This was my first marathon, and I enjoyed it so much. The course was really nice with some single track, stream crossings, smooth dirt roads, and beautiful views. The aid stations were well stocked with all sorts of yummy snacks and super friendly people. I will definitely participate in this event again.

Against previously posted advice (because of its '9' rating), this was my first 50K. Everything said before about its sandy, climbing, descending toughness is correct. Luckily, my GPS malfunctioned early and I ran the course with restraint instead of with the pacing mania that comes with road marathons. It is a spectacular course, with down home friendly people supporting it, and they double as great spectators. I finished the 31 mi running not walking and now I think I can run just about any 50K.

This was my second trail marathon and I really enjoyed the scenery and the challenging terrain. People should know that the trail is mostly sand, which will slow you down a little. There was also some extra mileage, which added an entire 1/2-hour to my time; the race organizers blamed the runners for that, even though we followed markers. Anyway, we had a great breeze and finished before it got too hot. Awesome!!

This is a race that people should hate, but love. What's to hate? How about this: 15-minute splits to START the race; sandy, uphill stretches that never end; potential to spend an hour on the course without another runner in sight (with doubt creeping in about whether you're on course until you get to the next aid station); 7-mile, quad-busting, downhill stretches.

What's to love? See above. It's a different type of person who runs this race. The type of person who runs this race thinks someone finishing the Badwater ultra is a rock star. They think there is something special about running at the foothills of the Sierras. They want beer at an aid station. They appreciate the warmth of a small town. This race will be my first that I've ever repeated for any distance, and May can't get here fast enough!

I marked Fans as a two to be fair to events like Boston, where the streets are lined with fans from start to finish. Although spectators and volunteers are wonderful in this race, the remoteness keeps them out of sight for 95% of the race.

My first time for this run. I did the marathon, and as one previous writer mentioned, you should add one hour to your overall worst time. That about sums it up. First, the altitude did play a role in this run. Windy, cold - later warming up quite a bit. Scenery was great - if you're sightseeing. But the fresh air and beautiful surroundings certainly help. It really makes it difficult to go back to a big-city road marathon. Lone Pine is a great, small town with nothing but friendly folks, and the runners who came are all great. This is not a great first-time marathon - too difficult for many. But at least try the 10-miler. Also, watch out for the course markers (Dan), otherwise you could end up going the wrong way and drinking "pond water." I believe I'll be back. The only reason I did not give it a 5-star rating is because the last few miles were fairly boring and they reminded me too much of those "big city" marathons. Just being a bit too picky! Otherwise, it's one of the best out there.

Five of us from western Canada made the pilgrimage down to Lone Pine for the Wild Wild West 50K. The race was wonderful.

Since we've been running on snow all winter, the loose sand wasn't a problem, although I would highly recommend light gaiters to keep it out of your shoes! The first couple hills were a nice grade and easily runnable - all of us found the uphills a pleasure. However, after mile 7 or 8, there is a 6-mile quad-killer downhill; this is where we all found that the Californians had the advantage, as they opened up speed and we were left behind... temporarily!

The scenery did not disappoint. The aid stations and the people were unparalleled. Wonderful, positive people every 2 miles - I've never experienced a race that was so well supported. And special thanks to the aid station on Whitney Portal Road that fed me beer at mile 23!!!

The only complaint amongst the bunch of us was we wished that there had been a narrower single track. But that's a very minor complaint.

Of the five of us, we all placed in our age categories. How cool it was to come to a new place and to do so well. The prize for placing in our age categories was a handmade, green, pottery beer mug. The beer after the race tasted all the better in our victory mugs! EH!

Thank you to Lone Pine for such an amazing weekend.

I ran the Wild Wild West 50K in 2005. It was fabulous. The 6 a.m. start was cold but beautiful, and not crowded. If you view running as a meditation, this 50K or marathon will be right up your alley.
You can dress in extra layers at the start and peel some off, leaving your outerwear (sweatshirt, etc.) at an aid station along the course. They will have it at the finish line for you to pick it up.

