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Marathon Details - Sand Hollow Marathon

North America Marathons > USA > UT > Hurricane, St. George > Sand Hollow Marathon

Sand Hollow Marathon

Sand Hollow Marathon & Half Marathon

Hurricane, St. George, UT USA

March 8, 2025

http://www.sandhollowmarathon.net

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Race Details

I am the race director for the Sand Hollow Marathon. The marathon will be taking place March 26th 2011. We are currently in the process of getting the course certified as a Boston Marathon qualifier. It is a beautiful course that wraps around Sand Hollow resevoir, then through a world class golf course, and then finally back to the start/finish. It was created to give runners an early season marathon without the cold temperatures that Utah gets in the northern cities. It is also a compliment to the fall St. George marathon. The goal is to provide a marathon that leaves runners with a smile on their face and a feeling of accomplishment.

Contact Information

Name:	Chris Mathisen
Address:	179 e. Swallow Tail Lane Washington, UT 84780
Phone Number:	435-680-0705
Email:	Email the organizers

Runner Reviews (14)

Course 4.6

Organization 4.7

Spectators 3.3

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Number of comments: 14 [displaying comments 1 to 11]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 > ]

D. I. from Florida (3/18/2023) "The scenery is outrageous!!!" (about: 2023) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Sand Hollow Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 A beautiful, runner/walker-friendly marathon. The RD is the best. He took care of me throughout the race. Well organized & course well marked. I am slow, but I never felt that I was a burden & I only felt welcomed & appreciated. Thank you, Chris! (OK & so there were no spectators but there were volunteers who acted as spectators & they were 5-star!)
M. B. from Kansas (3/15/2019) "Gorgeous scenery, great choice for Utah!" (about: 2019) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Sand Hollow Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This race is a great choice for Utah! The scenery is stunning and it is well organized! The course is an out and back with one big hill and mile 7/18. The organization went very smoothly and the aid stations were well stocked. The race is small (80 in the full, maybe 200 total). The spectators are at aid stations and who you bring. If you want rock bands and spectators, this isn't for you. But if you want unbelievable views in a rural setting, this is great! A great choice for 50 staters for Utah. We flew in to Vegas and drove 2 hours to the race. I also highly recommend going to Zion and/or Bryce Canyon National Park after the race.
L. F. from Utah, USA (3/13/2017) "Top-notch small town race!" (about: 2017) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Sand Hollow Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This race is exactly as it is billed- beautiful and challenging. The race is in early spring which is the best time of year for southern Utah. Weather conditions are perfect for running (clear skies, 50 F) The fruit trees are in full bloom and you run past several orchards and farms with baby animals before the sun even comes over the cliffs. It's a rural route so don't expect crowds to come and cheer for you (there will be some, but that's not why you run marathons, is it?) Your family and friends can park any where along the course to cheer you on. You can park right at the start and wait inside or outside right up until the mayor kicks things off. Aid stations every 2 miles are well stocked (bananas, GU, water, poweraid, BACON and STEAK at the half way point- no joke, and vaseline and icy hot). Your views include scenic red rock desert and the lake the race is named after. There is a beast of a hill around mile 17.5 The race finishes under shady trees with room to relax (free massages) and eat (pizza- not just pepperoni, bagels with different toppings, choc milk, pretzels, oranges, bananas, etc.) You get your results instantly on a little card you can keep in your wallet. Small enough race you might place in your age group! Nice gender specific race shirts that aren't covered in advertisements. Great swag bag included stuff I was stoked to get. Free digital race pics. Race director was very friendly and open to suggestions. Great destination race (lots to do in the area). I totally plan to run this race again!
