May 2, 2024
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☰
New Mexico Marathon Runner Comments
Back to New Mexico Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 3.9 
Organization 3.7 
Spectators 2.2
Number of comments: 96 [displaying comments 61 to 71]
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J. P. from the midwest
(9/12/2005)
 "Good small marathon" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 New Mexico Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 The New Mexico Marathon was my 17th marathon. This is a very good small marathon. Loved the 5:30am start. Wish all marathons had early starts. Balloons in the sky were fun to watch. Course is excellent except for the bike trail part. There were too many bike riders, roller bladers and non-event runners weaving around everybody. Very distracting. The marathon itself is solidly organized. Charlie has done a good job putting together this race. Good water stops. Yes, there could be more food at the end, if your're into that and it would have been nice to see a few port -a-potties on the course. I do get tired of going to marathons and having to dive into bushes or finding other creative ways to take care of business. Never saw the alledged roving one and I'm not sure why this isn't being addressed. It seems to be a consistent issue year after year from other comments on this board. Spectator rating was low but that's because of the early start and the course which doesn't lend itself to throngs of spectators anyway which is fine with me too. We stayed at the Best Western who put on an excellent pasta dinner the night before. I don't normally do the pasta dinner deal but this one was worth it. They had an airport shuttle and did an overall very good job for the runners. Thank you to all the volunteers, you were great. | |
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L. K. from New Mexico
(9/9/2005)
 "The volunteers & Police did an excellent job. " (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 New Mexico Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 The volunteers did an excellent job at the aid stations and the police had the intersections safely controlled. Enjoyed the race course but organizaton was lacking. There was not a race course map in the race packet. We were dropped off by the bus 50 minutes before the race start but there was no water available. Both the race number and the finishers 'medallion' did not have the name of the race on them or even the date. We were given computer chips prior to the race but there were no chip mats at the start or anywhere on the course. There was no starting line. A piece of white tape would have sufficed. Two runners got lost on the course. At one point on the bike path the path forked and the runner in front of me was not sure which way to go. He had to ask a cyclist for directions. You can't drive a bike path to check the course the day before. You might expect this poor organization for a local 5K race but not a marathon. This was my 35th marathon and the most unorganized. For you 50 staters, I would suggest picking another race. | |
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D. C. from Wheaton, illinois
(9/7/2005)
 "Very good small marathon" (about: 2005)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 New Mexico Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 Almost did not sign up for this marathon based on the 2003 comments but thank God for the 2004 runners who set the record straight. This really was a well-run race especially for such a small marathon. Plenty of water and Gatorade even for me at the back of the pack mainly walking (5:12 finish). Some runners were grousing that the race director had no maps available but none needed as you really are on very few roads. The first road goes for 17 miles before you turn off. This course is not hilly but those who live at low altitude (Wheaton, Illinois 400 feet above sea level) need to be warned that altitude can affect performance mainly due to dehydration. Also, the course has a steep downhill section (miles 8-11) that can really take its toll on your quads unless you are prepared. Plenty of police support (alhtough not much traffic until after mile 22 anyway) and clearly marked mileage signs (except for mile 12 which we knew was missing from the pre-course talk the day before). Do not except a lot of bells and whistles but well-oraganized and supported. A real runner's race. Would definitely do this one again once the 50 states are completed. | |
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Bob Clark from Los Angeles, CA
(9/6/2005)
 "Outstanding Marathon" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 New Mexico Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Thank you, Charles Otero, your staff and volunteers for a marathon that was well organized and with a course that was well worth the visit to New Mexico. It was all well done and I will encourage other 50 Stater's, that need New Mexico, to do this marathon. The weather was perfect and the course was very scenic. The hot air ballons added to the scenes on course. The smaller marathons are always fun. The race dircetor was not just a name, but someone that greeted each participate and made you feel welcome. | |
