SGROctoberNewsletter

TokeeppeopleinformedaboutupcomingSt.GeorgeRaces

events,wewillsendoutamonthlynewsletter.ThesewillincludeaRunnerSpotlight,wherewehighlightamemberor

membersoftherunningcommunity,alistofupcomingeventsanddetails,a"Town'sTreasure"Sectionwherewetalkaboutacoolspotaroundtowntoexplore,and,ifyou'relucky,apromocodewithalimitedwindowofusagethatcanbeusedtosignupfortheeventslistedintheemail.Don'tseesomethingonthenewsletter,emailusatraces@sgcity.org

andwewillbehappytohelpyou!

UpcomingEventHighlight-SnowCanyonHalf

Marathon

JoinSt.GeorgeRacesonSaturday,November4,2017,fortheSnowCanyonHalf-Marathon,5k,KidsRun,andIAmAbleevents!This

beautiful,fast,downhillhalf-marathonstartsnearDiamondValley,UtahandtakesrunnersthroughSnowCanyonStateParkbefore

finishingatSnowCanyonHighSchoolinSt.George,Utah.RegistrationisaccepteduntilWednesday,November1stat5:00p.m.MDT.Toavoida$10lateregistrationfee,registerbyFriday,Oct.27

at11:59pm.

Formoreinformation,pleaseclickhere.Toregister,pleaseclickhere.Usepromocode“OCTNEWS”fora15%offdiscount!Codeexpires

onOct.28,usebefore11:59pmonOct.27.

41stAnnualSt.GeorgeMarathonRecap

Imagineanentirecityspendingmonthspreparingforasingleevent.Astheeventgrowscloser,theworkloadincreasesdaily.That’sexactlywhatit’slikeattheCityofSt.GeorgeasweprepareforeacheditionoftheSt.GeorgeMarathon.Thisyear’s41stAnnualSt.GeorgeMarathon,whichtookplaceonSaturday,October7,2017,wasnoexception.Asalways,thecoursetookrunnersonascenic,mostlydownhillroutefromCentral,UtahtoVernonWorthenParkinSt.George.Andbehindthescenes,ittookavillage(oranentirecity)topulloffwhatRunner’sWorldmagazinecalls“oneofonlyfourmarathonstobuildavacationaround."

KamiEllsworth,RaceOperationsManagerwiththeCityofSt.George,hasoverseentheeventforthelast11years.Inthattime,shehaslearnedfirst-handwhatworksandwhatdoesn’t,whatpromptsthemostfrustration,andwhatresultsinthemostenjoyment.Transportationisusuallythebiggestcauseofstress,asthousandsofrunnersmustbebused26milestothestart-lineinatimelymanner,withalimitednumberofbuses.Butthehundredsofdedicatedvolunteersandstaffalwaysbringthemostjoytotheevent.AsEllsworthnotes,“TheSt.GeorgeMarathonisknownthroughouttheworldforitsvolunteers,andforthesupporttherunnersfeelfromourcommunity.”

It’seasyforEllsworthtopickafavoritepartofthemarathon.Forher–andforsomanyoftherunners–it’sthestart-line,whichunfortunatelyisseldomseenbynon-runners.Notonlyaretherethousandsofathletesinoneareaatonetime,therearefirepitstokeepwarm,musictoenergizeallcompetitors,andendlessexcitementamongthecrowdandstaffwhoareasdarknessturnstodawn.SaysEllsworth,“IwisheverydayIfeltashonoredtobeapartofsomething,otherthanmyfamily,asIdowhenIreachthestart-

lineofthemarathoneachyear.”

AfunfactoftheSt.GeorgeMarathon:Inthe41-yearhistoryoftheevent,Maineistheonlystatethathasnotbeenrepresentedattherace.Soifyou’refromMaine,orknowsomeonewhois,tellhimorhertosignupforthe42ndSt.GeorgeMarathon.Congratulationstoallwhoranthisyear’srace,andwelookforwardtoseeingyouagainforthe42ndSt.GeorgeMarathonin2018!

Picturedabove:Runnersinthe41stSt.GeorgeMarathonheadingto

thefinishline

RunnerSpotlight-AaronFletcher

Fewpeoplerunmarathons.Ofthosewhodo,fewerwinmarathons.Ofthosewhowin,anevensmallerminoritysetcourserecords.Don’ttellthosethingstoAaronFletcher,whofinishedfirstatthe41stSt.GeorgeMarathononSaturday,Oct.7,2017.Fletcher,26,notonlywontherace,hesetanewcourserecordbyoveraminuteandtenseconds(2:14:44).

