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Big Sur International Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Big Sur International Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.9 
Organization 4.8 
Spectators 3.7
Number of comments: 212 [displaying comments 51 to 61]
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W. A. from Ashland, MA
(5/6/2010)
"Most Beautiful Course Ever!" (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Big Sur International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my 21st marathon, and it was also 6 days after the Boston Marathon as part of the Boston2Big Sur Challenge. I heard so much about how tough it was, but that the scenery would pull me through. SO true! Yes, it's a tough course, but if you train seriously for hills (especially at the END of the race), you will be fine. I ran with a camera for the first time ever in a marathon, and I'm SO glad that I did. I stopped 52 times to take pictures and still finished in just under 4 hours. The views were just spectacular. NO iPod either. Who needs it on a course like this? Everyone was having way too much fun. Only downside were the walkers. I caught up to them by mile 14, and it was not fun trying to get around them. It's hard enough to run up those hills, but dodging walkers is not cool. Otherwise, the race is amazing and I will do it again in a heartbeat! | |
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I. C. from New York, NY
(5/3/2010)
"Spectacular" (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Big Sur International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I left NYC at 6 a.m. on Saturday for Monterey, ran the race on Sunday, and took the redeye Sunday night back to NYC to report to work the next day. The 20 hours' travel to run this race was well worth it. Spectacular views, brutal hills that test one's resilience and resolve, and amazing race staff/volunteers who clearly approach this event as an act of love. The organization was terrific from start to finish, with prompt email responses from the staff even in the days leading up to the race, and an active Facebook page (which I highly recommend getting tuned into if you run the race, as a lot of up-to-date information is posted there). The after-party at the host hotel was fabulous - great food, easy to get to, and laid back. I missed most of the expo, but the line-up of speakers was terrific. I also loved the way volunteers at each mile marker read out loud the projected marathon finish time based on the time up until then - tough to hear sometimes, but a very nice touch. All in all, an amazing marathon that is worth doing at least once. If I lived on the West Coast, I'd run it every year. | |
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Scooter Pionus from Atlanta, Georgia
(5/3/2010)
"One tough, but spectacular, marathon" (about: 2010)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Big Sur International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 Ditto on what everyone else has written about the scenery - simply spectacular and mind-blowing. Congratulations to everyone who set a PR on this race. Just tell me one thing: How the heck did you do it?!?!? I was happy to just finish the course a few minutes ahead of the six-hour cut-off. This marathon is pretty tough, and anyone who plans to run this race needs to do a lot of hill training. Take it from someone who didn't do enough of it! I think the race organization can be improved. The start was confusing and congested. It would make more sense to line up the runners on Route 1 according to their expected time rather than have them congregate at Big Sur Station and then move them out to the road. The race organizers also need to make sure there are enough post-race goodies for those of us who are slow runners. By the time I made it to the food tent, only boxes of raisins and cans of pineapple juice were left. No bagels, no muffins, no bananas, no apples. Make sure the faster runners dont hog the goods or set aside goodies for those who come in closer to the cut-off time. I stayed at the Big Sur Lodge to avoid getting up early and taking the bus. The lodge is only a 10-15-minute walk to the start. Several other runners stayed there as well so you can swap your marathon war stories with one another before and after the race. Great breakfast and dinner at the Big Sur Bakery. The café at the Glen Oaks Motel is also great for breakfast. And, you'll find cool Big Sur T-shirts at the Big Sur Deli. Go to the room at the back of the store. Would I run Big Sur again? Definitely! It was a blast! | |
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j. m. from chicago
(5/3/2010)
"Beautiful, fun, and friendly - a must-do" (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Big Sur International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my first Big Sur. Boston is special, and Chicago is fun, but they cannot compare to Big Sur. I have done 38 marathons, and I was like a kid at this one. I ran easy and took a camera, which is a must. I loved stopping, taking pictures and swapping cameras with other runners. The scenery was incredible, and this was one of the most organized races I have seen. The music was really great. I am glad I ditched the iPod. The only downside was dealing with the walkers on the right side, but that was minor. The pickup was smooth and the organized gear bag at the end was great. Everything about this race was first class. Cannot wait to do this one again. | |
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B. R. from Phialdelphia, PA
(4/30/2010)
"PR? You betcha" (about: 2010)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Big Sur International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I ran a personal best here and a BQ. We had excellent weather but I do believe this can be a PR course if you attack it the right way. This was my 9th marathon and probably my all-time favorite. Scenery is UNREAL. | |