p. h. from AZ (3/12/2017) "Great Logistics" (about: 2017) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Sand Hollow Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 This is a small marathon/half marathon;about 200 runners in total. Packet pick-up was open until 9pm the night before the race making it easier for out of town folks getting in late. Plenty of parking at the start. Despite being a small field, they still had age group awards. Beautiful scenery with a killer hill that you hit twice.
P. A. from Ithaca, New York (3/26/2016) "Scenic, challenging race with friendly vibe" (about: 2016) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Sand Hollow Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This race has the relaxed low-key quality of a local fun run, set in the spectacular scenery of Southern Utah. The course is not certified; there is no expo; spectators are few and far between. If you need that, this isn't the race for you. If you are looking for a beautiful destination race in a friendly small town, with enthusiastic volunteers and excellent on-course support, a responsive and committed race director, near some of this country's most awe-inspiring national parks, this IS your race. The course is for the most part rolling hills, with an intense steep incline at about mile 17. The second half of the race is quite challenging, although mercifully the final miles are flat or downhill. Aid stations were well-stocked with water, Gatorade, bananas, and GU, and the volunteers were super. There were plenty of Porta-potties. A few quibbles: my Garmin did not always agree with the mile markers, and indicated that the course may have been a bit short. Also, runners are guided by big white arrows chalked on the roadway. Be careful! When you are exhausted late in the race, they are easy to miss. Overall, this was an enjoyable, well-executed small-town race in a beautiful location.
E. G. from Utah (3/25/2016) "Beautiful, well-organized small marathon" (about: 2016) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 Sand Hollow Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was the second time I've run this race and both times I've thoroughly enjoyed my experience. The race is pretty small - about 150 total runners. So there isn't any stress in finding the location, parking or worrying about finding a spot at the starting line. In fact, I parked about 50 yards away from the starting line. The price of the race was also reasonable. The course is beautiful but challenging. The first half is largely downhill (with some inclines to keep you honest). The uphills start in the second half, so be sure you bank energy for that. The course is along residential streets, farm roads and eventually makes a loop around the Sand Hollow Reservoir. The course isn't closed to traffic, but traffic is so light around Hurricane that it isn't really a factor. Course support was good. There are plenty of bathrooms at the recreation center's starting line and each water stop had a bathroom. I never had to wait to use one. Like clockwork, every two miles there was an aid station with water, Gatorade, and some had gels and fruit. There were enthusiastic volunteers that had sports drink readily available. The race director really cares about his race and there were some definite improvements over last year's. The medal was substantially bigger and better and I liked the t-shirt. Finish line food consisted of plenty of soda, pizza, cookies, bagels and bananas. Even for a four hour finisher like myself, there was plenty to choose from. There also was massages and medical aid. The crowd support is fairly minimal and you'll find long stretches, particularly at the end, where you won't see another soul for a mile or two. If you need constant cheering or entertainment this race probably isn't for you. There also isn't any shade on the course, so be prepared for intense sun. You may feel odd wearing sunglasses at the 7AM start, but you'll definitely need them later. Also consider sunscreen and a hat. I would definitely recommend this race to a friend and look forward to possibly doing it again next year.
R. R. from Houston, Tx. (4/16/2015) "Great small destination marathon" (about: 2015) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Sand Hollow Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 If you want a small, well organized, beautiful location marathon, this is it. Hotels within walking distance, but you can park right at the start/finish. Lovely course to see the mountain scenery, particularly in the morning. Many would stop running to take pictures. Moderate hills but not bad. Many water/Gatorade stops. The only complaint was lack of route marking in the last three miles. One older fellow I had passed early on came running off-route out of a side street at mile 26 and said he lost the route at 23. I missed the last turn into the finish and went a quarter