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☰
Haulin' Aspen Trail Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Haulin' Aspen Trail Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.5 
Organization 4.4 
Spectators 2.8
Number of comments: 30 [displaying comments 1 to 11]
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K. M. from Idaho
(8/14/2017)
"Lacking in support" (about: 2017)
11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 I was very disappointed in the lack of support at the aid stations as well as at the finish. I feel they need to do a better job at stressing the 6 hour cut-off at registration time. At the aid stations there was only water and gu and sports drink. I finished in 6:15 and they were packing up which meant warm water for finishers and no food. I was really disappointed at the support, especially because it was hot. I love racing in Oregon because usually the treatment is the opposite of what is provided for this race. I'm glad I did it and finished but that's about it. | |
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C. H. from Asheville, North Carolina
(8/11/2016)
"Quite tough but interesting" (about: 2016)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Haulin' Aspen Trail Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 I just wanted to add my comments as a recent and more 'average' runner since there aren't that many current reviews. Be aware this course is TOUGH for an average runner. The cutoff is 6 hours and that is not as easy as it sounds to make. I normally do a 4:15-4:40 marathon depending on conditions and came in at 5:50. There is not quite enough water on the course due to the terrain. There were runners that were dehydrated that dropped out. We were successful by drinking at each water stop AND bringing a bottle for in between the stops. Just recognize if you are normally a big city type runner, this course is hard with the elevation (~5,550 ft), the sandy dirt, the switchbacks, the roots, the rocks and the trail nature of it. Train on trails, wear running gators to prevent rocks from getting in your shoes, bring water, wear dark clothing since it will be caked with dirt afterward (white stains). Great experience, well managed race but just tough. It tends to attract a small field of athletic runners. | |
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T. V. from La Grande, Oregon
(8/12/2013)
"Worst organization EVER!" (about: 2013)
50+ previous marathons
| 4-5 Haulin' Aspen Trail Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 2 This was a 20 mile race followed by 6 frustrating miles of trying to get by very slow 1/2 marathoners. Most of which had headphones on with the music so loud they could not hear the marathoners asking to get by on their left. The main problem is that the the 1/2 and the full merged at the 1/2 6 mile point and their race started 1 hour after the marathon. So this meant when the leaders of the marathon got to the 20 mile point they were greeted by runners going about 7 minutes per mile slower. the trails are very narrow at this point with no way to gently get by. I emailed the race director about this problem two weeks ahead of time and got no response. Also the people that marked the course did not know the course and it did not match the published course. They changed the starting line and several sections were run in the opposite direction as mapped and they added two brutal hills that were not even on the map. Who knows how far we actually ran. | |
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B. J. from Arnett, OK
(8/16/2012)
"Awesome race! Worth the travel!!!" (about: 2012)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Haulin' Aspen Trail Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Great race. Well organized. There was a solid three miles of 'forest road' on the way up...it was made up of large gravel and small rocks that were hard on the feet. But, it was a small section sandwiched between narrow one track through the pine trees. AWESOME RACE. GREAT POST RACE EVENT TOO! | |
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F. F. from West Jordan, Utah
(8/9/2011)
"Knee-killin' Marathon" (about: 2011)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Haulin' Aspen Trail Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 A few things you need to know before running this marathon: 1) Pay attention to the number of aid stations. It gets hot and you'll want fluid. Bring your own. You'll be glad you did. 2) You're not running this for the medal (very small, very cheap), the shirt (you get a very nice running hat, instead), the mile markers which are non-existent (C'MON MAN!), or the spectators (very few). 3) You are running this because it is challenging and beautiful. 4) Bend is a great town and Central Oregon was very pleasant to visit. You really have to pick your poison and decide what you value in a marathon. If I had run this in a town other than Bend I may give an overall lower rating, but the town and Pisano's Pizza made-up for the marathon's shortcomings. Not sure I'd run it again, but I'd definitely visit the area. | |
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S. S. from Oregon
(4/9/2011)
"One I'd do again." (about: 2010)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Haulin' Aspen Trail Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my first trail marathon. The course was challenging but well laid-out. The race directors do a good job of organizing this one. I highly recommend it! | |
