The Lost Dutchman Marathon is held annually over President's Day weekend.
Event: This page is for the Lost Dutchman Marathon event. Visit our Registration page for an overview of all events or Half Marathon, 10K or 8K Trail Run for our other races.
Where: Gold Canyon and Apache Junction, Arizona
Date: Sunday, February 18, 2024
Start Time: 7:00 a.m.
Course: Beginning near Gold Canyon, AZ (30 miles east of Phoenix), the marathon is a scenic, rolling, point-to-point, USATF certified course (AZ23001JOE) that can be used as a qualifier for the Boston Marathon. Course description and link to maps.
Race Pacers: The marathon features race pacers to help runners with their personal race goals.
Registration: Registration Details. Registration for the Lost Dutchman Marathon is available online, by mail or in person near race day space permitting. Register today at ChronoTrack. There is no race day marathon registration. The minimum age is 14 and maximum time for all entrants is 6 1/4 hours - strictly enforced.
Registration Fees:
| 2024 Prices | Through 10/18/2023 | 10/19/2023 through 01/02/2024 | 1/3/2024 through 01/30/24 | 1/31/2024 through 02/18/24 | Maximum Runners | Start Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marathon | $124 | $129 | $139 | $149 | 400 | 7:00 a.m. |
Registration Limit: Participation in the Lost Dutchman Marathon is limited to 400 runners in 2024.
Directions and Parking: Parking and transportation details are here.
Transportation: All Marathon runners will be bused to the start. No private vehicle drop off of runners at the marathon start line is allowed.
Marathon Aid Stations: There are aid stations every 2 miles on the marathon course for the first 20 miles and then an aid station every mile to the finish. There are port-a-jons near every aid station. Lemon Lime Gatorade will be available at every other aid station starting at marathon mile 4. GU Energy Gel will be at miles 10 and 18 on the marathon course only. Bananas will be at 2 aid stations.
Race Packets
Packet pick up:
- Thursday February 15, 2024 runners can pick up their packets at Road Runner Sports - Tempe, 43 S McClintock Dr., Tempe, AZ 85281 (Map) from 3:00 p.m. till 7:00 p.m.
- Friday February 16, 2024 runners can pick up their packets at Road Runner Sports - Tempe, 43 S McClintock Dr., Tempe, AZ 85281 (Map) from 11:00 a.m. till 6:30 p.m.
- Saturday, February 17, 2024 at the Multi-Generational Center, 1035 N. Idaho Rd. Apache Junction, AZ from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (Map). The 2 Mile Fun Run/Walk is 9:30 a.m. on Saturday with the start and finish at the center.
- There is no day of race packet pick up for the full marathon. Marathon runners MUST pick up race packets Thursday, Friday or Saturday.
- You may have someone else pick up your race packet. Race Packets will NOT be mailed.
Chip Timing: The race will be chip timed. Your chip is a part of your bib, do not remove it. Your number bib must be worn on the front and be visible at all times during the race.
Medals: All marathon finishers will receive a commemorative medal.
Awards: Awards will be presented to the top three male and female finishers in each age group. Age groups are 114 and under, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75+ . Results will be posted as soon as possible after the completion of the race.
The awards ceremony will be held as close as possible to 12:15 PM. If you win an award, be sure to pick it up before leaving. Award recipients not able to stay for the awards presentation can still receive their award, details are on the awards page.
Feedback:
This was my 40th marathon and one of the best - if not the best - in terms of local spirit and volunteer presence. I was really impressed with the organization and execution of this race. If you’re looking for a smallish winter marathon with a high likelihood of good weather, this is one to consider!
The Superstition Mountains look so beautiful at the start. The warming fires are amazing. The whole event from start to finish is perfect. And the volunteers can’t be beat!
The views on this race are spectacular and the volunteers are amazing!
For my first marathon this was such an amazing experience! Between the fires at the start, support along the way! Best memories made for my first ever run!
What a great, well supported marathon with a fun and varied course and great volunteers!
An amazing beautiful and organized race! Highly recommend
I had a great time! I ran the marathon. The race was well-organized and everyone was friendly - from the team at packet pickup to the bus drivers to the aid station volunteers. There were plenty of bathrooms on the course and I needed many of them. I randomly met the race director around mile 22 and then again at the finish line. What an energetic and kind soul! This was my 13th state and 13th marathon on my way to be a 50-stater. I have yet to have a more beautiful starting area. The log fires and dawn breaking over the mountains were an inspiring way to start the event. Well done, everyone!
Such beautiful scenery, helpful volunteers, and overall just a wonderful race! 100% want to do the Lost Dutchman Marathon again!
Volunteer support was amazing!! Lots of encouraging, smiling faces throughout the route.
