Day of the Dead Marathon Series Day 1

Registration is expensive. You get a non tech t-shirt with artwork on it and a tile medal with a very colorful ribbon. course is 1.09 miles in each direction. Its blacktop and a gravel lane which was awesome for the legs. At the end of the loop you have the most incredible aid station ever...coke, water, gatorade, quesidillas, pickles, candy, PBJ, fig newtons, frito, pretzel, gummie bears and even shots of pickle juice. The spectators are at the end of each loop and are incredible, especially as the sun comes up and temperatures soar to above 85 degrees. Everyone is so encouraging. The loop is flat but at 3900 feet elevation. For me in this heat, a 1.09 mile out and back was perfect. The hotels were close, but you'd need a car. El Paso airport is less than 1 hour away. A must is visiting White Sands National park and sledding the sand dunes (1 hour away and $5 and magical) and White Sands missile range and park (free and en route to the dunes). Course has the most incredible sunrise over the Organ Mts. Rio Grande is dried up this time of year, but you run along it. I have never met such nice people in my life. If you don't like out and back and need the big expo, Rock and Roll music/theme, this is not for you. This is for the runner that runs because they love it. The only drawback is the cost of the race for what you get, but I enjoyed the weekend so much that I won't complain. You can chose to run the race (a multitude of distances including ultra) either or both Saturday Sunday. No runner is left behind, so there is no time limit. The spirit of the race and the organizers and volunteers is electric. You won't get lost in the shuffle.