About 2,000 participants across all distances, like the half, 10k and 5k, all start at the same time, without start corrals in the past. Be aware that everyone is starting at a vastly different pace based on race distance, and expect some crowding getting through the starting line
While it’s marketed as a flat course, it will feel hilly if you only train on flat. The first half has the longer climb and the second half as a couple of steep climbs
4 hairpin turnarounds on the course – know that you’ll have a big slowdown getting around them
Terrain is varied and mostly pavement. Packed dirt and sand in The Estuary, some cobblestones and grates on the bridge and on the back half of the course. The final 2K has some rocks, which will likely feel fairly painful given how late in the race it is
With several distances running at the same time, know the course. Some half runners noted they were confused as to which way to go because signage wasn’t great.
Last 2 miles are direct sun and hard because of the footing and being so late in the race. No water in the past in those last 2 miles, so drink up at the last aid station (course map shows it as mile 10.8)
Course
Type:Start/Finish at the same location with 2 main out and backs with 2 smaller out and backs
Start/Finish Info: Both located in Plaza Mijares, historical downtown, San Jose del Cabo. Parking available about .5 mile from the start
Hills: 3 small hills, ~75 feet from mile ~1.5-2.5, ~75 feet from ~6.8-7.2, ~40 feet from ~7.8-8.1
Locations of water stations/electrolyte: About every 1.5 miles, unsure whether they will offer just water or both
Electrolyte offered: Not noted, but Powerade is a sponsor, so likely Powerade
Spectator access
Access Locations: Several spots to access runners, especially with several out and back sections. If spectators want to stay close to the start/finish, they will see runners several times since they pass by that area a few times for out and backs.
Summary: Point to point trail race run entirely on single track, from El Cajoncity (outside of La Paz in Baja Sur California, Mexico to El Sargento on La Ventana Bay. After traversing deep canyons and three mountain passes, runners make their way to the Agua Caliente Beach on the Sea of Cortez. Also offered is a 62km distance.
Lessons Learned from Race Reports
Required to carry at least a liter of water
The race will take you back to the start after the finish for a small fee – be sure to sign up for it
Recommended you don’t leave cars at the start because of the remoteness of the area
Trail traverses some rocky sections with big boulders, expect to go slower
Be ready for heat not only with temperatures but exposure to the sun from lack of big trees for shade
Use stream crossings to cool off whenever possible
Terrain looks sandy with a lot of loose dirt – very tiring to run in and try not to fight it, or you’ll waste more energy
Be aware of cactus and other bushes that can scrape, sting or cut you
While a lot of the climbs and descents look gradual, there are some short, steep sections
Bring enough water between aid, especially if you tend to drink a lot of water to begin with
Bring your own calories with aid stations only offering water and fresh fruit
Elevation
Total gain/loss: 1672m of change (5,486 ft)
Climbs: Biggest climb is 350m (1,148 ft) from ~14km – 17.5km. Fairly endless climbs, both small and large, up until the last 5k, which is mainly all downhill
Results – 57:13 – 92nd overall out of 8027 runners
3 Bests – what aspects of the race did you like the most
I got to race with my friends. Thankfully, I met some cool, fast guys during my first of five weeks staying in Bogota. They showed me around the city by taking me on runs in all sorts of cool places. This race was just before we left the city so I had a chance to race them all before leaving town.
I beat all my friends, but it took a last second surge to hold off a hard-charging Christian as he got on my shoulder in the final 100m – I hadn’t seen him the entire race.
There were over 8000 runners, it was the second biggest race of the year in Bogota, and while there were probably other foreigners in the race, I didn’t see any. There’s something cool about being the only guy not from Colombia in the race.
Not so much – aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
The start is absolutely ridiculous. They had different wrist bands based on estimated finish times. However, in the final minutes before the start, everyone stampeded into the start area. There was serious pushing and shoving going on as we were slowly herded through the start. I was a good minute before I got out and I was up front with those pushing. And then once it started, there were so many slower people clogging up the road for the first mile – a real shit show of a start!
