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Bataan Memorial Death March Runner Comments
Back to Bataan Memorial Death March Information & Reviews
Course 4.7 
Organization 4.7 
Spectators 4.2
Number of comments: 115 [displaying comments 41 to 51]
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Seford Olsen from Eustis, FL
(3/27/2012)
"Rewarding, demanding, worth every minute" (about: 2012)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Bataan Memorial Death March
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This is the most demanding marathon I have ever done. Little hills, a great big hill, and then just to make it interesting toward the end a mile or so of soft sand. You start out at 3,300+ feet top out at 5,300+ feet about half way through and then go back down hill. The weather was perfect. Started out mid 50 degrees, by noon it was 81 degrees and by three o'clock just 85 degrees. If you train for a regular marathon you are wrong. This demands everything and then some. Run on hills, long steep ones, run on crushed rock, firm sand run in the heat of the day. Do not be ashamed to walk. It is amazing seeing the military heavy team running the course in uniform with 35 lb packs on and still finishing in 4 hours. More than 7,000 people did the course, civilians, military, ROTC. Talked to people who have done it multiple time and plan on doing every year as long as they can run. This event is something very special and very moving. Do if you can, do it, and Remember it is in Memory of the soldiers who did the Original Bataan Death March and lost 10,000 along they way | |
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L. H. from El Paso, Texas, United States
(3/27/2012)
"Baatan is a tough course, very well sponsered" (about: 2012)
4-5 previous marathons
| 4-5 Bataan Memorial Death Marchs
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I have ran this course four times. Normally my times keep improving but this year I highly underestimated the toughness. It has an uphill that kicks your tail. And a sand pit that destroys you. | |
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D. L. from Boise, Idaho
(12/22/2011)
"Very hard and worth it!" (about: 2011)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Bataan Memorial Death March
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 My husband and I raced in the heavy division (carrying 35#+ packs, he as military, me as a civilian), and my father-in-law hiked it as his 1st marathon (light category). While very difficult, it is friendly for beginners as the cut-off isn't for 13 hours. There's also a hamburger stand around half-way (carry cash)! The first mile is on a paved road, but we started behind several hundred other runners/marchers, quite a few of whom are Wounded Warriors, marching on prosthetic limbs. I woke up sick with a migraine and couldn't find my medication, not even an aspirin. I have never wanted to DNS so much! Then I got to the starting line and lined up with old men who survived the Bataan Death March at the start of WWII, and young guys badly burned or missing arms and legs. I coudn't drop out just because of a headache! Roughly speaking, 1/3 of the race is on asphalt, 1/3 on dirt road, and 1/3 on sandy paths. Lots of hills, some pretty steep. Terrible wind, amazingly bright sun. I wore sunglasses, a boonie hat, long sleeves, and capris for sun protection, and gaiters for the sand, but my legs between the capris and gaiters were tanned a dark brown. The course is beautiful, and very remote, but there were enough racers at all abilities that nothing was particularly lonely. I was well-trained for this event, although had run the Napa Valley marathon 3 weeks prior. I finished 5/72 all female heavy (military & civilian) racers, 3/29 all civilian female heavy, and 2nd in my AG and all that with a time of 6:36 (I'm a ~4:00 road marathoner), so that gives the idea of the difficulty, at least with a pack. I would've been faster without it, obviously, but it's certainly not a fast course. As for logistics, they are a hassle. Make your hotel reservations in Las Cruces early (like, a year out) so you can get a hotel on the right end of town. There aren't that many hotels in town, and they all fill up. We got one in January, but it was basically as far away from White Sands as it could be and still be considered in Las Cruces. (Even if you plan to camp out on the base, a hotel room for Sunday night would be good its a long day.) If I were to do it again, I would plan to rent a van and just sleep in it parked ready to go near the starting line. There are locker rooms at the pool to use to shower after the race (for anyone, not just military), regardless of where you sleep. If you plan to sleep in the gym, bring a sleeping pad or air mattress, there were maybe 50 cots total. Also, arrive early (maybe 2 days early!) to get a good place staked out, and be sure to bring a sleeping mask and ear plugs. There is no sweat bag tent and nothing can be left unattended, they expect everything