Think back to when you were 11 years old.

What were you doing? Who were you spending your time with? And could you have imagined how the things you loved then might still be shaping your life decades later?

In 1988, 11-year-old Jeff Ferguson was standing on the start line of the St. George Marathon, preparing to run 26.2 miles alongside his dad.

Those first marathon miles would become the beginning of something much bigger.

Jeff kept coming back.

Year after year, finish line after finish line, until at just 22 years old he became one of the youngest runners ever inducted into the St. George Marathon Legacy Club.

But this story isn't really about how young Jeff was when he started—or even how many finish lines he's crossed since.

It's about the way one experience, shared between a father and son, can become part of the fabric of a life.

Thirty-eight years after that 11-year-old boy first stepped onto the course, Jeff is still running.

And in 2026, he'll be back once again—this time to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the St. George Marathon.

Some finish lines mark the end of a journey.

Others become a place you return to for a lifetime.

Twenty-four years ago, Sam Despain graduated from the Police Academy and accepted a job as an officer with St. George City.

But before he ever pinned on the badge, he laced up his running shoes.

Just two weeks before being sworn in, Sam lined up for his first St. George Marathon alongside his good friend and Pine Valley neighbor, Jeff Gardner.

He hasn’t missed one since.

In 2026, Lt. Despain will toe the line for his 24th consecutive St. George Marathon—24 years of serving this community and 24 years of running its roads.

Over those miles, his connection to St. George has become about more than the city he serves and protects. It’s about the people he runs beside, the neighborhoods he passes through, and the streets he’s come to know one stride at a time.

For Lt. Sam Despain, the St. George Marathon isn’t simply a race through his city.

It’s a run through the community he has dedicated his life to serving.

In 1977, Blair Bentley was one of only 42 people who toed the line of the original St. George Marathon (.....then the Pioneer Marathon). He was a 16 year old, cross-country kid from Parowan, Utah. This race would be his second marathon.

On the invitation from his cross-country coach, he and his friends would, sort of train and find their way to the finish at Bluff Street Park. Blair would take home the top spot in his age group.

It seems like the St. George Marathon has been #likenoother since that first race in 1977. Blair thinks he knows why. Join us as we roll it back to 1977 and see what you think.

Learn ore about the St. George Marathon HERE.

Have your own St. George Marathon story to share? DM @voiceofcolleen on FB or IG

To look at Ashley Paulson today you see a veteran ultra-endurance athlete.

She makes a 100 miles almost look easy and SO FUN as her signature pink hair floats behind while she breaks barriers and world records.

But it wasn't so long ago that Ashley was running down the St. George Marathon course singing songs to her sister and running just over a 4 hour time.

The world of endurance sport is a journey, one that if you stick with might take you farther than you ever thought possible.

Learn more about the St. George Marathon HERE.

Have a story about the Marathon. DM @voiceofcolleen in FB or Instagram.

When you talk about endurance sport in Southern Utah, there are just some people who will always come to mind - Tom & Liz Dansie always top the list.

From local St. George Races, to cycling events, to the St. George IRONMAN, the Dansie's have toed the line for what seems like every race in Southern Utah all while raising a family and navigating careers.

2026 will be no different!

Learn more about the St. George Marathon

Do you have your own St. George Marathon story? DM @voiceofcolleen

It all started when she was a little girl growing up in Brookside, just a few miles from the start of the St. George Marathon.

Every race day, Amber Green and her family would head out to "the road" to cheer for runners as they made their way toward St. George. She still remembers watching her mom run her very first marathon.

A decade later, Amber followed in her mother's footsteps, running her first marathon at just 20 years old.

That first finish sparked a remarkable running career—one that has included three victories at the St. George Marathon and appearances at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials.

From a young spectator on the side of the road to a marathon champion , Amber knows every mile, every climb, and every story this course has to tell. And in 2026, she'll once again toe the starting line in the marathon that helped shape her life.

Do you have a story or connection to the St. George Marathon? DM @voiceofcolleen on IG or FB.

Learn more about the St. George Marathon

Have you ever stood at a finish line and thought "maybe I could do that?"

That's exactly what happened to Polli Peterson in 2008. She brought her kids to the Mayor's Walk every year, but this year she was inspired by what she saw: thousands of runners of all shapes and sizes finishing 26.2 miles.

The inspiration turned into a decision to sign up for the marathon the next Fall. That decision changed her life.

In 2026 we are going to celebrate Polli running her 100th marathon at the St. George finish line!

Do you have a story or connection to the St. George Marathon? We want to tell your story. DM @voiceofcolleen on IG or FB.

Learn more about the St. George Marathon HERE.

The Hanks are a family of 12 siblings—nine boys and three girls. And if there’s one thing that runs as deep as family in the Hanks household, it’s the St. George Marathon.

It all began in 1996 when Brent invited his 14-year-old son, Nick, to run his first marathon alongside him. What started as a father-son challenge became a family tradition that would span generations. Nearly three decades later, that tradition reached an extraordinary milestone: when Austin crossed the finish line in 2025, the Hanks family celebrated their 100th collective St. George Marathon finish.

But this isn’t just a story about a race. It’s a story about shared goals, miles traveled together, and the way one tradition has carried a family through life’s victories, setbacks, and everything in between.

Do you have a story or connection to the St. George Marathon? We want to tell your story. DM @voiceofcolleen on IG or FB.

Learn more about the St. George Marathon HERE.

Some stories are about finishing a marathon. Others are about the people who inspire us to take the first step.

When Jake Kirkpatrick was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, his mom, Kelly, encouraged him to discover the strength and confidence that running could provide. At just 11 years old, Jake began training alongside his mom, sharing countless miles and life lessons along the way.

Kelly passed away in 2021, but her influence never stopped moving forward. This year, Jake is returning to the St. George Marathon to honor her legacy, raise awareness for cystic fibrosis, and continue a journey his mother helped begin.

This is a story about family, resilience, and the lasting impact of a mother's love—one mile at a time.

Do you have a story or connection to the St. George Marathon? We want to hear from you! Message @voiceofcolleen on Instagram.

Learn more about the St. George Marathon HERE.

Everything is Greater Here! Chad McWilliams from Greater Zion (Washington County Tourism) sits down with Colleen to celebrate all the FUN you can expect on St. George Marathon Weekend.....let's just say, you should probably plan to stay an extra night because you won't want to miss this line up.

Greater Zion has been a partner with St. George City for years in bringing best-in-class events to our community! Find out more about Greater Zion HERE.