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Marathon Details - Duke City Marathon

North America Marathons > USA > NM > Albuquerque > Duke City Marathon

Duke City Marathon

Big 5 Duke City Marathon & Marathon Relay, Half Marathon, 10K, 5K

Albuquerque, NM USA

October 20, 2024

http://www.dukecitymarathon.com

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Race Details

This scenic beautiful course is flat, fast and runs along the Rio Grande river.

Contact Information

Name:	Burt Trembly
Address:	Duke City Marathon P.O. Box 6689 Albuquerque, NM 87197
Phone Number:	505-880-1414
Fax Number:	877-408-6585
Email:	Email the organizers

Runner Reviews (66)

Course 3.5

Organization 3.3

Spectators 2.6

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Number of comments: 66 [displaying comments 1 to 11]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 > ]

B. B. from Pittsburgh, Pa (11/11/2018) "Decent organization but an awful course" (about: 2018) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Duke City Marathon COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 My title says it all. Two miles through the city followed by an out and back of 22 total miles on a narrow bike path with a return to the streets for the finish. The most interesting part of the race is watching the hot air balloons floating overhead. This race could be so much better as New Mexico in the fall is fantastic. Head to Rio Bravo Brewing and Kaktus Brewing for your post race hydration.
Brian Curran from Phoenix (4/11/2018) "big city/small budget" (about: 2018) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Duke City Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 The people involved with the race along the course were great, very nice people. This is a big city race run on a small budget, All three races are on a bike path making it a mess for the first part of the race, This is unfair to those who follow the rules and line up where they are supposed to. Spend the money for street closures and you will have a destination race.
T. C. from Boston (10/25/2017) "Flat, Sunny and Friendly people" (about: 2017) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Duke City Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 I realize there are challenges to putting on a marathon in New Mexico. This race faces many of those challenging well but was a bit disappointing on others. First the cons: 1. No gu on the course. 2. The same tee shirt for the 5K as the marathon. 3. Few port-a-pottys on the course. 4. Crowded bike path for the bulk of the course. 5. No spectators for 22 of the 26 miles because we are on a shadeless bike path. 6. No signs at the turns. As a back of the pack runner, I was nervous at a few spots. Pro's 1. The shadeless course worked well logistically. The water stops were plentiful. 2. Flat course along the Rio Grande was often beautiful. (However, not always as we ran along side a highway for a while.) 3. Generous amount of time to finish the race. 4. Friendly, helpful people at package pickup. 5. Nice finisher's metal. 6. Perfect weather. It is a small race run on a bike path. The marathoners have a 15 minute lead on the half marathoners so at one time us back of the packers are dealing with the half marathon crowd coming up on us as well as the leading of the marathon with the support bikes coming from the other direction. I would say it was mostly a positive experience and I loved the coupon to the Scandia Tram that was in the bib packet. The host hotel is right at the start and finish as was the expo. This was my marathon for New Mexico and it did work well logistically.
C. B. from GA (10/24/2017) "Is the race director listening?" (about: 2017) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Duke City Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 I have the same complaints that runners from previous years have voiced - virtually no port-a-potties (at least none that I could find between mile 8-18), no gu or snack of any kind and a very poorly marked course. Why can't they spray paint the turns?? I am one of several I met who went straight instead of making a sharp left during the last part of the course. But on the positive side, the weather was perfect!
E. D. from Virginia (10/23/2017) "Good for 50 staters" (about: 2017) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Duke City Marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 First, the race was nicely put together, I appreciated the packet pick-up at the convention center, start and race hotel were all so close together. I am an experienced marathon runner having run more than 20 marathons - a few suggestions that I think could enhance the race experience in the future. 1) Get rid of the unisex shirts, or if you are going to go with unisex shirts, please order a lot more extra smalls! The small shirt is huge on me as a smallish female, meaning I'm likely to never wear it- which means less free advertising for you - when I was there, at least five women were flummoxed by the size of the shirts! 2) Port o johns were not on the race course, rather they were in the parking lots of transition spots - there was no way I was going to go that far off the trail to use the bathroom - especially because each spot had a line of 8 people deep. I would highly suggest placing at least one port o John much closer to the trail for exclusive use of runners. 3) Relay runners not identified as such - at other races I have run that had a marathon relay, the relay runners have a separate bib for their back that says 'Relay' - helps for the full marathoners morale to see that the person blazing by you hasn't run nearly as far as you and/or has fresh legs! 4) Lastly - the post race food was dismal! = Torn up bagels and apples? Really? All the research points to protein consumed quickly post- race leads to easier recovery - and how about springing for bottles of water for finishers? A half cup of water was just silly! All in all - if you just need to check NM off - it's fine - it's a marathon on a recreational path - so very much like a long training run for me - since my hometown has essentially the same trail (minus the horses!) spectators are limited to where the marathon relay transitions are located - so for those who expect a lot of crowd support - this wouldn't be the race for you!