Oh,andbytheway–thiswasFletcher’sfirst-everroadmarathon.Youreadthatright:AaronFletcherwonthefirstroadmarathonheeverran.

ThoughFletcherisn’tnewtorunning,hisstoryisunique:Growingup

inAnchorage,Alaska,hejoinedhismiddleschooltrackteamonawhim,andrealizedhewasagoodmilerunner.Hecontinuedrunningthroughhighschool,wherehebecameoneofthebestrunnersinAlaska.Hewalked(orran)ontotheBrighamYoungUniversityCross-CountryandTrackteamsinProvo,Utah,andexcelled.AsaCougar,FletcherwontheWestCoastConferenceCross-CountryChampionship(2015),the3000-metersteeplechaseattheTexasRelays(2016),andmadeittotheNCAANationalFinals(2016).AftergraduatingfromBYU,Fletcherfinished17thattheSpartanRaceObstacleRacingWorldChampionship(2016).

Buthisrunningachievementsdidn’tendthere:In2017Fletcherranfourraces,winningeachofthem.ThecontestsincludedtheTimpTrailMarathon(breakingthecourserecordby23minutes),theinauguralElephantRockTrailMarathon,theTopofUtahHalf-Marathon(withatimeof1:04.46thatshearedafull23secondsoffthecourserecord),andthenhistriumphatthe41stSt.GeorgeMarathon.

Fletcher’strainingroutineisasimpressiveashisrunningaccomplishments.FortheSt.GeorgeMarathon,herancloseto100milesaweek,takingjustonedayofftorest,anddoingdoubleworkoutsontwodays.Heattributesthe“backbone”ofhistrainingtooneworkoutaweekinwhichmostofthemileagewasrunatgoalrace-paceorfaster.HealsoaddedatempopacetohislongSaturdayruns,andsomelight,fastworkoutsatadditionalpointsduringtheweek.

RunningtheSt.GeorgeMarathonisnoeasyfeat,Fletchersays.“Thelasttenmileshavesomuchsteepdownhillthatitreallybeatsupyourlegs.Sowhenitstartstoleveloffalittlebitthelasttwomilesorso,itgetsreallytoughtokeepyourpacegoing.Physically,itfeltlikeIwasgoingtodie.Iwashurtingreallybadthelastfewminutes,andjustwantedtobedone!"

“Irememberaspecificmomentwithaboutamiletogo,whenmylegsjustturnedtolead,”Fletchercontinues.“Ireallyhadtobuckledownmentallytogettotheend.”AsFletcherclosedinonthefinishline,hefoundacheeringsectionwaitingforhim:Hiswife,Karen,andfour-month-olddaughter,Rosemary,weretheretowatchhimbreakthetape.Fletchercreditshisvictorytothetwoofthem,describingthesupporthereceivedfrom–andsacrificesmadeby–hiswifeinhelpinghimgethismilesin,evenasshe’sstillattendingschoolandthey’rebothadjustingtoparenthood.TheSt.GeorgeMarathonwasalsoafamilyaffairfortheFletchers,asAaron’smom,dadandyoungerbrotherrantheraceaswell.

OfhisvictoryFletchersaid,“Itwasgreattowin.Tohaveallthetough

trainingcomethroughonrace-daywasfantastic.IfthereisonethingI’velearnedinrunning,it’sthatanythingcanhappenonrace-day,nomatterhowwellpreparedyouare.”Fletcherdoesn’thaveanyspecificplansfortheraceshewantstorunnextyear.ButinNovemberheplanstoruntheIbigawaHalf-MarathoninIbigawa,Japan.

Fletchersayshelovesthelifestylethatcomeswithrunning,especiallywakingupearlyandgettingafullday’sworkoutinwhileothersarestillsleeping.Outsideofrunning,Fletcher–whoworksasanElectricalTransmissionLineDesigner,andhasadegreeinCivilEngineering–likesplayingandwatchingsportsofallkinds,readingnovelsandspendingtimewithhisfamily.Whenaskedifhehadanyadvicetoshare,Aaronhadthistosay,“Ifyouwanttobeabetterrunner,runmore!Makealong-termplan,bepatient,andfollowitascloselyaspossible.Itmighttakeyears.Butyouhavetogiveyourbodyplentyoftimetodevelop.”

OnbehalfoftheentireSt.GeorgeRacesStaff,weextendourwarmestcongratulationstoAaronFletcheronhisperformanceatthe41stSt.GeorgeMarathon.