Weird factor – what’s the weirdest thing about this race
The majority of people in the race wear their race shirts on race day. Often seen as taboo in the US, this is common in Latin America – I learned this racing in Mexico last year. So this year I embraced the custom and raced with my blue Allianz 15k shirt likely 90% of the other racers!
Highlights of your race – what did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular
I ran hard and did not blow up. I was scarred from the Toluca Marathon last year (9000’+ elevation and I was struggling worse than any other race in recent memory), and though this was only a 15k, going faster at altitude presents additional challenges. I ran decently fast and though I did slow some later in the race, it wasn’t drastic.
Lessons for others – share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
Figure out how to get near the front to save yourself some real hassle at the start.
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
Be better about finding the right people to run and pace with throughout the race. While there were always people around, as the race thinned after 8k, I struggled more than necessary with some head winds and some of the hills (10k and 11k into the race). Had I had the right people to be working with, I think I could have held it together better.
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
Two overpasses during 10k and 11k. They’re not big, but if you’re already sucking wind from being over 8000’ elevation, these little hills will kick your breathing into overdrive. Not much you can do about them, unless you train specifically for the hills there, but you can at least avoid mental devastation by knowing they’re coming.
Aesthetics – is it a pretty course
Not really. It’s a big city, you run on big city roads, and it’s Bogota. There is certainly something cool about running a city like this, but pretty is not the word I would use to describe it. Plus, there are plethora of fumes you’ll likely be sucking down that may well take years off your life.
Difficulty – is it a tough course
Yes and no. Altitude – yes. But it’s also roads and it’s generally flat. So it’s not that hard. I don’t think locals see it as a difficult course.
Organized and well run – did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Online registration was easy if you can read Spanish. They asked for my insurance company and blood type during registration – interesting. Packet pickup was big with lots of big name companies present. It was easy to get to and get through though. Race day was smooth overall. Good finisher area with food and drink at the end. Start area was the only real fiasco.
Competition – is there a strong field?
Yeah. There are some fast runners in Colombia and I think they’re all at this race. I thnk the winner wins a new car.
Aid Stations
Water and gatorade at many spots. Water comes in little plastic bags. I think they had some gel too along the way. I didn’t take anything but it seemed like a substantial amount of aid available.
Weather and typical race conditions –
60s, cloudy, slight head wind. Good weather for racing.
Gear – did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?
Nothing special. I wore my favorite Salomon tights with the pockets built in. I carried my phone so I could Uber to the race. No gear needed for carrying any fueling stuff though – it’s only a 15k.
Spectators – is this a friendly course for your friends
I assume so, but I was a tourist in Bogota and not super efficient at getting around. I imagine it is fairly easy to hit a couple spots along the way though if you know what you’re doing.
The Overall Score – how many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it
4.5/5 Totally unique experience, good people to run with, fast and competitive, and a real challenge given the altitude. If the start wasn’t so ridiculous, it’d be a 5 out of 5.
3 Bests – what aspects of the race did you like the most
-The experience of running in another country, in another racing culture, with lots of other people. Everyone felt very happy to be there and supportive of one another. And I love that everyone wears their race shirt the day of the race (I couldn’t bring myself to do it; not on a half marathon).
-The race was very well organized from the packet pickup to the pre-race set up, to course markings, and to the finish line chute
-The price and the fact that I could still sign up the day before. It cost 300 pesos, which is around $17. I had to buy 3 gu at the “expo” and it was 100 pesos, so I spent a third of the cost of the race just on 3 gu, and my 300 pesos still got me a tech shirt and a medal.