R. J. from Tampa, FL (10/22/2016) "Duke city 2016" (about: 2016) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Duke City Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 On the plus side volunteers were great, there were lots of bathrooms at the start of the course and the expo was good. The course was really flat with no hills. And lots of cheap hotel options nearby for the travellers. And visiting taos and Santa Fe was absolutely amazing. A few things that could really improve the race: 1. For many this is a destination run. How about a distinctive medal and shirt -perhaps in shape of NM or symbol on flag or hot air balloon? The shirts and medal were largely generic. 2. Please give out gu shots. I have run 35 marathons and for a course of this size not giving out gu shots is ridiculous. A number of us marathoners ran out of gas towards the course end. 3. How about a few more bathrooms on course? There were about 5 bathrooms on a 20 mile stretch of the course and all had big lines as they were at relay exchange sites. 4. I didn't mind the trail. if the race was scheduled a few weeks later when the cottonwood leaves turn yellow the course would have been absolutely stunning.
M. L. from Sarasota, FL (10/18/2016) "Best logistical option for New Mexico" (about: 2016) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Duke City Marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 If you read previous years' comments, you should be prepared for what to expect: easy packet pickup, organized start, nice people, lackluster course, no food offered, and an extreme dearth of port-a-potties. What I didn't expect was how poorly the course was markedin several key pleaces, there was NO indication of the direction of the course. I would have been hopelessly lost had I been unable to see the person in front of me. Around Mi. 24, there was a 90-degree left turn back into town for the finish. I saw a sign upside down on the ground and turned it over to discover an arrow. I've run all size races all over the country and this is one of the worst for course direction which, in my opinion is a serious problem that could easily be fixed. It's still the logistically easiest NM race.
Eddie Gaul from Utah (10/22/2015) "Well organized race in New Mexico" (about: 2015) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Duke City Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I ran the Duke City Marathon mainly to claim New Mexico off of my 50 state's list. The expo was bigger than I expected. There were quite a few vendors there that were selling a variety of items. Packet pickup was a breeze and I got a pretty nice swag bag and a decent long-sleeved shirt. I registered late for the marathon and it was still under a $100, which I think is a fair price to pay. The finisher's medal is also pretty nice and on par with a typical marathon. The race is flat, with only some rolling hills at the halfway point on the out-and-back course. The race is at an altitude of over 5000 feet, so be prepared to take a performance hit. There is also very little shade on the course, so plan accordingly for sun exposure. The first few mile are on city streets around the downtown area which was the highlight of the course for me. However, after a few miles you basically have 22 miles of paved bike trail. I didn't mind this but the scenery doesn't change too much. Still, it was flat and I could settle into a comfortable pace and I was never hemmed in and felt like I could run without compromising. My Garmin read about 26.4 by the time I finished. Mile markers were pretty much spot on and I found that there were plenty of water / Gatorade stops. The intervals at which the stops were placed seemed a little haphazard but overall just when I was needing hydration there was a stop. The stops were well manned but didn't have any gels just water and Gatorade. Roving bike patrols were looking for troubled runners and there was medical support at the end. I was really disappointed with the bathroom situation. There were only a few at the start and virtually none on the course. As a male, I can step off the course and use the brush around the bike trail, but women would definitely have a harder time. The few bathrooms that were on the course, were well off the course or at the relay points which meant long lines (10+ people). This should be addressed. The finish line had plenty of food even for a 4 hour finisher. It consisted of Gatorade, water, chocolate milk, bagels, oranges and bananas. I would've liked to have seen something a bit more substantial to eat like cookies or chips. Crowd support was halfway decent for a marathon of this size. The last mile had a good group of people cheering you in and the relay points were a source of energy. There were scattered supporters though throughout the race. However, by no means is this a crowd at every mile type of race. Overall, if you are looking for a marathon to do in New Mexico, the Duke City Marathon would be a suitable choice.
David McCorquodale from Wilmington, Delaware (10/21/2015) "No water issues" (about: 2015) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Duke City Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 I wanted to respond to previous comments about water. This year there were many water and Gatorade stops and no problems. Frankly I don't know what people who complain about a boring course want. Running a marathon is mainly about constantly monitoring what your body is doing and how it's feeling. Who's got time to be bored? What I did like about the course was that it was smooth with no cracks or bumps. I've tripped and fallen late in marathons on rough courses. I really like the Albuquerque area. About an hour into the race, we were treated to the sight of about 20 hot air balloons rising into the sky.
T. L. from Hood River, OR (10/30/2014) "Not a well supported maraton." (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Duke City Marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 I ran the 2014 course and was beyond disappointed. This was my 32nd marathon and rated near the bottom for good races to run. It seemed like the organizers were more focused on the half marathon and the relay. The only porta potties were at mile one and then again at the relay exchange which was extremely crowded. The course is very boring and there were no spectators. I definitely would not recommend this one.

