finishers area was okay but nothing special. All in all, I would recommend this race but of the 12 marathons I've done, this was by far, the most challenging!

Prior to running this marathon I read numerous blogs and comments to prepare myself. Some posts had me worried about extreme down hills and some had me anxious about the massive Veyo uphill. Here's my take on it all from start to finish.... We arrived at the finish line area around 4:30am to catch the bus that takes you 26 miles up to the top where you will start at 6:45am. It's typically a good bit colder up top so they have bonfires that they light for runners to stand around until the gun goes off. Race was delayed about 20 minutes to wait for busses still bringing runners up the mountain. The course is basically 24+ miles running on one road/hwy (not sure what it was) but it was awesome. You make a couple of turns once you get back into St George and head for the finish line. A few little climbs in the beginning, but mostly down until around mile 7 1/2 or 8. You'll see it before you get to it...the Veyo climb. It's a doozey for sure, but push through!! A few more downs and ups and then I'd say miles 13-24 are just a gorgeous down hill run. WAIT - there was a surprise uphill around mile 18 that I wasn't expecting. Save a little something for that, but then you just continue downhill pretty much to the finish line. It wasn't a painful downhill, honestly it just felt like effortless running. I came from Texas so the cooler temps and lack of humidity likely helped, combined with the downhill. I've never in my 13 marathons had a negative split, but this time I did. I also took 35 minutes off my best marathon. OH, and the views!! OMG!! Just wait!!!! Hopefully you will all be fortunate enough to have amazing weather like we did this year. Rain at the beginning may not have been ideal, but the cloud cover that remained for the entire race certainly made for great running conditions as there isn't any shade on this course. Best of luck if you choose to run St. George! If you're a golfer, or traveling with one, you HAVE to play Sky Mountain. I don't play, but glad I tagged along with my hubby. Most gorgeous golf course/views I've ever witnessed.

This was my third St. George Marathon and it was as good as ever. I ran it in 2010 in average (hot) conditions, in 2015 in very hot conditions, and this year (2018) in rainy and cool conditions. Each year the experience was awesome. St. George Marathon and the community there operate this event like a well oiled machine. - Great expo for a mid-size race - Bus loading was a cinch - Tons of port-a-potties at the start - Fire pits, space blankets and hot drinks at the start - Plenty of road to warm up prior to the race - Great rendition of National Anthem - The start was late but this is, I think, was a complication of the weather and tons of people taking later buses. - The course is scenic and perfect for a negative split (which I have achieved every time here) - Aid stations are well stocked and volunteers are trained - The finish line area is one of the best I have experienced - Beautiful medal and ok SWAG - Space blankets at the finish - Massages and medal engraving at the finish In short, this is the most organized and best large/midsize marathon in Utah. If you want a more intimate experience the best small marathon in Utah is Morgan Valley, hands down, but for the big event experience there is no beating St. George. And if you are in the BQ hunt I would not choose Revel Big Cottonwood over this race. If you run it right (negative split strategy) St. George is faster (and easier on your legs) than Big Cottonwood. IMO. Finally, I gave 5 stars for spectators because I love the mix of areas with a lot of spectators and those without. Lots of spectators cheering continuously gets old for me after 20+ miles.

I really loved the St. George Marathon! My little boy ran in the kids race the night before. I highly recommend partaking if you have kids. The Marathon is run like a well oiled machine. It's no small feat getting all the runners bussed from town to the starting line. Big Kudos to all the bus drivers and all the volunteers and spectators. They, along with the St. George Parks & Rec staff made this a race to remember. The race itself is tough. Like really tough. I drove in from Chicagoland. I wasn't going for a specific time because there is no way to train for the elevation where I live. All in all, the scenery, the people & the experience are more than one could ask for. I recommend the Hampton Inn St. George. They had a shuttle to/from the park (1.2 mile) & they started breakfast at 3AM, too. Another big plus was they offered free massages at the hotel to all of us runners. What an amazing racecation!

