St. George Marathon
St. George, UT
- Marathon, Half Marathon, 5K, 1 Miler, Kids Run
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
St. George Marathon is rated by Runner’s World as one of the four “Marathons to Build a Vacation Around” in the World. Included in Runner’s World 10 Most Scenic and Fastest Marathons and Top 20 Marathons in the USA. It begins in the majestic Pine Valley mountains and descends nearly … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Oct 02):
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
| H (°F) | 89 | 99 | 69 | 85 | 86 |
| L (°F) | 61 | 65 | 51 | 64 | 52 |
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Tough but beautiful
My first time in Utah, not prepared for how strong the sun felt! Expo was easy to navigate, liked the finisher's shirt, bought a t-shirt. Not many options in town … MORE
My first time in Utah, not prepared for how strong the sun felt! Expo was easy to navigate, liked the finisher’s shirt, bought a t-shirt. Not many options in town for a vegan runner for dinner. VIP bus expense was worth it, as we arrived 30 minutes prior to start and had VIP potties. Stunning drone show set to music right after the national anthem.
Over and over I see people classifying this race as a downhill race! I consider it a hilly race, very sharp downhills (only 2 or 3) and mostly uphills that last forever. Chilly at the start but my jacket was gone by mile 3, and by mile 12 it was starting to feel hot. Way too hot in the second half with zero shade (a tiny bit the last mile, too late!) brutally searing into my skin. I LOVE overcast races, my bad.
Aid stations were awesome, organized & friendly volunteers. Fellow runners were very supportive also. Great announcer & finishing schute with loud cheering brought the energy to this dead runner. Not my fastest, but I’d be willing to try again now that I have first-hand knowledge 🙂 The post-race party was well attended with many options to choose from. Medal is made from local rock (sandstone?) polished & carved – very unique.
Beautiful easy race!
The scenery was beautiful! Some very gradual up hill that are easy for beginners. Lots of down hill so you can go faster and make great time! Water, Gatorade, snack … MORE
The scenery was beautiful! Some very gradual up hill that are easy for beginners. Lots of down hill so you can go faster and make great time! Water, Gatorade, snack and aid stations at almost every 2 miles.
Only thing that sucks is the early morning school buss drive and wait at the top of the mountain. (4:15am) You freeze! They have some fire pits, but not nearly enough. Its an experience for sure! Next time I’ll do the VIP like my brother did. The buss take you up alot closer to the start time,(7am) and you can chill in a nice heated buss while you wait. But overall, it was incredible! My first half Marathon!
beautiful downhill scenery (mostly)
This was my 35th Marathon and 25th State....my wife and 2 boys (6 and 9) went with me (I flew into Las Vegas and drove 1 1/2 hours or so … MORE
This was my 35th Marathon and 25th State….my wife and 2 boys (6 and 9) went with me (I flew into Las Vegas and drove 1 1/2 hours or so to St George. The Expo was Friday (Race on Saturday) and in a Convention Center. Easy access and a smooth process getting the race packet. The expo was a little smaller that I expected for the size of the race (About 5000 in the Marathon, 4000 in the Half) …They had a 5K going on Friday night in conjunction with the EXPO…they had a party (food, inflatables, ballons, music) along with this as well….This was a downhill point to point race….bus loading was a easy process but got a lot of us to the start 2 hours before race. The weather was chilly at the top of the mountain (40’s) but they had fires and mylar blankets available, also plenty of porta potties and some snacks and drinks…Prior to the race starting there was a drone light show which was unique and pretty cool…. The course was mostly downhill, though there was a couple larger uphill sections that can kind of surprise you….plenty of water stops on the course along with plenty of porta potties. The course was scenic (especially with the sun coming up) and enjoyable and crowd support was awesome in some sections, especially closer to St George… The weather got a little hot towards the end…The finisher medal was cool, almost a red rock color and design with the logo….other swag included a long sleeve shirt and a pair of socks….The finish line festival was okay…this included music, NO BEER, milk, soda, water, chips, fruit, creamy bars, bread, etc…a few other things but I didn’t hang around to long….St George is about an hour from Zion National Park, so I took my family there the next day to hike and explorer…hiking the Narrows is a cool experience…Additionally, there is a lot to do in St George…we explored and hiked the red rocks (Pioneer Park) and went to the Dinosaur Discovery Museum…Overall this was one of my favorite races and would recommend the experience…
A unique experience
Recognize that this race is actually two separate experiences. The first is the race itself, and the second is the 2 hours sitting around campfires, out in the desert, before … MORE
Recognize that this race is actually two separate experiences. The first is the race itself, and the second is the 2 hours sitting around campfires, out in the desert, before the start of the race.