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 > ]



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B. B. from Pittsburgh, Pa (11/11/2018) "Decent organization but an awful course" (about: 2018) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Duke City Marathon COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 My title says it all. Two miles through the city followed by an out and back of 22 total miles on a narrow bike path with a return to the streets for the finish. The most interesting part of the race is watching the hot air balloons floating overhead. This race could be so much better as New Mexico in the fall is fantastic. Head to Rio Bravo Brewing and Kaktus Brewing for your post race hydration.
Brian Curran from Phoenix (4/11/2018) "big city/small budget" (about: 2018) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Duke City Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 The people involved with the race along the course were great, very nice people. This is a big city race run on a small budget, All three races are on a bike path making it a mess for the first part of the race, This is unfair to those who follow the rules and line up where they are supposed to. Spend the money for street closures and you will have a destination race.
T. C. from Boston (10/25/2017) "Flat, Sunny and Friendly people" (about: 2017) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Duke City Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 I realize there are challenges to putting on a marathon in New Mexico. This race faces many of those challenging well but was a bit disappointing on others. First the cons: 1. No gu on the course. 2. The same tee shirt for the 5K as the marathon. 3. Few port-a-pottys on the course. 4. Crowded bike path for the bulk of the course. 5. No spectators for 22 of the 26 miles because we are on a shadeless bike path. 6. No signs at the turns. As a back of the pack runner, I was nervous at a few spots. Pro's 1. The shadeless course worked well logistically. The water stops were plentiful. 2. Flat course along the Rio Grande was often beautiful. (However, not always as we ran along side a highway for a while.) 3. Generous amount of time to finish the race. 4. Friendly, helpful people at package pickup. 5. Nice finisher's metal. 6. Perfect weather. It is a small race run on a bike path. The marathoners have a 15 minute lead on the half marathoners so at one time us back of the packers are dealing with the half marathon crowd coming up on us as well as the leading of the marathon with the support bikes coming from the other direction. I would say it was mostly a positive experience and I loved the coupon to the Scandia Tram that was in the bib packet. The host hotel is right at the start and finish as was the expo. This was my marathon for New Mexico and it did work well logistically.
C. B. from GA (10/24/2017) "Is the race director listening?" (about: 2017) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Duke City Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 I have the same complaints that runners from previous years have voiced - virtually no port-a-potties (at least none that I could find between mile 8-18), no gu or snack of any kind and a very poorly marked course. Why can't they spray paint the turns?? I am one of several I met who went straight instead of making a sharp left during the last part of the course. But on the positive side, the weather was perfect!
E. D. from Virginia (10/23/2017) "Good for 50 staters" (about: 2017) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Duke City Marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 First, the race was nicely put together, I appreciated the packet pick-up at the convention center, start and race hotel were all so close together. I am an experienced marathon runner having run more than 20 marathons - a few suggestions that I think could enhance the race experience in the future. 1) Get rid of the unisex shirts, or if you are going to go with unisex shirts, please order a lot more extra smalls! The small shirt is huge on me as a smallish female, meaning I'm likely to never wear it- which means less free advertising for you - when I was there, at least five women were flummoxed by the size of the shirts! 2) Port o johns were not on the race course, rather they were in the parking lots of transition spots - there was no way I was going to go that far off the trail to use the bathroom - especially because each spot had a line of 8 people deep. I would highly suggest placing at least one port o John much closer to the trail for exclusive use of runners. 3) Relay runners not identified as such - at other races I have run that had a marathon relay, the relay runners have a separate bib for their back that says 'Relay' - helps for the full marathoners morale to see that the person blazing by you hasn't run nearly as far as you and/or has fresh legs! 4) Lastly - the post race food was dismal! = Torn up bagels and apples? Really? All the research points to protein consumed quickly post- race leads to easier recovery - and how about springing for bottles of water for finishers? A half cup of water was just silly! All in all - if you just need to check NM off - it's fine - it's a marathon on a recreational path - so very much like a long training run for me - since my hometown has essentially the same trail (minus the horses!) spectators are limited to where the marathon relay transitions are located - so for those who expect a lot of crowd support - this wouldn't be the race for you!
