Adam Harman's Staging Area

There is so much better than bad with it but the more I think about it there are a few major flaws that left me bothered.

It’s really a pretty simple out and back race along the coast with some scenery. Relatively flat and fast but I wouldn’t throw out the term pancake.

Ultimately the road closures, police, water stations were all well run and staffed. It was a good, big community marathon. Loved that they didn’t go the Gatorade route, much better electrolyte drink that sets so much better in your stomach and doesn’t overload you with sugar.

Ultimately 3 big things need to change:
(1) – They promoted this as a late BQ race (which it was). This was my first marathon and my intent was to BQ (which I did). That said, part of the reason I chose this race over others around the country this weekend was that they had pace groups set up. However, for the past 6 months they had pace groups set up and listed on the website at 3:00, 3:05, 3:10 and slower. However nobody actually showed up to pace the 3 or 3:05 group. And anyone under 40 (males) needed to run at least 3:08 to qualify. So even the 3:10 group was useless. Really they completely failed to help anyone in this age group and left everyone on their own which was really pretty crappy.

(2) they separate half and full marathoners at the early stages of the race. However the early marathoners were competing with the slow/walking half marathoners over the last 6 miles and got really tight the last two. I had to shout at walkers to shift out of the way as they were walking in groups all across the running path. How you don’t corral and split this I have no clue. It seemed lazy and probably cost me a minute or two weaving around people on weak legs as it was. You shouldn’t have to spend energy navigating like this at the end of a marathon that you’re promoting as an opportunity to BQ. Totally unnecessary and unless fixed would be a reason not to return to run it again. Particularly if the race grows as it ages then it only gets worse. What’s weird is how structured it was otherwise in race.
(3) the mile markers were really hard to catch and could have been much better marked. Sometimes I missed them altogether. Plus there really wasn’t many electric markings or time updates along the race. Wanna say there was 2 or 3 maybe? Not enough at this size of a race. Seemed silly and was really on my own to figure out how I was pacing and talking with others. Forgiving for really small marathons but at this size it seemed cheap and lazy.

More minor:
A lot of the route, especially around the ~3-8 mile range (and ~18-23) was closed to traffic except some through roads. However some major roads leading up and dead ending at the race were closed mid race. I had family meeting me at the 5 mile mark and 21 mile mark to give me homemade fluids. No issues early on but then an officer wasn’t going to let them through after they left the spot to see me in the middle of the run. He didn’t understand why they wanted to go down there (apparently cheering along a dusty farm road is odd to him?) or why they were bringing me fluids since ‘they give it out and [I] should just drink that’. Guy seemed aloof on multiple levels. I think it ultimately falls on the race directors to better inform and ultimately to give people a chance to view the race along this stretch considering it’s the longest part of the race.
Last, not really into swag so much that it bothers me but the tech hats and tee were designed by a blind person. No bearing on my review but pretty hideous.

Again, only one major issue, many great things going on, one or two minor issues and then one superficial issue that impacts the minority of snob runners who are into apparel design (or an attempt at it).