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j. v. from Dallas, Texas
(9/6/2005)
"Great course!" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 New Mexico Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 Short version: Positives: Great course, private running lane the entire way, traffic control, lots of rest stops that never ran out of water or Gatorade, great quality shirt, music at the half and finish, message tent, the beauty of Albuquerque, lots of volunteers, chip timing for instant results and hearing your name called as you finished. Friendly people. The pre-dawn start (a negative for some). Negatives: Course was not marked for late finishers, the medallion was not the usual metal version, no porta potties for back of the packers despite race director?s promises, no spectators (in a bigger city so no community involvment like you?d get in a small town), volunteers and traffic control officers knew nothing but their job (could not tell you where to find a bathroom or anything). NO FOOD! Did I mention no porta potties??? Long version: I loved the course. I love Albuquerque so I am prejudiced. This is a small marathon that claims to be the best small marathon?I don?t think so. It is a great route with a lot of potential, but far from the best in many areas. You had a pre-dawn start. The sun came up after you had finished the initial mild eight mile grade. A nice sunrise over the eastern mountains and you run down into the valley with the hot air balloons flying and some exotic animals and lovely homes (and a great looking casino with a great golf course!). More traffic control than you can imagine. They must have used 15,000 cones to give you a private running lane the entire course! Traffic control was everywhere! Unbelievable for a small race?or any race for that matter. There were also rest stops everywhere. As many as mid sized marathon would have. You were given a nice usable entry item?a high tech fabric item depending on when you registered. They used a timing chip like most ?large? small races for finishing time and had the earlier mat to let them announce your name and city?I love that and you get instant results as well! Hey the wine festival (not connected with the marathon) was great! I love going to Albuquerque?casinos, mountains, hot air balloons, etc. But then you have some negatives like all races. A million cones for your private traffic lanes, but no cones to mark the course. I heard of a few people getting lost once you left the roadway to the wonderful bike trails along the river?and getting back off the trails. The rest stops had cups of water and Gatorade?and never ran out. Now if you wanted ice, fruit, vasoline, asprin (or whatever pain killer or anti-inflammatory of your choice) you were in trouble. There was none. No porta potties anywhere despite being promised some at three locations?Lots of volunteers, but none knew anything. Where would there be a place to go to the bathroom or anything else. I personally did not like the finisher?s medallion. I wanted the New Mexico medallion, not some next year?s Albuquerque three hundred year token with no mention of the race (how come all the small races never even put a tag on the back of the medallion with the race date on it anyway???). No food! No spectators (weren?t there any locals with families???). But they had a message tent and music at the finish. I love the city, I loved the route, there are just a couple of items that be worked on to make this a fantastic race! | |
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D. C. from Santa Fe, NM
(9/5/2005)
"I loved it!" (about: 2005)
1 previous marathon
| 1 New Mexico Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 As far as race courses go this was a spectacular run... great weather conditions (nice and cool, good cloud cover, even a brief slight misty rain!), the tough part came first (which wasn't very hard... easy hills), then a nice downhill run, flat, then flat along the riverside, lastly flat along Rio Grande Blvd to the finish line. One little area on the road I didn't like much was a small bridge south of I-25 that was tight... cars right near you when running [no cones set up there for a little run pathway]. Other than that the rest of the course I felt quite safe running. The aid stations were great. I've run other smaller mileage races in Albuquerque and I think this one was well organized. Thanks for all your good work! I had a great first marathon running experience! | |
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Mary Turner from Kansas City, MO USA
(9/5/2005)
 "Thanks for water stops for walkers" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 New Mexico Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 Due to injuries, we walked the marathon and really appreciate the folks who manned the water stops. We Also thank you for being at the finish line for slower finishers. | |
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B. R. from Edmond, OK
(11/29/2004)
"I'll be back next year" (about: 2004)
2 previous marathons
