There are about 6000 participants. The majority of them are men over, I would say 34. Most of the men have marathon widows with at least 3 children who stand in the hot sun and sweat and cheer for their father's husbands (grandpa's too) until they finish the race.
There are people who are awesome runners who are shoe-in's for the "thon" and then there are people who get selected by a lottery system. My cousin Peter got in through the lottery. It was his first marathon.
The St. George marathon is a qualifier for the Boston Marathon and the goal for all the runners is to do the 26 miles in three and a half hours or less.
Yes. 3.5 hours OR LESS.
Marathon runners are crazy.
When Peter found out he got in, I was super excited to support him and take a little vacation down south. We made the trip and arrived at the finish line to watch Peter cross with his mom and dad. He hoped to finish the race in that 3.5 hour time frame. For his first ever marathon, in the hot desert heat no less, he finished in 3:57. Holy freaking cow. Super impressive and well done.
I've never been part of a marathon before and I'll tell you, the people who finish in that 3 hour mark exhibit some heroics. Many of them have been running so fast for so long, that at the very end their legs cramp up, the collapse, they cry, they spew and it's all they can do to cross that line. It was very cool to see police, national guardsmen (and women) and other runners pick up those that have fallen, crippled by cramps and jello legs, and help them cross that line.
Very cool indeed.
Rather than use too many more words, here's our marathon experience in pictures. Chronologically of course.
Enjoy!
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