Not so much – aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
-So many out and backs, and some of them very short. I think we did at least 5 different out and backs with a 180 degree turn. Not that I’m flying on the race course, but they definitely slowed me down to have to turn on a dime so many times
-It would have been nice to see an elevation profile on the race website. I had no idea what to expect and it was actually fairly hilly (900 feet gained; nothing for trail miles but a challenge for me at 6000+ feet)
Weird factor – what’s the weirdest thing about this race
-Water was in small plastic bags, so you had to tear off the corner with your teeth first and then squeeze it out just right. I’ve had this before at a race in Guatemala, so it wasn’t that weird, but it still threw me for a loop. I loved looking around at all the other runners tearing off the corners and squeezing the bags, and there were streams of water flying everywhere.
Highlights of your race – what did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular
I was happy with my tactics of slowing it down on the hills and picking it up on the flat and downhills. This wasn’t a hilly course by any means, but it was hillier than I’m used to and the hills were harder at elevation, so when we first started I was a little worried with how spent I felt from the beginning. But I backed it off and just tried to enjoy the experience and my pace actually didn’t slow down. The last 5k was nearly completely downhill, so it felt so good to let go and let momentum help pull me towards the finish. I had hoped to be around two hours and was really happy to run well under that.
Lessons for others – share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
-Always bring toilet paper for the porta potties.
-Also, maybe it’s because I’ve been out of the racing scene for a while, but I’ve found in the last two races here in Mexico that people aren’t very cautious about cutting right in front of you to pass. I had a few times where people cut in really quickly in front of me, even later in the race where there was plenty of space elsewhere, and I almost fell. I don’t think it’s a Mexico thing; I think I’m a little out of practice with racing, but something I noticed in this race and the last.
Aesthetics – is it a pretty course
Not really, but it’s not ugly either. I was happy when we were done with all the out and backs in the first half of the race and then just had a long stretch on a wide open road for the final out and back. We had views of the mountains surrounding the city, so you could say it was pretty. For a road race it wasn’t that bad.
Difficulty – is it a tough course
Mildly difficult because of the elevation and some of the hills. On the way out we were on a long, gradual hill that we could see going for a few kilometers, so that was hard, but it was fantastic coming back downhill for the final 5k.
Organized and well run – did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
It felt very well organized, from packet pickup (it was outside at a Park that we ran at daily in Queretaro), to the race morning, to race markings, to aid, to the finish line festivities.
Competition – is there a strong field?
I think so. There was prize money and I saw lots of fast people on their way back while I was still running out.
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
Nothing special. I signed up the day before the race at the expo. I think the online registration closed a few days before the race and there was a cap of 6,000 runners total for the half, the 10k and 5k, but they didn’t reach it.
Aid Stations
There was water every few kilometers and the for the second half of the race they had an electrolyte drink. I ate two gu and took water fairly often, even if just to have a little water in my mouth or dousing my back.
Weather and typical race conditions –
It was 60 degrees and breezy at the start and warmed up quickly in the sun, especially being on the road and exposed. It warmed up to 80s that day but likely only in the 70s by the time I was done, since the race started at 7am.
Gear – did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?
The whole time I was running, I was wishing I’d had my Ultimate Direction Jurek belt, so I could put my gu and my phone in it. I carried my phone because I had to take Uber to the race and I wanted to be able to contact Matt, but it really sucked running with my phone in my hand. I tucked it into my sports bra a few times, but ended up bruising my boob! A little waist belt would have been perfect for gu, my phone, and a few pesos.
Spectators – is this a friendly course for your friends
Actually, yes. With all the out and backs and looping around early on in the course, spectators could have gone to several locations to see runners.
Awards – There was money for the top 3 in men and women.
The Overall Score – how many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it
4.5 out of 5. The large amount of out and backs and looping around were the only fault of the race.
3 Bests – what aspects of the race did you like the most
The vibe. People were excited for this race. It is one of two races in all of Mexico that earns runners points for UTMB and everyone there knew it. They were happy and it felt like a special event.
The experience. Being on course as one of the few foreigners felt like a special thing to me. People seemed excited that I was there and were quick to cheer for me. Even runners on the course seemed excited to see me. Twice I had people shake hands as I passed them.
Felicidades. Lots of people sharing congratulations after the race was over. People at this race were just genuinely happy to be there and to be part of the experience.