This was my first marathon and WOW it set the bar high! It was an amazing course, absolutely beautiful. Don't be fooled though, there are definitely hills, but the downhills definitely make up for it. Everyone warned me about how the first half trashes your quads, so you don't even want to run downhill the second half. However, totally didn't have this problem! With all the aid stations completely stocked with treats and goodies, I felt great the whole race! The race support was amazing. Nurses ready to lather you with icy hot, vaseline being handed out, water bottle refills, fruit at many of the stations, and then in the city, they had bags of ice and otter pops! The beginning of the race was also super cool (literally and figuratively) as they had bonfires for every to get cozy around. People were even roasting s'mores at the start line. Some people had sleeping bags at the start line to keep warm and cozy in - highly recommend and will definitely do that next time! The race did start a little late due to a bus being late, which was a little frustrating as I am a slow runner and need all the time I can get! But other than that, organization was great! They didn't get rated most organization marathon in the country for just any ol' reason! I had heard a lot about the community support for St. George and unfortunately, by the time I got near the finish, most of the crowds waned. HOWEVER, it is not to say that there weren't people there! I highly appreciate many of the residents having 'unofficial' aid stations and still being out there when I passed! They really do cheer you up and provide invaluable support! I really can't recommend this course and race enough! Plus, you're near some of the most beautiful national parks and it provides for a great run-cation!!

This is my 2nd time running St George, and it's a great marathon with a slightly difficult course. The weather is unpredictable and often warmer than other areas due to it's desert climate. Both times I've run the marathon it's been average or above temps, which impacts me. I keep hoping for temps closer to 50 the entire race which would help. Excellent organization of the race, great spectators. The entire community supports this marathon. I highly recommend the experience.

This was one of the best-organized marathons I've ever done. Easy expo, easy bus ride to the start, great starting line atmosphere (see previous comments on bonfires, etc.), tremendous aid stations with porta-potties at every one, plenty of fruit and icy-hot rubs and unbelievable volunteers, both in numbers and helpfulness. So why a 4 rating for organization when it probably deserved a 10? The gear-check pickup. You attach a sticky tab with your name and number to the provided bag, and volunteers set the bags out in rows, grouping in about every 200 numbers. The problem is somehow my number and most of my name got smudged. I  and several volunteers  spent about an hour looking for it in the hot sun, and I needed to find it as my car keys were in the bag (Particular kudos to volunteer Bailey, who was off to get her car to drive me back to my room so I could at least shower while she would continue the search when I finally located the bag). It's actually a workable system and I'm not sure what changes I'd suggest, but I would recommend you put some kind of big recognizable mark on your bag in case something happens with the sticky tab. The race itself? One of my favorites. Gorgeous and though I'm no longer into speed, it would be a good one if you're shooting for a BQ. Just do plenty of hill training  both up and down. Fans were stupendous, just not many places they could be until you got into town. It's obvious that after 40 years, St. George loves this event. And those of us who have run it send that love right back. I highly recommend it.

The average high temperature in St. George on Oct. 1 is about 88 degrees. Typically, the low is mid 50's and cooler at the higher elevation start. This year, it was mid 60's at the finish line when the race started which made for very warm conditions when runners were finishing. From what I can tell by checking past results, this scenario is pretty common. There is absolutely no shade on the course and unless there is a passing cloud, it can become brutaly warm by 9:00 AM which was the case in 2016. I believe its the sun that makes this race challenging. I have run 6 different marathons and qualified for Boston in each of them , but didn't on this race. The hot, sunny conditions did me in at about mile 21. I do agree that this can be a fast course if you are very careful the first half. But, I think the weather is the key factor and I'm not going to take another chance with it. I believe this race should be run in late October. I know that it would probably be cold at the start many years, but for most runners this would be far better than finishing in the heat.

St. George is where I first BQ'd, so it naturally holds a special place in my heart, however, the reason I enter the lottery year after year is the absolutely spectacular course! That first glimpse and descent into Snow Canyon is breathtaking and my jaw still drops. The marathon deserves its reputation for fantastic volunteers and spot-on organization. So many details make this race special: the expo is actually fun to shop at, some of the best expo speakers I've ever heard, the delicious pasta dinner (the veggie marinara sauce is TO DIE FOR!!!), the early morning shuttles which load and leave quickly, the numerous porta-potties at the start, the bonfires in the dark, the efficient gear check, the numerous aid stations on course, the numerous and enthusiastic volunteers, the delicious goodies at the finish line, the unique sandstone finisher's medals, and the great technical finisher's shirts (this year, I was thrilled to have a choice between short and long-sleeved plus the women's shirts had a v-neck!). I have been lucky enough to do this race 4 times now and am hoping to return in 2017!

