Last 2 marathon miles change

ST. GEORGE — St. George Marathon race promoters will adjust the final two miles of the world-famous course this year, which also means the retirement of a long list of official race records.

"As the community has grown and traffic has increased, our concerns for runner safety and quality of experience have created the need to make these adjustments," said Kent Perkins, race director.

Runners this year will leave Bluff Street at Diagonal Street and work their way through the center of St. George, he said. Each runner will pass through the historic center of St. George on the way to a traditional finish at Worthen Park.

"This will provide each runner with the opportunity to run the last two miles without the traffic noise, exhaust and worries of running adjacent to fast-moving streams of autos," said Perkins, who is also the St. George Leisure Services director. "Additionally, security and medical personnel will have easier access to the course."

Spectators and volunteers who assist in the race will also be able to line both sides of the street from Mile 24 to the finish line, he added.

"The traditional shadeless stretch down Bluff Street will be replaced by two miles of tree-lined streets," Perkins pointed out. "Spectators will enjoy the changes."

This year marks the marathon's 30th anniversary and runners with course records from the past 29 years will get to keep those intact.

"It is exciting to think that every overall and division winner this year will be setting a new course record," Perkins added.

The St. George Marathon has consistently wowed both runners and spectators, with Runner's World magazine naming it one of four marathons in the world to build a vacation around. The race is also USA Track and Field certified and sanctioned, which makes it a qualifier for the Boston Marathon.

Registration for the race begins April 1 and runs until May 1, with lottery results for the 6,700 available slots posted on the official Web site, stgeorgemarathon.com, by May 8.

Also new this year will be an expansion of the available prize money awarded to the men's and women's first-place overall finishers from several Utah counties including Davis, Salt Lake, Box Elder, Utah, Carbon and Cache.

Marathon runners can log onto the race Web site and share their views of the course changes. Comments posted so far are either very positive or cautiously optimistic.