Lone Pine has fresh mountain air, increadible senery, no crowds, plenty of parking, friendly people....and the race mimics the town.

Be prepared though, this race isn't a walk through the park.

One of the most scenic runs you will ever do, it has it all, uphill, long long downhill (mile 6 through 13) then rolling roads(be prepared for Mother Hill, mile 16) till you finally climb the last 2 miles up hill again. Aid stations are okay, better than your average marathon, but not as good as your better ultraruns. You won't get spectators, but, trail runs never do, thats why you do them to get away from the 25,000 people at LA Marathon. I have run this one 10 times, the most than any of my 145 Marathons.

I have ran this Trail Marathon 5 times and it continues to be my favorite year after year.

And when there's snow... double WOW! I've run this marathon 2 or 3 (?) times and consider it to be one of the most beautiful marathons around. It's also one of the most difficult! I would not recommend this for a beginning marathoner. (There's a 10-mile event for 'newbies'). Many seasoned ultrarunners use this marathon as training for 50-mile events. The long uphill start can get you in trouble. Don't get greedy, there's plenty of downhill to come. You will experience it all in this marathon, beautiful mountain trails complete with stream crossings, the unforgettable Alabama Hills with winding sandy trails, and if you're really lucky, there will be a blanket of snow covering the mountains below Mt. Whitney. The race support is good (carry a bottle) and the R.D. provides nicely with pre and post race festivities.

What makes this course special is the setting. The elevation averages over 5000 feet, snow clad mountains are almost always in view,and the only cars you will see are at the beginning and end of the course. Add at least an hour to your average marathon time and be prepared to get lost a few times. This course is a good substitute for a trail marathon since the footing is much better. Only do this one to get away from the crowds and to commune with your higher power. The cliche bout every finisher is a winner is true on this course. Wild West and Catalina are the two toughest non-trail marathons on the West Coast.

Be ready to climb, run long quad-killing downhills, and then endure miles of never ending hot desert rolling hills if you dare enter this race. But all worth it for amazingly beautiful solitary course under the Sierras and thru the Alabama Hills. There are no spectators because most of the course is literally in the middle of nowhere and the aid stations appear like desert oasises. My advise is not to consider this one unless you are very prepared for the conditions. And if you are it's an awesome challenge.