Being a Utah resident, you hear a lot about the St. George marathon being one of the premier races in the state. I was understandably excited when I was picked in the lottery to race the 40th anniversary of the St. George Marathon. The expo was good (not huge, but not small either) and had everything you would expect. The packet pickup was painless and there was no wait. The race shirt this year had a really nice design; however, it is so misshapen it makes me wonder if mine was mismade  a friend of mine also ran and has a similar issue, so that makes me think the shirts were just poorly made. I don't recognize the manufacturer and the material feels kinda cheap. Race day: I arrived at the bus pickup about 30 minutes before the last bus was scheduled to go out, but had to stand in line for over 40 minutes to get on the bus!! What?! So much for saving my legs for the race. For being touted as one of the most organized races in the nation, this really stands out against that, I was not very pleased with the bus loading situation. I don't really see why the bus loading was such an issue except that they were only loading 3 at a time despite the huge crowd. Once at the top of the course, the rest of the day went really well. The course is absolutely beautiful and running the first couple miles during sunrise is breath-taking. All the aid stations were extremely well run and supplied, absolutely no issues here. Also, there were tons of aid stations throughout the course and especially the last 10K which was super crucial because of the heat this year (80F+ about 3 hours in). The finisher's medal is well made and unique, I really like this medal (one of the best). Overall, I definitely would recommend the St. George Marathon, but I hope they can iron out some of these kinks and really live up to the most organized marathon in the nation title.

Race course was fast with relatively little spectators with the exception of two areas where spectators were allowed access via alternate roads. This year was a really hot with temps in the 80s in last 10k and still PR'd by 12 minutes with walking in the last few miles. Oh yeah, the last 2 miles of the course has the people of St. George out in full force supporting and cheering you on to your finish. Remember there is no shade in the desert, so bring your hat and sunglasses. That said, this course has the ability to take another six to ten minutes off my PR if the weather is right. I'm going to do this race again with the hope of cooler temperatures. Next year I will BQ on this course!

This year was the 40th running of the St. George Marathon and my first time at the event. It absolutely lived up to its reputation for the beauty of the course and the expert organization. The good things: - Well run expo that wasn't very large but had anything you might have forgotten to bring. I attended the first timers talk and was treated to a speaker who has run the race every year from the 1st to now. If it's your first time, I highly recommend attending the talk. - The bus ride to the start line was run as smooth as silk. I have to admit that my 3:15AM wake up call was tough, but the friendly volunteers and the perfectly run process of loading the buses made this part of the race completely painless. - The hour and a half wait at just over 5000' of elevation at the start line was made much easier by the bonfires that were lit to take the edge off the cool morning. This year's race was actually very warm at the finish, but the start line temperatures were in the low 50's. - The race itself was amazing, the course was incredibly beautiful. Be prepared for plenty of uphills, though, it's not all downhill. The hill at Veyo is no joke and the gradual climb from mile 10 through 12 is sneakily tough. There are some rolling hills around mile 22 that actually help break up some of the downhill and are a bit of a relief to your legs that have been pounded by all the downhill. - The finish area is in a small park and definitely gets a bit congested, but the finish line food is excellent. Plenty of fruit and chocolate milk as well as ice cream which was wonderful after a warm finish. Things to watch out for: - Be prepared for the pounding of the downhill, do plenty of training, your quads and hamstrings will be decimated by the finish line. - It's very easy to go out way too fast, watch your pace and this is an easy negative split. - This year got very warm and there is no cover on the course so once the sun was out there was no escape. I trained all summer in the Texas heat so I was OK, but the shuttle was constantly running back and forth to carry people out. This was easily the most smoothly run of any race event I have done so far. The city of St. George is a beautiful place with very friendly people and plenty of food options if you don't want to do the pasta dinner. I gave the spectators a 4 because you don't see many until you get into town for the last couple of miles. But, those spectators are wonderfully full of enthusiasm and definitely give you a boost for the final miles. If you love running and running marathons, St. George is an absolute must-run.