LDM is a top notch race especially for seasoned runners. The scenery was beautiful, volunteers were awesome and encouraging and the community seemed to embrace this event. It seemed like you were part of their family during the event! Not a big crowd race, but if you like nature, people who know about running, and great support, LDM is highly recommended!
Well organized and well supported marathon - I am a back of the pack finisher - There was water and Gatorade all the way though the last aud station - thank you!
Exceptional start line amenities!
Awesome race. I like the point to point marathons. A great place to start in the mountain before sunrise. Nice downhill for the first six miles on a dirt road. Everything was well-organized with plenty of aid stations and many that had more than just water. Bacon and pickles was a nice surprise along with bananas and oranges. The volunteers were full of energy and very supportive. Normally when doing a marathon, all I am looking for is the next mile marker, but the scenery was so gorgeous that I could focus on that and suddenly there was another mile marker. I set my new personal best time of 5:43:44.
This is a truly awesome marathon. The race is very well organized and the volunteers are literally the kindest people I have ever met during a marathon. Everyone is positive and encouraging, and the start line is incredibly beautiful and well stocked with everything you need. This is not an easy course. There are long inclines after the seven mile downhill start. This is a must do marathon!
Everything went very smoothly on race day. The transportation was fast and efficient, the course was very beautiful and well maintained, and their were plenty of snack and drink stops throughout the course.
Great event!
Great race! Beautiful views!
It's a beautiful run through desert parks and towns with cactus and orange rocks everywhere (but wear a hat because there's not a speck of shade anywhere)!
Great race in a beautiful setting. Very well supported by volunteer staff and locals. A challenging course that is worth it!
Beautiful with some challenge! The race was well organized with energized and kind volunteers! The last few miles were tough but knowing that well designed metal was waiting at the finish was defiantly motivating! The route was beautiful, never a dull sight!
Great organization! Super Friendly Race.
Beautiful
The best volunteers in the world
Thank you for thinking of every detail for the runners such as the warming bus at the start and plentiful aid stations. I've run over 50 marathons and this was very well organized and supported.
A great experience
Yes. I enjoyed the scenery, perfect weather and enthusiastic volunteers. However, the course description seriously misrepresents the difficulty of the second half of the course and any rational person would not run the Lost Dutchman to qualify for Boston.
Arizona Winter Point to Point Marathon Course
Course Maps
full size .pdf | one page .pdf (print ready) | large .jpg | small .jpg
Marathon Course Description
Beginning near Gold Canyon, AZ (30 miles east of Phoenix), the marathon is a scenic, rolling, point-to-point, USATF certified course (AZ23001JOE) that can be used as a qualifier for the Boston Marathon. Although this is a challenging course, every year a significant number of finishers run Boston-qualifying times. We also receive letters from experienced marathoners who PR on this course.
Drop Bags Organized for Retrieval
All runners will receive free transportation from the Rodeo Grounds to the start. A clothing drop bag location will be at the marathon start, and runners will receive their clothes after the finish of the race.
The race start elevation is at 2330 feet above sea level. The elevation at the finish is 1840 feet. Every mile split will be marked.
The marathon starts a half mile south of the Peralta Trailhead on Peralta Road. The first six miles are on a well-maintained, unpaved road through beautiful desert vistas. The seventh mile of Peralta Road is a newly paved four-lane boulevard. The course transitions to US 60 for 1.5 miles and then turns north on Kings Ranch Road for a tour of the beautiful and historic Kings Ranch and Gold Canyon area. There are rolling hills in this area, but the focus is on the majestic view of the famous Superstition Mountains immediately to the north that rise straight up from an elevation of 2000’ to 5000’.
The course returns to US 60 at approximately the 15 mile mark and follows US 60 for another 1.5 miles to Mountain View Road. The course departs Mountain View and moves at a gradual incline toward the base of Superstition Mountain where you will find a turnaround at about 19.4 miles; from that point the elevation again drops toward the finish line.
Shortly after the turnaround you will be running with half marathoners. It adds to the fun to see how many half marathoners you can pick off before crossing the finish line. Just past mile 23 you will pass through a wall which is a great photo op with beautiful Superstition Mountain in the background. Save a little energy for the last 2 tenths as you run past the on lookers to the finish line. View the marathon course here.
Aid Stations
There are aid stations every 2 miles on the marathon course for the first 20 miles and then an aid station every mile to the finish. There are port-a-jons near every aid station. Lemon Lime Gatorade will be available at every other aid station starting at marathon mile 4. GU Energy Gel will be at miles 10 and 18 on the marathon course only. Bananas will be at 2 aid stations.
Aid stations are staffed by our tremendous volunteers without whom our event could not happen. Please thank them along the way.
Courtesy Clothing Drop
There will be clothing bag drop zone in Prospector Park for the convenience of the runners not wishing to return to their cars.