Tri-State Marathon - Race Reviews

The beautiful downhill course was complemented by outstanding organization. Moreover, for big sweat hogs like me, the dry air was a huge plus. The only surprise was that the topographical map was not accurate, the first 12 miles are downhill followed by 5 uphill and then some serious hills. Train accordingly. This is a run for nature lovers who enjoy running in solitude, not for those seeking big-city crowds to cheer them on.

This one is worth a plane to Las Vegas & an easy car drive to Mesquite, Nevada. The base of operations is a small casino town where there is reasonable dining available 24 hours a day. This marathon begins with a bus ride from Mesquite, mercifully early (before dawn), to Utah. Woodfires are set up in front of no-wait porta-potties. Sitting in a heated bus is also an option. The first half of the marathon is a delicious gentle downhill, in cool morning temperatures, through breathtakingly beautiful western mountain scenery. The second half offers some rather challenging hills, and the scenery gets better. The race organizers provided the attention to detail & loving care that one finds in a small-town, family-run event. This runner saw no other runners for many miles during the second half, & was comforted by regular check-ups by event staff, driving back & forth along the course. A charming touch was the only water station abandoned by volunteers (at mile 21) that was left with a table full of water & fruit punch-flavored Gatorade already poured into cups, & plastic bins fully stocked with GU, sliced oranges, & banana halves on ice! At every mile marker, a porta-potty stood like a lighthouse, easily spotted from a distance at most miles! This is the delightful opposite of the big city stampedes!

I actually cut 17 minutes off my previous best. The hills start earlier than I expected and the course was harder than I expected. My advice would be to take it easier on the downhill to save some for the hills. The organization was great. If you want/need fans to keep you going this is not the run for you.

This was my first marathon and I really didn't know what to expect. It was a beautiful course and the massive downhill made for a fast first half but it may not be the best choice for a first-timer. The downhill made it hard to know what pace was appropriate. I ran the first 10 miles at about 1 minute faster per mile than I'd planned and at the time thought that would be ok since it felt like an easy pace (with gravity doing most of the work), but it caught up with my legs later on. The last 10 miles have about 5 ascents longer than 1/4-mile, which were a welcome relief. The hard part about those hills is that you had to run down the backside of each one. Those descents at the end HURT! I'd say if you plan to run this course, try some long downhill runs in training to get ready(I had run lots of short steep hills--but it's not the same), and in the race don't let gravity sucker you too far from your pace. All in all it was a good experience, and I'm not disappointed. I think I'll try a flatter course for my next marathon though, and maybe an extra month of training. I'm hoping that such a large degree of pain is not a necessary part of the marathon experience.

I've run this marathon twice and enjoyed it both times. The course is very scenic - desert with mountains in the distance. The organizers take care of everything so that the runners only have to think about running. They had packet pickup on race day morning as well as the day before the race. This year they even had the buses stay at the start line because it was so cold. We were told to drop our sweat bags anywhere and they would be picked up and taken to the finish area. The starter kept us well informed as to the start time so that nobody was left in a porta-potty. The timing company gives out cards with all your finishing info right after you come in so that you know your status almost immediately. There was plenty of water, bagels, fruit and yogurt for the marathoners even after the half marathoners had helped themselves. Thanks very much to the organization and volunteers for a smoothly run event.

The Tri-State Marathon was a terrific small town race with a great sense of community. Super nice race director, participants, and volunteers. The weather couldn't have been better and the early morning start made for a beautiful sunrise across the desert landscape. I loved the easy logistics of the race, parking in Mesquite with a bus transfer to the start (along much of the course for those who didn't get a chance to preview the course), run back and finish in a grassy park - right next to your car. No big city marathon nightmares of trying to get back to your hotel - just a great place for a long Saturday run! Challenging downhill with hills at the end - so train accordingly and race smart. Highly recommended.

Perfect weather, gorgeous but challenging course, and tremendous support. Organizers obviously responded to comments from past years (e.g. number of portables). Excellent job. Thanks for a great time.

Things I loved about this race: 1)It started at 5:30am PST, I was done by 9am! 2) Beautiful 'out West' scenery. 3) Very easy 1st half. 4) Started exactly on time. 5) Super nice volunteers. 6) Nice downhill finish in the final 1/2 mile. 7) Very small field of runners. 8) Finished 2nd in my age group. 9) Great hotel rates. 10) Close to Vegas. Things I disliked about this race: 1) Mile markers were backwards and off by one mile. I drove the course the night before and was aware of the problem on race day. 2) Starts at 6k feet, which is tough for us flat-landers. 3) Very tough 2nd half. Four significant hills in the final 8 miles. Not bad...if you're having a good day. Overall, the good outweighs the bad. I think every multiple-marathoner should run this race once, because of its small-town, small-race, and small-organization feel. No frills here, just hills.

