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Death Valley Trail Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Death Valley Trail Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.4 
Organization 3.8 
Spectators 2.5
Number of comments: 49 [displaying comments 31 to 41]
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B. C. from California
(2/10/2007)
"Unique and difficult; I hope to repeat it...." (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Death Valley Trail Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 Desolate vistas, and amazing canyon walls. It's a jeep trail: footing needs attention and it really is 2300' up for 13 miles, followed by 5000' down the final 13. No mile markers, which I loved; it's a run within nature's starkness. Organization could improve: we started a 1/2-hour late; were given 2 speeches when 1 typed info page would have been better; no map with elevation or stops indicated; no cups at the first (of 5 stops); no vaseline until third stop; they ran out of medals; and at the finish we waited in the full bus for 20 min., cramping up, before it was given the go-ahead to leave. Still, once the jarring stopped from all of that downhill running, it's a great memory. | |
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e. m. from nashville tennessee
(2/10/2007)
"Beautiful and difficult course" (about: 2007)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Death Valley Trail Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 This year, 2007, saw us running the original course through Titus Canyon. It was absolutely breathtaking. The run up was quite difficult, 12 miles, 10 gradual, then down, then 800 meters straight up! The 14 miles down were very hard on the quads - not as fast as one would think due to the wear and tear of the decline. The organization was friendly, but barely existent. No mile markers; guys with GPS said it was 27.4 miles long or longer. Overall, I would love to do it again and would recommend it. | |
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J. C. from Riverside, CA
(2/8/2007)
"Awesome trail run through Titus Canyon!!" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The course is tough but doable (start = 3400'; mile 12 = 5100'; finish = 200'). Don't obsess about your mile splits or your finishing time and just enjoy this race. Titus Canyon is incredible to experience on foot. Running carefree through those narrow passages surrounded by cavernous walls of rock hundreds of feet high is awesome! Only the sound of your feet on the trail. No noise or distractions from traffic, crowds, or cities. If you like the great outdoors, this race is a must-do. | |
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John Hagin from Fort Collins, CO
(2/8/2007)
"Magnificent Marathon One of a Kind!!!" (about: 2007)
50+ previous marathons
| 2 Death Valley Trail Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Titus Canyon is a great place for running a marathon, with fantastic views, organization and spectators. I will explain: the views before, in the canyon and of Death Valley at the end, must be seen to believe; organization low-key, fun and waits to make sure all runners a ready to start - in other words does not start on a specific time, and spectators are very few, but the ones that are there are the greatest (quality not quantity). Even if you sign up and they can't run Titus Canyon, the alternate route is the only marathon I know of that is 100% below sea level, which I also ran in 2006. | |
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K. P. from Littleton, CO
(2/7/2007)
"Terrific scenic course" (about: 2007)
First Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 I ran the 30K and it was a great downhill race through a scenic canyon in Death Valley. Weather was perfect - probably in 50's and sunny, slight breeze. We dropped over 5,000 ft the last 14 miles. Dirt road was easily runnable and hardly any rough spots. I would highly recommend this race and hope to run it again next year. | |
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New Marathoner ONON from Vegas
(2/5/2007)
"One-of-a-kind race you won't find anywhere else!" (about: 2007)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Death Valley Trail Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Ran this race on 02.05.07, and wow, it was a blast! Was a little concerned that the previous reviews on this site were not 100% glowing, but my expectations were blown away. Now this is not a race where you are pampered incessantly; this is running at its truest. Luck held this year and we ran Titus Canyon, which was a heck of a course. I was initially slightly bummed by the race policy of no headphones, but found myself appreciating the sound of the runners on the trail - it was very different from listening to, say, the LA or NYC Marathon around you. The race itself: The very cool and wildly enthusiastic race director meets us down at the bottom of the valley and there is little fanfare; the most fanfare was recognizing some longtime return marathoners, some international runners, and the three birthdays that were present :) We joined in singing "America the Beautiful" and