Next race
Saturday, 2 October 2027
7:00 am start
Distance
42.195 km / 26.2 mi
Point-to-point road
Elevation
Net downhill · 82 m gain
82 m climbing
Race profile
The St. George Marathon is one of America's fastest marathons, drawing about 5,000 finishers each October on a net-downhill point-to-point from Pine Valley to St. George, Utah. The course drops through striking red-rock desert scenery in southwestern Utah with cool October desert mornings. It is a premier Boston qualifier and destination race for speed-focused runners.
St. George Marathon is a certified 42.195 km (26.2 mile) marathon — the standard World Athletics marathon distance.
Approximately 5,000 finishers
Course & terrain
The St. George Marathon is a net-downhill point-to-point desert course from Pine Valley down Highway 18 to St. George in southwestern Utah. The opening high-elevation descent is the easiest and fastest section if paced well, while the rolling canyon miles lower down become tougher after hours of downhill running. Spectator support is sparse on the remote route, with the biggest gatherings at the St. George finish and organised support points along the highway.
The St. George Marathon course is net downhill over 42.195 km (26.2 miles). Runners cover 82 metres of climbing and 874 metres of descent, with a net descent of 792 metres from start to finish.
Net downhill · 82 m gain — approx. 823 m above sea level
↑ 82 m · ↓ 874 m · net −792 m
Registration
For the St. George Marathon, the point-to-point course drops significantly from Pine Valley to St. George, creating a net-downhill profile ideal for personal bests and Boston qualifying.
Getting there
St George (SGU)
St George Regional Airport
10 km / 6 mi
Race footage
Common questions
Official resources
Last updated 11 October 2026. Edition dates and course details are reviewed regularly.
Close to this race
Other races closest to St. George.
The Las Vegas Marathon draws approximately 4,800 finishers on an urban road in Las Vegas, United States. The course starts on the Strip and finishes at the Festival Grounds. The route runs the length of Las Vegas Boulevard past the major casinos. Mostly flat along the desert floor.
Next race: Sunday, 8 November 2026
The REVEL Mt. Charleston Marathon draws approximately 1,707 finishers each April on a point-to-point road in Las Vegas, United States. It is one of the fastest Boston-qualifier courses in the West thanks to a sustained net descent of roughly 5,000 feet. The net-downhill course drops from Mt. Charleston through mountain roads with sweeping views before descending toward the Las Vegas basin. The route is net downhill overall.
Next race: Saturday, 3 April 2027
The Utah Valley Marathon draws approximately 2,200 finishers each June on a canyon point-to-point road in Provo, United States. Its long gentle descent makes it a common target for personal bests and Boston qualifying attempts. The route passes Deer Creek-adjacent canyon roads, the Provo River corridor, and broad urban streets near BYU. The route is net downhill overall.
Next race: Saturday, 5 June 2027
The Phoenix Marathon draws approximately 2,372 finishers each December on a desert urban road in Phoenix, United States. Organizers of the Mesa Marathon launched this December sibling race, which exceeded 2,300 marathon finishers in its first edition. The course runs from South Mountain through the Salt River trail corridor, downtown past the Arizona State Capitol and ASU Downtown, Hance Park, and midtown streets. Gentle undulations are the only breaks on an otherwise flat profile.
Next race: Saturday, 12 December 2026
The Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon draws approximately 3,500 finishers each January through the Phoenix-Scottsdale metropolitan area. The course passes Camelback Mountain views, Scottsdale's resort corridors, and Tempe Town Lake on flat desert-city roads with live music stages. January's perfect Arizona desert weather makes it one of the Rock 'n' Roll series' most popular winter events.
Next race: Saturday, 16 January 2027
The REVEL Big Cottonwood Marathon is a net-downhill speed course drawing approximately 2,500 finishers each September through Utah's Wasatch Mountains. Starting at Guardsman Pass and descending Big Cottonwood Canyon to Cottonwood High School in Murray, the course drops roughly 1,600 m on a steep scenic mountain highway. September's crisp alpine morning and the fast descent make it one of America's most popular personal-best marathons.
Next race: Saturday, 18 September 2027
Planning guides
Practical guides to help you plan, train for, and run this race.
Which US marathons produce Boston qualifiers in practice — course data, typical BQ rates, and how to match a race to your qualifying window.
What flat, rolling, and hilly really mean — and how to read elevation gain, net change, and altitude on a marathon course.
How temperature, humidity, wind, and rain affect marathon performance — and how to use typical race-day weather when choosing a start line.