WHOA! Is all I can say. This race was awesome. The weather was perfect, the people were so supportive and friendly. The aid stations were placed perfectly. The mile markers sure were confusing...but then again when you thought you had to run two more miles you only had to run one! The course was very challenging at the end. The first 15 or 16 miles were very nice, downhill, or flat. But be cautious on that downhill or you'll pay for it Sunday morning. And those last 10 or 11 miles are filled with 'rolling hills' that aren't so rolling. If you want to have fun, get some miles in, and have a relaxing, yet challenging run. I would advise you to run this!

I ran the 1/2 associated with the marathon. Others have already hashed over the mile markers and miscalcuated distance. Other than that I thought they did a great job. There were plenty of porta potties and enough aides at the aid stations to hand out what was needed. They were prepared when we got there and even chased after me when my legs wouldn't keep running. Finisher's medals for both races were different, which was great. Finish lines needs to be marked better; I couldn't tell if that was it or if I was to run through a shoot and keep going. Did a good job, my friends and I will be back for more next year, AND I will do more hill training! The race director has made it known this is our race, which is nice; he is working hard to put on a quality race and it shows. Keep up the good work!

It was my first marathon. I thought it was great. Having the mile markes off really screwed me up though. I was shooting for 7 1/2 minute miles and I was actually running a little under 7 minute miles for the first 16 miles. Then my legs said enough and the cramping began. Those large hills at the end were painfull, but I survived. They start with 8 miles to go - not six, and they are steep! You don't need a new set of mile markers. Just put the 26 mile marker at .2 miles not l.2; anyone with a first grade education should be able to figure that out. Besides the mile markers, I loved it. I'll be back next year ready to run the 'little hills' at the end.

First off, I ran the 1/2 associated with the marathon. Starts at same time as marathon at 1/2 way point. Unfortunately, this year it measured short. (My Timex GPS showed a reading of 12.69 miles rather than the standard 13.11). Bonfires at start, plenty of porta-potties. Mile markers were strange though. (Count down instead of up). Well done race though. This was something goofy. RD seems sincere about getting it rectified for future years. I would run it again. Train on hills. You will need them whether you run the full or 1/2.

Don't let the elevation drop fool you as it was very taxing on the thighs! A bit disorganized with the pre-race directions and announcements. Mileage markers were wrong and disappointing in tracking progress. Cups of water and Gatorade so small that in order to get replenished properly you had to stop and drink multiple cups. Otherwise, great scenery and a race worth running again.

I'm glad I came back for a second run. I think for the size it is well organized and they are trying really hard to please everyone. Mile markers were confusing and they have already made arrangements to take care of that for next year. The only other negative is the cups at the aid station were too small. Aid along the way was great and more porta-potties than I've ever seen in any race. Since it is very rural, there were only a few loyal families at different points along the course, but a lot of cheering coming into the finish line. Will I do it again? You bet!

Relatively well planned for a small rural marathon. Very steep course to begin with and nice mountain scenery. However, it gradually changed from downhill and scenic to flat and blah. As the heat pounded you from lack of any shade, you realize about mile 20 that the elevation chart on the website did not fully allow you to appreciate the several substantial climbs you would make to finish the marathon. Quite miserable until the last 1/2 mile where you finally saw some spectators and enjoyed a nice finish. Boy, if only the last 6 miles could be rerouted, I would run it.

My expectations were well met! What a beautiful course it was. The first 15 miles or so were down hill. Watch out for the first hill once the freeway is crossed. Just before the hill there was a cheer group that made me feel like a million but after the hill I was .02 cents. Be prepared for the final 6 miles or so. The first part of the race gives newbies the false feeling of 'piece of cake' but dues will be paid on the hills. The finish line was perfect with a nice crowd cheering at the end - tears were flowing. I enjoyed the race organization - all the volunteers were very kind. I'm going to be doing this race every year from now on. A perfect race for those wanting to do a first marathon. Now I just hope I make the St. George lottery!

