St. George Marathon 2011

When my husband and I got to St. George, we went straight to the marathon expo and I picked up my bib, drop bag and bought some gu's.  We decided to try the $8 all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner the marathon was offering and it was a good decision.  Because of the stomach problems I had during the Top of Utah Marathon, I was being careful of what I ate but the spaghetti and breadsticks hit the spot.  Yummy carbs. 

On Saturday morning, I got on a bus and the only seat left was the front seat.  I sat down and another lady sat by me and we started to talk.  She was from Utah and had run several marathons but not the St. George.  We got talking about Veyo hill - the dreaded hill at mile 7- and she said she had conflicting advice about the hill.  Someone had told her to walk it and save her legs for later in the course and another runner told her to shorten her stride and run it.  She could run it faster than she could walk it.  I asked her what she was going to do and she said she'll cross that bridge {or hill} when she gets to it.

We got off the bus and I headed to the porta potties.  Then I had about an hour to kill so I sat down and relaxed.  They had bonfires and a huge sound system where they played music and made some announcements.  I learned there were 7200 runners registered for the race, this was the 35th year of the St. George marathon and one lady had run it every single year and was running it again for the 35th year, that all 50 states were represented except two and later I learned that it was the warmest start in the marathon's history.

Finally, it was time for me to take my warm clothes off and head to the start.  The start was packed like sardines.  I could hardly move.  The gun went off and we started to shuffle to the start line mat where your time officially begins.  I was about four minutes behind the gun time.

It was dark, the sun wasn't up yet and I felt good.  I started running and noticed I was at about an 8 min/mile pace and it felt easy.  I probably should have slowed a little but I felt good and just went with it.  The first few miles flew by.  Then came Veyo hill.  The huge hill of the marathon.  I was feeling good.  I shortened my stride and ran up the hill.  I made it.  Then there's another hill and another hill and another hill.  St. George is sold as a downhill marathon but there are plenty of uphills - especially during the first 14 miles.  After mile 14, we entered Snow Canyon and it was beautiful.  The sun was up but the mountains were providing a little shade down the canyon.  I was still feeling good.  At mile 16, I was running down a hill and picked up my pace to a 7:50 min/mile.  I thought to myself, I just might do it today.  Maybe 3:45 is a real possibility {even though my BQ time is now 3:40}.  But a lot can change in a couple of miles.  At mile 20, my legs were feeling heavy and I was hot, tired and feeling the effects of the heat and the effects of running a marathon two weeks ago.  I would walk through the aid stations and it would take me a few seconds, okay minutes, to start running again.  Those last few miles of a marathon sometimes seem like they are 50 miles long.  But I was thankful because I didn't have any leg cramps and no porta pottie stops the whole way.  I told myself to just keep running.  Finally, I was nearing the corner that turns toward the finish line and I heard my name. Wayne was there to snap a picture as I ran to the finish.  {I'm in the red and black.}

Finish time: 3:57:53
{In 2009, I finished the St. George marathon in 4:15:21 so it was an improvement from the last time I ran it.}

I got a medal for finishing the marathon and also for finishing the Utah Grand Slam.

Utah Valley Marathon 3:58:40

Park City Marathon 4:10:13

Top of Utah Marathon 4:17:14

St. George Marathon 3:57:53

I love the St. George marathon, the course, the volunteers, the running vibe that fills the city.  Love it all.  I want to be in the ten-year-club so hopefully the lottery will be good to me for the next seven years!  Thanks St. George!