In Search of Arizona's Best Marathon

If you're registered for this weekend's P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Marathon , I've got bad news: You signed up for the wrong race. The race you should be running is the 10th Annual Lost Dutchman Marathon on Feb. 20.
Here are the reasons why the Lost Dutchman Marathon gets my vote for Arizona's best marathon.

The Running Experience

So you're going to run in a crowd with more than 25,000 other people. Can you imagine the parking situation? The crowds of spectators and media? When the starting gun goes off, you'll shuffle your way to the start line. The automatic timer will read the timing chip on your shoe. You'll barely be able to find a comfortable stride for the first two miles. That's not going to add up to a good experience. Why first-time half and full-marathoners subject themselves to this event is beyond me: It's stressful enough before your first major running event - dealing with a crush of people and parking doesn't help. Then you get to run through a concrete city jungle. The only remotely scenic bit is near Camelback Mountain. I hope you like freeways and pavement.

Now check out the Lost Dutchman. I don't think it gets much more than 2,000 people. It's laid-back with just enough sponsor support to add quality amenities for the runners. But the consumerism never overshadows the running. And then there's the course: The Superstition Mountains, a caldera formed by a cataclysmic volcanic explosion millions of years ago, looms over the course. It's spectacular and makes the course unforgettable. And so do the people lining the course. Local residents set up chairs and cheer - and sometimes hand out drinks and hose overheating runners down with cool water. It's a very friendly vibe. Much of the course is easy-on-the-knees dirt road.

Blatant Commercial Hucksterism

The Rock 'n' Roll Marathon isn't a race: It's a brand. It's about pushing product. It's a swirling mass of TV-friendly images, banners and shouting pitch people. With a foot race thrown in to tie the concept together.

The Lost Dutchman? It has a laid-back expo area. Low-key, but friendly and attentive. That's all. It's about the run.

More Categories for More People

You get two choices with the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon: Half and full marathon.

The Lost Dutchman offers a number of different categories: half-marathon, 10K, 8K trail run and two-mile fun run/walk. That means your whole family and your not-so-fit buddies can get out there, too.

But Isn't All the Hoopla Fun?

The Rock 'n' Roll Marathon is certainly a noisy, colorful, vibrant experience. Given my experience running the Midnaeturhlaup in Iceland, I think it would bemuse the average Icelandic runner (the crowds there clap, but they don't hoot, yell and carry on like American spectators). I suppose some people get off on the cheering. Maybe they like the salty Asian food hawked by the title sponsor. Maybe it's the rock bands (most of which are too unspeakably bland to be called "rock" ... auditory baby food).

But it's a study in sensory overload. Even in spectator mode, I don't like it. The Lost Dutchman's homey, close-knit feel is my bag. The combination of welcoming volunteers, staff and spectators along with the spectacular scenery makes it a genuine Arizona experience. If you're traveling to Arizona for a running event, The Lost Dutchman is by far the best choice.

In case you're wondering, I'm not running the Lost Dutchman this year. Unfortunately, it occupies the same spot on the calendar as the Kona Bikes 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo . I'll be racing as part of the duo team Bone Resistance in its quest for middle-of-the-pack glory.