New Mexico Marathons

Albuquerque

Duke City Marathon - September. The course starts and ends in downtown Albuquerque and consists of two out and back sections with a short loop in the second. The first half is mostly on a bike path along the Rio Grande river. Participants run about 1.5 miles on city streets before entering the bike path. This strings the runners out enough so that there is no real congestion on the bike path. This section is very enjoyable. No traffic to contend with and relatively pleasant scenery. This fist half is almost entirely flat. The second half is all on city streets mostly, Central Avenue. One lane is closed and barricaded for the race. From about mile 15 to 19 it is all uphill, not steep, but climbing all the time. The course levels out from 19 to about 21, and then is downhill from 21 to about 24, and then level again to the finish. There are aid stations nearly every mile, more than the race brochure indicated, with water and sports drink available at each. Run The Planet would like to thank Carl Jess for the cooperation.