Hey any of you guys heard of/competed in the Bataan Death March. It’s a marathon length race with a division to Ruck in(35lbs pack) and another to just run it. I think I’m gonna get a team together and head out to New Mexico for the up coming one in March.
I did it several years back. We did the team “heavy” (ruck). It was fun in a “this really sucks” kind of way. It’s a different type of marathon being that you’re running through sand and around White Sands, plus it’s a tribute for the veterans of the battaan death march.
Does anyone have any tips for this event? I am going “light” for the race. Should I get gaiters or whatever to keep the sand out?
I appreciate any advice you have.
Thanks, John
But I heard of this one …http://bataan102.blogspot.com/
Its a 102 and 160km ultra marathon in Bataan, Philippines. Route will take you where the WWII POW’s walked to the Japanese concentration camp.
Thats a really neat event, I highly recomend it, A few years ack when I did it as part of a team there some actual survivors of the death march there.
I did he race a few years back and found it to be probably the best marathon or race I have ever done. I did not wear gators for the sand but did take advantage of all the aid stations to dump out my shoes.
Carry about $10 on you because at the top of the mountain around mile 14 is a hot dog stand! I was never so happy to see food like that on a race course!
I ran this a few years ago and really enjoyed the experience. It’s about celebrating the veterans of WWII and particularly of this forced march (Bataan) so it’s great to take part in all the festivities that involve the remaining living veterans. I did the civilian lite division which is essentially running a marathon in a dry climate with certain stretches that have loose sand and some challenging elevation. I recommend treating this like any other marathon as far as your shoes and apparel go with this exception: it’s very cold in the morning so wear layers and put them in a backpack as the morning goes on or wear items you can ditch at aid stations. Other than that you’ll be fine.
Does anyone have any tips for this event? I am going “light” for the race. Should I get gaiters or whatever to keep the sand out?
I appreciate any advice you have.
Thanks, John
I didn’t have problems with the sand, but be damn sure you put plenty of miles in the boots you plan on wearing. I did a “light team” and a few of the guys on my team shredded their feet something terrible because they hadn’t practiced in the boots they wore on race day.
Great event for a great cause/memorial.
I’ve talked to dozens of people and everyone has said it’s an amazing event. It’s tough but should be. Some years have absolutely crazy winds, like 40-50 mph. From my understanding, only a couple miles are really sandy, so I wouldn’t worry about it too much.
I did the race back in 2007 and 2008 (military heavy) and had a blast. The course surface is fairly compact for the first 15 or so miles; mostly concrete and hard pact sand trails. From mile 15 on it changes from loose sand to hard pact trails. This is the part I would focus on in your training…assuming your going heavy. I finished in 4:59 and hurt alot more than any ironman i’ve done. Let me know if you have any more questions on the course or training for the event.
The event is worth it just for the scenery. It’s spectacular. The year I did it some of the survivors were there and you ran by all of them at the race start. Runners stopped, shook their hands, thanked them for their service and started sobbing as they started running. A guy I was running with confided that he had lost it and was so glad he had his sunglasses on.
I was okay, at least on the outside, until I finished the marathon. A veteran who had gone through a hell over there that we couldn’t begin to imagine was at the finish line. He said “You’re a brave woman to finish a marathon.” That was the end of my composure.
Time to blow my nose and get back to work.
Thanks. I am going ‘lite’. Should I dress as I would for a marathon, running shoes? As a retired Army Officer I have had my share of ruck marches so I am not eager to break out my combat boots again.
I wore nike boots (SFB) for the race. They are super light and provide a lot more support and protection from the sand than a normal shoe, plus you dont have to mess with the sand covers. Granted I was also in ACU’s for the event so my footwear options were limited, but the nike’s worked out really well.
Regular running shoe or trail shoes would work great for it. I know a bit of it is off road, but, from my understanding, isn’t technical at all. You just have a couple miles of sand in the second half.
It’s in my backyard. The trails aren’t technical one bit. Regular running shoes, including racing flats are perfectly fine, if you intend to run it.
Did it twice, recommend you make a weekend of it, they show The Great Raid at the theater, there’s some other events, tons of people just sleep in the gym on cots, and as previously mentioned the atmosphere is the star of the show. One of the year’s I did it an F-22 did a great flyover at the start skimming the mountains… but the next year it was just a pair of T-38s that were getting manhandled by the wind.
edit: In the civilian light category I added about ~20 minutes to a typical road marathon time. As mentioned there’s a 4 or 5 mile climb on the way out that’s pretty relentless, then you come screaming downhill downwind on the way back, then comes the mile or two of soft sand around the 21st mile.
Thanks for the info. I do plan to"run" it as a marathon so I will wear running shoes. Do most of the runners wear typical marathon gear or are they in military clothing?
I have spent a good deal time at Ft. Bliss but never got to see the March so this is a bit of homecoming for me. Of course I plan to eat at the Great Amercian Land & Cattle Company and Carlos 7 Mickey’s!
Carry about $10 on you because at the top of the mountain around mile 14 is a hot dog stand! I was never so happy to see food like that on a race course!
So glad you posted this. Sounds good to have a hot dog!
All variants participate. I’d say the majority are doing it in the military heavy divisions though, with full boots and uniforms and heavy packs. Both years I’ve finished, eaten, showered, changed, and been driving off the site and see people who still had 10+ miles to go, plodding along or popping blisters left and right.
Check the results from the past year or two and you’ll see what the breakdown was for the various divisions. I just wore my standard marathon outfit and running shoes and didn’t feel at all out of place. During the main out and back portion everyone is encouraging everyone else, and it’s a real one team one fight experience.