Gregg Maul's Staging Area

I have been running this race for 31 years, Best job ever today, Good aid stations, well organized, good busses, great new course, now point to point and no loops, Marathon and 1/2 finishes together. Separate start locations. Same time starts. Weather was perfect again.

Great weather, hills, rocks and sand, lots of good people, Very well organized. The medal in in the photos and it is very cool. Starts at 7am, you have all day to get done, no pressure.

Totally perfect weather. Start 41 +-, finish 64+-, about 40,000 runners, 3 races, a few hills, nice finish party, good folks, no complaints. Only issue was leaving the race, so many people, at least 150,000 spectators.

Beautiful, you will love this race. Hills, rocks and trails. Get involved. 16 miles of good people and a challenge you will love. This was my 6th time for this course. Rocks and colors you will never forget.

A fantastic job of putting together another race weekend. A to Z, everything taken care of. Expo was great, people are amazing, the runners are all ages and all skills. This is a must do if you have never done it.

A well done race. Lots of very good runners, Equal amounts of Women and Men. A good 70 % are fast. Great Weather, very cute little town. All good with this one, just one improvement, no medals. So if they made a really cool medal this would be a 5 star for sure. Folks come from everyplace to run this. The first mile is congested, the last up mile is tough. This was my 4th or 5th time.

Lots of rocks on this on. One hill, some washes, Around 500 runners. 94 degrees and very humid. Nice course and well done run. 30 minutes from east Phoeinx, 2 hours from Tucson. One of few summer run areas.

Be aware there is little room for a miss-step. Clearly in this race, this race only, they are clearly more interested in the top 30, than the rest of the folks. So, run this race for fun but make sure your under the 4 hour mark. Such a great race series and this one race out of the series seams to fumble the ball. I believe the problem here is not with the organizers but with the city of Manitou Springs. They profiteer to the max , parking fees etc. This year they let cars into the parking as runners were still finishing. Totally uncalled for.

Good folks, well ran, great running organization. Good Expo, great food at the end, can’t beat that part. Views are just the best. Today was very good temps, had to put on gloves, it did warm up. The thin air is the pits going up hill but no big deal going down . They also have mountain bike races and Ultras. Headquarters is in Leadville and right on main street. You can’t go wrong with this one.

The Half is a good course, two hills, big turn out. No doubt you will love this course. This is in Montana, just across the border. I love vacation races.

One of the best organized marathons in America. ( America First) marathon. From beginning to end it was well done. Great support, super people. Course is a little down hill but all good. You follow the river and go through the valley. about 1500 people per race, 5 races. Great swag, you will love the race. Bused up the valley and run to the city. 39 degrees start, 72 degrees finish, fire pits at the top before you race.

Very HOt, 94 degrees, lots of folks. 5 races, Ran by Aravaipa.. Race starts are 7 PM. Parking is good. Must pay Park entry fee. Held at White Tank Mountain Park.

We had a good crowd, good weather, it get a little hot, all trails, lots of ups and downs, pay attention to the trail markers. This takes place in a very large city park in Colorado Springs. Well done race.

FYI, I am now 71, I have done 130 Marathons, 120 half’s, , 30 Ultras. This race was my 13th time for running it, The course has changed at least 3 times I know of. The organization did a marvelous job at putting this together. Fantastic community support and turn out. Lots of bands/drums etc. Volunteers had great attitudes. If you run this, if you park in a garage, park close to the exit, read all the race guide, take a space blanket just in case, mornings are cool.This race can turn hot later in the race. The swag is great and lots of thought has been put into this race. You will enjoy this for sure. There all hills, several so plan for it.

Lights, colors, swag, lots of folks, maybe 20,000 in the 1/2, another 20,000 in the 10K, no one could tell us for sure. Music all the way, Well put together. One issue, their web site needs some work also the communication via emails is weak. If you get same day bib pick up, they charge $50.00 plus processing fee, $10.00 plus tax. $60.00 plus to pick up. The web site also does not say where to go. But the runners are great and the bands are great too.

The organizers did a good job, lots of police, everyone had a good attitude. Aid stations is just water and Gatorade. Finish had no cold drinks, we finished at 77%. The mountains are very nice, but the flat land was boring. Your results are instant. All results posted in less than one hour of finish.

R & R did a great job, execution at every level. Start was good, well done, finish was also good. A very good course, out and back. Lots of bathrooms, so not problem there. Exit was a little tight because of all the people. 8500 1/2 marathoners. 5000 10K ers. Really a great crowd. Parking at my garage was free 201-South Ash Ave. for runners, they started charging later on. Exit out of town was easy and fast. Police presence was right on the money.

A good way to end the year. Great location, flat course, good food at the end. This is the last race of the year, I call it the left-over race. Un used shirt, medals from other races. All ages, all speeds.

The Revelers is a very fine group, really. However, this race and I have done 9 of their races ranked way down the list. The buss pick up was a mess. The location for pick up, no signs, no people, nothing was there. The delegated people showed up very late. A parking attendant not associated with the race helped out. Runners were so mixed up. So the race started late. Also no bathrooms on the lot, also a big problem. A total mess. The course is a nice course, not the fastest Revelers but good. Not a lot of locals out. Aid stations are just water and electrolytes so bring your own snacks. Weather war great and finish was great and very well organized.

Beware of the trail markers. Here again the boos is not checking up on the worker bees. Many people got turned around, off course for 2-4 miles, wrong direction etc. These folks have issues with proper markings and directional s. I thought I was on course, another lady coming from opposite directions said she was back tracking.. Turned out she was right, we both go messed up for miles. Also have many other say the same thing. Aid stations are great, this particular race the swag was very nicely done. The mountain is challenging, most is flat.

First off the Navajo nation was fantastic. Over all a good race, very beautiful for sure. Cliffs, Rocks, Trees and ……sand. 150 runners only, drawing only. They do a fine job for sure. The site says 2.5 miles beginning and end is sand. That is incorrect, its more like 22 to 26 miles of sand. So be ready.

This is the most challenging race ever. Two years in a row, got sick, and missed the cut off. Made all the cut off but the last. Can’t believe it again. 2024 will be better. Be ready, no matter what folks.