This was my first marathon and the experience was great. There was a beautiful view of mountains in the background most of the course. The start is really early and it feels pretty chilly, but that is ok because at the end of the race it's almost hot. There were plenty of aid stations with fruit along the way but only one port-o-potty a couple of places course side. I agree with some of the other comments. The extremely long down hill worked my body differently and I pulled a ligament in my foot. That didn't bother me until I was done though. The hills are a surprise at the end but remember this was my first so I didn't quite know what to expect. Don't expect a big cheering section, the little one there is, is right at the end where it feels the best. Saturday is a great day to run the race so you don't have to fly right away or take a day off work. You can get the full of effect of sin city and I recommend it!

Great spring opportunity. Mesquite offers extracurricular activities for other family members. Course has a speedy first half, but several killer hills in the second half. Race was very well organized. Excellent runner support!!! Few spectators. Run with light traffic in second half. Prepare for cold temps at the start.

I enjoyed every aspect of this marathon. The location is uncrowded, unique and beautiful. The time of year is perfect with high temps in the low 70's, and the organiztion was excellent. Aid stations every other mile help a lot. There are not many people to cheer during the race (in fact it is big skys, red mesas and classic desert most of the way), but that is part of the uniquness and beauty. The crowd waiting for you in Mesquite at the end of the race is the best! I'll be back next year.

This was my fourteenth marathon in the last two & a half years, and I have to say this is the first marathon that was fun from start to finish. The scenery was beyond beautiful, and the course a blast to run. This is a small marathon, running from St. George to Mesquite (whatever). The course is largely closed to spectators, and you're out in the desert. Do not expect this to be the Rock & Roll with a band every mile, or legions of fans chanting 'You da bomb!' Instead, you will have large stretches of running alone, with views of small winding canyons, and mesas that will bring tears to your eyes: those mesas really are pancake flat on top. This marathon is comparable to the Yakima River Canyon Marathon--also beautiful, also a blast--but I think Tri-State's scenery was a little better....But run them both. Still, with all small marathons, you must be prepared. You stay in Nevada, and take a bus to Utah--across the time zone, which is an hour earlier. That means buses to the start run from 3:30 to 4:30 (& I don't mean in the afternoon). Las Vegas Marathon has the money & strength to have heated buses wait at the start line. Tri-State drops you off, and you stand around steel drums with burning lumber. Second, there were not enough portapotties at the start. We were still standing in line when the race itself started. With no chip, everybody was running 'gun time,' so that three minute late start factored into our time. Out on the course, portapotties were few & far between. You better bring some paper towels just in case (if you know what I mean). However, standing around semi-darkness at 5:00 AM was not a problem. I had way overdressed--planning on standing around waiting for the start. Just prior to the start, I dumped most of my clothes in my drop bag, and dumped still more clothes at aid stations as the day wore on. AND I recovered all my dropped clothes without any fuss or muss. That's good organization. Every volunteer was pleasant, friendly, and helpful. In terms of past criticisms of others, I thought the course was ideal. There is an extended slight downhill for the first several miles, with a few hills at the end--but nothing to lose sleep over. I was pacing a friend of mine, and would have loved to cut my teeth on them--but didn't. The hills are short, and not too steep--but just the right level of challenge to keep things interesting. I thought the hills were tougher at the Yakima Canyon, Portland (Or), San Francisco, San Diego (Carlsbad), and Seattle Marathons. Maybe the Tri-State hills are slightly tougher than the baby hills in Los Angeles--but the weather, the scenery, the day--it was just more fun to run Tri-State than LA. One final note: this marathon was on a Saturday, which was ideal. Fly into Las Vegas on Friday afternoon, rent a car & drive to Mesquite (whatever), and spend the night there. Post marathon, drive back to Vegas, spend Saturday night in Vegas, and see 'O' or 'Mystere.' Do ***not*** waste your money on Blue Man Group. They stink. My friend & I got up at 3:00 AM for the marathon, and were in bed at 11:00 PM after watching 'O,' for a twenty hour long day--one of the best days I have had, ever.