Race: The race is well-supported by the community, with plentiful, friendly volunteers and crowd support once you reach town. The expo is well-organized and enthusiastic, with many chances to interact with vendors and race participants. The swag (long sleeve dry-fit with matching Steigen socks) is very good, the medal was modest. The bus ride was….a bus ride.
The course is downhill nearly the whole way. It is a quad-reliant race, as opposed to the normal calf. Most people should run a faster pace, unless the altitude affects you. Once the sun rises, the scenery is majestic, unlike most races. It doesn’t really change; it’s you running towards the horizon for 2 hours. But you’re not alone, as the half had 3,000+ runners and many fully-staffed water stations. We had great weather, so just beautiful.
Pre-race: Know that you’re going to be dropped off in the middle of the desert 2 hours before start, in darkness. Runners congregate around 50-gallon drums with fires, and it can be chilly (dress accordingly and use gear check). Volunteers and facilities are ample, but the time is primarily spent sitting on a gravel road (bring a cushion), while listening to music and talking with your neighbors. As the start approaches, an impressive drone light show plays and counts you down to the start.
My advice: find good people to sit with. Change seats if necessary. While some people sleep, others embrace it. I was lucky, as I randomly found myself with two women from Michigan, avid runners who were so fun and informative to be with. Reflecting back, it was my favorite part of the day.
With Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon and Las Vegas nearby, this is clearly a destination/vacation-type race for people who live elsewhere. I thoroughly enjoyed my 72 hours in St. George. I don’t need to run it again, but I will. Cheers.
Beautiful course -- downhills may suck
If you're a first-timer, this may be rough unless you're used to running down quad punishing hills that may light up your TFLs, quads and knees. Really wish I would … MORE
If you’re a first-timer, this may be rough unless you’re used to running down quad punishing hills that may light up your TFLs, quads and knees. Really wish I would have spent more time training for big downhills. That said, it is a beautiful and challenging course that is well planned and supported. Trying to find the pace groups at the start was impossible with the low light was another annoying aspect, but that’s not really a deal breaker for me. So not the most beginner friendly, but here on day 2 of recovery and I am already seeing myself back out there with more salt tabs and better prepared quads.
A privilege to be a part of
This offers some of the most beautiful scenery that I can imagine. Yes it can get hot so hydrated, hydrate, hydrate. Though it’s a down hill marathon there will be … MORE
This offers some of the most beautiful scenery that I can imagine. Yes it can get hot so hydrated, hydrate, hydrate. Though it’s a down hill marathon there will be some up hill challenges but mind over matter and training will see you through to the finish no matter what your time is. Fun and beautiful city with amazing people that have the privilege to call it home.
Wow. Wow. Wow.
The Downhill!!!!!!! The views!!!!!!! So beautiful amazing race. Had to take the really early shuttle and didn’t have enough warm clothes. Definitely bring warm clothes and your gear check bag … MORE
The Downhill!!!!!!! The views!!!!!!! So beautiful amazing race. Had to take the really early shuttle and didn’t have enough warm clothes. Definitely bring warm clothes and your gear check bag was really easy to check. They had Mylar blankets so that helped but wish I would have had warmer clothes. Highly recommend this race.
Run This
The expo is full of products and places to take good pictures. It is also very informative and organized. The morning start was chilly so wear disposable layers and gloves. … MORE
The expo is full of products and places to take good pictures. It is also very informative and organized.
The morning start was chilly so wear disposable layers and gloves. They had an impressive light show to not disturb the neighborhoods and wildlife. The energy is amazing, and race support was strong. Every hill shows something scenic and crowds, besides the aid stations, were willing to give food and water. All the aid stations were fully stocked to the end. The temps warmed up once the sun came up. And it got hotter and hotter. So hydrate, because this race is typically cool in the morning and hot mid day and evening. It is the desert.
At the finish line in town, they provided ice cold tubs, 4 of them. Everyone had to dunk themselves to cool off. They have a large massage section and cool off tent for all. The food at the end was very impressive.
Such a great race!
