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Apr 28, 2024

Lost Dutchman Marathon Runner Comments

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Course 4.6

Organization 4.8

Spectators 3.8

Number of comments: 142 [displaying comments 11 to 21]

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E. B. from Vegas (2/20/2016) "Great race with great volunteers! Do this race." (about: 2016) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Lost Dutchman Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 A fast course with great volunteers and easy logistics equals a great event. Do this race!
D. H. from Albuquerque, NM (3/27/2015) "Nice course and well organized" (about: 2015) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Lost Dutchman Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Pros: Expo had a lot of vendors and running supplies were available. The first 21 miles of the course varied from nice to beautiful. Medal was fantastic. Volunteers were GREAT! I loved how they had fires at the ready area for us to stay warm while waiting for the race. Cons: Last 5 miles weren't terribly scenic, not very many spectators. Overall, I loved this race. Very well executed and you could feel the love that went into it. I'd run it again.
R. R. from Houston, Texas USA (2/17/2015) "Thoroughly enjoyable run" (about: 2015) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Lost Dutchman Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 The only improvements I could suggest for such a nice event: Running out of water at the start area when it might get into the 80's is a no-no. Otherwise the pre-start with individual camp-fires and pads laid out was the best although there were not enough forcing many to sit in the sand or stand. The sun-rise was spectacular but the direction of the run put it behind us. If the route could go towards it for the first few miles it would be better. Volunteers great with gaterade/water on the course in good quantity. The few spectators were very enthusiastic. Medal was really nice and depicted the State in style/coloring. Some long moderate hills but not too bad, just the sun/heat towards the end sucks the energy from you. Logistics were handled better than races that don't have the busing to contend with. Hotels in the area are available very close to where you need to be which was stated on the website and very helpful. A number of great tourist activities in the immediate vicinity so might consider staying an extra day.
Ed Robins from Philadelphia, Pa (3/22/2014) "Great race with a perfect pre-race set-up" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Lost Dutchman Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 I really loved this race and am very glad I chose it as my Arizona race. The expo was very nice and bigger than I expected. Even though the marathon is fairly small (336 finishers) there are almost 3,000 participants in all of the races. I got my packet quickly and bought a souvenir too. Apache Junction is a smallish town about 45 minutes from Phoenix. I camped at the local KOA but the town is big enough that there's plenty of hotel options. The race is a point to point race where runners can park at the finish and get bused to the start. If you are running the full marathon the start is the best you will ever experience. We are bused out to a clearing under the foothills of the Superstition Mtns. Here the race organizers have a few hundred mats laid out around these small fire pits. runners can relax and stretch in an absolutely magical atmosphere. Go to the website and see the photos. there are plenty of port-a-johns (barely any lines even 10 minutes prior to race start) and there's also food, coffee and water for the runners to enjoy. We then get to enjoy the sun rising over the mountains as we await the starting gun. Yes I am gushing but trust me it is the best pre-racer set-up I've ever seen!! If you do the full get there early to fully enjoy this experience! The first six miles of the race are on a hard packed dirt road threw the desert. The views are great and these miles are actually a slight downhill. After mile 7 we are running on roads but we are still treated to views of the mountains. Most of these roads are completely closed to traffic. Even on a short stretch along a 4 lane highway they completely close a full lane (eventho there is a very wide shoulder) so runners will always feel safe. There are very few obvious hills on this course but there are a few long gradual climbs and descents. I'd advise runners to check out the elevation guide so you can gauge your effort. In 2014 we had hot weather. It is Arizona so I suspect most years it's a little warm. The week leading up to the race the Race director sent out many e-mails telling runners they could switch to the half if they were worried about the excess heat. I've never seen a race do that before. There were plenty of aid stations even with the hot weather and 2 gave out ice cold towels which really helped. My finish line photo has me with this wash cloth over my head. Post race there's plenty of food, water and room. We are in a park so you can really spread out and relax. The medal is excellent and different for each distance. So many races cut corners here. The shirt is a long sleeve tech shirt.
