1st Saturday in May, Lone Pine, CA, 6:00 AM Start.

App and info: call 760-876-4444, email; info@lonepinechamber.org or click on Wild Wild West above.

Don't let the 7th toughest marathon in the US rating scare you. Yes, it has some steep hills and high altitude, but the views of Mt. Whitney, Sierras and the Alabama Hills are well worth cruising this one - walk the ups and jog the flats and down hills. 2008 Event - How may steps does it take to finish the Wild Wild West Marathon? 63,019 according to Maria - see her photos. More than 350 movies have been shot in the Alabama Hills and surrounding area including Gunga Din, How The West Was Won and many Westerns. Most first time runners do the 10 mile or the new 15 mile and just go for the camp out and road trip adventure. The Badwater ultra ends at the Whitney Portals which is also one of the marathon and 50K aid stations at mile 8 and the highest altitude point in the race. The course profile map at right is on the 2006 finishers T-shirt.

A 15 mile trail was added at this 30th anniversary of the WWW which gave the experience of all the best scenic parts of the marathon. The only real up hill is the first 2.5 miles which every one does. After coming down to around mile 6 of the 10 mile course, the 15 mile trail splits off to go down the Portal Road then on to the Movie Road to connect up with the last part of the 50K at a common aid station. Runners wind around on a single track trail through unusual rock formations to connect with the marathon course and 5.5 miles to go. Then over the Alabama Hills on the Horse Trail and down hill to finish at the Lone Pine Park in town. Some commented that the 15 seemed easier than the 10 because they did not have to do the last 2.5 mile climb back up to Tuttle Creek. A shuttle van began taking runners back to get their cars at 11AM going from the Lone Pine Park finish line to the start at Tuttle Creek.

On the 25th anniversary of the event in 2003, there were some changes:
1. 6:00 AM start at the Tuttle Creek Campground.
2. A 50K Ultra with an added 5 mile loop through the old western movie set locations.
3. Marathon and 50K finish at the park in Lone Pine instead of Tuttle Creek with the 10 Milers. A shuttle will be provided between the park finish and Tuttle Creek Campground.
4. Race day is Saturday instead of Sunday.

Everyone starts at the same time at the Tuttle Creek Campground - 5200 ft. If you are slow, consider leaving an hour early - just let them know at the finish line. The first 3 miles are up, up, up along Tuttle Creek to the base of the Sierras not too far from the bottom of the snow line in most years. Then you go down into an arroyo and cross the creek by carefully balancing on a board. Up the other side of the arroyo and down hill to the 10 mile/marathon and 50K split at mile 4. Don't make a mistake like Larry Gothard did when he entered the 10 mile and did not realize he took the wrong turn at the split 'til he saw the 12 mile marker on the marathon. The 10 mile goes down hill in a sand wash and then turns back up hill 2.5 miles to the camp ground after passing through a wooded area.

The marathon, after the split, continues along the base of the Sierras passing over some more arroyos and 2 creek crossings to the Whitney Portals, the highest point - 6600 ft msl. There is an aid station about mile 5.5 with lots of goodies to get you up the next 2 mile climb including beer. After the Portals you have a looong downhill dropping over 2000 ft in 6 miles to the North end of the Alabama Hills and your last stream crossing.

The course winds through the hills and you could swear there are indians behind every rock and a stage coach about to round the bend. Hundreds of western movies have been filmed in these hills. The Mother Hill aid station at mile 17 has had tortilla chips and bean dip in the past and strange how good it tastes there. Prior to 2003, the marathon rejoined the wooded area of the 10 mile as you come out of the Alabama's. But now you don't have that last tough 2.5 miles up hill, and instead goes over a very scenic single track trail over the Alabama's on a horse trail down into Lone Pine. Most say it is just as hard although averaging down hill because of some steep uphills as you wind up and over some valley ridges. Thisyear all the varied colored wild flowers were out .Once you cross over the LA Aquaduct you turn left for about a mile past some ranches and the last aid station. Two more right turns and down Hwy 395 to finish in the park.

There is a 3 mile fun run/walk at Tuttle Creek so there is a distance for everyone. Dr. Ben Jones - a past member of the club - has put a lot of time and effort into revising and improving this event for the 25 anniversary in 2003.

