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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 41 to 49]
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Marc Moribella from Sedona, Arizona
(2/7/2005)
 "Very nice, low-key race" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Death Valley Trail Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 If you like to run in a friendly low-key, low-frills marathon, this is a very nice race. Not for the big city or personal best crowd. Run this race for the experience of an exotic location, and nice people. This year we had to run the alternate course due to flooding in Titus Canyon, but it is still nice. The trail was actually a gravel road through salt flats. A little bit of incline/decline, but very rarely flat, no big ups/downs. Dave & Wendy did a nice job. This was my first Enviro Sports event & far from my last. Thanks to everyone that made it possible. | |
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D. C. from Provo, Utah
(2/9/2004)
"Titus Canyon was beautiful!" (about: 2004)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 On the Tuesday before the race it snowed in Titus Canyon. The park rangers decided to close the road into Titus Canyon for the rest of the week. Because of this, the race organizers had to change the marathon route into an out-an-back run on the floor of Death Valley. Several of us decided to run the original route anyway. We ran through Titus Canyon, which was very beautiful. There was no support, but that didn't matter since we carried our own water. The temperature was perfect: about 40 degrees at the start and 65 at the finish. The scenery was incredible. There was virtually no snow on the road and the park service was not justified in closing the road. Since I wasn't getting an official time, I decided to turn the marathon into a 50K instead just for fun. I did that by adding a few extra miles at the end. I didn't get an official time, but the race organizer was cool about it and let me have a finisher's medal anyway. If you get a chance to run Titus Canyon, you should! | |
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Scott Dazey from San Diego
(7/30/2003)
 "Amazing canyon jeep trail into Death Valley!" (General Comments)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 A one-of-a-kind romp in the wilderness which takes you from the Nevada high desert, over a 1-mile pass, and down through an undulating, convoluted, and ever-narrowing Titus Canyon to finish in California's infamous Death Valley! A trail or off-road runner's dream, which seems to lure you back year after year. I've done the race 4 times, but still crave more. Don't expect huge crowds to cheer you on; they would only ruin the scenery anyway. Aid stations are placed in a Spartan manner (roughly every 5 miles or so!). What did you expect? This is Death Valley. My advice: train hard, carry water/fuel, and enjoy! The race director is friendly, and sometimes downright humorous. However, the awards... if you're so blessed... leave you feeling a little underwhelmed considering the beauty of the course. I got several cheesy ribbons growing up... didn't everybody? Overall, the race organization is top-notch considering the logistics of a point-to-point run in the middle of nowhere. The finish is a metaphor for the ages... a three-mile trek down an alluvial fan, with the only discernable objects being the matchbox-sized buses gleaming in the desert sun that never seem to get any bigger! Look up "rave run" - it should say: See Titus Canyon. | |
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Maureen Tarpey from Lexington, Kentucky
(3/31/2003)
"My first trail run... great experience" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 Dave Horning and all his staff did a great job of making everyone feel welcome. I especially liked the awards ceremony afterwards...very warm and folksy. Death Valley this time of year is beautiful. I appreciated being able to do the 17 mile run since I couldn't finish the marathon in the time given. Everyone was friendly and informative and the race was well organized. | |
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R. k. from Mid West
(2/5/2003)
 "Out of water... on course" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 Very nice event and a must run for anyone who wants to see unheralded beauty. Tough course...but worth it. At the 15-mile point, they ran out of water and even though I carried a water bottle was annoyed by that. How about using the leftover water from miles 5 and 10 and drop off surplus supplies to subsequent stations in need? | |
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Alex Sox-Harris from Palo Alto, CA
(2/5/2002)
"Awesome Event!" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 This was a great run in a beautiful place. The oganization was totally adequate as was the support. Don't expect to be pampered, carry a water bottle, and enjoy the day. My time was about 25 minutes slower than my road time. The course is a little rocky in places but I wish I wore slightly lighter shoes than my Brooks Beasts. Maybe if I had worn ligther shoes I would have wished I had more foot protection. Maybe if other races had 'fill your water bottle from a jug' support, there would be less waste and trash from paper cups at races. Will do again. | |
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Anne Brakeman from Saugus, California (Southern Cal.)
(2/4/2002)
"A TOP NOTCH EVENT-ALL THE WAY!!!!!" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 From the National Anthem all the way to the post-race party-this was the most AWESOME marathon I have ever been a part of!! If you like to be with wacky, funny, crazy, very cool and fun-filled people and run through some of the most beautiful and mesmerizing scenery on the planet, then this run is for you!! I have never been in a marathon where I didn't know or care what time it was or how far along I was...until now. This marathon is a must-do for any runner!! It has just become an annual event for me!! Thank you everyone at Envirosports for taking away my 'envirovirginity'!!!! | |
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A Runner from San Fernando Valley
(3/2/2001)
 "A one-time must-do race for true trail runners!" (General Comments)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 The beauty and unique scenery will appeal to trail marathoners looking for a new adventure. I've run this marathon three times and being a seasoned ultrarunner, I carried my own water. (Good thing, the RD doesn't provide much support). The course is rugged, challenging and ever-so-beautiful. The run through Titus Canyon is particularly memorable. The beauty of the course more than makes up for the lack of support, lack of awards, lack of hospitality. | |
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A Runner from Los Angeles vicinity
(8/16/2000)
"Scenic trail run through Titus Canyon in DV" (General Comments)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 I strongly recommend this race! Death Valley is such an awesome place to visit. In winter the temperatures are very mild (50-60 F) and perfect for a marathon. The course is the best of the Death Valley Marathons that EnviroSports puts on. The first 13 miles of the course is a fairly challenging climb with many runners walking the final miles, but from mile 13 on it's all down hill. It's not a race where you want to worry about your finish time. Because it's so beautiful you will want to stop and take pictures along the way and because the official timing device is the organizer's stopwatch. The organization is minimal but adequate. They leave jugs of water and food about every 5 miles. Just don't expect to be pampered like in a big-time race. You will need to carry water bottles. The course is mostly rough gravel so be sure to wear shoes which will protect your feet. Road shoes won't protect your feet from stone bruises. If you want to see pictures of the race visit www.trailrunnersclub.com. |
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