The race has a good location, but still need some work. There should be more control of the traffic. I had to slow down twice because a truck with pecans … MORE
The race has a good location, but still need some work. There should be more control of the traffic. I had to slow down twice because a truck with pecans got in the middle of the road. Some cars were speeding when got closer to runners, and I think traffic should be escorted by police of race staff. At the finish line, there was no staff that was able to tell be where it was the tent to check the official results. I couldn’t find out there that I had placed in my age group. Again, it has the energy to become a great race, but it need some mentorship/advice from big races organizers to avoid some of the issues indicated above.
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It has the potential to be better
The race has a good location, but still need some work. There should be more control of the traffic. I had to slow down twice because a truck with pecans … MORE
The race has a good location, but still need some work. There should be more control of the traffic. I had to slow down twice because a truck with pecans got in the middle of the road. Some cars were speeding when got closer to runners, and I think traffic should be escorted by police of race staff. At the finish line, there was no staff that was able to tell be where it was the tent to check the official results. I couldn’t find out there that I had placed in my age group. Again, it has the energy to become a great race, but it need some mentorship/advice from big races organizers to avoid some of the issues indicated above.
Great little race for NM
Staff was extremely helpful while race allowed an early start option. course was flat but faced a headwind on the return as it was along the river. Start and finish … MORE
Staff was extremely helpful while race allowed an early start option. course was flat but faced a headwind on the return as it was along the river. Start and finish was well placed at the University stadium. Some great finish photos as well.
Excellent!!
Very well produced race. The packet pickup and start were well organized, views of the mountains were gorgeous! Regular T-shirt and nice bling. MORE
Very well produced race. The packet pickup and start were well organized, views of the mountains were gorgeous! Regular T-shirt and nice bling.
Great Mexican Food and Pecans
This was a really fun and well organized small field race, and a very good choice if you want to run a marathon in New Mexico. Easy to fly into … MORE
This was a really fun and well organized small field race, and a very good choice if you want to run a marathon in New Mexico. Easy to fly into either El Paso or Las Cruces. Plenty of hotels in the race area, and there are some absolutely great Mexican restaurants in Las Cruces. Cold start to the race 34 deg, but temps go up at least 20-25 degrees as the sun rises. Race goes along a paved trail along the Rio Grande, the paved roadway winding thru the Pecan fields. Plenty of police to keep runners safe, and lots of water/gatorade stations along the course. Shane, the race director greeted us at bib pickup and clearly takes pride in running this event.
3.5 shoe/star rating
Good race considering it's a small race and newer race. Room for improvement? Yes. What race doesn't?! This was Marathon #42 for me. We moved to Las Cruces May 2023 … MORE
Good race considering it’s a small race and newer race. Room for improvement? Yes. What race doesn’t?!
This was Marathon #42 for me. We moved to Las Cruces May 2023 after 26 yrs in Houston. Was excited to run this marathon for the first time.
Course: Flat! However, keep in mind elevation is approx 4000 ft. Depending on where you are coming for this could impact your performance.
Scenery: Views of the Organ and Dona Ana Mtns and Picacho Peak along much of the course. Also run through the pecan orchards that are prominent in this area and run parallel to the Rio Grande River which is dried up during the winter.
Weather: Typically going to be high 30’s/low 40’s for start line but it’s mother nature. Who knows! Desert cold feels warmer than humid climate cold such as Houston. If the sun is out and no wind mid 30’s is not a bad start temp at all.
Race Size: Approx 500 runners for full, half and 4.7 mile. Small field, but there can be advantages to small races such as…..
Course Start: Starts/ends at the school stadium. Indoor flushing toilets! No line for toilets! LOTS of parking. We arrived at 7:30 for 8 a.m. start and that was “early”. Went inside the stadium to use the restroom and back to the car for a bit to wait in the warm car for start time. Las Cruces is a town of approx 110,000. The course start is easy to find. Depending on where you stay maybe 5-15 min away, no traffic, no issues finding it, no issues parking, etc…. Definite advantages if you have ever run a big race like a Houston or Dallas Marathon!!!
Course Markings: Course was well marked. For smaller races I “worry” about this because you may not always have a runner visible in front of you to be your guide/beacon. No issues here.
Early Start: 1 hr early start allowed, but must pre register for this option.
Packet Pick Up: Pick up at host hotel day before or race day. 3 vendors so this is more of a packet pick up and not an “expo”.