Lone Pine is a 3.5 hour drive up Hwy. 395 from Arcadia. You can stay in a motel in town or camp at the Tuttle Creek Campground - it used to be free, but now the BLM charges $5 per night. We have a lot of fun around the camp fire the night before (bring firewood). Plan on driving up Friday morning in order to get a good camp site close to the group. There are bathrooms but no drinking water so bring what ever you need for two nights. Showers are available at the Lone Pine High School for runners and there is a packet pickup and spaghetti feed Friday night there - most get there at 5 PM to schmooze with fellow trail runners they have not seen since the previous year. At the park finish, there is a shuttle that runs back to the camp ground every 45 minutes.

We have had all kinds of weather from hot to a thin layer of snow on the ground. 39-60 degrees at the start and 65-85 by noon. Just check the weather report before you leave and dress accordingly. Aid stations are every 3 miles and a single bottle pack with food and a camera are suggested for the marathon and ultra. All finishers receive a handmade clay medallion.

On the way back Sunday, we have the Randsburg Hash House Harriers marathon recovery run. Randsburg is about 25 miles south of the 14/395 split at China Lake on 395. Look for the turnoff on the right after crossing the rail road tracks in the valley. The run starts at 11 AM in front of the White House Saloon and Floozy House. Randsburg is a quaint old western mining town and scene of many movies. It will take you about 1.5 hrs from Lone Pine to get there, so leave early enough to walk around town to see the museum and antique shops. Don't leave town 'til you have had a Black Bart - best banana split you will ever devour - at the General Store. Check out this web site for more background on this old mining town. The hash run is typically 4-5 miles and over half of the typically 30-70 people who show up, walk/jog the trail. Good food at the Saloon and at the General Store for lunch.

submitted by Tom O'Hara

John Radich comments on the 2007 race:

Howdy All, Wild, Wild West 10 mile, 26 mile and 31 mile ultra marathon was fantastic once again. We encountered some nasty dust storms diving into Mojave which created detours and blown truck reefers and havoc with RV's. Despite that, hope you all made it safely out and back home.

The race was windy and blustery, one of the coolest WWW races in my 23 years running it. Dave Burke, Jeff Schmidt my super Badwater Water crew from Ohio who is running Western States 100 and myself all camped out at Tuttle Creek Campground, I froze out there in my cot, wind blasting hard all night. Little stiff and cold getting up that morning.

Flyer Sightings:
Tom O'Hara at the 2 mile mark shooting photos on his fancy digital. Good job on your ten mile run and your famous "Randsburg run" the next morning. Then there was our amazing "Hozer" out there rolling along strong. This man is something-to see him out was really an inspiration. Bob and Sue Spears, I believe their first WWW marathon? Both looked strong when I saw them (of course I saw them at the start), they did well I am sure despite the head and tails winds we all faced. Bill Dickey looked strong as ever when I saw him-looking fully recovered from his amazing 6 day race performance.

Kudos to Dave Burke, finishing 1st in his age group! Whatta a way to go big Dave! His second ultra!! Cool Dave.. Talk about a talented runner in our club. Yours truly barely kept Dave on my "radar screen" for a second place age finish. Hey rocks hurt when you fall! At 27 miles I lost a "rudder flap" kicked a rock and slid ten feet-rocks do make for good barriers though, didn't slide off the edge-- took me about 2-3 minutes to get up again. Saw stars. Still have my teeth---I know now what Leslie must of felt the other day on the Mt Wilson trail.

Not sure what other Flyers were out there running. Pardon if I missed any of you-I may of have. Despite the blustery weather-the course was very well marked, great aid stations, spectacular running along the Alabama Hills and Sierras. Nice looking maroon T-shirts-(my High School color). WWW a true classic 10 mile race and marathon and 50km. A really tough field of runners this year. Not many wild flowers this year, a low rain fall and snow pack in the Sierras, hmm-maybe a good time for a JMT run?

Congratulations to all of our Foothill Flyers taking on Wild, Wild West and all the participants who walked and ran. Big thanks to Ben and Denise Jones for all their loyal work they do for the race. The name fits, it was wild and spectacular out there! Of course--- it is the Wild Wild West!

Happy trails,
John "JR" Radich

Next time you are in Lone Pine, be sure to visit the newly opened Movie Museum as you enter Lone Pine. A lot of fun to see the old western movie star history and films which were shot along the Alabama Hills-- John Wayne, Roy Rogers, Clint Eastwood, Humphrey Bogart to name a few all made epic films along the course we ran on. Worth the time.