Duke City Marathon Race Report – Erin Wagner

November 11, 2021November 7, 2021

Race: Duke City Marathon

Runner: Erin Wagner

Race Date: 10/17/2021

Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico

Results: 1st Female Overall, 9th Place Overall: 3:02:38

Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/6128054752

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

Gorgeous fall weather most years, flat and fast course (BQ certified), well-marked/well-supported.

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

The course is out and back on the bike path in town, so it’s not the most exciting route. The trees along the trail are beautiful and it’s nice and cool since the path follows the Rio Grande. Knowing that I run this route at least once or twice a week, it was a bit repetitive.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

The marathon, marathon relay, half marathon, and 10K go out and back on the bike path. The fastest runners in the half marathon and 10K will most certainly catch slower marathon and relay runners, so anticipate weaving in and out of foot traffic on the bike path until you turn around.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

Pacing myself, fueling early, and hydrating often were keys to my success at Duke City. The air in Albuquerque is dry, so runners who don’t hydrate early and often can feel very depleted. I felt like my pacing was well-executed such that I didn’t hit a wall until Mile 23, at a time where I slowed down by 30 seconds per mile while some other runners I passed slowed down by minutes.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

Hydrate well the week before the race, save some energy for the last half of the race since it’s slightly downhill, and don’t get flustered when you get passed by a faster runner in the marathon at this race. Chances are this runner could be in the marathon relay or the half marathon. Stay on your pace!

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

The course is flat and fairly fast. The bike path slants slightly uphill on the way out to the halfway point, as it follows the flow of the Rio Grande river, and slants slightly downhill on the way back to the finish. Overall, you will have less than 300 ft of elevation gain. However, it’s important to remember that this race takes place at 4,500 ft of elevation!

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

Yes! The trees along the trail are gorgeous and this time of the year brings out yellows and reds in the trees. You also have the beautiful Sandia Mountain range in the background.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

No. The actual bike path is well-paved and there are no challenging hills along the trail. However, you are at 4,500 ft of elevation so the air is thin if you are coming from sea level.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Yes! Well-organized, well-supported along the trail, and lots of people in town turned out for this year’s event at the finish line.

Competition – Is there a strong field?

The majority of the competition in town will do the half marathon or the 10K. Faster runners in the area will typically do one of the world marathon majors in the fall, so the marathon field wasn’t the strongest on the women’s side. I had a 23 minute lead on second place and I didn’t have any male runners to race against after the halfway point.

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.

This race rarely caps out. I have a friend who signed up for the race four weeks out and there were plenty of entry spots still. Registration will typically open in the late spring and won’t close until race day. I’d recommend staying outside of downtown, close to Uptown or Nob Hill, so you are closer to better restaurants. There was plenty of parking at the race and there is hardly any traffic in Albuquerque. There is a nice gear drop at the race start. The race start is a mass start so there is no need to worry about corrals. Plenty of bathrooms located at the start and finish.

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

Gatorade drinks and water were provided at every aid station, which was about two miles apart from each other. There are no food or energy products on the course. If you’d like to have a gel on the course, plan to bring it with you on the course.

Weather and typical race conditions

40-50 degrees, sunny, no wind.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?

I wore shorts, a tank top, and arm warmers. It does start in the high 30s/low 40s at race start, so plan to dress in layers at the start, and warms up fairly quickly once the sun crests the mountain range. I finished when the weather reached 60 degrees.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

Yes! Lots of spectator friendly spots along the course. The Bosque trail has numerous parking lots so spectators could easily move along the course by driving to the different parking lots.

How’s the Swag?

Long sleeve tech shirt, finisher medal and age group finisher medals, lots of food at the finish and a beer garden.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

I’d give this race a 4/5. Knowing that it’s the biggest race of the year in a small city, it is a very well-run event. The course itself isn’t the most exciting as a local, but it is a beautiful course and fast. I appreciated the support along the way and the event organization.

Erin Wagner is a coach with Team RunRun. To learn more about her or to work with Coach Erin, check out her coaching page.

Jemez 50 mile Race Report – Jeff U

August 12, 2020June 3, 2018

Race: Jemez 50

Runner: Jeff U

Race Date: 05/19/2018

Location: Los Alamos, NM

Results: 23rd – 10:20:27

Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/1583071950

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

The course was tough. As much as I hated it in the moment, it was kind of gnarly going straight up 1,000+ feet in a mile after just climbing over 2,000 feet before that.
The race organizers pulled it off. With multiple course changes due to fire restrictions in the weeks leading up to race weekend, the organizers managed to put on an amazing event. They were clearly invested in putting on a top notch event.
It was a lot of fun having Matt and Alan out there racing with Julie and Paavo crewing. These things are always way more fun when there are friends and family around to share the experience with. Thanks TRR!

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

I have never really enjoyed running on rocky technical trails, yet I continue going back to the Southwest. My feet and lower legs were not happy most of the day, but it’s important that I keep working on getting better on this kind of terrain.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

This was a pretty normal race – no real weird factor.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

I gutted this one out. The 50k option messed with my head because I just wasn’t mentally in it for most of the race. I was happy that I left Julie and Paavo at 30, (instead of dropping to the 50k). Both quads randomly cramped at 32, but I managed the last major climb without any additional trouble. It felt great to mentally pull it together around 40 and pass a number of people on the way in. This was way harder than I hoped it would be, but it was a great mental and physical test before Bighorn.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

Don’t underestimate the altitude and heat. It may be NM, but it still gets over 10,000ft. That combined with the heat exposure can spell trouble for the stomach and general nutrition if you’re not prepared.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

