Come celebrate the outdoors this summer with an The Face Challenge, Heavy Half Marathon, or Full Marathon in the “Land of Enchantment” with a weekend of challenging trail fun. Red River, New Mexico is the quintessential cool little adventure town with rivers, mountains, stunning views, tons of character, and a huge heart. This gorgeous area makes Red River the perfect place in New Mexico for marathons, trail races, and more!
Red River sits on the southern end of the Sangre De Cristos and our racers will experience the rugged trails in the Carson National Forest and the gorgeous rolling high alpine Enchanted Forest cross country ski area on the course. After the races, you can relax with free kid's races, family and other racers over local food, music, and microbrews in the heart of Red River at our after-party!
The Racer Party for all racers and the Awards Ceremony for the Marathon will be held at Brandenburg Park in Red River, NM. The Men’s and Women’s winners of each race will receive comp entries to next year’s races.
Customized awards will be given to the top three male and female finishers in each race in each of the following age groups:
- Under 20
- 20-29
- 30-39
- 40-49
- 50-59
- 60+
Racers will receive customized dog tag finisher’s awards as they cross the finish line. Placer’s awards will be distributed at each race’s awards ceremony. Awards and mementos will not be mailed after the event.
The Start/Finish areas for both races are at Brandenburg Park in the heart of downtown Red River.
Entry fees for each race includes place winner awards, race mementos (shirts, apparel, etc.), aid station goodies, a finisher’s memento, and post-race refreshments. The entry fee is non-refundable and nontransferable.
See more information on our refund policy below.
Each of our trail races in New Mexico follows a similar route through Red River and allows our racers to see the quaint town, magical forest scenery, and stunning views from cross-country ski areas.
Marathon
Experience big challenges and beautiful views: this marathon course has it all. Racers will make their way through dense forest and up steep ski slopes, all with ~4000′ of climbing in just over 25 miles.
This New Mexico marathon will begin in town at the Red River Visitor Center. With a short bit on pavement through town up HWY 578, racers will reach the first aid station at 1.4 miles. From there, the course ascends the dirt Old Pass Road with beautiful views of the surrounding peaks. The bulk of the climbing is almost done at the Switchback aid station at mile 4.
From there, runners will be challenged with rolling terrain to the Enchanted Forest aid station at mile 7.4. Marathoners will then run a 5.5-mile loop in the cross-country ski area of the Enchanted Forest. This section of the course consists of dense forests and is often absent of any trail. Tree markings will show you the way. The loop will finish at the same Enchanted Forest aid station before going back down the same way it came up all the way to town. Racers will then be directed onto the singletrack river trail to the Base Camp aid station (which is the finish line for the half marathoners).
Marathoners will then head to the ski resort to face their biggest challenge. The course leaves the ski resort aid station and begins the ascent up The Face – the steep prominent ski slope visible from town. There is no trail and racers will need to make their way up the 1/4 mile to where the slope and trail intersect. With very few breaks for a 1600′ climb, marathoners will finally reach the top of the Platinum lift before heading down to the base and back to the finish line. Friends and family are welcome to greet runners at the top of the Platinum lift.
This is a fun and challenging out and back course with more than 1,700′ of climbing in 14.7 miles (just over half a marathon). The bulk of the course will mirror the main marathon’s route.
This New Mexico Half Marathon will begin in town at the Red River Visitor Center. With a short bit on pavement through town up HWY 578, racers will reach the first aid station at 1.4 miles. From there, the course ascends the dirt Old Pass Road with beautiful views of the surrounding peaks. The bulk of the climbing is almost done at the Switchback aid station at mile 4. From there, runners will be challenged with rolling terrain to the turnaround point at the cross-country ski area of the Enchanted Forest at mile 7.4. The course will go back down the same way it came up all the way to town. Racers will then be directed onto the singletrack river trail to the finish line (make sure to save some energy for this challenging section).
This race takes out all the casual miles and leaves all the challenge, while still allowing racers to see stunning views. The 8ish-mile course is the second half of the marathon course with all its beauty and elevation. With 2400’ of elevation gain in approximately 8 miles, you will either be climbing or descending throughout this course.