This is a very scenic course--starting at 6,000 feet--Coming from Florida I thought the elevation would be a problem--but the elevation drop is significant early on so the elevation really didn't bother me. The down hill is hard on the quad and would not recomment this course for anyone that has shinsplint problems. The last 6 miles were rolling. Looked forward to the hills toward the end after all that downhill running. The race is not that badly organized for a race only in its second year and they had a big increase in runners over the inaugural year when about 100 runners finished. For those who registered online--updates were sent out daily in the days before the race. Unfortunatly I missed the last email update about how to find the starting line. There was absolutely no literature at the packet pickup with a map of course, where water stations would be, where porta potties are etc, need to have a fact sheet with all the pertinent information. Busing to the start needs to be improved. We were told to be at the finish between 4:00-4:30 to take the bus to the start. I got there at 4:00 expecting to take the first bus to the start to avoid the possibility of long porta potty lines--I was on the first but but it didn't leave till 4:30. Seems like all the busses left at 4:30 and arrived at the same time creating extra long lines at the porta-potty lines. If each bus would leave as the bus filled up the porta-potty lines would have been more manageable. A good point was that the race started promptly at 5:30 so we were not waiting around an hour or so in the cold to start. The bad thing was some people were still at the porta-potties. Probably need more porta-potties along the course--internet email said porta potties would be every other mile--but they were only at like 3 or 4 places along the course. Aid stations were strategically placed well. First aid station was not till 5 mile but your going down hill and it's still cool out so you do not need a lot of fluid those first miles. After mile 5, aid stations were two miles apart and it seemed lide they were only a mile apart during the latter miles. Some aid stations had little kiddie cups. Finisher cards were printed with time. Results not posted on website yet. Race was overall a good value. I registered late at $45 and the shirt is nice--free buffet at casino was included. Post race refreshmeents were bannas, yogurt, bagels.

I would definitely recommend training on downhill runs before you attempt this one. I was running an easy PR through mile 16 when the downhill pounding finally got to me. A total drop of 3900 feet will just kill your legs. The hills (up and down) in the last 10 miles were a killer after the long downhill. Even though it was only March it seemed hot the last 10 miles. I am from a much colder climate so I was not ready to run on a warm, sunny day. The support was good along the way as far as aid stations, but don't expect any spectators in the middle of the desert. The food at the end was good and plentiful and the trophies for winning in age groups looked great. I will come back next year for sure, but I will be better prepared.

Three States, Two Times Zones, One Marathon. That is the motto of the race. This is an excellent race. Although there were almost no fans, except for the finish, that did not take away from the breath taking beauty of the course. It was my 31st marathon and now one of my favorites. A fast downhill course until mile 15, then there are some minor hills, but mostly flat. The final mile is downhill. Great organization and location. With minor improvements as the size grows and word gets out, this will be the next St. George or Big Sur scenic type marathon. Great job organizers! The time of year was perfect and the scenery absolutely awesome. Add in the three states and two time zones for a memorable event!!! Two thumbs way up!!!

Very small inaugural marathon (< 100 participants). The organizers were very nice and conscientious, and they are going to make minor improvements for next year. My biggest complaint was that the web site implied that the course was downhill all the way, a definite PR-type course. The first 15 miles are very downhill (I have run 32 marathons and my quads were never so sore), then you have three major uphills and a few other minor ones. Let's be real honest when we produce an elevation chart! It's worth giving a try again.

This is a great marathon course, and was very well organized. The course itself is very scenic. It was very helpful to have driven the course the night before, as there are some hills near the end that do not show up on the elevation chart. However, the hills are not very long, and if you're expecting them, are not too bad. This is a fast course, and if you train properly, i.e. hill work (both uphill and down) can easily produce a pr. I look forward to next year when it will be held in late March. Cooler temps will be a plus. I give the fans 5 stars, they were great and very supportive. The important thing is quality, not quantity!!

The scenery was great. The first 17 miles were fast, completely downhill, but hard on the legs. The balance of the course was challenging with 3 or 4 hills, the sun and heat. The aid stations were well stocked. The race management did a great job keeping us informed about the race. This was my 62nd marathon and I would definitely run this one again!

This was one for the record books, an inaugral event that will grow into a desert classic. It was an incredible experience, starting in Utah and finishing in Mesquite Nevada. The course ran down hill untill about mile 19 which is also when the heat got to me and the hills, which reminded me of the Seattle Marathon. The view was breathtaking the organization and volunteers were great. Not a marathon I would recommend to first timmers. Not much (if any) fan support perhaps next year people will leave the casinos to cheer on the runners! Next year it will be earlier in May, so maybe the heat will be more tolerable.

This race was very well organized from start to finish. Mike and Tyler did a great job as race directors. Since it was the inaugural race it was small but very enjoyable. Great course-tougher than I expected. Didn't expect all the hills in the second half. But I still PR'd as many runners did at the race. The spectators were few but the ones there were awesome. They just followed the runners along the whole race cheering for everybody. Thank you Gail and Sally in the camper truck, the guy and his little boy with the 'Fitnuff' license plate and the single lady that kept misting us to keep us cool. You guys were awesome! Everybody at the aid stations were friendly and wonderful. There was plenty of food and drinks at the finish. Nice finisher's medal. The race finished at a park with a ramada with lots of trees and shade. Nice touch. It was a small race so it was fun to sit around and chat with all the other runners and race directors. Met a lot of really neat people. This is a race I would definitely repeat. Thanks everybody!

