Marathon Details - Dust Bowl Series Marathon - Colorado

North America Marathons > USA > CO > Lamar > Dust Bowl Series Marathon - Colorado

Dust Bowl Series Marathon - Colorado

Dust Bowl Series Marathon - Colorado & 50K, Half Marathon, 10K, 5K

Lamar, CO USA

March 9, 2021

http://www.mainlymarathons.com/series-3/dust-bowl

News

Marathon Results

By Year:

2021 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 Top 3 Finishers

Race Details

See website

Contact Information

Name:
Address:	POB 152 Organ, NM 88052
Phone Number:	575-382-8869
Email:	Email the organizers

Runner Reviews (1)

Course 4.0

Organization 5.0

Spectators 1.0

Write a review

Number of comments: 1

Ed Robins from Philadelphia, Pa (4/10/2014)

"Great, unique event" (about: 2014)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Dust Bowl Series Marathon - Colorado
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1

This race is just one part of a 5 day event where runners can run 5 marathons (or half marathons) in 5 days in 5 different states. The 5 states for the Dust Bowl series are Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico.

As one would expect the unique nature of this event is reflected in how these races are run. Because of the demanding nature of attempting to run up to 5 marathons in 5 days there are no time limits imposed. Finishing is the goal! Because of this the courses are different from your average race. The courses are short loops or out and backs that runners complete multiple times. This race was a 1.1 mile out and back that marathoners repeated 12 times. Upon completion of each lap runners get a rubber band. When you get 12 rubber bands you are finished! Now I know this sounds as though it would be terribly boring it is not. Running back and forth runners get to pass all the other runners multiple times. We get to know the other runners and runners of all abilities. Usually in a race you only interact with runners of similar abilities but here you see everyone, every lap. Names are on each bib so we can encourage others by name!

I gave this race only 1 star for fans and that's because there are none. But the comradery that the runners develope between other runners is actually better than the usual fans support. Also since most runners do multiple days the intereaction has a cumulative effect. Also since these races only have around 100 runners its easy to remember folks; lap to lap and day to day.

The small crowds make the pre-race announcements extra fun. Clint the race director gives the usual pre-race instructions but he also acknowledges birthdays, first time marathoners, marathon milestones, etc. You don't get that at most events! Most first time marathon runners chose larger races but I bet most would love the support you'd get for everyother runner in an event like this.

Running the same loop multiple times also is helpful because runners know the course so well. We know exactly when the aid stop will appear and we know every turn and hill. This is so helpful for pacing through the event.

There is one aid stop that runners pass each lap. They have water, gatorade and many small sweet and salty snacks.

Runners get one shirt for whole event and the medal is handled in a great way. Runners get a very nice participation medal at packet pick-up and then you get state medals that hang off the larger medal for each state runners complete. Runners who ran all five days had an impressive, totally unique medal by the end!

While many runners run all 5 days lots of folks chose to run fewer. I ran two states (Colorado and New Mexico; days 4 and 5). I wish I'd run more days just for the comradery.