The finish line was a truly positive experience because of spectator cheering and excitement. Fantastic food at the finish line where runners ate at the tables and could encourage others crossing the line. Ambulance availability was constant because it was mobile throughout the race cruising the length of the course (it seemed like more than one ambulance even). Hwy patrol cars also cruising the course and monitoring safety. Some confusion about the van/bus transport from Gage Hotel to start line(s). Race director should have taken a megaphone and assured runners that everyone will get on a bus to start line even if it's standing room only. Please state on the web site that packet pick-up is possible on race day morning as well as night before. For those of us driving in that morning it was a question mark leading up to race day starting moments. The awards ceremony and after-party were pretty cozy.

Marathon 2 Marathon
Marathon, TX
Saturday, October 16, 2010
8:00 AM

The Marathon 2 Marathon (M2M) was created in 2003. The point-to-point, west-to-east course starts at the outskirts of Alpine and ends in Marathon. Elevation is about 4,000 feet. It is run on the shoulder of U.S. Highway 90.

M2M is a small marathon. Packet pick-up was on late Friday afternoon in Gage Hotel, where many of the runners stayed (I stayed in Marathon Motel). Each runner received a short-sleeved cotton T-shirt and was treated to a very good spaghetti dinner. Race day temperature ranged from mid 50s to mid 80. It was sunny and very dry, which made hydrating very important. The runners could either take the shuttle from the Gage Hotel to the start line in Alpine or drive to the start and take the shuttle back to the start line. There were water/sports drink stations at every other mile. I recommend carrying your own water bottle. There were mile markers. The race was chip-timed. The route was being monitored by EMS personnel. As expected, there was no crowd support. Each finisher received a nice medallion. There were plenty of recovery food and drink items at the finish. In short, it was a well organized marathon in a small community. One friendly recommendation: please post the results. As of 25 October, the results were not posted on M2M's website.

Great race. First time for me. I would like to know my official time, though.

Marathon 2 Marathon is run in an area described as: "Loved by many, despised by others, but home to the adventuresome."

This was my fourth marathon. The wind offered the "adventuresome" element and the scenery is unforgettable. A person would be hard-pressed to find as fine a place to run as in the far West Texas high desert.

"Thank yous" go to all of the people who worked this event - the safety/road crews, the water stop people, the start and finish line volunteers, and the event organizers. Special thanks go to DJ for fixing my aching feet and cramped legs at the finish line.

I was fortunate to have run three events in the Big Bend area in 2009. M2M is the most recent and longest distance. I will do more events in this area as I find them.

Pax et amor (and hope to see you next year)!

This was my third M2M. The headwind from mile 5 - 14 was brutal, but after that point, it was OK. This is still my favorite marathon, although it does have some quirks. This is the only marathon I have run three times, because I know if I can finish this one, I can shoot for a PR in the next one.

The high altitude and headwind are great for training for my next race. It's a great marathon.

Race support was superb in every respect. I really appreciate state trooper and sheriff vigilance in keeping the highway traffic speed down. There was no buffeting winds from traffic - just the abundant wind Mother Nature provided. This is my first "small" marathon and I'll be back to do it next year. Thanks, organizers!

This is a prototype point-to-point grassroots hometown marathon. I honestly don't see how it makes any money from entry fees, and there are a lot of hard-working folks in the background. The multi-start, one-finish approach (there is a half and a 10K too) gives running families different options but maintains the feeling of separate races. The weather this year included 20-mph wind in the face for nearly the entire race; otherwise, I would have given five stars for the course too. I dislike courses with a lot of turns, and this one has none. We camped at the Marathon Motel the night before and enjoyed the star party at McDonald Observatory nearby after the race. If you like to be pampered, this race is not for you, but if you are the self-sufficient type, then you will get along fine with the locals (who embody the term) and you'll enjoy yourself.

If you like big-city marathons with glitzy tech shirts and thousands of spectators, go elsewhere. If you like friendly people, beautiful countryside and a memorable experience in a picturesque small town, take the long ride to Marathon, Texas for Marathon 2 Marathon. The course was 100 percent asphalt, so it was easy on the legs. (The entire race was on the shoulder of a state highway, but this is not a populous part of Texas and traffic was not bad.) The long, slow inclines were challenging, as was an incredible wind. Unfortunately, the marathon is a point-to-point with no turns, so a headwind at the start is a headwind for the entire 26.2. Aid stations were two miles apart. This was a little sparse, considering the dehydrating effects of altitude, wind and dry climate, so bring a hydration system. This was a totally rural, totally unique event. (A Brewster County sheriff's deputy started the race by firing a shotgun into the air; the finishing chute was made of corral panels.) The T-shirt was cheesy and the goody bag was skimpy, but it's hard to hold it against these good, friendly folks. It's probably hard to pull off a marathon in a town with a population of only about 450. This was a cool event! I'd like to do it again.

The wind was howling at 5 a.m. but had calmed a little by 8 a.m. (start time). It kicked back up at mile five and pretty much pounded us the rest of the way to the finish line (steady at 20 mph, gusts to 30 mph). Otherwise the weather was great (low temp/low humidity). I think it was around 50 degrees at the start and maybe in the mid-60s when I finished at noon. Water/Gatorade every two miles, and porta-potties every six miles. I liked the point-to-point, zero-turn course. Even though it has a big net drop, we didn't get to feel it much due to the wind in our faces. The course is a tad long. I've heard this from a few people who have worn Garmin's in past years. Several of us measured it at 26.4 this year - not a big deal. There are very few spectators on the course.

I stayed at the Gage - a great hotel. I had the pasta dinner on Friday night, and went to Alpine for dinner on Saturday. Johnny B's (in Marathon) is a great spot for breakfast/lunch. Skip Marfa.

I did this race in '07 and came back to do it again. This is a great small-town race with wonderful people at all of the water stops and the finish line. It's well organized, with lots of police support and EMS. It's a straight-forward, no-frills race that is organized well. My comments are all positive about this race. Now, a word about Mother Nature: she really kicked up the wind a notch between mile 4 and mile 14. Brutal head wind. The course has a net altitude decline of something like 400 feet, so one would think this course would lend itself well to a PR. But I think that headwind will be a challenge for even the strongest of runners.

I want to offer a huge thanks to all of the police officers, fireman, and EMS staff, as well as the race organizers, water stop personnel, and the folks at the finish line. The friendly people of Alpine and Marathon, TX make this a good race to do. But I think PR's are elusive on this course.