to be in the gym (roughly a mile from the starting line), the pool locker room (1/2 mile), or locked in your car. The Saturday night pasta dinner was suprisingly good, and well worth the charge. Arrive early for packet pickup, the lines are long. The packet pickup was the only thing not well organized and was a disappointment, definitely not up to Army standards. The volunteers on the course were amazing, and there was plenty of water, toilets, food, and first aid. For the poster who thought that it wasn't friendly toward civilians, it's not that at all: the race is remote and is a hassle for everyone to get there. It's still worth it. Also, military life is just a different culture from civilian life, and one you may not be accustomed to. Roll with it, like you would if you went overseas for a race. | |
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A. K. from Colorado
(10/16/2011)
"I blew it, but so proud of the military..." (about: 2011)
3 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I was prepared for running this event. I slept in the gym and was proud to sleep on the floor with teams of ROTC and other military teams. 7 months of training on steep hills and 40 mile weeks. Not good enough. Nothing could prepare me for the the steady 35mph west wind from mile 7-9. I started out too fast and paid for it. I wound up DQ-ing and running the shorter 14.2 miler just to finish. No matter. It was all just fine. This isn't about personal glory. It's about honoring the greatest generation and seeing the young military men and women of today kick ass. I'll be back next year. One of the great experiences in my life. If you are looking for an easy 26 mier with a PR, do another event. If you want an experience beyond belief, do this one. You wont regret it. | |
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G. R. from Atlanta, GA
(4/19/2011)
"Only the strong survive!" (about: 2011)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Bataan Memorial Death March
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This course no joke... to say that it's difficult is an understatement. Go for the experience and nothing else. No finisher's medal, no zoo-like atmosphere, and no spectators. It's humbling to see the military folks completing the event in full gear. I was a civilian light and I was broken... an interesting experience to say the least. | |
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E. G. from Chandler, Arizona
(3/30/2011)
"Very Worthwhile!" (about: 2011)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Bataan Memorial Death March
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my first Bataan event. I've been wanting to do it since I read about in in Soldier Magazine as a young private in the early 90s. The high point was shaking hands with the survivors at the starting line. They introduced 14 who were present, and did an emotional roll call for several local survivors who had passed on in recent years. The wind was very strong, although it seemed to die down after noon. There were times when it was blowing sand pretty hard. The course was just as advertised - tough and not for those who hadn't adequately prepared. Seeing the Wounded Warriors and heavy division marchers was very motivating. I did the civilian light division but will consider doing a heavy version next time. Support at aid stations along the course was second to none. Water, Gatorade, bananas and oranges at every aid station. A misting station at mile 10 that we passed again at mile 19. And a special touch was the aid station run by the Special Forces Association, who had ice in the drinks! That's how SF rolls, doing things their own way, and it was heaven sent. Food at the end was great and also a nice touch. I didn't get a dog tag, but I saw them and like the coin I received much better. I had three first-time marathoners with me, and they all did very well on a tough course. I usually run marathons, but this is one that I enjoyed walking and will walk in the future. Walking took longer and helped me get a deeper appreciation for the survivors that were there, and the soldiers and airmen who were humping packs through the desert. I'll definitely be back. A note on the logistics comments - WSMR is a remote post. Plan on spending some extra time getting there and all is good. | |
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Knud Hermansen from Boulder, CO
(3/29/2011)
"Tough conditions, but this is about the survivors" (about: 2011)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Bataan Memorial Death March
