My Profile

@fimmx

Sunnyvale, CA Raving since 2014 Active 2 years ago

About Me

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My Races

Organize, track & review your races and personal bests here.

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Half Marathon

Marathon

Ultramarathon

(Marathon or Ultra) + Half

Marathon + Ultra

Other

Future Races

Personal Bests (1)

Race Distance Location Date Result
Half Marathon Joshua Tree, CA Nov 6, 2021 2:48:00

Future Races (0)

Race Distance Location Date Paid

Past Races (3)

Race Distance Location Date Result My Raves My Performance
Half Marathon Joshua Tree, CA Nov 6, 2021 2:48:00
Marathon Shasta Lake, CA Jan 19, 2020
Half Marathon Virgin, UT Feb 23, 2019

My Raves

Vacation Races always puts together a top notch production, and this race was no different. This race was slightly different for me with a late evening start, which gave me … MORE

Vacation Races always puts together a top notch production, and this race was no different. This race was slightly different for me with a late evening start, which gave me the opportunity to volunteer for a few hours before race start.
The race day set up was fantastic with very streamlined flows through packet pickup, swag pickup, vendor and food stalls. This set up really was like an oasis in the desert. Everything that the website details about logistics was very accurate.
The day cooled down considerably by the time 6:00 pm rolled around. The announcer Connie kept everyone hopping for the last hour with amazing giveaways in a raffle. Sadly, I did not win! 🙂
The course itself was marked very well with 6 aid stations over the 13.x miles. The course profile is deceptive, the steep uphill is actually exaggerated, it was fairly gradual and not all that extreme. It’s a very runnable course except in some of the sandier sections. I wore gaiters and covered my shoes with duct tape so avoided any gravel or debris in my shoes but it was still hard to run through some of the deeper sand sections – for me.
It was a wonderful experience running in the pitch dark, I was glad however to have 2500+ of my newest running buddies out there in the desert with me.
I wish I’d taken some time to turn off my headlamp and enjoy the starry sky, maybe next time. That’s right, I think I will be back.

DIFFICULTY
3
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
3
SWAG
5

1 member marked this review helpful. Agree?

tl;dr - A fantastic, well organized, low key small town race with amazing river views and just enough hills to keep it interesting! The race website is somewhat short on … MORE

tl;dr – A fantastic, well organized, low key small town race with amazing river views and just enough hills to keep it interesting!

The race website is somewhat short on details, but I found pretty much all I needed to know from reviews on this site. I signed up for the Redding marathon to run as a supported long run and am so glad that I did!

Logistics: Compared to some of the SF/Bay Area races, this is very competitively priced and you get pretty cool schwag for it – a long sleeved tech half zip, a really pretty coaster and a solid medal. Packet pickup was a breeze at a local running store, and bib pickup is available on race day morning as well. You get bussed to the start from the finish, and there was plenty of parking on both ends. The race starts by running across the Shasta Dam and best of all runners are allowed to wait for the start in the warm visitor center.

The course: Most of the course is on paved trails along the Sacramento River with beautiful river views for company. The race website provides an excellent description of the course. There was a pretty short section along Hwy 299, but the shoulders are wide and the volunteers were great about slowing or stopping traffic. The course felt hilly especially in the second half. The short but steep rollers between miles 21 to 24 had me cursing out loud at times. But I guess at mile 21, everything feels steep! The view of the river more than makes up for the course grade and the finish on the Sundial bridge is pretty epic! The race size is pretty small, 135 marathoner in all in 2020, and I ran alone for about 90% of the race. I enjoy solitude, so I quite welcomed this.

Organization: Excellent organization overall. Packet pickup was a breeze, the shuttle buses were super comfortable, there were plenty of aid stations with amazingly enthusiastic volunteers along the way, and the finish line was fully stocked even for back of the pack finishers like me. Here’s a heartwarming story. About 10 mins into the shuttle ride to the start, the runner sitting next to me realized he’d forgotten his shoes in his car. Every runner’s nightmare, right? We talked to the driver, who called the RD who assured the runner someone would get him to the start line somehow. The runner went back in the shuttle, and since he passed me somewhere around mile 20, I assume he was delivered to the start! I loved the support from the organization in a situation like this.

Overall, this race gets a strong 5 from me. I would definitely consider running this again.

DIFFICULTY
4
PRODUCTION
5
SCENERY
4
SWAG
4

2 members marked this review helpful. Agree?

This was the coldest I've ever been at a race and it was so worth it. Breathtaking scenery at Zion, hot chocolate and a warming tent at the start, plenty … MORE

This was the coldest I’ve ever been at a race and it was so worth it. Breathtaking scenery at Zion, hot chocolate and a warming tent at the start, plenty of support on the course, awesome schwag, what’s not to like?
Pros:
1. Location, location, location. Zion is gorgeous. Though the race takes place outside the park proper, we are treated to amazing vistas during the entire run. Don’t forget to turn around and look behind you.
2. Excellent ongoing communication from race staff. Inclement weather had them scrambling, but they kept us very well informed about current status. There was zero confusion on race day.
3. Great schwag. Attractive race shirt, free water cup included in registration, hot chocolate and coffee at the start – in reusable cups no less, and best of all – an enclosed warming tent at the start – win!
4. Course was very well marked, with well placed aid stations.
5. Saving the best for last – the volunteers. Hats off to them for showing up and staying through during such a cold spell.
Watch out for:
1. It was C O L D. But we’d been forewarned and I thought I was prepared for it, I could have done more. I would have loved a few more heaters (or an enclosed warming tent) at the finish line.
2. The race elevation profile looks pretty flat, but the course is anything but. There are plenty of rollers to keep things interesting. The road is significantly cambered so be prepared for some ankle workouts.
3. Can’t think of any other gotchas.
We went as a large group and much fun was had by all!

DIFFICULTY
3
PRODUCTION
4
SCENERY
5
SWAG
4

1 member marked this review helpful. Agree?