Not so much – aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
The course was really exposed and more sunny than I would have expected. Good amount of flat pavement, which normally I like, wore me down quite a bit. Late in the race the course was pretty rough and not fun. Really steep and rocky. It felt like we were just going up and down to add vert and get the extra kilometers in. Lastly, there is a canyon section we had to do twice and it wasn’t well marked. It was the only time during the day that the course wasn’t well marked and fearing that I’d gone off track, I turned around. I lost a good amount of time this way and ended up doing the canyon three times instead of two! I heard that they mentioned this at the briefing, but after listening for a few minutes and not understanding much, I didn’t stay for the entire thing, so maybe it’s my fault?!
Weird factor – what’s the weirdest thing about this race
Pueblo dogs! I’ve never had to pick up rocks for dogs on course before and I was running with a rock multiple times during this race. The course runs through small homestead areas on dirt roads. It often looks quite impoverished and one common feature in these smaller areas in Mexico are roaming dogs. They don’t necessarily belong to anyone and they will bark and get aggressive. However, just the act of picking up a rock usually gets them to run away. I probably was a bit more stressed than needed because of this and was thinking more about dogs for a big chunk of the race, rather than my run.
Highlights of your race – what did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular
I didn’t blow up! I paced it well and spread my effort out over the day. I kept my heart rate below 140 almost the entire run. This was good because all the sun and the tough final 30k would have destroyed me if I’d gone out too hard.
I also ran the big downhill really well. We climbed to 10,800’ in the early stage of the race and then came all the way down to below 7,000’. The course was steep and often rocky on the way down. I passed people early and that only stoked my confidence. I flew down the hill and likely passed 10+ people during this stretch. It was fun, though my quads were a little more tired than needed after it. All these downhill workouts are paying off!
Lessons for others – share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
Wear sunscreen! I got fried. My skin has peeled off in sheets since the race and I was seriously burnt after this run. Minimal shade throughout the day. Also, if you like gels, best to bring your own. Fruit, potatoes, and electrolyte drink were the main things I could rely on from the aid stations.
Aesthetics – is it a pretty course
Yes and no. I loved the first part of the race. The initial climb and descent were great with trees and forest. The middle 50k were kind of crappy. Lots of paved and dirt roads. The dirt road sections were nice once we got back into the mountains but the lower elevation stuff in the towns was not so great. The final 30k had some pretty aspects to it but it was also tough. I don’t think there is much single track trail in Mexico and the little sections where we had “trail” was not really trail as I’m used to. It was more just ribbons in the trees marking a rough path through the woods. Pretty in some ways, but also something we were cursing at that stage in the race.
Difficulty – is it a tough course
Yes and no. The sun and rough final 30k made it tough. The total elevation change wasn’t too much and the flats make it easier. I was tired at the end!
Organized and well run – did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
I was pleased. My expectations weren’t all that high and my expectations were exceeded.
Competition – is there a strong field?
I would like to say yes, but I didn’t kill this race and I still finished 5th.
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
Lodging can be a challenge. If you don’t get a place in the resort where the race happens, hotel rooms are nearly an hour away in the city of Saltillo. We managed to get a place last minute but we paid for it. The story of this weekend and how it all came together was worth a separate blog post: How an Ultra Happens on a Whim
Aid Stations
Often far apart, 10-12k, sometimes more frequent. Water, electrolyte drink, fruit, potatoes. There were some sandwiches and something that looked like an empanada at some of the stations. I didn’t try these. Bathroom access on course was limited. Thankfully one of the aid station workers talked to a local tienda owner and they let me poop in their bathroom – no paper available of course!
Weather and typical race conditions –
It was warm, 70s or 80s and sunny. The temps may not have been high but with the direct sun and no clouds, it felt really hot.
Gear – did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?
There was a required gear list but nothing out of the ordinary. Headlamp required because we started in the dark.
