As I expected, it was a tough course, with lots of hills, but the encouragement of people and the good organization have helped a lot. Monterrey is a very beautiful city, and it's worth the travel to enjoy the sports day, the food and the cultural activity of this city.

Wonderful medal, great prizes for everyone, and good finisher tech shirt. Well done, Monterrey!

The race far surpassed expectations. The course is very flat, and allows you to see much of Monterrey.

I thought the crowd was excellent, though the 4-mile stretch along Constitucion (ran twice) didn't have many spectators since vehicle access was limited. Otherwise the crowd was great - very enthusiastic.

I have no complaints about the organization of the race. Finisher's t-shirt and medal were solid. If you register early, it's only $20! (Price increases closer to race day).

They even had free beer at the finish, though I was unable to drink it at the time.

This was a great marathon and very well organized except for one small detail: They did not have PowerAde (or any sports drink) between miles 6 and 17. Under normal conditions, that wouldn't be a problem, except this year the temps went to 93 degrees and the lack of electrolytes was problematic.

Otherwise, this is a great marathon for the money. You get a good cap, a really well-made finisher's shirt, a really well made finisher's medal, and the pasta dinner. All for about $40 US.

Be comfortable not speaking the native tongue because English is not the second language. The Holiday Inn is convenient because it is right next to the expo and only a 100 meters away from the start and finish line.

- Jim

This race gives you a lot of value for the dollar (or peso). For about $40, you get everything, a great pasta dinner, a very nice runner's cap, and an extremely well done finisher's medal that you will be proud to show. On top of that, you get the best-made finisher's shirt that I have seen in my 31 marathons. The technical fabric finisher's shirt alone would cost you $60 or more in the US; it is that well made. I think the factory is in Monterrey, so that had something to do with it.

PRO:
Beautiful, large, urban course running between very large mountains. You do not climb them, but the course is NOT flat. The hills are gentle and manageable. There is about 1,000+ feet of ascent in the course. This is not a PR course.

It starts in a really neat park. It used to be a steel mill, but has been re-purposed into an incredible park that is a tribute to industrial design. Give yourself at least one full day so that you can roam around the park. It is just amazing what the Monterrey citizens have done.

CON:
The organization was superb, except for one BIG problem. Given the name PowerAde you would think that all the aid stations would have PowerAde or some sort of sports drink. Wrong! After 10K, you only got water until about 35K. I do not think they ran out; rather I kind of think they did not have it in the first place. This was a HUGE problem because the temps soared from the expected 50 degrees all the way up to 93 degrees. I desperately needed electrolytes and the race became a survival course for me and no longer a race course. I do not fault the organizers for the temperatures, but I do severely fault them for not having PowerAde at all aid stations. Runners should never feel in danger. If you do this, have some salt tabs with you.

A minor complaint would also be that the website is in Spanish, with no translation to English. The Google translation is terrible, so an associate at work translated it for me. The site shows costs as dollars, but they are really pesos, so when you see $380 as an entrance fee, it is really $38 US.

Note:
You are in a foreign country and English is NOT spoken, so you need to be comfy with that. Not even the Holiday Inn staff spoke a word of English. I do recommend the Holiday Inn because it is right at the expo and start line. I do not speak Spanish, and I felt comfortable, so don't let language stop you.

- Jim