St. George Marathon
St. George, USA · First Saturday of October
Utah's most iconic marathon buses runners to the Pine Valley Mountains (1,598 m) and drops them ~780 m to Vernon Worthen Park in downtown St. George — one of the steepest net-downhill marathons in the USA. The course opens with sweeping forest descent, interrupted by Veyo Hill (km 11–14), a 90-metre climb that shocks legs already accustomed to downhill. Past Veyo, the route descends through Snow Canyon State Park's red-rock landscape before finishing on city streets. The downhill is exhilarating but the course is not record-eligible; from 2027 the BAA adds a +5-minute time penalty to Boston qualifiers run here.
Course
Elevation gain
152 m
Net elevation
-780 m
Significant net downhill — train the quads
Finishers
~4,376
Month
October
First Saturday of October
Race-day weather
Median start temp
7°C
Historical range
3–26°C
Hot-year risk
Moderate
The course spans two climates: a cold mountain start (3–7°C at 1,600 m altitude) warming into desert heat at the finish (typically 20–26°C by mid-morning). Low humidity (~30–40%) helps, but a persistent headwind is common through the second half, and 2024 hit 36°C — a severe outlier.
Getting in
Sells out fast. First-come, first-served (lottery eliminated in 2017); opens April 1 at 6:00 AM MDT with tiered pricing ($150–$180). Cap ~5,500. One of the most popular fall BQ courses in the West — frequently sells out months before the August 31 deadline. The 2026 marathon was waitlist-only by mid-year. Official site ↗
Boston qualifying note: From 2027 Boston registration onwards, the BAA applies a +5:00 time penalty to St. George times (net descent ~780 m falls in the 1,500–2,999 ft penalty tier). Runners qualifying for Boston 2027+ must beat their published standard by an additional 5 minutes.
Pacing plans for St. George Marathon
Course-adjusted splits for every common goal — not flat even splits, but pacing that matches where this course is fast and where it bites.
Frequently asked questions
Is the St. George Marathon a fast course?
Yes, it is a fast course by big-marathon standards. The course drops 780 m from start to finish with 152 m of climbing along the way. We rate it 8/10 for PR potential.
What is the weather usually like at the St. George Marathon?
The median start-line temperature is around 7°C, with a historical range of roughly 3–26°C. The course spans two climates: a cold mountain start (3–7°C at 1,600 m altitude) warming into desert heat at the finish (typically 20–26°C by mid-morning). Low humidity (~30–40%) helps, but a persistent headwind is common through the second half, and 2024 hit 36°C — a severe outlier.
How do you get into the St. George Marathon?
Sells out fast. First-come, first-served (lottery eliminated in 2017); opens April 1 at 6:00 AM MDT with tiered pricing ($150–$180). Cap ~5,500. One of the most popular fall BQ courses in the West — frequently sells out months before the August 31 deadline. The 2026 marathon was waitlist-only by mid-year.
Is the St. George Marathon a Boston qualifier?
Yes — the St. George Marathon is a certified course accepted by the B.A.A. for Boston qualifying times. From 2027 Boston registration onwards, the BAA applies a +5:00 time penalty to St. George times (net descent ~780 m falls in the 1,500–2,999 ft penalty tier). Runners qualifying for Boston 2027+ must beat their published standard by an additional 5 minutes.