Just Right - Net Downhill Marathon
By "Just Right" - I mean the event is not too large where you feel overwhelmed by the crowds. And the event is not too small where you feel you … MORE
By “Just Right” – I mean the event is not too large where you feel overwhelmed by the crowds. And the event is not too small where you feel you are running by yourself.
Sure the weather was warm this year – so no PRs were going to happen. But the race organizers tried to mitigate some of the temperature problems with misters (dud – felt like the mist vaporized before hitting me) and little baggies of ice (awesome).
Maybe races can start an hour earlier. I know it is a lot to coordinate a new start time and some people will be upset. But I’m pretty sure the majority of people doing proper marathon training are used to running a few miles in the dark. We were driving to meet people for lunch and came back onto the course around mile 20. We saw the sweep and it was just heartbreaking watching the few participants willing their way to the finish.
I think the long sleeve race shirt is the nicest race shirt I’ve received – I love the color and the soft tech material. And the BQ pin was a nice touch – you pick those up from the results tent.
I would totally recommend this event and sign up again. Check it out.
My favorite so far!
I loved everything about this marathon except it was 85 at the finish. The first half was not bad but thank goodness for ice at the aide stations. I had … MORE
I loved everything about this marathon except it was 85 at the finish. The first half was not bad but thank goodness for ice at the aide stations. I had trained super hard for this race and was trying for a PR possible BQ. Was not going to happen. I ran smart and did well considering. I would say this race needs to be pushed back 2 weeks. I saw a very dangerous situation at mile 22 that was scary. Everything else was awesome. So sad it was so hot. At the finish the volunteers were AMAZING!!! I think they were worried!!
Well Organized Race, but too hot!
This was my first marathon. I have done several other half marathons before. The race organization was great. The bus ride up was simple. However, if there is a chance … MORE
This was my first marathon. I have done several other half marathons before. The race organization was great. The bus ride up was simple.
However, if there is a chance to be finishing the race in 90 degree heat. You are simply doing the race at the wrong time of year for that location. That was on the verge of dangerous for a lot of runners.
Above average marathon
Expo was rather basic. Other runners said expo was better in previous years. Swag was average. Parking at race was convenient near bus loading. Paid for VIP bus loading at … MORE
Expo was rather basic. Other runners said expo was better in previous years. Swag was average. Parking at race was convenient near bus loading. Paid for VIP bus loading at 5:15. Actually bus did not load until after 5:45 and made us get off when arrived. No toilet paper in bus bathroom. Drone show at start of race was fantastic. Course was good but a bit hilly especially mile 7. Very sunny day. Good number of volunteers.
Not a fan, except for the volunteers
The volunteers were the best part of this race- they were amazing! In the later miles when my legs were starting to get sore I stopped to get some icy … MORE
The volunteers were the best part of this race- they were amazing! In the later miles when my legs were starting to get sore I stopped to get some icy hot and the volunteer rubbed in into my calf for me. It was so kind and it felt so good! It really helped me run pain free for a few more miles. They offered to spray us with sunscreen, they gave out baggies of ice, and at one point some people were standing by the road misting runners with hand-squeeze water bottles! The support was the best I’ve ever experienced. The little communities that were out cheering us on were really fabulous too! The aid station and cheer section at Veyo was one of the best. This was helpful since they were at the bottom of the biggest and longest (mile-long) hill on the course. We went back to Veyo for pies after the race. They were awesome!
For a “downhill” course, there were a lot of uphill sections, flats and then steep downhills. I’d call it more of a hilly course, lots of up and down.
The medal at the end is made from local rock, so each one is unique. That’s cool. The shirt is ugly, but race shirts usually are. The bus at 3 am to wait around for a race that starts at 7 am isn’t awesome either. So, overall, I can’t say I was a fan of this race. It was fine, but not my favorite. It would be a good excuse to vacation in southern Utah, if you’re looking for a race to do in Utah.
Over-rated and Hot
I'd heard a lot about how great this marathon is but if you've done any other well organized race it doesn't live up to the hype. Pro's: The first half … MORE
I’d heard a lot about how great this marathon is but if you’ve done any other well organized race it doesn’t live up to the hype.
Pro’s: The first half of the race is really pretty
Con’s: This is a pretty small race and yet they make you bus up to the start between 3 and 4:30am. It’s really cold at the start and nothing happening so you’re just sitting on the road waiting for hours to start. They have big bonfires lit but there’s so much smoke you end up with smoke inhalation before the race even begins. The race started at 7 but I wish it had started earlier because it gets HOT. The second half of the race is not at all pretty or interesting. You’re just out there baking in the sun running on a highway. The water stations play Mormon sermons – um what?! I get that you’re in Utah but I found that completely depressing and un-motivating. Overall this race was a let-down for me.