During this trail race in New Mexico, you will begin with a short section of road to get to the ski resort and face your biggest challenge. The course leaves The Face aid station and begins the ascent up The Face: the steep prominent ski slope visible from town. There is no trail and you will need to make your way up the 1/4 mile to where the slope and trail intersect. With very few breaks for a 1600′ climb, The Face Challenge runners will finally reach the top of the Platinum lift where friends and family can greet you before heading down to the base and back to the finish line.
Friday
5:00-7:00p – Packet Pick-Up at the Red River Conference Center – 101 W River St
5:30p – Pre-Race Shakeout Yoga with Vetoga
Saturday
6:45a – 7:45a – Race Day Registration & Packet Pick-Up at Brandenburg Park – 100 E Main St, Red River, NM 87558
8:00a – Half Marathon and Marathon Race Starts
8:30a – The Face Challenge Starts
9:00a – Kid's Events - Races and Face Painting
10:30a – Yoga in the Park with Vetoga
11:00a – The Face Challenge and Half Marathon Awards @ Brandenburg Park
12:00p – Red River Scavenger Hunt
2:00p – The Face Aid Station Cut-Off for Marathon
2:00p – Marathon and Scavenger Hunt Awards at Brandenburg Park
4:00p – The Face Challenge/Half Marathon/Marathon Final Cut-Off
Are Dogs Allowed?
We love dogs! Well-behaved dogs on leashes are welcome at the Start/Finish and aid stations. Unfortunately, we cannot allow dogs on course with their runners.
What Supplies Are Offered at the Aid Stations?
Aid stations will be stocked with ice water, gels, potato chips, skittle, and LMNT drink. Aspirin, ibuprofen, and other NSAIDS will not be provided. And to reduce waste, cups will not be provided at the aid stations.
There will be radio contact available at all aid stations and each station will have the necessary medical materials to nurse any bumps, cuts, bruises, and/or blisters.
Can I Go Off Trail?
Racers must stay on the designated course. Shortcutting will result in a disqualification. If you go off course, you must return to the same point you exited in order to continue.
Stay the trail!
What Weather Should I Expect?
The weather in Red River, New Mexico can vary. The average temperatures for July are a low of 42 & a high of 75 degrees Fahrenheit. It is not unusual to see afternoon storms as well, so be sure to come prepared!
What About Unforeseeable Circumstances?
In the case of unforeseeable circumstances due to weather or other extenuating circumstances that prevents the safe continuation of the race, race officials may end the race at any given time without a refund of unused portions. This rule will be implemented in the most extreme cases for the safety of the runners or officials.
I Lost Something at the Event! Is There a Lost & Found?
Items left at Aid Stations and lost & found items will be available at the Awards Ceremonies.
What Other Activities Are There in Red River, NM?
Red River likes to describe themselves as “authentically warm with a hint of wild, the way the West used to be.”
The Red River Ski Area is part of the race course and extremely family friendly. If you’re looking for things to do while in the area, check out the hidden treasure aerial course, mini golf, summer mountain tubing, disc golf, the pioneer flyer zip line, and the mountain top disc golf. You can take the scenic chairlift and gain a bird’s eye view of your runner as they climb The Face at mile ~20. And with an aid station at the top of the chairlift, friends and family can sit around with food and drinks, listening to music and cheer as your runner comes through.
There is a plethora of unique shopping, amazing restaurants, and homemade candy and ice cream shops in Red River too. With a thriving music scene, you can catch a live performance almost any night of the week. You can additionally find miles of trails for hikers, anglers and horseback riding in the surrounding area.
Can I Transfer or Cancel My Registration?
There will be no entry transfers. If you regrettably need to cancel your registration, please use UltraSignup. Cancellations are given credit of their registration payment toward any Gemini Adventures event within one year’s time, minus at 15% fee. Login to your account, go to Registration History, Edit for the event, and Cancel Registration.
What’s our Refund Policy?
30 Days or more prior to the Event: 85% credit of registration fee (excluding UltraSignup fees).
Less than 30 days prior to the Event: No refunds or credit given.
Credits may be applied to any future Gemini Adventures race and will be valid for 12 months.
Registered runners may also switch between distances. No refunds or credit will be given for dropping down in distance. If stepping up in distance, the added current pricing of the longer distance will be charged (excluding UltraSignup fees).
To request credits, log in to your UltraSignup account, and go to Registration History. Select Edit for the event, and scroll to the bottom of the page where Cancel Registration is linked. Follow the prompts.
Got Another Question?
Contact us and we’ll send you a detailed response as soon as possible!
