Nov 12, 2024
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Redding Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Redding Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.2 
Organization 4.6 
Spectators 2.2
Number of comments: 19 [displaying comments 1 to 11]
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Wayne Wright from Morro Bay, California USA
(3/16/2024)
"No Sweat" (about: 2024)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Redding Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 INTRODUCTION: I am a racewalker with a median marathon completion time of 5:26:45. The Redding Marathon was my seventy-second 26.2-miler accomplished. COURSE: It was a perfect day for a marathon: 40 degrees, 100 percent relative humidity, overcast, and no wind with gusts up to 4 mph. We began our event in the Shasta Dam Visitor Center parking lot in Shasta Lake. We then traversed across the dam entering onto a two-lane road at mile 0.8 which began our 400-foot descent over the next one and a half miles. The course leveled off just before entering the Sacramento River Rail Trail at mile 2.4. The mostly flat trail ran parallel to the Sacramento River until breaking off at mile 9.8, heading inland alongside a tributary. We reversed course at mile 10.6, where we began our steepest ascent of 150 feet over the next mile and a half or so. Returning alongside the Sacramento River, upon approaching Keswick Dam, we began our steepest descent of about 200 feet over less than a mile beginning before mile 13. Halfway into mile 14, crossing Keswick Dam Road, we entered the mostly flat Sacramento River Trail South. Just before mile 15, we turned right and headed away from the Sacramento River on the Middle Creek Trail. We climbed approximately 100 feet over a mile before our turnaround just short of mile 16. We returned to the Sacramento River Trail South, turning right, heading down river. Continuing to just after mile 19, we crossed a pedestrian bridge over the Sacramento River before our turnaround. We continued on the Sacramento River Trail South, heading up river to the Stress Ribbon Bridge, where we crossed at mile 22 onto the Sacramento River Trail North. This segment of the marathon course can be described as rolling hill terrain. The trail also had markers every quarter mile. Given the marathon finish was at mile 4.25, we were able to compute the distance left by subtracting the marker distance from 4.25. Just past mile 26, we crossed the Sundial Bridge to our finish line. Weather at the finish was 52 degrees, 82 percent relative humidity, overcast, and northwest wind with speed of 3 mph. ORGANIZATION: Well organized and efficient. Bib pickup at Fleet Feet Sports was a snap. Bus transportation from the finish line to the start was well done. We were able to stay warm before the race inside the Shasta Dam Visitors Center. Aid stations were well stocked, and at every junction, there was a volunteer present to get us in the right direction. SPECTATORS: Nonexistent. Some thumbs up given by passersby on the trails. CONCLUSION: An attractively set, small marathon to start out the new year, courtesy of the local SWEAT Running Club. (What SWEAT stands for appears to be a mystery.) Weather is variable. If it were staged the day before, we would have encountered snow showers. Fortunately for us, in terms of weather, it was a perfect day for a marathon. Well done, Redding! | |
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Scott Coe from Eugene OR
(1/16/2017)
"Way better than advertised" (about: 2017)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Redding Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 They don't tell you about all the things they have put in place for you: 1) Oxford suites was awesome. Cocktails the night before. They opened up breakfast so us runner had a good meal, they gave me a 2pm 'late check-out' and they were supportive and downright nice! 2) Torie (RD), truly cares about her runners. Checking in with people, bending over backwards so everyone was well taken care of, but here is the BEST part; She arranged for the visitors center to let us stay inside until the race started up on Shasta Dam. It was wonderful staying warm! It was 40 degrees outside. The course is spectacular. And a great party with wonderful food at the end! There are some pretty good hills on the course, but we all needs to do our hill work-outs=<Ã<ü<Ã<ü<Ã<ü GREAT EVENT all the way around. | |
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N. G. from Belmont, CA
(1/25/2013)
"Very nice race" (about: 2013)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Redding Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Positives: 1. Beautiful course. 2. Small field (201 finishers 2013) 3. Great weather (cold start, pleasant finish) 4. Excellent organization. 4a. Free morning bus shuttle from finish to start line. 4b. Bag drop at start. 4c. Quick to post results and respond to emails. Negatives: 1. Rather hilly. One mile downhill at 2mi that is steady, so not too tough (but be ready). Several uphills around 11-12mi - not terrible (but be ready). Steep downhill at about 13mi. One steady 1.3mi uphill at 16mi, and back down for 17mi. Many very short but steep momentum buster hills during 24-26mi (I wasn't ready). 2. No chip timing. Not a big deal but it can take 10-20 seconds to cross start. 3. Water stops for first half are each over 3 miles apart. Lack of vehicle access determine this - so you can carry or double drink at each. Overall a great experience. | |
