As runners continue to sign up for the 44th edition of the St. George Marathon on Oct. 3, the remaining capacity of the event shrinks. This has created an urgency for those interested in participating. The cost of the race registration will increase an additional $10 on June 1.  

What if COVID-19 claims the next St. George Marathon? In the event of cancellation, participants have two options to recoup their registration cost: defer their marathon registration for 2021 or receive a full refund.

Race organizers, however, are optimistic about the 2020 event.

“We want people to rest easy knowing they are not gambling by signing up for the St. George Marathon. We will take care of you,” Graves said. “If you have been thinking about running St. George, please be aware that due to the recent cancellation of the Boston Marathon we may fill up soon.”

Graves and her staff are working to enhance sanitation and safety protocol out of concern for the runners, staff and volunteers.

“I don’t think anyone could have envisioned how much different our lives would be at this point, and how different our marathon preparation would be from 2019 to 2020,” Graves said. “We are working diligently along with the Southwest Utah Public Health Department to make this race happen in a safe manner.”

The St. George Marathon began in 1977 and has received many accolades over the years, including being rated by Runner’s World as one of the four “Marathons to Build a Vacation Around” and included in Runner’s World “10 Most Scenic and Fastest Marathons” and “Top 20 Marathons in the USA.”

This year a half marathon will be added to marathon weekend. The 13.1-mile race, dubbed the “Mini Marathon,” is offered along with a new Trifecta series. Runners can sign up for the Trifecta, which includes the runner’s choice of either the St. George Marathon or Mini Marathon, along with the Snow Canyon Half Marathon in November and the St. George Half Marathon the following January.

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