Upcoming Events: St. George Marathon & Huntsman World Senior Games

Two big events will be held in St. George during the next few weeks. One is the St. George Marathon and the other is the Huntsman World Senior Games. The city will be busy during these events so plan now if you want to reserve lodging or golf tee times.

St. George Marathon - October 6, 2012

The marathon website offers this information:

Rated by Runner's World as one of the four "Marathons to Build a Vacation Around" in the World. Included in Runner`s World 10 Most Scenic and Fastest Marathons and Top 20 Marathons in the USA. It begins in the majestic Pine Valley mountains and descends nearly 2600 feet through scenic southwest Utah, to the beautiful Worthern Park. The St. George Marathon is a point-to-point race which is USA Track & Field Certified & Sanctioned. Runner`s World listed the St. George Marathon as the fastest fall marathon. A fun race indeed--and scenic.

This year we expect 7,400 + runners and their families (surveys say that 2.1 people accompany each runner) to join us for our marathon celebration.

The 36th annual Health & Fitness Expo will be held in conjunction with the St. George Marathon. Last year's Expo was extremely successful with a total of 20,000+ people, including runners and family members in attendance. The Expo (will be) held at the Dixie Center from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm on Friday, October 5, 2012.

Huntsman World Senior Games - October 8-20, 2012

See the official website for details about the games, which include such diverse sports as archery, basketball, golf, cowboy action shooting, pickleball, mountain biking, swimming and sand volleyball, to name just a few. Here are highlights from the website:

Headquartered in Southern Utah, HWSG has become a renowned event among serious athletes from Japan to Russia and from Alaska to Australia. Scores of foreign countries have participated in the HUNTSMAN WORLD SENIOR GAMES, where peace among nations is fostered through friendly competition.

In addition to athletic events, the Games promote health by providing life saving health screenings for cancer-breast and prostate. Screenings also detect other serious health threats--glaucoma, diabetes, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, and decreased bone density. Volunteer medical and nursing students assist with the screenings and generous sponsors provide diagnostic equipment and services.

Band concerts, dances, and awards socials for each sport are also part of the package, bringing athletes and guests together in a social atmosphere where they share in, and congratulate each other for, their achievements. This important aspect of the Games emphasizes the celebration of success for all participants, whether or not they win a medal.