Picturedabove:AaronFletchercrossesthefinishlineatthe41stSt.George

Marathon

RunnerSpotlight-NicoleLyons

OnSaturday,Oct.7,2017,NicoleLyonsenteredtherecord-booksasthefirstwomantofinishthe41stSt.GeorgeMarathon.Nicoleisnonewcomertomarathons:TheSt.Georgecontestwasthefifthmarathonsheeverran,andthesecondmarathonshe’swon.Whatmadethismarathonevenmorememorable–otherthanwinningthe

women’sdivision–wasthatLyonsranapersonalbestof2:41:15.

Lyons,26,hasbeenrunningsinceshewasayoungchild.BorninSeattle,WA,butraisedinBoise,ID,Lyonsparticipatedinfun-runsaroundtown.Butsheeventuallyswitchedsportsandstartedplayingsoccer.AfteronetoomanyinjuriesLyonslaterreturnedtorunning,whilejugglingherloveofmusicinbetween.

InhighschoolLyonscontinuedrunning,primarilydoing1600-and3200-meterraces,andwinningthe1600Mand3200Mstatechampionshipsduringhersophomoreandjunioryears.LyonsextendedherrunningcareerwhileattendingBrighamYoungUniversityinProvo,Utah,focusingonthe5Kand10Kintrack,andcompetingintheNationalCross-CountryMeettwice.AftercollegeLyonrantheSaltLakeMarathon(herfirst)in2015andwon,finishingin2:58.Thisqualifiedhertocompeteinthe2016BostonMarathon;shealsoranthe40thSt.GeorgeMarathonin2016,finishingthird.Earlierthissummer,LyonsrantheUtahValleyMarathonaswell.

Lyonsisverydisciplinedwithhertrainingschedule,wakingupat4:30or5a.m.eachdayduringtheweektogetherworkoutandmilesinbeforework.Andshe’shardlyidleonthejob:Lyonsisafifth-gradeelementaryschoolteacheratWillowCreekElementaryinMeridian,Idaho.Shealsoteachespianolessonsafterschool,havingspent15yearsticklingtheivoriesherself.Butdespitehermusicalbackground,whilerunningLyonsfocusessolelyonthemiles;sheneverlistenstomusic,preferringtotakeinthesoundsofnaturearoundher,andrelishingthecalmandquietoftheearlyhours.She’snotshywhenitcomestolongrunsorhardworkouts,sayingthat“[the]feelingthat[comesfromit]ishardtoreplicate.”

TheSt.GeorgeMarathonwasnoteasyforLyons,whoreports,“Istartedoffactuallyfeelingsicktomystomach,andIwentoutabittoofast.Asaresult,bymile13Iwasstrugglingtokeeppushingthroughthepain.IkepttellingmyselfthatIdidn’ttrainsohardtojustgiveupthen.”

Lyonsdidn’tgiveup,butkeptfighting.Forthefirst21milesoftherace,shewasneckandneckwiththewomen’ssecond-placefinisher,RosyLee.Shewasn’tsurewhereLeewasforthelastfivemiles,andwasshockedtocrossthefinish-lineaheadofhercompetitor.Abouthervictory,Lyonssays,“Itwasanamazingexperience.Ifeelblessedthatmymanymilesandhoursoftrainingpaidoffintheend.”

Lyonsrecruitedherhusbandtorunthemarathonwithher.Shewasabletospendpre-racetimewithhim,andsaysthateachwasthinkingoftheotherduringthelongmiles.Herparents,in-laws,brother,sister-in-lawandsister-in-law’sfamilywerealsothere,

supportingLyonsandherhusband.

AftertheBostonMarathon,LyonsdeemstheSt.GeorgeMarathonhersecond-favoriterace.RememberingthevenerableBostonevent,Lyonsrecountsthatitwas“anincredibleexperiencetorunwiththousandsofrunnersfromallovertheworld.”Sheaddsthatshewrotethenamesofherelementarystudentsonawristband,withthoughtsofadifferentchildforeachmile.

Lyonsisn’tsurewhichracessheplanstodonextyear.ButthisNovembershe’llbejoiningSt.GeorgeMarathonmen’swinnerAaronFletcherincompetingintheIbigawaHalf-MarathoninIbigawa,Japan.WecongratulateLyonsonheroutstandingwin,andhopetoseeherbackintownforthe42ndSt.GeorgeMarathonin2018!