The only problem I encountered was a poorly marked turn when the 5.5-mile loop for the 50K rejoined the 26.2-mile marathon course for the last few miles into town. I, and another runner, did not see the turn and went about 6-8 minutes the wrong way, until we ran into some of the marathon runners who pointed out our mistake to us. The race organizers really should position a person right at that juncture in the race so the 50K folks make the right turn. I pointed this out to the organizers, but I am not sure if they have corrected that problem. There were one or two creek crossings early on in the race, and at one point in the middle of the race you had to go through a little gate area on a dirt road where it was not exactly apparent that that was the thing to do. Other than that, the arrows marking the course were pretty good.

The pre-race meal the night before was tasty spaghetti and garlic bread, with salad. The repeat runners and race organizers really are friendly and accept you willingly into their little fraternity.

I, and the guy who took the wrong turn, finished 5th and 7th in the 50K. The first 8 of us who finished the 50K took pride in the fact that had any one of us run the marathon, instead we would have won it. I ran a 3:14:31 in the LA Marathon 2 months before, and came in at 4:59 for the 50K race, in 7th place, even with the wrong turn. It took basically my LA marathon time, plus 1 hour, plus 35 additional minutes for the additional miles of the 50K versus a 26.2-mile marathon.

The long-sleeve shirt with the race course and elevation on the back was great. The race medal was made of a hard clay, hung on a leather strap, and really was very special. I treasure it to this day. Staying in Lone Pine was great, too. My wife and I loved the little town. You have to drive from the town to the start several miles away in the morning. I do not recall there being any parking at the start. Your significant other or a friend has to drop you off at the start and the race finishes up back in town.

The 6 a.m. start was the best. I wish more races started that early, to beat the heat. After the first 15-30 minutes of running, you are already warm, and in a hot year you will especially appreciate this early start.

It was a fabulous race for any in-shape marathoner or ultra marathoner. Not sure I'd recommend this for a beginning or out of shape runner.

I gave 5 stars for the spectator score because there WERE no spectators! Except at the start and the finish.

If you run this scenic back country race and love it, you may never run a city marathon again! They just do not compare.

Have not run this race since 2005, since my wife and I had two kids and I have had less time to train. But I will be back in 2009 or 2010, having gotten back into long-distance training again.

I can't wait to run the course again. It was a beautiful, even spiritual, experience. Great people, too.

My first WWW Marathon brought me my PWR (Personal Worst Record). Simply speaking, I was not prepared for the steep hills and deep sand and gravel. However, I was awarded with the unparalleled beauty of the snowy Sierra Nevada and rocky Alabama Hills throughout the course. I also won in my own category of Canadian runners.

The volunteers at the watering stations delivered world-class service. There was a wide selection of fruits and energy snacks, and the most important things: a variety of ice cold drinks and moral support.

The promised free camping on the grounds of Tuttle Creek was not acknowledged by the camp host, which obviously was a minor miscommunication between WWW and BLM.

For the future I would recommend a loop course, which might remove any inconveniences of shuttling between the finish and the start and taking care of runners' bags with change cloths. The course vertical profile should be published on the WWW website, not only on the high quality T-shirts. The course was colorful and the almost 3D map was a piece of cartographic art.

Overall I liked the event and its unique atmosphere among local community and the runners, who did it many times in the past. My word of advice to first-time WWW runners: take your worst time and add 1 hour.

Thank you, Lone Pine, for a great, tough run.

Awesome views. The marathon was about one-half mile too long, verified by three Garmins. Watch out for miles 20 to 24: absolutely quad-killing and knee jerking. The long downhill, from miles 7 to 14, was superb. No extra water is really needed until the last 10 miles.

I've done the 10-miler 10+ times. I love the race for its scenery, organization, other runners, fond memories - and let's not forget the pasta dinner with many old ultra friends. I always go up early to acclimate and to enjoy the area. Lots to see - Whitney Portal, Manzanar, art galleries, Hop-A-Long Cassidy ranch, etc.