Spectators – is this a friendly course for your friends
Maybe. There were places you could drive to along the course. Most was on dirt roads so if you have local knowledge or a sense of adventure, you could probably get around to various points on the course. Locals were all quick to give me a cheer as I shuffled by.
Awards –
There was money for the top 3 and big plaques for age group winners.
The Overall Score – how many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it
4 out of 5. Worth it for the experience. The people were awesome and I’m glad we went for it.
3 Bests – what aspects of the race did you like the most
Exploring more of Chapultepec than just the small 2 mile circle I normally stick to. It was great seeing so much more of it, especially early in the morning before the rest of the city was awake
The proximity of the race to our apartment; I was able to walk just 25 minutes to the start, with a little bit of jogging as a warmup
Being a part of the running culture in another country and city, especially in a city as big as Mexico City.
Not so much – aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
Packet pickup – It was at a mall, on a Saturday, on the very south side of the city, about 15 miles from the actual race location. It’s difficult going much more than a few miles in a car here, so the trip to get the packet took about 4 hours and cost more in Uber fees than the race fee. To make it worse, they moved the site of the packet pickup the day of, so we were walking around the mall, clueless as to where to go, until we spotted a guy with a race bag and he explained where it was.
Also, the race had lots and lots of turns and little out and backs. We took about 25 turns on the course and took 180 degree turns at least 5 times. I definitely lost momentum with every turn and turnaround and was a little miffed at some runners who decided to pass on turns, especially the narrow ones, as they’d cut right in front of me and then I’d nearly clip their heels. I’m amazed the winners ran as fast as they did (2 men under 51 minutes and many more under 1 hour!).
Weird factor – what’s the weirdest thing about this race
Group stretching. I knew to expect it because Matt did it has the Toluca marathon the weekend prior, but it was still a little weird. 15 minutes before the start 2 guys got up on a platform in front of the group and led us all in stretching and calisthenics. I went along with most of it, and so did about half the runners.
Also, another thing I knew to expect, is that about 75% of runners wear their race shirt the day of the race. Had it been as short as a 5k, I would have joined in, but given it was almost 10 miles and my first race back, I didn’t want to chance suffering through miles of chaffage from wearing a new shirt the day of the race.
Highlights of your race – what did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular
It was my first race back since becoming pregnant and giving birth via c-section, so it was really cool for me to get back in the racing culture again. While I ran a little slower than I would have liked, I still think I ran to my potential given the shape I’m in, given my training, and given the altitude here. My goal was to break 1:30 and I ran 1:27.13, so not bad!
Also, I love racing in other countries. It’s a cool glimpse into what’s normal for that country and/or that city’s running culture. For the most part races are the same, but there are enough differences that make these races all the more memorable. I just wish I was in better shape to be able to run faster and be closer to the front of the pack, or at least the front of the average Jane runners.
Lessons for others – share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
Altitude makes a difference! I wasn’t sure if the race would be flat or not, as I only saw a course map a few days before the race, and even the tiniest of hills were difficult. We gained about 350 feet I believe, according to my Garmin, and most of it was in just a couple hills. Definitely struggled there.
Other tips – Be ready for something to change regarding the race. Just a few days before the race I received an email saying the location of the race had changed (seriously, how does that happen?), so I’m glad I paid attention to that. Even the packet pickup changed the day of the packet pickup.
Bring your own toilet paper (really, to any race here and abroad). The porta potties didn’t have any and thankfully I brought a little ziploc of toilet paper just in case. Many people used the hand paper towels that were in the hand washing stations (really, hand washing stations but no tp in the porta potties???), but had those not been there, people would have been pretty screwed, unless they all know to bring their own tp too.
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
Train in altitude as long as possible. Don’t start out too fast because it hurts even more at altitude and is harder to recover on the run. I went out a little too fast for the shape I’m in, at 8:45 pace, and suffered the first 4 miles, slowing down more and more every mile, and it was hard to recover on the run, but then got a little pep after 5 miles (and the hills were the worst at miles 4 and 5) and got a little faster near the end.
