St. George Marathon
Saturday, October 3, 2026 · 6:45 AM
Downtown St. George (finish line)
St. George Marathon
The St. George Marathon has run every fall since November 1977, when Sherm Miller, a St. George Parks and Recreation employee, organized the first race in just a few months after Salt Lake City's Deseret News Marathon caught his attention. The inaugural field was 57 runners and one wheelchair competitor, with 38 finishers. Nearly five decades later, it's one of the older continuously run marathons in the country and the reason half of Washington County seems to know somebody running when race weekend rolls around — start with the race-weekend guide if you're new to it.
The Course: A Point-to-Point Descent Through Red Rock
The 26.2-mile route is point-to-point, not a loop. Runners start near 5,240 feet in the Pine Valley Mountains and descend roughly 2,600 feet to a finish near 2,680 feet in downtown St. George, passing white, pink, and red sandstone country along the way. The course is USATF-certified and sanctioned, and that net-downhill profile is the main reason so many runners choose it specifically to chase a Boston Marathon qualifying time.
Race Weekend: Marathon, Half, 5K, and the Fun Run
The marathon doesn't run alone. A 5K and a Fun Run take place Friday evening alongside the race expo, and a half marathon and the Mayor's Walk go off Saturday morning together with the full marathon. Each event has its own field, giving families and non-marathoners a way into the weekend without racing 26.2 miles themselves.
Getting to the Start, and Where to Watch the Finish
Because the start sits far outside town, runners don't drive themselves there — buses load well before sunrise and carry marathon runners out to the mountain start ahead of the morning gun. The finish is a different story: it's downtown, and organizers advise arriving early, since parking and finish-area access tighten as the morning wears on. That's especially true if you're coming from out of town and relying on shuttle options into St. George rather than driving yourself in. Town Square Park, a few blocks from the finish, is an easy place to wait for a runner to come through.
Registration: No More Lottery
For years, demand for a starting spot outstripped the field and entries were awarded by lottery. That changed with the 2017 race, when the marathon dropped the lottery in favor of straightforward registration instead. Runners planning a trip around race weekend should still book lodging early, since rooms around St. George fill up fast in early fall — a St. George lodging guide is worth reading before you commit to a neighborhood.
Why October
An October date isn't incidental. St. George's desert summers run too hot for a 26.2-mile race, and by the first weekend of October, cool morning air makes the long descent runnable instead of punishing. It's also peak season for visitors stacking activities onto a race trip — golfers extending a marathon weekend with a round at Bloomington Country Club are a common sight on local courses that same week.
Frequently asked questions
Can spectators watch the marathon start?
No. The start sits well outside town in the Pine Valley Mountains, and only participants are bused out there before the race; there is no spectator parking or viewing area at the start line itself.
Is the half marathon's start the same as the marathon's?
No. The half marathon starts from a separate point closer to St. George than the marathon's mountain start, so the two fields load onto buses at different locations even though both races begin on the same race morning.
What is the mile 23.1 checkpoint for?
It's a mandatory time checkpoint at Snow Canyon Parkway and State Route 18, tied to the race's overall 6-hour, 15-minute time limit. Runners who haven't reached it by the cutoff are pulled from the course.
Do I need to register far ahead of race day?
Yes. Even without a lottery, the marathon and half marathon both cap their fields, registration closes once those caps are reached, and a wait list has opened in past years for both races once entries filled.
Can I transfer or defer my entry if I can't run?
Yes. The marathon allows entries to be transferred to another runner or deferred to a future year through official channels, rather than through an informal swap arranged between runners themselves.
Where can I find official results after the race?
Results are posted through Athlinks once the race finishes, and the same platform holds archived results from prior years, so you can look up a finish time without waiting on a printed splits sheet.
Address
50 S Main StSt. George, UT 84770