I LOVED this race. The beginning is quite a climb near Ruidoso Grindstone lake, but the downhill running is so twisty and fun. The scenery is gorgeous high desert forest. The race organizers did a great job and I LOVED the medal- especially because it was wooden, made with bike gears, and they recycled the medals from the previous year when it had been canceled. I love that the race was not wasteful but resourceful. SO FUN!