Aesthetics – is it a pretty course
For Mexico City, yes. It’s in one of the biggest parks in the city and stays in the park, so it’s definitely a pretty place to run. We went around a few lakes that were actually really beautiful to run around, especially given that I could see the entire circle around the lake surrounded by runners, and because early morning mist was still steaming off the top of the water.
Difficulty – is it a tough course
Yes, only because it’s at altitude, because there are a few hills, and because of all the turns and turn arounds. For someone who is accustomed to altitude, it’s a fairly easy course that’s more annoying than anything because of all the turns. It’s a relatively flat course, but for me, altitude made a difference.
Organized and well run – did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
On a scale of 1-10, I would say an 8. The packet pickup location change felt like a newbie move and it was a little unnerving that they changed the race location days before the race. Otherwise, during the race, it felt like a well oiled machine. It’s an Adidas race series, so you’d hope it feels put together. We started the race right on time, there were lots of bathrooms near the start, tons of signs throughout the race, volunteers at every turn, and plenty of water and gatorade, and a nice finish chute at the end with a goody bag.
Competition – is there a strong field?
Yes, there was an Elite starting chute and by the look of them warming up and judging by the results, definitely a strong field. I’m not sure how deep it was, but there were certainly fast times. This is also part of a race series throughout the year, so I would bet a lot of people do the entire series and focus on really racing all of them.
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
It had a cap of 5,000 and sold out about 10 days before the race, and registration only opened in late May, so sign up early. When I signed up I was #4489, so I was one of the last to sign up and it closed shortly thereafter. If you want to run any of the races in this series, stay on top of when registration opens. And pay attention to any race communication after you’ve signed up, as they change things all the time.
Aid Stations
It had 3 water stations and 3 Gatorade stations. Either way, it was plenty throughout the race, not so much that it was overkill, but enough that I was actually thirsty by the time the water stops came around. The only downside was that it was either a water station or a Gatorade station, but not both. There wasn’t any other aid like Gu; I carried one Powergel, which I ate at mile 7.
Weather and typical race conditions –
We’re in the rainy season so it’s typically high 50’s, low 60’s in the early mornings and warms up to high 70’s in the day. The race started at 7am, so it was dark and high 50’s until the race started, then warmed up over the course of the race. It was fairly humid since it had rained quite a bit the night before, which made for some puddles and muddy spots along the way.
Gear – did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?
Bring your own toilet paper and your own food, such as Gu or Powergel. Other than that, nothing special since it’s a road race.
Spectators – is this a friendly course for your friends
Sort of. Had Matt been there for the start (he had Paavo do deal with, so he wasn’t getting there that early), he could have seen me at the start, at 6k, and then the finish. If he was able to get around the course faster without a baby, maybe he could have seen me at one other spot in the park.
Awards –
I think they gave away special shirts to the first 30 people and I think because it’s a race series that there’s like a “yellow jersey”, Tour de France type shirt, that they give to the winner of that race.
The Overall Score – how many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it
4 out of 5. Had the packet pickup not been so hellish of an experience, it would be a 5. Otherwise, a fun race in a big green space in the city, well run, competitive, well supported, and downright fun to be a part of in another country.
3 Bests – what aspects of the race did you like the most
Very unique race for me, being a foreigner. All communication was in Spanish, we ran through some smaller towns on our way to the city center finish, and the vibe was not that of a typical race I traditionally run in the US.
There was competition. There were Kenyans there and there were people that looked legit at the starting line. People were scoping each other out as we were warming up and I was excited to race.
The altitude was a unique challenge. I’ve raced utlras in the mountains before, but I’ve never tried to race fast on roads at elevation. My watch said we were between 8,500’ and 9,000’ the entire race.
Not so much – aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
Not much of anything. They recommended getting to the start area at 5:30am for the 7am start. I didn’t bring enough clothes and was cold while waiting. The warm up run was a real warm up, as I was freezing before I started. Thankfully, they let me hang out on one of the buses that they were keeping drop bags in.