Tristate marathon was a great inaugral success. The organizers did a fantastic job, and all the volunteers were enthusiastic and very supportive. The route was scenic and beautiful. I didn't find that there was a need for too many more aid stations, but more port-a-potties are a MUST!!! Coming from a totally different climate, I found the heat very challenging. The first part of the course is a nice gradual downhill that felt great at the time, but my quadriceps certainly complained for two days after. The hills in the canyon were unexpected and really tough. All in all, it was a fantastic experience, and well worth the trip. I would recommend it for anyone who wants to run a small, intimate marathon, where the crowd support is not there, but the volunteers make up for it in enthusiasm and assistance. Well done, Tyler and company.

This was my 16th marathon, and by far the toughest. It was the toughest not because of the course or conditions, but because the race organizers didn't clearly state what the course was all about--their website never was updated, and had inaccuracies that led to not being prepared for what was ahead. It was billed as the fastest course in the USA, completely downhill, and would be fast,fast,fast. The truth began to surface at the packet pickup that indeed, there were some rolling hills--no big deal. The crystal-clear truth was that there were significant uphill parts, notably later in the race, with long and steep upgrades--no problem IF you know they're going to be there. I ran the first half in 1:32, the second in 2:30--I had been spent early because I didn't know what was ahead. My legs were trashed at that point, so I had to just hang on to finish--that's not how I run a race. All we wanted was the truth; a heads-up of what we were in for. The website indicated a steep fall throughout with mostly flat to the end. The inaccuracy couldn't have been more blatant. The lessons learned were numerous; question or at least substantiate the course particulars--don't accept anything at face value. It's a desolate course with no spectators and the desert temps can get you. The saving grace of this inaugural run was that the race directors and volunteers were extremely friendly and were eager to please. They solicited and listened to everyones' suggestions--carefully taking notes even before the race started--they truthfully knew that they had many obstacles to overcome before next year's race. There was abundant water on the course and the volunteers were all smiles. They're already thinking about moving it up to March to beat the heat ( a great move). The packet was no frills and didn't have any info on transportation to/from the start--any info came from E-mails only. The race is in a remote part of Nevada, so logistically you have to cross alot of hurdles just to get to the starting line--and there is where the disappointment lays--preparing for and travelling to what you thought was a downhill course that most everyone would PR on, only to realize it wasn't delivered as promised. The race director said that the winner was shooting for 2:17; he finished in 2:56--a surprise to all. Again, it wasn't the difficulty; it just wasn't was as billed. The Eureka Hotel had very cheap rates, and was only a third of a mile from the start. Hopefully, next year's race can be staged much better. Definately, this race isn't for first-timers, and without some future elevation changes, a PR is not likely (not impossible though--a few did have them). Smaller races sometimes have their advantages; in this case their friendliness, but they also have their challenges, especially inaugural launches. It's a good lesson for first-timers as well as multiple marathon race runners.

This is a very nice rural marathon with a beautiful yet challenging course. In some ways it is the very antithesis of New York, which I have run several times: No spectators whatsoever except at the finish (hence the one star above - not a negative), small field of runners, totally rural with nice, high desert vistas - a race to run with your own thoughts, on your own terms. It was more challenging than I anticipated. I knew that the long, long downhill would demand a certain style of running and take its toll on my legs. However, living at sea level, I certainly became aware of the altitude. Also, there are three or four demanding hills in the second half of the race, especially around mile 22, and a killer at 25 (followed mercifully by a nice downhill finish). I was afraid that a water stop every other mile starting at mile 3 would not be enough, but water turned out not to be a problem. There was an additional stop at mile 24 which was welcomed (next year, another at mile 22 would be even better). Many of the water stops were staffed by families, and all were wonderful and supportive. This is not the best race for a first marathon - there are too many things for a first timer to worry about without high altitude and big-time down hill. But I do recommend this race to someone who has a marathon or two under his/her belt and wants to try a smaller, well-organized race that has a beautiful desert course and its own set of rewards and challenges. By the way, the race organizers arranged for a great rate at one of the hotels in Mesquite. Job well done, especially for an inaugural race. Thanks! PS: There is NO shade on this course. Use LOTS of sunscreen. This may be stating the obvious, but I did come across one runner at the start who forgot. Thankfully, he found another runner carrying some. I don’t know if the race organizers had sunscreen at the start, but next year it would be a good idea just in case.