This was my 19th marathon but my first St. George. I had been warned to train for the hills, so I did hill training almost weekly for 3 months, in addition to very hilly routes for all of my long runs. Even with all of this hill training, my quads have been trashed for 2 days since the race. What caught me by surprise was how much uphill there was, even after the Veyo hill. Actually, there were no flats at all, until the last 2 miles getting into town. This last 2 miles is where my pace fell off because it was so hot (77 degrees at the finish for a 3:40 marathon). Although this was a BQ for me, it was not a PR due to those last hot miles. The organization is just as everyone says. Unlike other marathons I've done, they gave out mylar blankets and FOOD at the start, and I loved the bon fires and seeing the stars outside. Lining up at the start was extremely easy and I had no trouble seeding myself behind the 3:35 pacer. Even though it was basically dark, I had no trouble seeing the road before the sun came up during those first miles. There are A LOT of aid stations in this race, especially in the second half. There was fruit at almost every aid station, and volunteers were there to rub icy-hot on your legs which many took advantage of, due to the downhill nature of the course. The greatest blessing for me was a volunteer giving me a bag of ice at mile 22. My favourite part of this marathon was coming into Snow Canyon and seeing the sun rising on those red rocks. I literally had shivers. St. George is the most beautiful race I've ever run, and I'm so thankful to have had the opportunity to be a part of it.

I was not psyched for this race, with a shoulder injury just 10 days before the race. That said, despite the early start, everything was so logistically efficient. Not too much time waiting at the start. And what a wait it was! Multiple bonfires, beautiful stars/constellations in the night sky, and first 3 miles were spent running before the sun rise. Wonderful experience. That said, a little too chaotic at the start. Would be better to get people lined up a bit sooner. That is the only reason why my '4' on organization. The downhills need to be trained for, and I will do so next time. Was so surprised at how quick my overall time was, despite walking quite a bit after mile 18. I ended up 2nd in my age group. Beautiful course and fabulous support en route. I need to experiment with 'icy hot' rubs since this is offered regularly in the 2nd half of the race. Hope to be back next year!

Do NOT miss the chance to take a side trip to Zion and Bryce National Parks while here!!!! Beyond amazing! I have heard about St. George for years. My friend Craig Davidson (Phoenix) has run this about 30 times. I am doing 50-states, so I wanted the best race in Utah; and I got it. I'm a stickler for logistical details of putting on a marathon and this is about as close to perfect on every aspect. I knocked 15 minutes off of my recent times, primarily due to the downhill nature of the course. Several half-mile downhills at 6-8% grade, especially in the last half of the course. I did a negative split! The bonfires at the start line add to the unique atmosphere of St. George. Porta potties as far as the eye could see. Could have used a few more on course, but that's a minor nit. The race production/planning people clearly are marathon runners as they thought of everything. One suggestion for spectators doing the 16-mile point. Allow 20 extra minutes to park and walk (STEEP UPHILL) to get to the observation point. Thanks to race team for mailing back my checked bag which I had forgotten to pick up after the race. Nice touch!

Beautiful, peaceful amazing scenery. Volunteers are the best. Event well organized. Plenty of parking to catch bus. Aid stations well stocked, 3 stations had Clif shots, fruit on all the tables after the half and icy hot rub downs that plenty or runners took advantage of. The course is hilly but we all know that going in. Great vacation destination race. Book hotel prior to lottery the good ones sell out quick.

Organization and scenery is first class. Lots of hllls in first 14 followed by serious downhills during backhalf of race. Don't forget the hill on mile 18 (I did.). Work on the downhills!

This was clearly the best organized, most scenic marathon I have ever run. I read plenty of runner reviews on the race so I was aware of 'the hill at Veyo', and what to expect from a runners' perspective. Due to an ankle injury that I incurred six weeks prior to the race, I didn't meet my time goal, but I completed the run in good fashion. I'm already mentally preparing for the race next year. Great incentives to get the runners to the start! I was entered in to a raffle and won a free entry into next years race! The expo experience was great as well, with plenty of free give-aways. A FIRST CLASS EVENT OVERALL.

Fast course. Easy busses. Great medal. Organized aid stations. Hideous shirt. Totally worth the time and money.

This was my first time running St George. I heard about it from my fellow runners in my running club. The course was a bit of challenge because of the Veyo Hill. I knew about it but I was not ready for it. It was very steep!! Almost everyone had to walk up it. I was a little tanked after that. The volunteers at the Water Stop & Aid Stations were great! I have never had an Icey Hot rub down on my calves before. I needed it from the ups and down of the course! It was cool at the start of the race at 5000 ft with a temp of 49. However, it warmed up quite a bit at the finished at the end in St. George. Overall, I really liked the race. I enjoy the smaller marathons.