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j. w. from Springfield, Missouri
(10/9/2011)
"very scenic and challenging" (about: 2011)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Redding Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 Beautiful setting for a marathon. Bus ride up to the start above the dam at Lake Shasta for the point to point race. Try to hold back on the start. Just about 3.5 down hill at the start. The course follows a paved bike/walking trail. Drink plenty at the aid stations as there is some distance between them. 14 - 15 tought uphill section. Finish at Sundial Bridge was awesome. Little to no fan support, but the views make up for that. Very nice small race! | |
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R. P. from Eureka, CA
(1/20/2011)
"good first marathon" (about: 2011)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Redding Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my very first marathon. I have nothing to compare it to but what a beautiful run. The scenery the whole way was beautiful. Starting downhill you definitely need to watch your speed. The first 4 miles are downhill. The next 5 are flat and then you slowly start to climb. The next 5 miles have lots of inclines and a few declines. By the time you get to 16 miles, it's flat. A couple of little rolling hills around 19 to 21. After that, all flat. Great ending on the sun dial bridge. We got lucky with the weather because in January you never know. | |
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T. B. from San Francisco
(1/17/2011)
"A top-notch, small race!" (about: 2011)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Redding Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 The organizers of this event are to be congratulated for putting on such a well-organized event. Fabulous scenery, a smooth course (challenging hills midway, but the beautiful surroundings helped cope with them), and despite my fears, perfect weather! Wonderful support stations along the way, and nice refreshments at the end. I've done almost 150 marathons, and this ranks up there with the best of them (although as a January event, good weather like this year is not guaranteed)! | |
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G. R. from Daly City, CA
(1/17/2011)
"Scenic and well-supported" (about: 2011)
50+ previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 All details taken care of. Very scenic run along Shasta Dam, and then along the Sacramento River with a beautiful finish on the Sundial Bridge, with snow-covered mountains in the distance. Weather was perfect. Fewer stars for lack of spectators, but I was running for the scenery. At the finish, the pies and soup were heavenly. | |
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P. F. from Oregon
(1/20/2010)
"Wet & Breezy Day" (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Redding Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 I walk, so I am out there 5-plus hours. Organization waned towards the end - around mile 18, when you make the turn for the second loop, I was directed down the wrong path. I commented to a gentleman I was passing on how hilly it was. He said it was a little hilly but we only have a couple of miles to go. I said I had 7 to go according to my watch. He said you must have gone the wrong way back at the split. I said, "OH SHOOT," or something like that; and turned around and went back. It was foggy, so it was hard to see much of the scenery the first couple of hours. The website discribes the course accurately. The rail grade is a gradual up-slope, with a hilly section from mile 11 to 15. After that it is fairly flat. Great volunteer support at the aid stations. The runners friends and family in attendance were enthusiastic. The weather wasn't great, but only Mother Nature can control that. The glass surface across the Sundial Bridge was slick. It was a small venue, with no traffic and great scenery - my kind of race. Oh, the long-sleeve tech shirt - convict orange - and finisher's medals were nice. | |
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M. B. from Redding,CA
(1/21/2009)
"Very Hilly in the middle" (about: 2009)
2 previous marathons
| 2 Redding Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The course starts off downhill, so watch your downhill speed. Very well organized!! | |
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E. W. from Magalia, CA
(1/19/2009)
"Great Course!!!" (about: 2009)
50+ previous marathons
| 4-5 Redding Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Great job, SWEAT Running Club! The new course is a lot harder but well worth it. This is my 5th time running Redding and I can say that it's getting better each year. The only problem was the heat; it was pretty toasty for January. This is one of the best January marathons in California. |
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