St. George Marathon
Race Day Weather
Cool start, warm finish
Runners will face a cool start at 62°F, warming to 78°F by the finish. With light winds at 3 mph, the weather will not significantly impact pacing. The course features a notable descent, especially from miles 3 to 7, providing advantageous conditions, while headwinds will challenge runners between miles 8 and 27. Hydration will be crucial as temperatures rise, and pacing should be conservative to handle the warmer finish.
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Race Info
The St. George Marathon runs annually on the first Saturday in October in St. George, Utah. It was founded in November 1977 by Sherm Miller of the city's Parks and Recreation Department, with 58 starters and 38 finishers in the first race. The point-to-point course starts in the Pine Valley Mountains and finishes downtown at Vernon Worthen Park, dropping about 2,600 feet net. It is now the 16th-largest marathon in the United States. Wikipedia
Race Day Tips
Arrive early for the race start at Central, UT, as the bus ride can take longer than expected; in 2023, the start was delayed by 30 minutes due to a late bus. This can affect your warm-up routine, so plan accordingly.
Be prepared for the infamous Veyo Hill at mile 8; many runners underestimate its difficulty after the initial downhill. It's crucial to conserve energy leading up to this point to tackle the hill effectively.
Aid stations typically serve Gatorade Endurance, so if you're used to regular Gatorade, test it before race day to avoid any stomach issues during the marathon.
Expect rolling hills in Dammeron Valley from miles 9 to 13; these can be deceptively challenging and may impact your pacing strategy, so don't get too comfortable after the initial downhill.
Arrive early for the race start at Central, UT, as the bus ride can take longer than expected; in 2023, the start was delayed by 30 minutes due to a late bus. This can affect your warm-up routine, so plan accordingly.
Be prepared for the infamous Veyo Hill at mile 8; many runners underestimate its difficulty after the initial downhill. It's crucial to conserve energy leading up to this point to tackle the hill effectively.
Aid stations typically serve Gatorade Endurance, so if you're used to regular Gatorade, test it before race day to avoid any stomach issues during the marathon.
Expect rolling hills in Dammeron Valley from miles 9 to 13; these can be deceptively challenging and may impact your pacing strategy, so don't get too comfortable after the initial downhill.
Tips from runner race reports
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Reviews & Race Reports
Hilly with key challenges at Veyo and after mile 20. Strong crowd support helps push through tough moments.
The Veyo Hill Challenge — Mile 8 features the infamous Veyo Hill. Many runners noted that pacing early is crucial to tackle this beast effectively.
Cramps After Mile 20 — Reports consistently mention cramping issues hitting hard after mile 20. If you push too hard early, you might find yourself walking it off later.
Crowd Support — The local crowd is enthusiastic, especially in the later miles. Runners appreciated the sweet treats and otter pops, which helped lift spirits during tough moments.
Getting to the Start — The race start was delayed this year due to bus issues, pushing the gun time to 7:15 AM. Arrive early to avoid stress and make sure you’re ready for the elevation change at the start.
Felt sick from over-eating, but still hit my B goal!
The race started at a comically easy pace, as I was determined to run around 8:30ish for my first mile. I figured I could pick it up after that, and see how I felt. Kinda warm up into it. It was a very hot day, and I was drinking a lot of fluids.
Cramps hit hard after mile 20, but I pushed through to a PR.
The difference from mile 20 to mile 21 was astronomical. My right calf had cramped and each step just pain. Knowing that if I stopped to stretch I would never regain my pace I mentally blocked that out. The downhill profile of the course had really lost its luster here as I realized only my downhill muscles were dying.
Fought through cold rain and elevation for a BQ attempt
The race starts at Central, UT. The elevation is a little over 5,000 feet, so you can definitely feel the thinner air. The gun goes off at 6:45 am, but this year it was pushed back 30 min as we were waiting for a late bus to get to the start line. This would be normally be ok, but the temp was in the low 40s and a slight drizzle made it feel much colder.
Hydropak disaster at mile 18, but finished strong with family support
The first seven miles flew by without a problem as the sun came up. I tried to pace myself because I knew that a huge hill was coming at mile 8, but ended up going faster than I anticipated. My wife drove out to the little town of Veyo, Utah to cheer me on before the infamous “Veyo hill,” but unfortunately, we missed each other by just a few minutes! I was ready for the hill, but the rolling hills of Dammeron Valley (miles 9-13ish) were killer.
Stopped to help a collapsed runner, lost time but still PR'd.
Race start was 7am while the sun was still making it's way up over the Utah mountains. The course is beautiful as you run out of the canyons downhill to the city of St George, with the sun rising behind us in the early miles reflecting off the scenic natural landscape surrounding us. A really lovely setting for a race. I'd find out over the next 26.2 miles that those stunning downhills will be as much of a challenge as there were an asset though.