mile past it before realizing and returning. I found I was on the right side of the road but the chalk mark was at the end of the left side with the arrow well into the turn. Spectators were sparse but enthusiastic, and little traffic on the roads so you felt comfortable in the environment. This is a great destination marathon as I spent two days before in Las Vegas doing shows etc. then it was a very easy and pleasant two hour drive to Hurricane. Did the run, then spent the rest of the day and next visiting Zion National Part an easy 30 min. drive. Zion is a bucket list place for great vistas, hiking and just hanging out. One of the best of our National Parks. The full package makes this one of my favorite marathons, and I have done over 50. I might make this an annual thing.
E. G. from Murray, UT (4/14/2015) "Wel- run, small, and local marathon with a lot to " (about: 2015) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Sand Hollow Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This marathon has been on my list to do for quite some time. The scenery advertised on their website mostly lives up to expectations. I definitely liked the circular course and there indeed was some jaw dropping views of the reservoir/Sand Holllows and surrounding mountains. They also offer what appears to be free pictures of you and the race on their site as well. Props to that. The course has a lot of rolling hills, including a tough one at mile 18 that is pretty long. There are definitely some flats though. You do get to run down the hill at about mile 8. There isn't a lot of shade on the course so dress/prepare appropriately. Course support was wonderful. Every 2 miles, starting at mile 3, there was ample water/Gatorade stops (a few had gels) that was staffed by enthusiastic volunteers. Post-race food consisted of pizza, chips, bagels, bananas, soda and fruit. For the price (I registered late) I felt I got a good experience. I wasn't super thrilled with the tech shirt which just didn't have anything to get excited about except the race's name in fairly small print over the breast. The finisher's medal was good though and was customized for this year's event. Mile markers seemed a bit off at least according to my Garmin. However they were consistently off. Also, the course may have been slightly short, as my Garmin reported I had run 25.9 miles (others I spoke to had a similar report). With the exception of the last mile or two, the course was super easy to follow, even while running solo. Fan support is pretty mild especially for a small town marathon. The volunteers offered plenty of motivation and you occasionally got a cheer from a passing car or family members who were encouraging other runners. If you need thousands of spectators this race isn't for you. I would, without hesitation, recommend this race to a friend wanting a scenic, low-key marathon to run in the state of Utah. The entire southern Utah area is filled with lots of great things to do after the race and it makes for a great 'long' weekend. Props to the organizers, and I wouldn't shy away from doing this again.
M. D. from Utah (4/6/2014) "Good Small Town Race" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Sand Hollow Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 Sand Hollow 2014 was my 41st marathon and for being a small race it was pretty well run and supported well. The aid stations were abundant with goodies and fantastic volunteers!! I would have hoped for a little more food goodies at the end..(chocolate milk) but overall I thought the race went well. See you next year!
Lowell Hawkes from Pocatello, Idaho (4/6/2013) "Well organized and worthwhile" (about: 2013) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Sand Hollow Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 This was my 84th marathon but my first Sand Hollow Marathon. It was a terrific race and a good value. All the things that can be good about a small town were true here nice and friendly and caring people, well-stocked aid stations, a very nice shirt and design, a locale-unique finisher's medal, and a challenging and varied course. Didn't meet a sour soul all weekend and had a terrific post-race lunch at the Main Street Cafe a block away where I was treated like an honored guest by the young and very-much-in-love couple that waited on me and cooked my lunch while nibbling on each other as the burger cooked! This race is three weeks out from Boston so is a perfect last long run before running the Boston Marathon. The community and surrounding communities of Toquerville and Laverkin and beautiful and appealing and Hurricane, while a small community, is still large enough to have everything you might need.

