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St. George Marathon Runner Comments
Back to St. George Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.8 
Organization 4.8 
Spectators 4.3
Number of comments: 216 [displaying comments 11 to 21]
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T. S. from Indianapolis
(10/10/2016)
"Dude, where's my bag?" (about: 2016)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 St. George Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 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. | |
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T. k. from Missouri
(10/9/2016)
"St. George weather is to warm in early Oct." (about: 2016)
6-10 previous marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 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. | |
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C. C. from San Diego, CA
(10/9/2016)
"Next to Boston, this is my FAVORITE marathon!" (about: 2016)
11-50 previous marathons
| 4-5 St. George Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 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! | |
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M. K. from Salt Lake City, UT
(10/7/2016)
"Tougher than expected course" (about: 2016)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 St. George Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 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. | |
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R. T. from Georgia
(10/4/2016)
"Fast Race" (about: 2016)
2 previous marathons
| 1 St. George Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 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! | |
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S. B. from Waco, TX
(10/3/2016)
"A Beautiful Run" (about: 2016)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 St. George Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 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. | |
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A. A. from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
(10/3/2016)
"HILLS!!!" (about: 2016)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 St. George Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 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. | |
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L. M. from Boston, MA
(11/10/2015)
"Love it! Will be back to conquer this downhill!" (about: 2015)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 St. George Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 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! | |
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Jeff Newcorn from Downtown Chicago
(10/20/2015)
"A perfect reason to visit Southern Utah" (about: 2015)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 St. George Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 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! | |
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S. M. from Las Vegas
(10/17/2015)
"Amazing scenery, fabulous volunteers fast course." (about: 2015)
2 previous marathons
| 1 St. George Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 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. |
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