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Apr 30, 2024

Death Valley Trail Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Death Valley Trail Marathon Information & Reviews

Course 4.4

Organization 3.8

Spectators 2.5

Number of comments: 49 [displaying comments 11 to 21]

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D. S. from California (12/4/2011) "canceled due to non-perfect weather is ridiculous" (about: 2011) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Death Valley Trail Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 There was some wind yesterday in Death Valley. It happens. We had sustained winds in the 20s, gusts around 50. Not ideal, but no big deal. Temps were cool, but not bad. It was sunny. A blustery but beautiful day. Yet the organizers CANCELLED THE RACE. Sometimes the weather isn't perfect. Sometimes it rains, sometimes it snows, sometimes it is windy, sometimes it is hot, sometimes it is cold. You train no matter what, because there is no guarantee of perfect weather on race day. I've run in sub-freezing temps with sustained winds much stronger than what we saw. I've run in snow. I've had friends run in freezing rain. You don't cancel a race because the weather isn't perfect. Almost everyone there had trained in far worse, and most of us had run in far worse. I have friends in Colorado yesterday running a half-marathon with temps in the single digits to low teens, winds just as strong as Death Valley, and light to moderate snow throughout. They ran anyway. Envirosports is a laughingstock. They re-routed a couple of years ago because of an inch of snow on a portion of the trail. Now they cancel due to breezy winds. Why spend your money traveling to a race that only has a 50/50 chance of occurring? I understand that the race organizers are from California, and they were bundled in their parkas against the 50-degree weather. But a lot of people spent a lot of money getting here. Being a wimp is one thing, but this is taking it to a new level. This was ridiculous. Very very very frustrated.
P. G. from Scottsdale (8/26/2011) "This Ain't No PF Changs." (about: 2010) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Death Valley Trail Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 If you need cheerleaders, bands, cups, medals with dates and fancy finish shirts, this is definitely not the place for you. But if you want GREAT people, laid-back and helpful organizers who don't blow a fuse every five minutes, natural beauty that you can't ignore, no crowds and no asphalt then come on down! I didn't come close to a PR but really wasn't expecting that. The mileage is hard-earned but the visuals are awesome. Definitely worth it and I will be there again in February.
Michael Nielsen from Denmark (12/15/2010) "Great and disappointing" (about: 2010) 6-10 previous marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 4 The race in itself was fantastic. The aid station at 20 miles was disastrous - manned by three giggling girls who couldn't care less about the runners. Also, it was VERY disappointing that the medals and t-shirt had no date/year on them.
S. F. from Connecticut (12/7/2010) "Great trail marathon" (about: 2010) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Death Valley Trail Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Did the 2010 race through Titus Canyon. Breathtaking scenery and very well organized event. About 3,000 feet of elevation gain during the first half of the race, and then a 5,000-foot descent for the last 13 miles. The facilities at the Furnace Creek Ranch are great as well. Highly recommended, and I plan to return again.
L. L. from White Salmon, Washington (10/7/2010) "Titus Canyon" (about: 2008) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Death Valley Trail Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I lucked out and got to run Titus Canyon. It was at the last minute that they opened the canyon and it was worth it! The last 10 or so miles are great! Nice downhill and running in the canyon is incredible.
L. B. from California (2/13/2010) "One of the best" (about: 2010) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Death Valley Trail Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Of course all of us were dissapointed about not getting to run Titus Canyon, yet I heard no negative comments about it among the runners. I think that once everyone knew the canyon was closed, we all just sucked it up, didn't dwell on it and had a great time anyhow. The two Death Valley Marathons (Trail and Borax) are both extremely well organized. as well as low-key and fun. No one takes anything too seriously, yet we are well taken care of and well supported. Safely is always taken seriously at Dave's races. The alternate course was long and flat, yet beautiful in its own right; it's Death Valley, one of the most beautiful places in the US. Course support was wonderful and the volunteers very friendly and helpful. We also got an ok medal and nice shirts. I was a bit disappointed to get a generic medal and shirt that didn't say anything about a "trail" marathon (just "Death Valley Marathon"). Oh well, small price to pay for a great race. Like many others, I will definitely be back, and one of these times Mother Nature will cooperate and we WILL get to run through beautiful Titus Canyon. If you have never done a small, laid back race, this one is for you... but if you NEED your headsets, forget it. ALL Death Valley races are "NO HEADSET" races. I thought this would bother me at first, as I always run with music; but honestly, once you get into the race and the beauty of the desert, your discomfort is quickly forgotten. I will definitely be back next time.
