Press Release - St. George Marathon - 9/21/09

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
        
           2009 St. George Marathon Weekend Kicks Off Oct. 2

Each year on the first Saturday in October thousands of runners from all 50 
states and several different countries lace up their shoes and load buses 
at 4:00 am to embark on, what we hope to be an extraordinary experience of 
a life time.  This year will be no different.  The 2009 St George Marathon 
is up and running and is set to be the largest race in its history.  

In 1977 the St George Marathon was introduced with 57 runners and one 
wheelchair participant registered.  Only 38 of those runners finished.  33 
years later in 2009 we had nearly 11,000 runners and 19 wheelchair and hand 
crank participant register for this event.  With a cap raised to 7200 
participants we anticipate the highest number of finishers to cross the 
finish line after journeying through 26.2 miles of breath taking red rock 
landscape and gorgeous Southern Utah scenery.  

With its 2,600-foot drop in elevation, beautiful weather with cool 
temperatures, close to 2000 amazing volunteers and staff, the St George 
Marathon has been branded "The most wondrous marathon in the world" and 
noted by Runner's World as "The Fastest Fall Marathon" which makes it a 
perfect race for runners hoping to qualify for Boston or looking to set a 
Personal Record. 

The marathon weekend will kick off with The NordicTrack health and Fitness 
EXPO help at the Dixie Convention Center on Friday October 2nd from 9:00 
a.m. to 9:00 p.m.  This event is open to the public and will include runner 
packet pick up, over 60 local and national vendors, numerous clinics; 
including the first timer's clinic, an open discussion panel of veteran St 
George runners and the Clifbar pace team clinic as well as an 
all-you-can-eat pasta dinner. The race will begin October 3rd, up route 
1-18 in Central. Wheelchairs and hand cranks will start at 6:40 a.m. and 
runners will begin at 6:45. Marathon weekend will come to a close at the 
finish line located at Vernon Worthen park where volunteers, medical staff, 
race staff and spectators will be there anxiously waiting to cheer on those 
who will achieve this tremendous accomplishment.

For more information please visit us at www.stgeorgemarathon.com

                                     ###