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p. w. from Virginia, USA
(4/7/2011)
"Thoroughly beautiful and enjoyable" (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Haulin' Aspen Trail Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 An excellent race! Footing was soft dirt and some gravel. "The hill" was a fire road, straight up in one go; view from the top is magnificent. The rest of the race was pretty easy. Lots of pine trees providing shade through most of the course. Weather was awesome - dry, with some clouds, and while the sun felt hot, there were cooling breezes. Post-race pasta and goodies went far beyond my expectations. Spectators were few and far between - very enthusiastic! | |
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Michael McCullough from Klamath Falls, Oregon
(8/12/2010)
"Terrific Course - Best Trails" (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Haulin' Aspen Trail Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I ran the 1/2 marathon and I thought that this race was a blast and the course was perfect. I generally run on mountain bike trails and wilderness trails around Klamath Falls, OR and this was my first time on any of the trails around Bend. My conclusion is that the Bend trails are much more broken in and better maintained. What I mean is that the surface was super smooth and much easier and safer than the rocky trails I am used to (I love our trails - don't get me wrong). The trees along the course seemed to be exquisitely trimmed with trees adjacent to the trail for a fast feel but no branches to whack my head on. Some of the corners even had banked turns - I've never been on a trail like this! The course was almost too well marked - there were little orange flags everywhere. I don't understand how anybody could say it wasn't well marked. There were a few very technical climbs and descents that seem like they would be very challenging on a mountain bike but not bad at all on foot. Be advised, though, that this is real trail running and plenty of people ended up taking unexpected soil samples (with their knees, for example). The 1/2 marathon course consisted of moderate uphill for the first half of the course and similar descent for the second half. This isn't a fast course and I was 10 minutes slower than my last 1/2 in spite of having lost significant weight and being in better shape - so don't expect a PR. Do it because it is a fun race. There was no water (just beer) when I finished but thankfully more water showed up after awhile. The food was excellent. If you run the 1/2 marathon and are a (big) slow runner (like me), expect to be passed by a lot of the marathoners on the descent - the two races share the same course for the last six miles or so and the marathoners have an hour and a half head start. But as usual in a trail run, people were polite and friendly - no problems. I brought my camera and took photos during the race. This site doesn't allow me to post a URL in my review but if you go to Flickr and search for "Haulin Aspen," you'll see the seven mediocre photos I posted. | |
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A. R. from Franklin, TN
(8/11/2010)
"Great destination race" (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Haulin' Aspen Trail Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I ran this race in my quest for the 50 states and loved it. I had heard about Bend in all of the various outdoorsy magazines and finally talked my wife into going. Bend is a great place for a race. From the surrounding volcanoes, to the High Desert Museum, lava tube, Deschutes River float trips, great restaurants and golf courses, Bend has it all. Not to mention the weather - mid 40's to low 70's with no humidity. Being from the South, I loved it. Ah, to the race. The race was very well done. Great organization all the way through, from packet pick-up, to race shuttles. Everything went off on time, and there were plenty of water stops, with more GU and similar products than I have seen at races 5 times as big. Almost every stop had some there. Each stop was well stocked with fluids, volunteers. The post-race spread was great, and in a fantastic park. The race course itself was tough, but not unbearably so, even for a flat-lander like me. The first half is straight up, gradually so for the first 10 miles, and then it really turns up. About the halfway point, though, you turn into the woods and run back downhill on fun, soft, single track until almost mile 25. You finish with a little loop around the park. Overall, this is an extremely well organized, great destination race, surrounded by gorgeous scenery, with fun for the entire family. | |
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D. h. from Bend, or
(8/8/2010)
"It is a totally awesome run! CHALLENGING!" (about: 2010)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Haulin' Aspen Trail Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 I love the new half-marathon course. Plenty of parking, very well organized race, and a challenging course. I loved all of the markers and all of the mileage signs. Perfect! Thank you to everybody who organized and volunteered to make it so enjoyable for all of the runners. |
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