Kami K. from Corpus Christi, TX (2/9/2010) "Can't hide disappointment!" (about: 2010) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Death Valley Trail Marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Death Valley Trail Marathon Death Valley, CA Saturday, February 6, 2010 8:00 AM The following was stated on the marathon's website: By signing up for this event, participants acknowledge the possibility of a last-minute course change and agree to run the alternate course or, if not, agree to abide by the rules set forth by the Death Valley National Park Service. And for the 7th time since the marathon's inception, Titus Canyon was closed, this time due to snow and ice. Bummer! The alternate route was a dirt/gravel road. The out-and-back course was below sea level. The first mile was a gradual downhill, which meant that the last mile would be a steady uphill. The rest was flat. The race day temperature was in the 50s and 60s, cloudy, rain-free, and a bit breezy. In short, we enjoyed a good running weather. The packet pick-up was at Furnace Creek Ranch from 6:15 to 7:00 AM. After an introduction by the race director, good ol' Dave, which made us laugh several times, the buses transported the runners to the start line. There were aid stations (water, sports drink, and snack items) at approximately every three miles. Mile markers and crowd support were not applicable and I doubt if anyone expected them. Each finisher received a short-sleeved cotton T-shirt and a medallion. There were adequate recovery food items and drinks at the finish. The buses transported the runners back to Furnace Creek Ranch. There were 167 finishers (124 males and 43 females, and an average finish time of 4:26:00. The winning times were 3:01:03 (male) and 3:17:53 (female). Frankly, it was a boring run. Although we were mindful of the fact that the closure of Titus Canyon was not race organizers' fault, no one could hide the disappointment of traveling all the way to run on a monotonous course. Nevertheless, it was an interesting experience. I flew into Las Vegas on Friday morning. There was a 115-mile drive from the airport's rental car terminal to Furnace Creek Ranch, where I stayed. It is a nice oasis at the middle of the dessert. If and when you are in Death Valley for the marathon and do not have plenty of time for sightseeing, do what I did. On the way to or from Furnace Creek Ranch, visit Amargosa Opera House and Zabriskie Point. Drive on Badwater Road to Badwater Basin (the lowest elevation in the U.S. at 282 feet below sea level) and go for a walk. On the way back, take the Artist's Drive, which is a one-way road, and you will find the drive quite entertaining!
Doug Clark from Salt Lake City, UT (2/8/2010) "Small Marathons are the Way to Go" (about: 2010) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Death Valley Trail Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 My first really small marathon (167 finishers) and I'm a convert. No hype, no bands, no headphones. Just pure running with some great people. No headphones meant we actually got to know each other. Lots of small words of encouragement. This is the first marathon where I've made friends on the course. The awards ceremony back at the Corkscrew Saloon was the best I've ever seen because, like the race, it was personal and real. Special thanks to the woman who was diagnosed with cancer after signing up and still ran this (her first) marathon. There were a bunch of us who got misty eyed at that. Thank you; you put it all in perspective for us. You are in our prayers. I gave this 4 stars for spectators, not because there were a lot (there weren't), but because each of us who were running acted in that role. I have never had so much encouragement from fellow runners. In spite of my own injuries (I walked the last 5 miles), I will be back. This marathon is unlike any other I've run.
M. S. from Southern California (3/10/2009) "Course Change Was Disappointing" (about: 2009) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Death Valley Trail Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Though thoroughly unavoidable, the course change was a big disappointment. I had trained for a hilly, up-and-down type of event and got possibly one of the flattest courses imaginable. One of the reasons I dislike road running is its boring monotonous nature, which this course had in spades (except the last two miles). Added to all of that is the fact that this was my first-ever marathon. The overall organization was great, and Dave was an enthusiastic leader, but after the race, a bunch of us waited nearly 30 minutes in the cold and rain (while we were all soaking wet) for the bus back to Furnace Creek. The parents and student manning the aid stations were outstanding... big-time troopers! I'll do this next year and, God willing, we will run through Titus Canyon.
Ron Larsen from Minnesota (2/26/2009) "Mother Nature had her way" (about: 2009) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Death Valley Trail Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This race was a great time even, though it was the backup course. Good ol' Dave did a great job of keeping it interesting, considering the weather and course conditions. I doubt in the years this race has been held that over an inch of rain provided for such a difficult event to put on. Since I planned on really kicking butt on the mountain course and could not, I was happy to just run through a desert course. The problem was that the desert wasn't dry! Oh well, I am planning to do the Titus Run either next year or later. I really enjoyed meeting some of the other runners and hearing stories of other events. I'm glad to hear the Brits on the Harley got back to Vegas alright! Beatles Cirque was great!

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