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One tool · Two races · Free
Whether you're chasing 26.2 from Central or 13.1 from Diamond Valley, the St. George Marathon and Half share the same high desert descent, the same crisp air, and the same need for course-specific training. One tool generates a plan for either — personalized to your goal, your current fitness, and your week.
Answer a few quick questions and your plan generates in about three minutes. Free. No upsell. No paywall.
The St. George Marathon and Half aren't flat road races with scenic backdrops. They're point-to-point descents through southern Utah's red rock country — the full dropping 2,560 feet over 26.2 miles, the half running the back portion of that same canyon corridor with 1,896 feet of drop over 13.1 miles. Same canyon. Same descent damage. Same training need.
Downhill-specific long runs. The eccentric muscle damage from sustained downhill running is what blows up quads — at mile 20 if you're running the full, mile 10 if you're running the half. If you've only trained on flats, your race ends earlier than your aerobic fitness should allow. Our plan progressively introduces controlled downhill work so your legs adapt before race day, not during it.
Pacing discipline for a net downhill. Banking time on the early descent and paying for it later is the universal St. George mistake — whether you're racing 26.2 or 13.1. Our plan trains you to hold back through the early miles, manage the inevitable climbs, and let the second half come together as your legs stay fresh.
The signature challenges — different for each race, programmed for both:
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Full Marathon
Veyo Hill at mile 7. A one-mile climb that hits right as you've settled into rhythm. Breaks pacing plans built on average splits. We program hill repeats and rolling-terrain runs so Veyo feels like a checkpoint, not a wall.
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Half Marathon
The volcano descent at mile 4. Super fast — rounding the volcano and flying past Snow Canyon's north entrance, where it's tempting to bank time you'll need later. We program controlled-pace downhill work so you reach the back-half miles with legs intact.
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Altitude awareness. Both start lines sit at altitude — 5,223 feet for the full, 4,580 feet for the half. If you live at sea level, the first miles will feel harder than your watch says they should. Our plan accounts for this with effort-based pacing, not just pace targets.
One tool that adapts to multiple runners:
The tool asks about your current weekly mileage, your goal time, your weekly schedule, and your training history. The plan it generates reflects all of it — for whichever distance you're running.
Ready to start training?
Get Your Free Personalized Plan →The training methodology you're about to use was developed by the SGRC over 20+ years of running, coaching, fitting, and finishing both St. George distances ourselves. We've watched thousands of local runners cross the finish line at Vernon Worthen Park — full marathoners after 26.2, half marathoners after 13.1. We know where Veyo hurts, where the volcano descent deceives, and why the back half of either race is where it's won or lost.
We're not a national chain pushing a one-size-fits-all PDF. We're the running store at 2736 E Red Cliffs Dr — six miles from the finish line. The methodology behind this plan has been used by SGRC's Beginning Marathon & Half Training Group and shared with our running community since the early 2000s.
A plan works best when you're not training alone. SGRC runs:
Drop in. Bring the plan. Run with people who know both courses.
Our plans run 18 weeks for the full marathon and 14 weeks for the half — the lengths the SGRC Beginning Marathon group has refined over nearly two decades. We recommend a base of 20 to 25 miles per week before starting the full, or 12 to 18 miles per week before starting the half. First-time runners at either distance may want to add a 4-week base-building phase before week 1.
Yes — both races. Downhill training is the single most important course-specific element for either distance. The full's 2,560-foot descent and the half's 1,896-foot descent both cause eccentric muscle damage in the quadriceps, and runners who haven't prepared often experience quad failure in the back half of either race. Our plan progressively builds downhill tolerance starting around week 6.
Yes. The full marathon course is USATF-certified and Boston Marathon qualifying. The net downhill profile makes it one of the most popular BQ attempts in the country. Note that starting with the 2027 Boston registration cycle, the BAA is adding a 5:00 adjustment to qualifying times from courses with a net descent over 2,600 feet — St. George's certified 2,560-foot descent sits just under that threshold, so qualifying times here still count without adjustment.
For full marathoners, Veyo Hill at mile 7 — a one-mile climb that hits right as you've settled into rhythm — or miles 19 to 23, where accumulated downhill damage catches up. For half marathoners, the super-fast volcano descent at mile 4, where overpacing the early downhill shows up in tired legs by mile 10. The right training prepares you for whichever you're running.
The half marathon runs the back portion of the full marathon course. The full starts at Central (5,223 ft, mile 0) and includes Veyo Hill (mile 7) and Diamond Valley (mile 11). The half starts at Diamond Valley (4,580 ft), rounds the volcano around mile 4, passes Snow Canyon's north entrance, and continues the descent into downtown St. George. Both finish at the same line at Vernon Worthen Park.
For the full marathon, we recommend a base of 20 to 25 miles per week. For the half, 12 to 18 miles per week. If you're below that, the tool will suggest a slightly longer build or a base-building phase first.
No. The plan works for runners anywhere — but if you don't have access to similar terrain, we'll suggest substitute workouts (treadmill incline-negative settings, long descents on local roads, or trail downhills) to simulate the demands of either course.
Yes. No upsell, no paywall. It's our way of supporting the running community we've been part of for nearly two decades.
Yes. If you're looking for individualized one-on-one coaching, text the St. George Running Center at 435-628-7766.
Saturday · October 3, 2026
Vernon Worthen Park.
Your race finishes there. Your training starts here.
Start Your Plan →