Long Course Information

Swim... this is a 1.2 mile open water swim. most likely triangular but shape may change depending on water levels. Average water temp is 74 degrees (wet suits are legal 78 and below). Elephant Butte Lake has suffered (as we all have) from the drought this year... the transition run from swim to T1 is as long as ever... it will be graded and foot washing stations available out side T1. We will have some wet suit strippers available as well for long course athletes.

Bike: This is one challenging bike course... the first 20 miles of the course are shared with the Intermediate distance course which travel up and out of the new state park entrance, north through the city of Elephant Butte and along the perimeter of the lake. At mile 10 athletes will descend down into Monticello Canyon and then proceed by climbing for the next 3 miles up Big Daddy. The course then crosses over I-25 and turns back S on the frontage road until mile 20 where athletes will turn R (west) onto NM 52. This is a 15 mile out and back section (30 miles round trip) through the town of Cuchillo and into the foothills outside of Winston NM... the wild wild west at its best with some big climbs thrown in to keep you focused. At mile 50 athletes will turn back onto the frontage road (again a shared portion with the Intermediate course), turning Left onto 195 S through the switchback descent back into the City of Elephant Butte, thru the main entrance to the park and back to T2.

Run: This run couse was designed especially for all my good friends who begged me not to make 2 loops of the intermediate course... little did any of you realize that 2 loops would have been easier than anything else I could put together and this run route won't disappoint. The first 6 miles will be shared with the intermediate course... traveling out across the beach on graded trail, up the Dam hill and out across the Dirt Dam and Elephant Butte Dam, at the 3 mile mark, long course athletes will be directed up and around the winding road park and will descend back into Damsite Recreation area where misting tents will await... a short trail run along the back side of the Damsite Restaurant will return athletes to HWY 177 and back across both dams. Once athletes cross Dirt Dam they will continue to climb up HWY 195 (past the turn off back down the Dam Hill) until intersecting with Country Club Rd (there will be approximately .3 miles where athletes returning from the bike portion will be south bound on this section so runners should stay on the graded area to avoid cyclists thru this section). Athletes will turn L down Country Club and enjoy one mile of down hill... turning R at Hallmark and then diverting onto Golf Course Roads. Once on Sierra del Rio roads.. athletes will travel on Rim Rock Dr across Turtleback Pkwy (the main entry road to the resort) across the mesa (on what used to be the main roads to Elephant Butte). Runners will be greeted by a water station at Turtleback Mountain Resort's President's residence and continue down hill to make a lap around the back side of the beautiful restaurant and club house. It is then a climb up and out of the resort with a small out and back section thru Villa Toscano (water awaits here along with amazing views). Continued climbing will take athletes out of the resort via Stagecoach Rd and Roadrunner (power line graded trail road). This road dead ends into NM 179 at which point athletes will turn L and tackle this last hill until it intersects with NM 195. A right turn at 195 will take athletes back to the Dam Hill and the final run portion along graded beach roads.

Runners are expected to run on the right side of the road while on the portions shared with the Intermediate course- this portion is closed to traffic. Once past the Intermediate couse, Long Course athletes will need to run on the left hand side of the road until they return to the beach portion of the course.