B. K. from Ontario, Canada (2/27/2014) "Beautiful desert race" (about: 2014) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Lost Dutchman Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my first LDM and it was a great race from the day before to the finish line and beyond. Race packet pick-up and the expo were very well organized and the selection of running goods was well above average. The race day was really unforgettable. The area of the start line was like a dream: runners relaxing on mates next to many bonfires at the foot of vertical walls of a mountain with the full moon on the clear sky. About half an hour after the start we could admire simultaneous, colorful moon-set and sun-rise. Most of the course was within pure desert landscape with two portions in nice residential areas. However, there were more gentle hills than I expected. Volunteers did a great job, thank you very much. (In the futures please consider ICE COLD drinks as runners approach final miles before the finish line). At the finish line we received lavish medals and wide selection of food and drinks. Thank you for a great race!
B. A. from Iowa (2/22/2014) "Great race" (about: 2014) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Lost Dutchman Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was my first marathon and I think they set the bar pretty high. This race had great organization and great volunteers. Even a few neighborhood people who offered out water to us as we ran by. The beginning is very scenic. Great race.
Lisa Schneiders from Maryland (2/20/2014) "Awesome!" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Lost Dutchman Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The area is beautiful. There is so much to do and see. The race was organized, the expo was just the right size, and EVERYONE was friendly. The volunteers along the course were wonderful. I liked the mix of dirt roads and paved streets. Loved the fires at the start. It was very cool to look around at sunrise and realize you were right next to a mountain. What I noticed that was different from any marathon I have participated in was the cleanliness of the port-o-pots! It may not be a big deal to you but I stop at just about every one and ALL of the seats were clean and dry! When is the last time you can say that? And not only were the seats put back down but most of the lids too! What a courtious group of runners. My husband and I enjoyed the Dolly Steamboat and ghost town. The Best Western in Gold Canyon was very nice.
B. B. from Pittsburgh, Pa (2/20/2014) "Well Organized Smaller Race" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Lost Dutchman Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Top notch organization with great pre-race communication and seemless logistics before, during, and after the race. The race director encouraged wary runners to switch from the full to the half based on weather forecasts that turned out to be true: it was unusually hot without a cloud in the sky. It was difficult for a northeasterner, but the race director was prepared and the residents helped with unoffical aid stations as well. The course was fair with a beautiful early morning start in the desert, and enough undulation to keep it interesting. No shade unfortunately. Medal and shirt are both first rate. A great destination marathon, and the weather that made the race so challenging made the vacation after the race so nice. A great Arizona choice.
lee Obluck from Wisconsin (2/20/2014) "Excellent marathon...if only there wasn't sun!" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Lost Dutchman Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Just a great marathon, with virtually no flaws. Excellent organization, course and perks. - Registration and packet pickup was easy. You didn't have to fight crowds or parking. - The expo, while small, had the perfect mix of vendors. Decent prices. - 4 different races and each medal was nice. Marathon one is awesome. - Great shuttles, for both the runners and the spectators. - Very nice course. Fast. Beautiful scenery: desert, cactus, mountains! Some complain about the highway running, but have you noticed Arizona - it's got alot of open highways. They were well separated from traffic, gave us one whole lane for stretches. - Plenty of course photographers and photo ops after race (got one with the pack mule!) Only drawback, no iced gatorade, or tea or soda at finish. Coulda used that. And about that sun...could you arrange for some clouds next time?!
C. T. from Hope, BC (2/18/2014) "Definitely worth a run!" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Lost Dutchman Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Just finished the 2014 LDM. Was a very well organized fun run. Lots of rolling hills and quite hot this year. Could have been better trained for the hills but not the heat. No real spectators but volunteers were great with their support. Most of the course was fairly scenic but last half dozen miles were not so much. Medals were impressive, shirt is nice but quite large for size. Got a really nice plaque for placing in my age group! Only real complaint was everyone rec'd the same shirt, my husband ran the 8 k and got the same shirt as I did for the marathon so he will not wear it as he didn't do the marathon. Suggest different shirts for the different distances. Oh and the campfires were an excellent way to start the day!

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