Cheryl Villasana's Staging Area

This was a great race, overall! Not huge, but still had the feel of a big race. The expo was organized, and I had no problem picking up my bib and swag, which consisted of my race shirt and a reusable bag. The bus organization race morning was fantastic. They were plenty of busses, and as soon as one was full, they took off to the start. Plenty of portable toilets and water available at the start, along with gear check. The course itself is mainly on a bike path and was a bit rough in a few places, but was marked with caution signs. Plenty of aid stations with water, electrolytes and toilets. A lot more spectators than I expected. Finish line was at the same place as the expo and had a great vibe going. Lots of freebies being handed out by vendors and yummy post-race waffles. Definitely plan on running this one again.

This is the 5th time I have run the half marathon distance of this race. This is the first year with only one option (historically you chose Clovis half or Fresno half). The course is flat as a pancake but rather boring. Course support was decent, but nothing special. They did supply gels at approximately mile 9, which was better than many small races. Spectators were few, but spirited and I saw some of the funniest signs anywhere during this race. Breakfast was very good, but the line was long and slow moving, which was new for this year. Usually it’s very fast. My absolute biggest issue with this race was getting out of the parking lot. It seemed like it would be a good location, with plenty of parking. However, there is no traffic control exiting the school grounds. I sat for over an hour in a line of cars trying to exit the parking lot. For all that this is a decent race, I will not run it again if it is held at this location.

This is a hard race! First of all, the race is held in the central valley of California in August. That means its HOT. Even at the start of the race. By the end, you can feel the heat from the pavement through the soles of your shoes. The first 4 miles or so or more or less flat, but after that, forget it. You start up a huge hill that seems never ending, it levels out for a bit, then there’s a wonderful short downhill. Tiny bit more flat, and then another huge hill. Final downhill, which feels great, then flat for the last 2 miles. Of course, by the time you hit the last 2 miles your legs are so shaky you can barely run! One thing fantastic about this race is the course support. 10 (!) aid stations, supplied with Gatorade, water and GU, along with volunteers with sponges full of cool water to rinse you down if you need it (you will). Right before the last big hill, there is a fantastic aid station with salty and sweet food items, and plenty of fluids. Still, be sure to carry your own hydration. The heat and hills are brutal. What’s funny is that there are tons of repeat runners. This is the third time I’ve run this race, and I’m sure I’ll be back again. If you want something challenging, come join us in Exeter in August!

This is a very fast out and back course. Be warned, Albuquerque is above 5000 feet, so if you’re not used to racing at this altitude, it’s a bit of a challenge. Indoor bathrooms at the start of the race at the convention center, which was fantastic. Not a huge amount of course support, but what was available was well-managed and well stocked. The race swag was nice in that there were several colors of shirts to choose from. Overall, I have no real complaints. Not my favorite race, but maybe that’s just me. A big plus is that Alburquerque is a beautiful city and the people are friendly.

I was so very very pleased with this race! I had heard very good things about it and decided to make this my second marathon. I am not a fast runner as you can tell by my race results. However, the aid stations were well supplied and there was plenty of support for those of us toward the back of the pack. The swag was great, the beer festival after it was a lot of fun. The only thing I didn’t particularly like was that at the end of the race, water was quite a distance away from a large truck. No bottles. Plus, by the time I finished, pancake breakfast was basically over and the post race snacks were nonexistent.. There were quite a few people after me, however, so I would suggest they have a larger supply next year. With regard to scenery, this race was beautiful! A large portion was down a running path that had a beautiful stream flowing parallel. The section through the vineyards was lovely. A few rolling hills, but nothing major by any means. Running through the DeLoach winery was really fun! And the little glass of Chardonnay at the aid station was delicious. Overall, I would say this was a great race! I had a fantastic time, and would definitely consider running it again.

It was my second year running this race (after I swore last year I wouldn’t run it again). The medal is sparkly and has moving parts, which makes it one of the best in my collection. Tech shirt is well designed and good quality. The expo is large with convenient monorail access and runs for several days. Where this race has issues is start line organization and course support. I am used to feeling like cattle in the starting corrals, but this race really packs you in. There are 3 different groups with separate corrals within each group to stagger the start. This is all great in principle, but you are literally squished for a minimum of 20 minutes from when you are required to be in your group to when the first corral in your group starts. Heaven help you if you need to use a porta pottie! Speaking of porta potties…we were promised porta potties at each aid station. Even the small half marathons I have participated in have 2 at aid stations and are regularly spaced. I did not see facilities at most of the aid stations and when I finally couldn’t hold it any longer, I waited 10 minutes in line at the 2 porta potties available! Thank goodness I was running the half with a 4 hour time limit – the runners in line with me were running the full and had only 5 hours to finish. One of the hardest parts of this race is that it is at night, in the dark on rather sketchy asphalt. Watch your step. The finish line food and beverages are good. The best thing about this race is the location. The atmosphere in Las Vegas is fantastic, the spectators are loud and supportive, and everywhere around you all weekend are runners talking about the race. Even though I said I wouldn’t run it again, I just couldn’t pass up the lure of running the strip at night under the lights to cheering crowds.

This race is put on by Sole2Soul, a wonderful store with 3 locations in California’s Central Valley. This is the third and final race in the Soul Series (all half marathons), and my overall favorite. It runs through some beautiful areas of Bakersfield, which aren’t as pretty as the beach, or as the mountains, but for the central valley, they are pretty decent. The course support is plentiful and the aid stations are managed by fantastic people. This is a small race, with under 1000 runners. I do love a huge race with thousands of people around me, but sometimes it is really nice to be able to hear the birds and feel the wind in your hair, and just be out there with a group of people who love what they’re doing. The race swag is pretty decent, too. Tech shirt, head buff, carry bag, and a hoodie at the finish. If you run the series, you get a special medal at the end, and a backpack. Full breakfast at the finish – eggs, bacon, fruit, pancakes, and chocolate milk. If you ever think you might find yourself in the California Central Valley in October, I would highly recommend this race! Just be prepared for a couple of large hills in the middle! (But the local high school drum line is on scene to help you make it to the top!)

This was my first marathon, and I couldn’t have chosen a better company to produce it than Rock ‘n’ Roll run! Tons of aid stations, great bands, and generally fantastic support! The course was difficult, with lots of rolling hills and a nasty section of freeway, but overall it was fun. My only complaint is that finishers jackets could be purchased before the race, but when I chose to wait to make sure I finished, none were available at the finish festival, where they were supposed to have been. I was told I would be able to purchase one online, which was not true! So, I never got to buy the finishers jacket for my first marathon. Other than that, this was a fantastic experience

I found this race to be well organized from sign up to after party. Expo was easy to get to and parking was a breeze. Good vendors. Race day arrival was a bit scary because there really is only one entrance to the parking, but it was smoothly handled. Shuttles were available, but I got there early for a good spot (6 am for a 7:45 start). Plenty of beach bathrooms that were clean and stocked, plus additional porta potties at the start. Voluntary corrals moved quickly. Well supported throughout the course with plenty of hydration and lots of volunteers. Easy finish line with goodie bag and plenty of water and medical assistance. My only complaint is that the course was extremely narrow through a fairly long section and it was very claustrophobic. Overall, I would absolutely recommend this race!