City’s deeper involvement gives Duke City Marathon a boost

The 2025 Duke City Marathon just might be the most Duke City-ish ever.

For the first time in the event’s 41-year history, Sunday’s marathon course will take runners through the Village of Los Ranchos and, later, through the heart of Old Town — passing directly by the Plaza.

Logistically and financially, DCM spokesman Burt Trembly said on Tuesday in a phone interview, a course involving the closure of so many roads with the necessary barricades and police presence would be impossible without the full cooperation of the city.

And who/what, for the first time, is a DCM presenting sponsor?

You guessed it. The City of Albuquerque.

It was the city, Trembly said, that approached the DCM, saying, “‘We’d love for you to run (the course) more through the city.’ So we started talking about that. And then the city said, ‘OK, how about if we come in as a presenting sponsor, and we will cover those costs.’”

Big 5 Sporting Goods remains the DCM’s title sponsor. Proceeds from the event benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central New Mexico.

Each year, marathoners from elsewhere in New Mexico, other states and even other countries come to Albuquerque for the challenge of running the DCM at high altitude. Others come to check off New Mexico in their quest to have completed a marathon in all 50 states.

The portions of the course that take runners through Los Ranchos (miles 14-18) and Old Town (miles 23-24) offer out-of-towners a more complete and authentic Albuquerque experience than on past courses.

“I think it’s incredible,” Trembly said, “that we get to show off Old Town and some of the most beautiful parts of Albuquerque.”

Of the city’s partnership, Mayor Tim Keller said in a press release, “The Duke City Marathon is a cornerstone of Albuquerque’s active lifestyle and community connection. It’s easy to get behind an event that celebrates our city, inspires healthy living and has been bringing people here since 1984.”

That fall, as launched by co-founders Tico and Marge Navarro (they remain deeply involved, four decades later), the DCM consisted only of a marathon. Over the years it has evolved into a running (and walking) festival: marathon, marathon relay, half-marathon, 10K run, 10K walk, 5K run, 5K walk.

In a phone interview, Tico Navarro said the DCM’s relationship with the city has always been strong. The city’s initiative in reaching out prior to this year’s event, he said, has made that relationship stronger.

“They wanted to make it bigger and better,” he said. “And I think in the back of their minds they wanted to make it more local. … We wanted to give it more of (an Albuquerque) flavor.”

Trembly said registration numbers as of Tuesday were up from last year, as has been the case each year since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the event in 2020.

Regular registration ends on Wednesday, but late registration will be available starting Thursday (at higher prices) at dukecitymarathon.com as well as in person Saturday at the annual Health & Fitness Expo, staged at the Albuquerque Convention Center.

The DCM attracts serious competitors, in the 26.2-mile showcase event as well as in the companion races. Albuquerque’s elevation and temperate weather remain a magnet for some of the world’s better long-distance runners. No prize money, however, is being offered.

“There’s a lot of competitive runners,” Trembly said, “but when it comes to the overall feeling, it’s community.”

Trembly said the Michelob Ultra Beer Garden will return to Civic Plaza on Sunday, after a year’s absence. There’ll be mariachi bands and DJs at various points along the course.