Divonte Pleasant's Staging Area

First time running M2B and it was fantastic! Sure, production may not be as big as your larger races but this marathon comes well supported with volunteers and spectators. A lot of people said this course has almost no spectators so I was expecting very few to none but there was quite a bit! There are points where it gets a little lonesome so bring your headphones!

Expo: The race expo is nothing to go over hills for, it was simply ok… Only a few vendor tents and not a lot of large brands there but I didn’t hate it. I just got my bib and shirt then left after the shakeout run. I do wish they made the bib pickup and race shirt pick up near each other it was confusing to have the bibs on one part of the expo and the race shirt pickup on the complete opposite side of the park at a semi-tucked away tent. A lot of runners I crossed needed help locating it.

The course: This course was beautiful! Perfect cool sunny morning probably the fastest marathon course that I’ve ran! I very much enjoyed the constant downhill throughout majority of the race! It felt like I was going downhill through the whole course until mile 22. They say there was a hill in the beginning around mile 3, one in the middle, and the end… I did not feel any hill for majority of the course the “hilly” parts felt flat to me. You do feel a nice and fast downhill part right after the “hills” which made me realize something was probably there but hardly noticeable for me at least until the last 3 miles in downtown Ventura. There is a very slight little hill around mile 22 which is only a couple of seconds long and it’s flat for another mile then a very long and gradual slight incline about mile 23-25 which you probably wouldn’t notice if your legs are fresh but you certainly feel these toward the end and they slowed me down a little bit. My only issue with the course was the incredibly large and very deep pot holes in downtown Ojai. Thankfully everyone missed them and I saw it coming but it would be nice if the city would fill them or at least the race directors place a cone or two on it. It was probably about a foot deep and could seriously ruin or injure someone if they stepped into it going race pace!

Finish line – was awesome! Lots of spectators cheering you in and encouraging you as you battle the last half mile. Lots of vendors and good beach vibes! Post race snacks were probably the worse I’ve gotten post race. I was given a few berries, tiny granola bar and small Chex-mix.

Miles (1-6) – The race starts feeling flat and there is a bit of a hill around mile 3 (allegedly) and as soon as you pass the 5k mark, all downhill until mile 7.

Miles (7-12) – You’re wrapping up that first nice downhill until around mile 7 and the course will feel flat around this point until mile 9. Mile 9-12 is a very very fast downhill part of the course where you will probably bank some time. You’re falling fast until the mile 12 mark and it becomes flat at this point for a half a mile.

Miles (13-18) – There is a very slight incline mid mile 12 just before you turn and then you’re falling again until mile 14.5 or 15 and there is a slight quick uphill that you may or may not notice that goes for maybe 50ish (probably underestimating) meters before you’re falling again to mile 18.

Mile (19-25) – This in my opinion is the most challenging part of the course because you’re still going downhill but it’s not as fast as the earlier miles and it’s starting to warm up and fatigue is starting to set in. The course will flatten out around mile 20 through an industrial area on the bike trail and will feel flat until mile 22 where there is a slight and quick uphill that felt to last a few seconds but you will see it coming but don’t worry it ends quick! At this point course will be flight until mile 23 where you will encounter a not so large but long gradual uphill until mile 25. This is where I began to lose some momentum until mile 25 which includes a sharp and quick downhill for a quarter mile because you enter the the beach path.

Miles (25-finish) This will be flat and with one final aid station with some last minute carbs! Probably the best in my opinion because they had muffins which fueled me to the finish! The last half mile you’re making your way through the expo and the spectators are cheering you on and encouraging you then you’re home with your new personal best!

As a summary I would highly recommend this course if you’re trying to get a personal best for your marathon or half. There is a lot of downhill on this course approx (93%) so if hills are not your friend this might be a better race for you! Certainly strengthen your quads! They felt fine race day but the next day after the adrenaline wore off and soreness settled in, they were toast! Loved this race and will return next year for another personal best!