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Jennifer Gass from New York City
(4/27/2010)
"Spectacularly beautiful!" (about: 2010)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Big Sur International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Stunning scenery - redwoods, meadows, cliffs and the Pacific Ocean. Simply amazing! You won't set a personal record, but with only 3,500 marathoners, the camaraderie amongst the runners is magical. | |
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T. N. from Cincinnati
(4/27/2010)
"Scenic, Challenging, Different" (about: 2010)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Big Sur International Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Having completed over 20 different marathons, this one has some unique features. First off, the expo was great, just like at the big races. Plenty to see and buy. Nice technical t-shirt but nothing else in the goody bag; no noise-makers, key chains, frisbees, mini-towels, water bottles, stickers, etc. These extras do add value to the event and are good for the kids if nothing else. Race morning, all runners are shuttled to the staging area. No issues getting up early, but the ride took at least 75 minutes (maybe longer), a bit excessive but acceptable I guess. Once at the starting area, it was rather crowded. Room for improvement here. The route is hilly and challenging. Downhills burn the quads, uphills tire the calves and hammies, and the banked turns stress the ankles and give rise to blisters. The climb to Hurricane Point, starting at mile 10, is significant; but being early in the race, it's no real problem. Watch out for the hill at mile 21 - it has "WALL" written all over it. Good news - mostly downhill from there with only a few minor climbs til the end. Some headwinds on the course but nothing major. Plenty of water, Gatorade, bananas, strawberries, oranges, and GU packs to meet nutrition requirements along the way. The scenery is SPECTACULAR! Yeah, spectacular! Okay, eventually it looks all the same and you just get down to business and run. The best spectators on the course were the walkers. They cheered me on throughout the entire distance. Not sure how it was organized, but nearly the whole course was populated with walkers from beginning to end - giving me company as I ran toward the front of the pack, which is usually sparsely populated. Entertainment along the course was great - good bands, young musicians, drums, piano, singers, harp, etc. Much appreciated! The finisher's medal is unique - made of clay/ceramic??? But it feels a little cheap - I'll be gentle with it. Good post-race finishing area, with decent food and snacks, beer, and - again - live entertainment. Massages were also available to all marathoners. The staff and organization of this event were among the best I've ever experienced. Great event - add this one to your list. | |
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T. P. from Santa Barbara, California
(12/14/2009)
"The most beautiful race in America, period" (about: 2002)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Big Sur International Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 The most beautiful race in America - period. One that everyone should do once. | |
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Yvette Garmon from California
(10/20/2009)
"Most beautiful, amazing, challenging course ever!!" (about: 2009)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Big Sur International Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was my first big marathon ever, and I was told that this was a hard course for my first marathon, but I was willing to take the challenge!! I felt great every step of the way and would do it again. The last four miles were the toughest for me. I was so excited knowing that I was going to finish under six hours - and I did it, in 5:56:00. My disappointment came when I was told that the finish line was taken down at the 5:30 mark, so I felt all alone coming in. Though I received my medal, and was able to print my certificate of completion online, I was not listed in the results, the newspaper or on the website. Excitement turned to disappointment. | |
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C. H. from New York City, NY
(7/25/2009)
"WOW! A BEAUTIFUL SCENIC RUN & VIEW! A MUST-RUN!" (about: 2009)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Big Sur International Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 If you want to see the west coast of the USA, this would be the race! It's exceptional! The view of the ocean, beach/shores, cliffs, and Mountain View on Route 1 is amazing. However, this race is tough. There are A LOT of hills. But, the one you'll remember for the rest of your life when you think of Big Sur is the two-mile uphill going up on the notorious Hurricane Point at mile 10 - not including the constant wind gust a good portion of the marathon. Here are my pros and cons of this event. PROS: - Event organization was superb. Staff and volunteers were very knowledgeable. - The technical long-sleeve shirt was nice; the image on the back could be more modern. - Entertainment was awesome throughout the event. - Very nice ceramic (I believe) finisher's medal. Just don't drop it. It's fragile. - The post-race finishing area was sufficient, with lots of food and drinks, and even beer. CONS: - This is the earliest race I have ever woken up for. Don't expect to sleep much the night before unless you plan to sleep at 8 p.m. - Very crowded during the pre-race gathering of the run. There isn't much room on Route 1; it's very crowded for the first several miles before it spreads out. - There were very few spectators, due to location being on Route 1. Would I run this marathon again? Absolutely! Would I recommend this race? No question. Overall, a great experience! *I'm using the template of S. H. from Pasadena, CA. I hope he or she doesn't mind; and the credit goes to him or her - not me.* |
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