Picturedabove:NicoleLyonscrossesthefinishlineatthe41stSt.George

Marathon

Town'sTreasure-SnowCanyonStatePark

ThoughtechnicallynotinSt.George,thenamesakeoftheSnowCanyonHalf-Marathoniscertainlyatowntreasure.Discoveredin1850byMormonpioneers,theparkislocatedjustoutsideofSt.GeorgeinIvins,Utah,andfeatures7,400acresofscenicbeauty.ThereissomethingforeveryoneatSnowCanyon:sanddunestoplayin,trailstohikeandrun,roadstobike,rockwallstoclimb,andmore.

AccordingtotheUtahDepartmentofNaturalResources,SnowCanyonStateParkoffersmorethan38milesofhikingtrails,threemilesofpavedwalking/bikingtrail,andover15milesofequestriantrails.Thepark’selevationrangesfrom3,100feetatthesouthernendto4,100feetatthenorthernend.Beautifulredrocksstretchskyward,surroundingthepark,andvisitorscanenjoyimpeccableviewsfromthepark’snorthernside.

CuriousastohowSnowCanyonStateParkgotitsname?Eventhoughit’slocatedinthedesert,manypeopleassumeitwasnamedinhonorofthecoldstuffthatfallsfromthesky.ButtheareawasoriginallynamedDixieStatePark,andthenwaschangedtoSnowCanyonStateParktohonorLorenzoandErastusSnow,prominentpioneeringUtahleaders.

Tolearnmoreaboutthehistory,geology,plantsandanimalsofSnowCanyonStatePark,pleasevisittheUtahDepartmentofNaturalResourceswebsitelocatedhere.

Picturedabove:TheViewofSnowCanyonStateParkfromthenorth

endofthepark

UpcomingEvents

SnowCanyonHalfMarathon-November4,

2017Besuretojoinusforoneofthemostscenichalfmarathonsyoucaneverrun.TheSnowCanyonHalf

takesrunnersthroughSnowCanyonStateParkbeforefinishingatSnowCanyonHighSchool.IthasbeenratedbyRunnersWorldasoneofthetop13HalfMarathonsinthenation.

Formoreinformation,pleaseclickhere.Toregister,pleaseclickhere.

TurkeyTrotandHarvestFestival-November

18,2017WeencourageeveryonetoparticipateintheTurkeyTrotbutthebacktoschooldiscountcodewillnotwork

forregistration.Thisisbecauseitonlycost$5and3canstopartakeintheTurkeyTrot.Thefoodraisedwillbedonatedtofighthunger.

Formoreinformation,pleaseclickhere.

St.GeorgeHalfMarathon,5k,KidsRun-

January13,2018Thelongest-runninghalfmarathoninSouthernUtahtakesrunnersalongthebeautifullandscapesofSt.George.Makesureyousignupforthisawesomeevent.

Formoreinformation,pleaseclickhere.Toregister,pleaseclickhere.

Bikestock2018-February3,2018

Bikestockisafamily-friendlybikeridingeventonthecitytrails.BikestockinvolvestheFamilyFunBikeRideandtheMoveIt!KidsCriterium.TheFamilyBikeRideisfreeandCriteriumcostsonly$10.

Formoreinformation,pleaseclickhere.Toregister,pleaseclickhere.

RoadRageDuathlon-February24,2018

RoadRageputsparticipants'runningandbikingskillstothetest.RunandBikethroughSantaClara,Ivins,andKayenta.BothSprintandOlympicdistancesavailable.

Formoreinformation,pleaseclickhere.Toregister,pleaseclickhere.

LaketoLake-March3,2018

Grabacoupleofyourfriends(ordoityourself,ifyou'refeelingextraadventurous)andrun52miles.LaketoLakeRelaytakesparticipantsfromGunlockReservoirtoSandHollowReservoir.Runalongbeautifulroads,trails,andsitesasyoucompeteinteamsof2,5or

individually.Formoreinformation,pleaseclickhere.Toregister,pleaseclickhere.

ShamROCKYourSocksOff10k-March17,

2018KickoffyourSt.Patrick'sDayCelebrationwiththeShamROCK10K.Thisawesome10ktakesrunners

throughSnowCanyonStateParkbeforefinishingatIvinsCityPark.

Formoreinformation,pleaseclickhere.Toregister,pleaseclickhere.

SHACTriathlon-April7,2018

Everwanttodoatriathlon?Wellifso,thisistheoneforyou.Putyourrunning,bikingandswimmingskillstothetestwiththisfunevent.

Formoreinformation,pleaseclickhere.Toregister,pleaseclickhere.

Hereisthe2018RaceCalendar.

Savethedateforalltheseawesomeevents!

https://app.robly.com/