Hot! Hot! Hot! Did I mentation Hot?
I loved and disliked a lot about this race so I will break this out in two parts (Pros & Cons). Pros - The participant size of this race makes … MORE
I loved and disliked a lot about this race so I will break this out in two parts (Pros & Cons).
Pros – The participant size of this race makes the beginning exciting and energy filled. The aid stations were plentiful and had everything you needed to get you to the finish line, I personally was very grateful for the Icey Hot offered every 3 or so miles. The scenery is beautiful, although you don’t get much of it until the back half of the race.
Cons – The expo is very small so you didn’t get to enjoy in some of the early festivities that some races offer. The medals are cool with the local stone used to make the actual medal part but the ribbon and the race bibs are very plain for a large race like this. The Finish Line needs to offer spectator viewing from both sides instead of just one side since the turn out is so large. The start time is at 7am and it really should be early to avoid the St. George heat, I couldn’t imagine being out in the heat any longer than I had to so I feel bad for those that were in it more than 4 hours.
A Great Race but Not as Easy as it Looks
This race is not as easy as the course elevation map makes it appear. Yes its a downhill course, but there are some uphills too. Everyone knows about the monster … MORE
This race is not as easy as the course elevation map makes it appear. Yes its a downhill course, but there are some uphills too.
Everyone knows about the monster hill at mile 7 in Veyo. After you get to the crest, it levels off and then continues to climb for at least another mile, albeit at a smaller grade. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you are in the free and clear after the crest at Veyo.
The rollers that come between 16-24 are killers too – save some energy for those. then the course flattens out once it gets into town but the crowds show up and are enthusiastic.
This isn’t the most spectator friendly course – its hard to get to any viewing areas before mile 24. But they are there. Classic desert scenery, so if that isn’t your thing, you may want to skip this race. The expo was great and race morning was well organized. The start line had bonfires to stand by to keep us warm. Aid stations were well stocked and had helpful volunteers and were frequent – every 2 miles.
It is a great race, close to Zion and Bryce Canyon with plenty to do in the area. St George is a well developed town with the expected chain restaurants and stores. You can find everything you need there. The finisher medal is made of the rock from the surrounding area.
Beautiful Downhill Marathon
Was a nice and low key marathon. I say low key being there werent too many crowds. Some quick notes and highlights: -Expo was well organized and easy to get … MORE
Was a nice and low key marathon. I say low key being there werent too many crowds. Some quick notes and highlights:
-Expo was well organized and easy to get in and out
-Before the race, the bonfires were key, but be aware that your clothes will smell like ash during the race
-First 7 miles were easy, miles 7-12 were TOUGH, but after that, its literally fast and downhill
-Mile 25 had washclothes which was great for the finish
Overall, fun race! Gatorade and Water and every mile marker. Number 19 in the books!
Yes, downhill, but some mean uphills too
- great course for a pr - nice downhills - some mean uphills especially around mile 7, where it is a steep mile up. some scattered uphills in the second … MORE
– great course for a pr
– nice downhills
– some mean uphills especially around mile 7, where it is a steep mile up. some scattered uphills in the second half as well
– very organized busing to the start line
Best Full Marathon in Utah
I've run this race twice under very different conditions. Both times it's been a very satisfying experience. The course is beautiful all the way, and the support is incredible. The … MORE
I’ve run this race twice under very different conditions. Both times it’s been a very satisfying experience. The course is beautiful all the way, and the support is incredible. The course is fast, though it’s not entirely downhill, but the Veyo Hill climb comes early enough that most runners should be able to attack it with vigor. I especially like the miles near the entrance to Snow Canyon State Park. Those are some of the prettiest miles you’ll ever run. Stay warm (and dry) at the starting line and you should have a great race!
Make sure you don't miss this one!
Added this to my 2018 schedule as a Boston 2020 Qualifier just given that the date worked. It was my first St. George, but will not be my last. Absolutely … MORE
Added this to my 2018 schedule as a Boston 2020 Qualifier just given that the date worked. It was my first St. George, but will not be my last. Absolutely gorgeous course that is primarily downhill but doesn’t kill your quads. It could not be run better and St. George is a wonderful Family destination.