Don't get me wrong, the entire experience was great! The organization is the best I've experienced (and I ran Boston, SD Rock n' Roll). As for the course, I rate it mainly on the actual terrain. The downhills are great, but many times they were too steep. And when you hit the uphills (be ready, there are a couple doozies) they have a net negative impact on your time. Admitedly, downhills are not my strength. So others might disagree. But if you're looking for a scenic race (particularly when you enter Snow Canyon) with great support (relative to the number of runners), this is a 'must run' marathon. If you're not looking to PR, then just sit back and enjoy the ride. Don't go too hard downhills and save up energy (or heck, just walk) the uphills, and you'll have a great time. P. S. Once I got home I noticed they didn't give me the correct shirt. I contacted them offering a swap and the contact person said she'd just mail a new one (no swap, free of charge). How's that for cool?

Beautiful country to run the race. The Veyo hill and inclines after that climb were challenging. Course is 1/2 uphill and 1/2 downhill. Weather and altitude not a problem. The 4 hour pacer did a great job. Got my BQ for 2016!

I have run 18 total marathons at 10 different locations. St. George is the one I keep coming back to. The course, the red rock scenery, the support, the awesome energy felt in the air at the starting line, the cool sandstone finisher's medal, and on and on  what's there not to love?

I have run this race five ears now. Simply is the best marathon. Beautiful course, best organization, best volunteers, best specators!

The course is beautiful, and the organization is top notch. Absolutely no complaints. I rated the spectators a 5, but there are long stretches of road with no people (this is expected when running so far out of town). Once you reach St George proper the crowds really pick up and are very supportive. As for the race itself: - The first 7 miles are downhill (primarily in the early morning dark), and they go by fast. The 2013 start was quite cool (under 40) so bring some sheddable layers - The Veyo hill at mile 7 is no joke. Its a 6-7% grade at 4,000ft of elevation. After that half mile climb, there is a long, steady uphill until about mile 11. - Shortly after the halfway point, there is a huge downhill where you can make up any time you lost on the Veyo hills. The views of Snow Canyon were fantastic. - After a short climb around mile 19 (its not bad), you are at a steady downhill til the finish. I'm a Midwesterner, and I did feel some of the effects of elevation - I was much more thirsty than normal in the earlier parts of the race, and I did find myself out of breath in a few spots. However, the downhill more than offsets the altitude, and I had a PR by over 11 minutes. I'll repeat a comment made by a past review: I would not recommend racing flats. I wore my trainers, and my feet were hurting from all the downhill pounding in the later miles. Overall, St George is a fantastic PR course and well worth the trip.

This is a scenic, fantastic, fast course. Don't let anyone convince you otherwise. The uphills are daunting, but they cannot negate the >2500 ft elevation drop. With proper training and good race day conditions a PR should be easily attained. I knew based on my training that 2:58 was obtainable on a 'typical' course. What I didn't know was how to account for the downhill. I just lucked into what I think was the perfect pacing strategy for me. That meant running the downhills 10-25 sec/mile faster than goal pace and the uphills 15-30 sec/mile slower than goal pace. I ran a 2:54:13 in St. George (a couple months shy of 49). By comparison, my previous PR was 2:56:57 set 4 years ago at California International Marathon (Sacramento) and a year ago I ran a 2:58:45 in Chicago. St. George's accolades for organization are well-deserved. It is clear that they are not resting on their laurels. I went there with high expectations based on what I had read and they surpassed those expectations with aplomb. In terms of spectators it is what you would expect running through sparsely populated high desert until you get to town. The people of St. George were gracious and welcoming. St. George was an awesome experience in every respect. I would definitely do it again. Be sure to spend a few extra days in the area because it is gorgeous!

This was easily the best organized marathon that I have run. Everything about it was top notch. Perfect running weather this year although I can see that some years it will be hot for the slower runners. Last several miles flew by with all the fan support. Would love to do this one again.

This is a wonderfully organized race along a beautiful course with the fist turn at ~ mile 23! Perfect weather this year. Still of my over 30 marathons this is my favorite finish line: misting spray, moist washcloths, chocolate, milk, BLUE BUNNY ice cream (my favorite), fresh fruit, fresh bread - spread with as much butter as you can coax out of the volunteers, and a nice park with GRASS to stretch out on. Thank you St. George. Now if you could just fix that fact that the finisher shirt sizing is completely erratic, at times unwearably small (2011), and this year unwearably huge.

Awesome Marathon! Of the 9 that I've run, this was probably my favorite. You don't get all the bells and whistles of a big-city marathon (i.e. big crowds of spectators, bands along the course, finish line entertainment), but what you do get is an amazingly fast course (straight and downhill! I can see why so many people get their BQs here), excellent organization, and excellent support from volunteers and aid stations. Be prepared to run on little sleep, though... this one starts EARLY, and the busses to the starting line start loading at 4am! And bring layers, it's freezing at the start. But a great race, highly recommended!