I was messing with new gear setups during this race. I didn’t take the time to figure out how to store my poles in my vest until the night before the race (first time using poles in a race, 3rd time in general). I couldn’t get my poles back in my pack for a good portion of the first half of the race, so I carried them. My arms are super weak in general, so this added a new element to it all. I was also using a new soft flask (Naked) that I just opened a couple days before the race. It was super hard getting liquid out of the new flask, and it was tough screwing the top back on, so I didn’t drink as much as I normally would have – sticking to my Salomon soft flasks.
While it’s all well and good to use races as test runs for future events, it’s worth taking the time to ensure you at least have the basics together. No need to make it harder on yourself.
This race was meant as a long hard test run for Bighorn, so I definitely learned some valuable lessons. It made my day more challenging in general, but now I’ve got different ideas for next time.
All start crewing by Julie and Paavo

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

The long climb is very clean and runnable. Take advantage of the clean trails because there are slower technical sections that are a time suck. There are definitely a number of false summits on both the long climb and the steep climb up the ski slope. Know this going in so you can keep your mental game in check. The course is pretty exposed. My lingering sunburn is the most pain I still have a few days after the race, so lather up!

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

This was a classic Southwestern course. Unlike some of the AZ races, Jemez combined the rocky desert landscape with some forest sections. The view from up in the hills was beautiful.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

I thought the course was tough. There were some big climbs, slow technical sections, heat and a lot of sun exposure. I’m sure there are tougher races out there, but this one is no joke.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

This race was very well run. As previously mentioned, the changing fire restrictions in the weeks leading up to the event created a lot of uncertainty and course changes. The race organizers continued to keep everyone updated, and they managed to find alternative routes that were still really tough. Well done!

Competition – Is there a strong field?

There were some big guns there. While the course was supposedly easier this year, two guys still broke the previous course record. A handful of big names typically make the trip.

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.

The logistics for the race were pretty straightforward. It was an easy flight into ABQ followed by an hour and a half drive to Los Alamos. There are a handful of hotels in Los Alamos – always a bonus when you can find lodging within 10 minutes of the start/finish.

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

I don’t typically rely on a whole lot from aid stations given my wheat allergy. That said, they had a solid assortment of fruit as well as potatoes and salt. I particularly loved the aid stations with ice later in the day. Stuffing ice in my arm sleeves and down my back really helped cool me off.

Weather and typical race conditions

It was hot and dry with no real cloud cover. Given the altitude, I’ve also heard the race can get a lot of snow and rain. Hope you get lucky!

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?

I used poles in a race for the first time, and I found them very helpful in a number of sections. They were particularly useful going up the ski slope, and then on the immediate downhill section after that.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

There weren’t many spectator areas. You’re pretty out there, but there are a few aid stations where you can link up with your crew.

How’s the Swag?

The race shirt was huge – bummer I won’t actually be able to wear it. I liked the finisher pottery we got in lieu of a medal.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

I thought the race organizers did a fantastic job. I give this race a 5 out of 5. I really just wish my stomach would’ve been in a better place at the end so I could’ve eaten some green chili enchiladas they had at the finish line.

Jemez Mountain 50 Race Info

August 26, 2020April 10, 2018

Date

5/19/18

Location

Los Alamos, NM

Avg Temps f.

63/40

Gain/Loss in ft

~12,420/12,420

ft/mile gain

244

Highest Elev.

~10,400 (2 times)

Start

5am

Surface

Trail

Time Limit

8:15pm cutoff at mile 46.8

Sunrise/set

5:20am

8:57pm

Furthest Aid

9 miles

Summary: A course that’s often a buildup race for Bighorn and Hardrock runners, this tough race features runnable single track, long, extended climbs, and two times around 10,400 feet, not to mention technical descents and a remote section of cross country, grassy plains. In addition to the 50 mile race is a 50k and 15 mile option. New course in 2018 with a re-route section that is off-trail, steep, bushy, brutal and over fallen trees! See details here.

Lessons Learned from Race Reports

Cupless race
Mandatory gear list, including a bear bell through the Valles Caldera National Preserve
A few really technical sections, including steep ups and downs, with loose scree/sand/rock
Use the runnable single track when you get it because a lot of the course’s ups and downs are much less runnable
Many runners underestimate the course and the loooong climbs, at 8,000-10,000 feet, the climbs feel that much longer
Pay attention to course markings, as Elk tend to eat the flags and some markers get moved by hikers
Expect sections to take much longer than expected
Be ready for false summits on the two biggest climbs, as there are communication towers that look like the top, but they are not
Lots of exposure – remember hats, sunscreen, ice if it’s hot
Temperature swings with getting to that high of elevation along with dry air
Runners use this is a buildup race for Hardrock, so that tells you the difficulty level of the race
Off-trail sections in 2018 will make for slow, possibly frustrating miles

Elevation

Total gain/loss: ~12,420/12,420

Ft/mile gain: 244

Total climbs: 2 major (1x2800ft, 1x2600ft), 3 medium (500-800 ft), Many 100-400ft gains

Longest climb: ~2800 ft from miles ~26-34.5

Steepest climb: ~900 ft in .6 miles at miles 8 and 38

Course Map/Elevation profile

Aid stations

Total aid stations: 10

Furthest distance apart: 9 miles

Locations: Miles 9, 12.6, 15.3, 20.9, 27.7, 32.8, 35.5, 40.6, 46.2, 49.9

What’s available: Water – NO CUPS, Tailwind Endurance Fuel (electrolyte drink) – NO CUPS, VFuel gels: limited supply at the aid stations for the longer races, soda (various flavors), assorted salty foods (pretzels, potato chips, peanuts, etc.), fresh fruits (such as oranges, bananas, watermelon, and grapes), boiled potatoes with salt for dipping, candy (M&Ms, hard fruit candy, etc.), cookies and Fig Newtons, sandwiches (nominally PB&J, Ski Lodge AS will have turkey/ham/cheese)