| 1 New Mexico Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 Before traveling to Albuquerque for this event, I read all of the reviews of previous years. I was a little concerned, but a phone call to Charlie Otero helped me decide to give it a try. I'm so glad I didn't let the asinine comments of a few whiners (are you really going to wear that medal after the race day?) cause me to miss a great experience. Maybe I run for different reasons than they do. This was my second marathon. I've run two more since then and I have more of an appreciation for this event as I experience other marathons. Let's put things in perspective. This is a SMALL marathon with less than 200 runners. There aren't many sponsors, there are no big crowds, and there aren't many frills. Then again, I don't recall my entry fee being high enough to pay my 166th share of the amenities some people expected either. Charlie Otero and the volunteers did a fine job and here are some of the things I enjoyed about this marathon, and the reasons I will be back next year (along with as many of my friends as I can drag with me). 1) This is a Labor Day weekend race. It gives me a reason to keep on training through the summer. After a hot Oklahoma summer, a 50-degree, mountain-morning start is priceless. 2) The course was great. I loved the six mile descent. This beats running through city streets any day. 3) The sunrise in the valley was awesome. The balloons taking off were a bonus. 4) The people were great, both volunteers and runners. In a small marathon you certainly notice the other runners more, and because you actually get to know them (at least for a while), their story is more interesting to you. 5) Great city and reasonable prices. 6) No crowds, no pressure, no problems. All I had to worry about was getting up on time. The bus got me to the starting line. The host hotel was great about late check-out. 7) All marathons should be on three-day weekends. 8) These folks deserve our support. It's obvious they have taken previous MarathonGuide reviews to heart and they didn't disappoint me at all. If you come expecting a small marathon experience and don't get hung up about the lack of frills, you won't be disappointed either. | |
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R. L. from Ozark, MO
(9/13/2004)
"Nice little marathon." (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 New Mexico Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 Runners of Albuquerque you have an opportunity to have two goods marathons but it appears that you would rather complain about a man who is trying to bring a good event to your fine city. Is it perfect? No. But based on the comments from 2002 and 2003 Charlie has learned a lot. I have a few suggestions for him but I will send a note directly to him which I think is the respectful thing to do. The course is good and even if you had not driven the course you knew what to expect. The finisher's medal is different but fits the state that we were running in and will stand out in my collection. The police did a fine job of intersection control. And the Team-In-Training group did a good job at the aid stations. Some of the mile markers that were missing had been washed away from by the rain the night before. A little more community support would be nice but I have been lonely before. Traffic on the roads and bike path were not a problem and seeing the balloons taking off from the balloon park was a nice diversion. I hope Charlie keeps it up and receives some more help. | |
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R. G. from Rowland Heights, California
(9/13/2004)
"One of the Easiest Courses Ever" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 I read all negative feedback before signing up. A call to Charlie Otero, the race director, set things right. Race is (i) no-frills; (ii) packet pickup easy; (iii) pasta party enjoyable; (iv) shuttle buses prompt; (v) stayed at host hotel for convenience and late check-out. If you're looking for the glamour, glitz and crowds then this isn't the race for you. Number of participants was small (166). I've run the monsters: L.A., New York, etc.; New Mexico was a welcome change. 5:30 a.m. start, no spectators at all other than the occasional motorist giving you a thumbs up. Don't need an applause every time I run; the satisfaction of knowing that I finished is praise enough. Course description says hills for miles 1-8... didn't notice any; 8-13 downhill... oh yeah! 13-to end flat... yup. Most of the race I ran solo either because runners were significantly ahead or at a distance behind. Great opportunity to observe the sunrise and take in the surroundings; enjoy the solitude, nothing wrong with that. I found course well-marked, you couldn't possibly get lost. The only small observation was that after mile 19, no aid station until you get to mile 22. For the sheer joy of participating and receiving a unique hand-crafted medal representative of the Southwest, check it out. Were it not for my quest to cover all 50 states before doing repeats, I'd do this one again, it has lots of potential to grow. With a meatier budget and more sponsors, I envision a race that could make a big splash and draw a larger crowd. |
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