Swag: Typical swag – tshirt, sunglasses and sling pack. Tshirt & medal is the same for half and full. Really think half vs full should have different shirts and medals! Tshirt is short sleeve cotton. I prefer cotton, but would prefer long sleeve given cold Jan race date. That’s totally a personal preference though. Ask the next person and they will prefer the exact opposite. I would like to see eliminate glasses and bag. Too many races do this. Offer something different such as gloves, hat or disposable/reusable water station cups.
Water / Bathroom stations: Improved from last yr based on what I heard. Problem w/ volunteers not showing last year apparently.
Post Race: Race starts/ends on the school track. Very nice/new track! The race celebrates New Mexico’s birthday so they served birthday cake and frosted cookie cake! Never had this at a race finish and loved it! Then again I love sweets! Also had the typical post race snacks such as bananas, oranges, chips, fruit snacks, water & gatorade. Would LOVE if they offered diet coke! That’s the one thing I crave at the end of a marathon! 🙂
Clothes Dump: There’s no official close dump/collection program, but there were some people dumping clothes. Try to dump at a water station so it’s easier for volunteers to collect and donate.
Fairly popular race for those completing the 50 States half/full. Fly in to El Paso, TX and approx 50 min drive to Las Cruces. Heck if you fly in to Houston for their marathon you’ll drive that far to a host hotel and that’s in the same town! Another advantage to these smaller races!
Good overall race and thus the 3.5 shoe/star rating. It’s a newer race so will be fun to watch it grow in the coming years.
Good for 50 States
Not a great race but it suffices for one of the states. Not great but not horrible either. It is what it is and i have run worse courses. I … MORE
Not a great race but it suffices for one of the states. Not great but not horrible either. It is what it is and i have run worse courses. I
Did it with 8 friends so obviously that makes it all worthwhile. Carry on Comrades!
State 47is a good time
It’s great to help celebrate Mew Mexico’s birthday. It was the 124th year. Since New Mexico was state 47, they gave the first 47 runners a road runner medal to … MORE
It’s great to help celebrate Mew Mexico’s birthday. It was the 124th year. Since New Mexico was state 47, they gave the first 47 runners a road runner medal to add to the extra cool finishers medal. I’m excited to pair it with my state 48 medal from Arizona. The age group medals were also really cool being the shape of NM with a pepper and your placing. I also liked the backpacks they gave out at packet pickup. The race itself was pretty flat for a good PR opportunity. The wind was tough at times but mostly this was a great race with a fun party at the finish.
Gorgeous Scenery
Signed up last minute and flew 2,000 miles for this race. Small field. Smallest race I've done. This was only the 2nd year for the half and the first year … MORE
Signed up last minute and flew 2,000 miles for this race. Small field. Smallest race I’ve done. This was only the 2nd year for the half and the first year for the full. Only 250 running the half. Tiny bib pickup with one vendor. Low key start. Really lacking on volunteers – no one on course for turnaround etc. They advertised plenty of water stops but there was only one that you hit on way out and back. Alot of complaining from folks who didn’t bring water. If I hadn’t of carried my own I would have been really upset. Only complaint. The scenery was beautiful – Organ Mountains and A Mountain. Completely closed course.
State 43 for me…. Great 1st marathon
I found this race last minute and I was a bit skeptical because of a first time race…. IT WAS NICE! Easy and VERY small expo… get your bib & … MORE
I found this race last minute and I was a bit skeptical because of a first time race…. IT WAS NICE!
Easy and VERY small expo… get your bib & shirt.
The course had great views of the Organ Mountains the entire time. It was an out and back and I don’t mind that at all. My only nag is the two small uturns at the end as well as the two laps around the track…. I hate when they save those annoying things at the end! LOL
Medal and cotton T-shirt were great!
Flat course but the elevation made it ha
Communication was great on this although they could have used their own website as I did not know they had a host hotel until I went to packet pick up. … MORE
Communication was great on this although they could have used their own website as I did not know they had a host hotel until I went to packet pick up. It was a small race so there were no pacers but the race was clearly marked and most of it was off main streets. The medal was great and the most event good was good. I liked the course and running bike and runner paths. It was flat and I liked the cold weather – not so much the winds on the second half. Mrs. New Mexico started the race which was a nice touch and I liked the local running store that was at packet pickup and bought almost every flavor of the Taos bars. My not perfect 5 as I saw only one water station on the half. I have my own water but that is only could for 8 miles and I saw and heard from runners I passed asking where the water stations are. Not good! And my other petty complaint is I like to wear my race shirts to advertise the race and where I have been. For a half – a cotton shirt is a no no in my book and two times petty – I don’t want to say 5K 10k and half . The road runner for1st place marathon was great