R. J. from Tampa, FL (10/22/2016) "Duke city 2016" (about: 2016) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Duke City Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 On the plus side volunteers were great, there were lots of bathrooms at the start of the course and the expo was good. The course was really flat with no hills. And lots of cheap hotel options nearby for the travellers. And visiting taos and Santa Fe was absolutely amazing. A few things that could really improve the race: 1. For many this is a destination run. How about a distinctive medal and shirt -perhaps in shape of NM or symbol on flag or hot air balloon? The shirts and medal were largely generic. 2. Please give out gu shots. I have run 35 marathons and for a course of this size not giving out gu shots is ridiculous. A number of us marathoners ran out of gas towards the course end. 3. How about a few more bathrooms on course? There were about 5 bathrooms on a 20 mile stretch of the course and all had big lines as they were at relay exchange sites. 4. I didn't mind the trail. if the race was scheduled a few weeks later when the cottonwood leaves turn yellow the course would have been absolutely stunning.
M. L. from Sarasota, FL (10/18/2016) "Best logistical option for New Mexico" (about: 2016) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Duke City Marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 If you read previous years' comments, you should be prepared for what to expect: easy packet pickup, organized start, nice people, lackluster course, no food offered, and an extreme dearth of port-a-potties. What I didn't expect was how poorly the course was markedin several key pleaces, there was NO indication of the direction of the course. I would have been hopelessly lost had I been unable to see the person in front of me. Around Mi. 24, there was a 90-degree left turn back into town for the finish. I saw a sign upside down on the ground and turned it over to discover an arrow. I've run all size races all over the country and this is one of the worst for course direction which, in my opinion is a serious problem that could easily be fixed. It's still the logistically easiest NM race.
Eddie Gaul from Utah (10/22/2015) "Well organized race in New Mexico" (about: 2015) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Duke City Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I ran the Duke City Marathon mainly to claim New Mexico off of my 50 state's list. The expo was bigger than I expected. There were quite a few vendors there that were selling a variety of items. Packet pickup was a breeze and I got a pretty nice swag bag and a decent long-sleeved shirt. I registered late for the marathon and it was still under a $100, which I think is a fair price to pay. The finisher's medal is also pretty nice and on par with a typical marathon. The race is flat, with only some rolling hills at the halfway point on the out-and-back course. The race is at an altitude of over 5000 feet, so be prepared to take a performance hit. There is also very little shade on the course, so plan accordingly for sun exposure. The first few mile are on city streets around the downtown area which was the highlight of the course for me. However, after a few miles you basically have 22 miles of paved bike trail. I didn't mind this but the scenery doesn't change too much. Still, it was flat and I could settle into a comfortable pace and I was never hemmed in and felt like I could run without compromising. My Garmin read about 26.4 by the time I finished. Mile markers were pretty much spot on and I found that there were plenty of water / Gatorade stops. The intervals at which the stops were placed seemed a little haphazard but overall just when I was needing hydration there was a stop. The stops were well manned but didn't have any gels just water and Gatorade. Roving bike patrols were looking for troubled runners and there was medical support at the end. I was really disappointed with the bathroom situation. There were only a few at the start and virtually none on the course. As a male, I can step off the course and use the brush around the bike trail, but women would definitely have a harder time. The few bathrooms that were on the course, were well off the course or at the relay points which meant long lines (10+ people). This should be addressed. The finish line had plenty of food even for a 4 hour finisher. It consisted of Gatorade, water, chocolate milk, bagels, oranges and bananas. I would've liked to have seen something a bit more substantial to eat like cookies or chips. Crowd support was halfway decent for a marathon of this size. The last mile had a good group of people cheering you in and the relay points were a source of energy. There were scattered supporters though throughout the race. However, by no means is this a crowd at every mile type of race. Overall, if you are looking for a marathon to do in New Mexico, the Duke City Marathon would be a suitable choice.
David McCorquodale from Wilmington, Delaware (10/21/2015) "No water issues" (about: 2015) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Duke City Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 I wanted to respond to previous comments about water. This year there were many water and Gatorade stops and no problems. Frankly I don't know what people who complain about a boring course want. Running a marathon is mainly about constantly monitoring what your body is doing and how it's feeling. Who's got time to be bored? What I did like about the course was that it was smooth with no cracks or bumps. I've tripped and fallen late in marathons on rough courses. I really like the Albuquerque area. About an hour into the race, we were treated to the sight of about 20 hot air balloons rising into the sky.
T. L. from Hood River, OR (10/30/2014) "Not a well supported maraton." (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Duke City Marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 I ran the 2014 course and was beyond disappointed. This was my 32nd marathon and rated near the bottom for good races to run. It seemed like the organizers were more focused on the half marathon and the relay. The only porta potties were at mile one and then again at the relay exchange which was extremely crowded. The course is very boring and there were no spectators. I definitely would not recommend this one.

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Marathon Details - Duke City Marathon