More Comments: [ < 1 2 > ]



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D. I. from Florida (3/18/2023) "The scenery is outrageous!!!" (about: 2023) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Sand Hollow Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 A beautiful, runner/walker-friendly marathon. The RD is the best. He took care of me throughout the race. Well organized & course well marked. I am slow, but I never felt that I was a burden & I only felt welcomed & appreciated. Thank you, Chris! (OK & so there were no spectators but there were volunteers who acted as spectators & they were 5-star!)
M. B. from Kansas (3/15/2019) "Gorgeous scenery, great choice for Utah!" (about: 2019) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Sand Hollow Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This race is a great choice for Utah! The scenery is stunning and it is well organized! The course is an out and back with one big hill and mile 7/18. The organization went very smoothly and the aid stations were well stocked. The race is small (80 in the full, maybe 200 total). The spectators are at aid stations and who you bring. If you want rock bands and spectators, this isn't for you. But if you want unbelievable views in a rural setting, this is great! A great choice for 50 staters for Utah. We flew in to Vegas and drove 2 hours to the race. I also highly recommend going to Zion and/or Bryce Canyon National Park after the race.
L. F. from Utah, USA (3/13/2017) "Top-notch small town race!" (about: 2017) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Sand Hollow Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This race is exactly as it is billed- beautiful and challenging. The race is in early spring which is the best time of year for southern Utah. Weather conditions are perfect for running (clear skies, 50 F) The fruit trees are in full bloom and you run past several orchards and farms with baby animals before the sun even comes over the cliffs. It's a rural route so don't expect crowds to come and cheer for you (there will be some, but that's not why you run marathons, is it?) Your family and friends can park any where along the course to cheer you on. You can park right at the start and wait inside or outside right up until the mayor kicks things off. Aid stations every 2 miles are well stocked (bananas, GU, water, poweraid, BACON and STEAK at the half way point- no joke, and vaseline and icy hot). Your views include scenic red rock desert and the lake the race is named after. There is a beast of a hill around mile 17.5 The race finishes under shady trees with room to relax (free massages) and eat (pizza- not just pepperoni, bagels with different toppings, choc milk, pretzels, oranges, bananas, etc.) You get your results instantly on a little card you can keep in your wallet. Small enough race you might place in your age group! Nice gender specific race shirts that aren't covered in advertisements. Great swag bag included stuff I was stoked to get. Free digital race pics. Race director was very friendly and open to suggestions. Great destination race (lots to do in the area). I totally plan to run this race again!
p. h. from AZ (3/12/2017) "Great Logistics" (about: 2017) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Sand Hollow Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 This is a small marathon/half marathon;about 200 runners in total. Packet pick-up was open until 9pm the night before the race making it easier for out of town folks getting in late. Plenty of parking at the start. Despite being a small field, they still had age group awards. Beautiful scenery with a killer hill that you hit twice.
P. A. from Ithaca, New York (3/26/2016) "Scenic, challenging race with friendly vibe" (about: 2016) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Sand Hollow Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This race has the relaxed low-key quality of a local fun run, set in the spectacular scenery of Southern Utah. The course is not certified; there is no expo; spectators are few and far between. If you need that, this isn't the race for you. If you are looking for a beautiful destination race in a friendly small town, with enthusiastic volunteers and excellent on-course support, a responsive and committed race director, near some of this country's most awe-inspiring national parks, this IS your race. The course is for the most part rolling hills, with an intense steep incline at about mile 17. The second half of the race is quite challenging, although mercifully the final miles are flat or downhill. Aid stations were well-stocked with water, Gatorade, bananas, and GU, and the volunteers were super. There were plenty of Porta-potties. A few quibbles: my Garmin did not always agree with the mile markers, and indicated that the course may have been a bit short. Also, runners are guided by big white arrows chalked on the roadway. Be careful! When you are exhausted late in the race, they are easy to miss. Overall, this was an enjoyable, well-executed small-town race in a beautiful location.
E. G. from Utah (3/25/2016) "Beautiful, well-organized small marathon" (about: 2016) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 Sand Hollow Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was the second time I've run this race and both times I've thoroughly enjoyed my experience. The race is pretty small - about 150 total runners. So there isn't any stress in finding the location, parking or worrying about finding a spot at the starting line. In fact, I parked about 50 yards away from the starting line. The price of the race was also reasonable. The course is beautiful but challenging. The first half is largely downhill (with some inclines to keep you honest). The uphills start in the second half, so be sure you bank energy for that. The course is along residential streets, farm roads and eventually makes a loop around the Sand Hollow Reservoir. The course isn't closed to traffic, but traffic is so light around Hurricane that it isn't really a factor. Course support was good. There are plenty of bathrooms at the recreation center's starting line and each water stop had a bathroom. I never had to wait to use one. Like clockwork, every two miles there was an aid station with water, Gatorade, and some had gels and fruit. There were enthusiastic volunteers that had sports drink readily available. The race director really cares about his race and there were some definite improvements over last year's. The medal was substantially bigger and better and I liked the t-shirt. Finish line food consisted of plenty of soda, pizza, cookies, bagels and bananas. Even for a four hour finisher like myself, there was plenty to choose from. There also was massages and medical aid. The crowd support is fairly minimal and you'll find long stretches, particularly at the end, where you won't see another soul for a mile or two. If you need constant cheering or entertainment this race probably isn't for you. There also isn't any shade on the course, so be prepared for intense sun. You may feel odd wearing sunglasses at the 7AM start, but you'll definitely need them later. Also consider sunscreen and a hat. I would definitely recommend this race to a friend and look forward to possibly doing it again next year.