I ran the St. George Marathon in both 2011 and 2012. 2011 was tough due to training injuries - finished in 4:21. Lots of cramping in the heat, and walking! 2012 was AWESOME! It is my favorite and best marathon. Finally ran a BQ (17 minutes to spare) and a PR bonus 3:38 at age 45 (3 minutes faster than previous PR at age 32)! I am still smiling! We made it into a mini family vacation both years - Grand Canyon & Zion in 2011, and Hoover Dam, Cedar Breaks, Bryce Canyon, Park City and Salt Lake City in 2012. My advice - just do it! The downhills are sweet, but there are some big, long uphills and rollers - so train on every big hill you can find. It is not like big city marathons, so be prepared for minimal crowd support for most of the race. (I used headphones and a playlist with fun fast music in 2012) Enjoy the scenery! It was motivating to run a point to point race and actually be running to a destination. If you are traveling from a more eastern time zone, just stay on your own time - it makes getting up early for the bus ride easy. Be prepared for heat - 80 at 2011 finish and 70 in 2012. Daytime highs reached 96 and 85 respectively. If you are mentally and physically prepared you could have the run of your life! Go for it and have fun!

I had been nervous about this race because I didn't have a lot of experience running hills, but IMO the hills were just not that bad. I did this course 14 minutes faster than any of my previous marathons (all in the flat midwest). The second half of the course is faster than the first, so as long as you pace yourself and prepare for that, you shouldn't have any problems. It's hard to wake-up so early for a long busride to the top, but the organization was great. Loved the bonfires at the top  just wished more were going right away. This is a big marathon (15th largest), so it took me 7 minutes to cross the start line  different from my past races (2-3 minutes). The scenery was really nice, so I didn't mind the lack of spectators (until the last 4 miles). The volunteers and organizers were great. There seems to be a lot of love for this race. Everyone is happy to be there. Hope I can do this one again!

I've known about the St. George Marathon as long as I'd been doing this sport (more than 15 years). I finally bit the bullet and have to say that the race exceeded all expectations. I understood there was a 2,500 ft. drop, had studied the elevation chart, and read several detailed race reports, BUT nothing quite prepared me for what 2,500 ft. drop would look like. My jaw dropped as we were riding the bus from the finish area to the start. Even though it was dark, I was stunned by the downhill. I knew it was either going to be a disaster or a fast time. I was leaning toward the latter and was correct. It was a BQ by more than 11 mins., my second fastest marathon, and fastest in ten years - and I'm not getting any younger. The downhill didn't hurt much at all as I was running it, but I was definitely VERY sore the next day. It was worth it though. Running this course does require some strategy. A couple of the people I traveled with were surprised by the uphill during the first ten miles, but I didn't think it was that bad. In other words, it's not all downhill. The course itself was beautiful in parts, but can't be compared to something like Big Sur. As for the organization, I thought it was as close to flawless as any marathon I've done. I was grateful for the extra water stops during the second half because it does tend to get warm during the second half of this race. The post-race was great, medal was unique, and I loved the shirt (although I realize there were complaints about the men's shirts). My giving the spectators five stars because they were very numerous and enthusiastic once we got into town. I was surprised by the number of spectators during those last few miles. My complaints are minor: The bus loading was a little chaotic. Also, we attended the pasta dinner the night before and unfortunately it was pretty bad. The people couldn't have been nicer, but the food was barely edible (cold pasta, soggy salad). I certainly wasn't expecting a gourmet meal, but this was really bad. I waited on the porta john line about 15 mins. at the start, which I think is standard 45 minutes before the gun goes off in a decent-size marathon. I think every marathoner should do this race once, especially if he/she likes to travel. We went to Zion the next day and loved it.

St. George Marathon was my 100th lifetime marathon and I was happy to have the opportunity to be doing my 100th in St. George, as I didn't enter the lottery but was offered a sponsor entry a month before the race. The course was very nice, although not quite 5 stars, but did get nicer and nicer as the marathon progressed. The race organization was top notch from the race expo to race day to the finishers area with all kinds of good treats for runners. Only complaint was not enough porta potties at the start (thank heavens for the cover of darkness and some nearby bushes). I'd repeat this race again and loved the 2,500' net elevation drop that helped me to an 8 minute PR (3:33 finish).