I did this event with fellow veterans as part of a "heavy" team (rucked in uniform, carrying 40+ pounds of weight...you must carry 35 lbs not including water or any additional gear...there are other categories too). It's a difficult event in the high desert, sandy, usually quite warm, perhaps windy, and sunny. Many people run it like any other marathon but it's definitely not a "PR" course. It is entirely worth doing, and the sooner the better. There is a dwindling number of surviving Bataan Death March service members, and several of them are at this event. In 2012, many of them participated in the shorter distance events. You don't do this event for the swag or the bling; in fact we got the dog tag "medal" before the race. It's one of those marathons that's worth doing for the sake of what it represents and those you meet along the course.