they hopped on busses for a ~30-minute ride to the top of Valley. On the packed dirt/gravel road we get out, a line is drawn in the dirt and off we go when the race director's car is far enough ahead (so as not to have to run through his dust). (Timers were worn, by the way - just a mass timer start). The course climbed rom 3400' to 5000', drops to 4600' then up to 5400' and then all the way to -100'. A truly beautiful course and the ~14.5 miles of continual declines was a trip. Throw in the beauty of Death Valley and the wild slot canyon towards the end and it made for a great race. Low-key, yet well prepared and hosted. I can't think of anything I would wish differently. (My Garmin did show 26.65, but signal was lost in part of the Canyon and as a previous reviewer said, so what! :)) All in all, I ended up with a PR to boot and would absolutely run this race again as the course is unique and so fun! | |
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M. B. from La Jolla, California
(9/10/2006)
"Down The Middle Of Death Valley" (about: 2006)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Death Valley Trail Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 This turned out to be quite a run, although after a couple of hours, it was a little boring. But, it isn't too often one gets to run a marathon below sea level, even if the scenery never seems to change. Next time, it will have to be Titus Canyon or nothing. I had my GPS, just for fun, and the course was long... but so what? It was a great race. | |
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D. D. from Ohio
(3/23/2006)
"Over-Hyped and Under-Delivered" (about: 2006)
50+ previous marathons
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 While no one can control rock falls, this race ended up a bust in my eyes. Alternate route not withstanding, you got little for the steep entry fee. Supervision was limited to the organizer driving by you in his car complete with the dust he kicked up. There were no mile markers on the out to nowhere and back route which was severely rutted for several miles. The organizer stated the reason for the lack of mile markers was so the runners could relax and enjoy the run. Since I use mile markers to pace myself, I felt the organizer was taking the easy way out on this no-frills affair. The scenery was so-so and got old rather quickly. because how long can you stay jazzed about far away, colorless mountains when you are trudging 26.2 miles? The 6 refreshment stops were okay, as were the cotton shirt and medal. In closing, I ended up losing my favorite running jacket to one of the many people wandering around at the finish, since there was no secure area for gear at the start of the race. | |
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Dave Swenson from Ames, Iowa
(2/8/2006)
"Great race and great race crew" (about: 2006)
50+ previous marathons
| 2 Death Valley Trail Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 This was my second DV Marathon; the first was in Titus Canyon. This one was diverted to the desert floor because of a rock slide. The run was daunting. It was hot, flat, and rocky. But the view was fantastic with salt flats, desert shrubbery, and incredible picturesque mountain views to either side of us. The support crew and organizers were good natured and very helpful, and by my measure the race was a huge success. There was a handful of yahoos with GPS devices complaining at the end that the course was too long - I'm sure that each was a highly trained surveyor. I think GPS yahoos ought to stay at home, run on a treadmill, and pop a DVD of Badwater in. That way they can maximize their technology and minimize their exposure to the world. Otherwise, run the run and shut-up. | |
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J. F. from Oak Park, Ca.
(2/7/2006)
"Low-Key, Lower Altitude Run" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Death Valley Trail Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 I was definitely looking forward to running through Titus Canyon. I had been told that it was absolutely spectacular. Unfortunately, the earth decided to move a few weeks before this event, and Titus was closed. The alternate route had its own beauty to it, but after an hour or so of running, the area started to look very much the same. We ran through Badwater Basin with majestic mountains on both sides; however even that scenery lost its charm on a semi-flat out-and-back course. However, I did meet many interesting runners from all over the country (and the world). I'd like to thank Scott for the Death Valley Days History lessons. That helped pass the time. I did take some really cool pictures. And the trail mix was exceptional... except the M&M's melted in my hands, not in my mouth! The organizers were very entertaining and helped make the event "special." My friend, Dan Bleich, is the best traveling companion and entertainment rolled into one great guy. Sorry I laughed so much at your leg cramps! Dan brought up the end, but he'd never say die! I'd definitely come back and do it again... but it's got to be through Titus Canyon! |
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