Take a desert, with course elevations ranging from 4,000' to 5,400'. Stir in plenty of sand, some of it a couple of inches deep, other places just deep enough to constantly fill your shoes. Add winds 20-30 mph, gusting to 51. Bathe it in stark sunlight, clear skies with visibility exceeding 50 miles, and no shade anywhere in sight. Sound like a great place for a marathon?

There's more. Open the marathon with a ceremony honoring the survivors of the 1942 Death March in the Philippines, where the Japanese marched tens of thousands of soldiers from the Philippines and the USA to Prison Camps where they would live in horrid conditions for three years. Include in the ceremony the Roll Call of the Departed, reading off the names of those who survived the Death March but were called home during the past year. Fly a couple of F-22s over at a few hundred feet just as the National Anthem concludes. Then lead the marathon field with the Wounded Warriors, who march the 26.2 on prosthetic feet and legs. Just before the start line, let the field file past survivors sitting in chairs on both sides of the starting chute, so marathoners can gently shake their hand and thank them for their service as part of the Greatest Generation. It may be the only marathon where you cross the starting mat with tears in your eyes.

Sound interesting? It's unlike any marathon you will ever complete. We braved the sun and sand and winds to help honor those who served. Marching the full 26.2 miles for the marathon or 15.3 for the Honorary March, we were among the civilians who joined thousands of men and women in uniform who marched with pride and determination - for though this is no walk in the park, the pain and suffering here pales in comparison to what was endured more than 60 years ago in the Fight for Freedom.

Enjoy the experience....