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Nevada > E.T. Full Moon Midnight Marathon, Half Marathon
& 10K
Near Rachel,
NV
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Date
Saturday to Sunday, August 16-17, 2008
Event
Details
When we say there's no other race like this one in the country, we
really mean it. The year 2007 brought the inaugural running of the
"E.T." Full Moon Marathon, Half Marathon & 10K in this tiny
town about two and a half hours north of Las Vegas, welcoming nearly
200 runners for this midnight run through the desert along what is
rumored to be some of the most active hotbeds of "extraterrestrial"
activity anywhere in the U.S. (With the emphasis on rumored!)
Eighty-five runners crossed the finish line for the half-marathon in
last year's August event, donning plenty
of reflective roadwear and all manner of costumes, bobbing antenna
balls and alien-like outfits to celebrate this wacky, weird -- and very
fun -- nighttime road race. The race, which is a point-to-point race
run entirely on paved highways through the Nevada desert, starts on
Highway 375, known perhaps better as the Extraterrestrial Highway (and
officially named so by the federal government in 1996),
which stretches nearly 100 miles from Route 93 to Route 6.
From there, the course follows a northward and westerly path along the
mostly flat highway until you reach the hills that begin the ascent up
Coyote Summit, which runners reach at about the half-way point and an
elevation of about 5,591 feet above sea level. After crossing the peak,
the course then begins a steady downward trek toward the finish line at
the Little A'Le'Inn on Old Mill Road in the town of Rachel, which lies
about 40 miles from the intersection of Route 93 and Highway 375.
As this is truly a midnight race (the half marathon start is at 12:30
AM, timed to be on the weekend closest to the full moon), race
organizers require that runners wear reflective clothing and carry a
flashlight or wear a headlamp. You probably won't be able to see it
that late at night, but the area surrounding the course is known for
its gorgeous desert scenery, from mountains and mesas nearby to the
tough-yet-beautiful (and abundant) plant life.
Race
Weather & Climate
Weather conditions in the town closest to Rachel, the town of Hiko on
Route 93, can get very hot in the late summer, with August temperatures
that range between 98°F and 62°F. Because the race is
run at night, however, temperatures are likely to be cool in the 60s,
and there is likely to be little to no chance of rain (the area sees
only 0.7 inches of rainfall on average for the month).
Fees
$55 if registered by April 26, 2008
$65 between April 27 - August 3
$70 after Aug. 3
Registration
To register for the 2008 (and 2nd annual) E.T. Full Moon Midnight Half
Marathon, register online here.
Website
calicoracing.squarespace.com
Course Map
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Map
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Your Race Story
Ever run in Nevada's E.T. Full Moon Midnight Marathon or Half Marathon?
Share
your
impressions and read fellow runners' stories
and tips for the event.
Discuss it in the HalfMarathons.Net
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