Weird factor – what’s the weirdest thing about this race
This might be one of my favorite things I’ve ever seen at a race. There was lots of chatter in Spanish over the loudspeaker leading up to the start. I could understand some of it, particularly if I made an effort. As we were within 15 minutes of the start, I was not paying much attention. But then I heard counting, repeating over and over. And I notice that tons of people are standing around doing calisthenic drills, following the instructions of the woman on the microphone. We’re five minutes from the race starting and hundreds of people are doing leg kicks and stretches in unison. The kicker was that the song “The Final Countdown” was playing in the background throughout. I couldn’t help but smile!
Highlights of your race – what did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular
I tried to hold back. I tried to account for the altitude. I tried to smile and enjoy the experience. Fail, fail, and sort of fail. I didn’t hold back enough, 8,500+’ was more than I bargained for, and though I smiled and joined in the cheers of “vamos” and “animo”, I was thinking of various forms of the verb sufrir (to suffer) for much of the race.
Lessons for others – share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
If you don’t normally race at 8,700’, be extra cautious. 42k is a long way to go when you’re struggling to breath well.
Aesthetics – is it a pretty course
It was pretty in the sense that we ran through a couple smaller towns and finished in the big city center of Toluca. It was unique in this way and I enjoyed it. It also had some sections that we ran on busier, bigger roads. These weren’t bad in themselves and traffic was always kept separate, or at least far enough apart to feel safe. However, there were lots of moments when I could feel the pollution as I was breathing it in. Many of the busy road sections had cars backed up and the exhaust from buses and trucks was tough to deal with.
Difficulty – is it a tough course
Not in the sense that it’s hilly. There was a total of 500’ of climbing in the entire race. The course was flat and would have been easy if you were used to running up high. There was one section of cobblestone road that was kind of tough to run on and it beat up my feet a little.
Organized and well run – did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Really well.
Competition – is there a strong field?
I think the winning time was 2:25. That is fantastic given the altitude. There were a few Kenyan men and women vying for the top spots. The men’s and women’s winners each took home 60,000 pesos, and the prizes went 8 deep so it brought out good runners.
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
Sign up online was easy. They weren’t set up to receive non-Mexican credit cards, but I was able to pay using PayPal. The only hitch for me was that they seemed strict regarding packet pickup, and there was no way I could make it during the hours of the expo – the hours were normal, but I had a big exam the day before the race and couldn’t make it. I had to email for an exception, which was granted. The only thing that really made all this difficult was that it was all done in Spanish, and I still kind of suck at writing and communicating in Spanish!
Aid Stations
Every 2.5 kilometers. Water was in small bags, which may actually be better than cups. I took hardly anything though because early in the race, I wasn’t thirsty, and once I should have been taking food and drink, my chest and stomach were so tight that I couldn’t take anything down. Thankfully, at kilometer 12, there were portapotties. First time I’ve ever stopped to poop during a road marathon. No paper of course, had to sacrifice a glove, but very thankful for the aid station portapotty!
Weather and typical race conditions –
It was in the 40s at the start and warmed up into the low 60s as the sun came up. Weather was perfect. No wind or rain. Sunny, but with cool temps.
Gear – did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?
Nothing special needed for this race. Warm clothes for waiting at the start would be helpful because it’s a point to point course. They had drop bags they would shuttle to the finish for us.
Spectators – is this a friendly course for your friends
There are plenty of places to see runners on this course. We were running on roads through towns and they city the entire way. I didn’t have any friends cheering me on in Toluca, Mexico though! Julie and Paavo were waiting for me at the finish line though. ????
The Overall Score – how many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it
4.5. Very pleased with the event and the experience. It’s not the best race I’ve run – the pollution sucked. Other than that, the race was great, despite my significant suffering. I would love to try again. I am confident I could race better the second time around, but as a heads up for anyone thinking about running this one, running this high without much experience racing that high, can be harder than expected!
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