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Bottom Line: This race is centered on honoring those who survived the Bataan Death March, so you may not feel as pampered as at other races, but you ought to do this one while you can still shake a hand of one of the survivors and hear their story. The course is not a PR course, but the support is solid and you know why you are participating. Sign-up, website and Pre-marathon: The sign up was easy but this race, like many marathons is getting bigger every year, so I would do it as early as possible. It took a while for the website to post the course schedule but there was a lot of helpful information and it is pretty clearly laid out. If you want to stay on base, book with MWR early. Expo: DO NOT MISS THE CHANCE TO TALK TO A BATAAN SURVIVOR. Saturday afternoon before the race you can listen to a Bataan survivor tell their story. There are not many left and after leaving the room you will feel amazed at what they did, grateful for the sacrifice of those who fought and motivated. Picking up the packet after the talk took a long time though because everyone went after listening to the talk. There is not the usual expo hall filled with exhibitors, it is mostly service-related organizations (USAA, VFW and ROTC). Start: Head the advice to arrive by 4:30. We did and got decent parking. The ceremony at the start is good and worth the standing. The actual corralling of runners though was confusing and rather disorganized. As a light-civilian I thought I was suppose to wait for the marchers with rucks, but I realized everyone was just kind of milling towards the start. Spent the first two miles weaving around walkers. Course & support (to include Water & and port-a-johns): There was what felt like a sustained 15-20 mph wind out of the west. This made the first 7 miles easy. But then you turned into the wind and started up a 5-mile long hill. I never quite recovered my hopes of a decent time after that. The water stops are staffed by various veterans groups, border patrol and ROTC and they do a great job. There are plenty of water and porta potties. There is a lot of deep sand in the last few miles as a final insult to your hopes of speed. No finishers medal at the end. But this race is about remembering those who survived the Bataan death march and I still felt great. Post race: One free beer, burber or braut, chips and potato salad. I did not stay around for other ceremonies. Hotel & transportation: I stayed at the Comfort Inn in Las Cruzes (~40 min away). It was reasonably priced, clean and quite. Pretty much all of those around you are marching the next day and so everyone is pretty quiet. To do: If you have a chance go see White Sands National Monument. The missile park and museum on base are pretty neat as well. | |
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D. A. from Ruidoso, NM
(3/28/2011)
"Very Humbling Experience" (about: 2011)
6-10 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was my first time participating in the event and I will definitely do it year after year. I was so humbled by all of the marchers and survivors that I ran 6 miles before taking a drink. Of course, I felt it at the finish line.... It was a challenge but well worth it. My pain was of little concern compared to what the survivors endured. Thank you, WSMR, volunteers and marchers.... | |
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S. J. from North Carolina
(3/28/2011)
"Tough for everyone" (about: 2011)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Bataan Memorial Death March
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 As one of the military-heavy competitors, a quick correction to R.C. below: everything that applied to civilians applied to military participants too. We stayed in Las Cruces, drove to get our packets, then drove back in on race day, and then back to El Paso to catch a flight. | |
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G. R. from Atlanta, GA
(3/28/2011)
"Only the strong survive..." (about: 2011)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Bataan Memorial Death March
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 Okay...where do I start? It's a crazy hard course. My lower back is still killing me. I ran in the civilian light-weight division. I can only imagine the military folks hauling along those heavy backpacks...a tribute to the veterans indeed. This is not your conventional race or marathon for that matter. If you are a 50 stater this is a good choice. My only complaint were the massive wait and lines to get the packet. Although organized, it was NOT done very efficiently. You get in line (and a very long one) just to get a bag with your number. Then another line to get your bib, and then another for the tshirt. I've done over 40 marathons and there is a more efficient way to go about this process and consolidate the number of time to get in a line. Also, logistically not the best location either. I flew in on Sat into El Paso and flew back home after the race. I was literally in the area less than 24hrs and managed to put in 255 miles on my rental car. My point...be prepared to drive a lot...to and from the race. That being said, a good experience overall. Kudos to all the military folks enduring this event. You guys were awesome to see. And many thanks to the BEST volunteers! Can't say that I will be back, but certainly very glad to have the memory and experience. |
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