Part of a weekend filled with festival events by the same name that take place on the Courthouse Square in downtown Gallup, N.M., the Squash Blossom Classic Half Marathon is a challenging trail run through the hills and mesas of northwestern New Mexico’s High Desert Trail System, a series of recreational trails for hikers, cyclists and runners that is becoming popular with outdoors enthusiasts around the Southwest.
The scenery along the course is worth the price of the trip alone, offering participants expansive, wide open views of the southwestern horizon along the single-track trail that takes runners over both the 1st and 2nd Mesas.
Race organizers caution that the half marathon portion of the race, especially, is not for novice runners and should be attempted only by experienced trail runners. The 4.5-mile and 1-mile runs, they add, are less strenuous.
An out-and-back loop race with many twists and turns, the half marathon course starts and finishes near the Gramerco trail head for the High Desert Trail system, just off North State Road (Hwy. 491).
Organizers note that runners as well as walkers are welcome to participate in the half marathon — walkers will start at 7:00 AM, while those running the half will start their race at 8:00 AM.
