Bataan Memorial Death March

Bataan Memorial Death March Marathon offers everything that every marathoner hates: hills, rocks, sand, dust, heat, wind and sun. The course is unique and very challenging. The start was crowded and slightly chaotic in the dark. The menu at the stations was limited to water, gatorade, oranges and green bananas. There were no energy supplements. The biggest surprise was the finish line: a bottle of water and NO FREE FOOD for finishers. This is something I have never experienced in my long distance running life. No matter what, I will be back for my 10th Bataan...

Indeed it is a special event and I would recommend you to do it. I did it in 2024 with a 40 pound backpack and to play to the event I would recommend you to do it that way. Now for the however: of all the races I've done this one was the worse run one. Website never said what time it starts or until last second where the packet pick up was. The solders directing parking did not give directions and there were no signs where to go. At finish line nobody checked if the bag was over 35 pounds, no free food for participants only food trucks for $ and no sign where parking was (quite far away). The event, again, was cool, albeit I thought not nearly as hard as I thought it would be.

I am back and I will be coming back again and again. This is not a simple race, this is an unforgettable event in memory of those who did nor come back home from WW2 in Pacific...