R. R. from Houston, Tx. (4/16/2015) "Great small destination marathon" (about: 2015) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Sand Hollow Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 If you want a small, well organized, beautiful location marathon, this is it. Hotels within walking distance, but you can park right at the start/finish. Lovely course to see the mountain scenery, particularly in the morning. Many would stop running to take pictures. Moderate hills but not bad. Many water/Gatorade stops. The only complaint was lack of route marking in the last three miles. One older fellow I had passed early on came running off-route out of a side street at mile 26 and said he lost the route at 23. I missed the last turn into the finish and went a quarter mile past it before realizing and returning. I found I was on the right side of the road but the chalk mark was at the end of the left side with the arrow well into the turn. Spectators were sparse but enthusiastic, and little traffic on the roads so you felt comfortable in the environment. This is a great destination marathon as I spent two days before in Las Vegas doing shows etc. then it was a very easy and pleasant two hour drive to Hurricane. Did the run, then spent the rest of the day and next visiting Zion National Part an easy 30 min. drive. Zion is a bucket list place for great vistas, hiking and just hanging out. One of the best of our National Parks. The full package makes this one of my favorite marathons, and I have done over 50. I might make this an annual thing.
E. G. from Murray, UT (4/14/2015) "Wel- run, small, and local marathon with a lot to " (about: 2015) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Sand Hollow Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This marathon has been on my list to do for quite some time. The scenery advertised on their website mostly lives up to expectations. I definitely liked the circular course and there indeed was some jaw dropping views of the reservoir/Sand Holllows and surrounding mountains. They also offer what appears to be free pictures of you and the race on their site as well. Props to that. The course has a lot of rolling hills, including a tough one at mile 18 that is pretty long. There are definitely some flats though. You do get to run down the hill at about mile 8. There isn't a lot of shade on the course so dress/prepare appropriately. Course support was wonderful. Every 2 miles, starting at mile 3, there was ample water/Gatorade stops (a few had gels) that was staffed by enthusiastic volunteers. Post-race food consisted of pizza, chips, bagels, bananas, soda and fruit. For the price (I registered late) I felt I got a good experience. I wasn't super thrilled with the tech shirt which just didn't have anything to get excited about except the race's name in fairly small print over the breast. The finisher's medal was good though and was customized for this year's event. Mile markers seemed a bit off at least according to my Garmin. However they were consistently off. Also, the course may have been slightly short, as my Garmin reported I had run 25.9 miles (others I spoke to had a similar report). With the exception of the last mile or two, the course was super easy to follow, even while running solo. Fan support is pretty mild especially for a small town marathon. The volunteers offered plenty of motivation and you occasionally got a cheer from a passing car or family members who were encouraging other runners. If you need thousands of spectators this race isn't for you. I would, without hesitation, recommend this race to a friend wanting a scenic, low-key marathon to run in the state of Utah. The entire southern Utah area is filled with lots of great things to do after the race and it makes for a great 'long' weekend. Props to the organizers, and I wouldn't shy away from doing this again.
M. D. from Utah (4/6/2014) "Good Small Town Race" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Sand Hollow Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 Sand Hollow 2014 was my 41st marathon and for being a small race it was pretty well run and supported well. The aid stations were abundant with goodies and fantastic volunteers!! I would have hoped for a little more food goodies at the end..(chocolate milk) but overall I thought the race went well. See you next year!
Lowell Hawkes from Pocatello, Idaho (4/6/2013) "Well organized and worthwhile" (about: 2013) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Sand Hollow Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 This was my 84th marathon but my first Sand Hollow Marathon. It was a terrific race and a good value. All the things that can be good about a small town were true here nice and friendly and caring people, well-stocked aid stations, a very nice shirt and design, a locale-unique finisher's medal, and a challenging and varied course. Didn't meet a sour soul all weekend and had a terrific post-race lunch at the Main Street Cafe a block away where I was treated like an honored guest by the young and very-much-in-love couple that waited on me and cooked my lunch while nibbling on each other as the burger cooked! This race is three weeks out from Boston so is a perfect last long run before running the Boston Marathon. The community and surrounding communities of Toquerville and Laverkin and beautiful and appealing and Hurricane, while a small community, is still large enough to have everything you might need.

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Marathon Details - Sand Hollow Marathon