The Parkway Half Marathon has been an annual spring-time tradition for runners and walkers in the Sacramento region! This flat, fast, and shady course travels along the American River Parkway through old-growth Oak forests, lush meadows, and pristine riparian habitat, making it a perfect race for a PR, and a …
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The Parkway Half Marathon has been an annual spring-time tradition for runners and walkers in the Sacramento region! This flat, fast, and shady course travels along the American River Parkway through old-growth Oak forests, lush meadows, and pristine riparian habitat, making it a perfect race for a PR, and a scenic journey for everyone!
This annual community race event has achieved many milestones over the past 15 years, including the distinction as the first half marathon along the American River Parkway and the first Spring-time half marathon in the Sacramento region. Also, it was the first and, for nearly a decade, the ONLY race event to donate 100% of its proceeds to benefit the American River Parkway – which has amounted to nearly $380,000 to date.
These donations have helped fund Parkway enhancements such as habitat restoration, invasive plant removal, trash clean up, kids’ interactive nature trails, and our latest project – new drinking fountain installations.
But inasmuch as the Parkway Half serves as an important financial benefit to the Parkway, this race is mostly about getting outside and having fun with family and friends along our most beautiful local recreational treasure.
And with the scenic course, friendly volunteers, talented musicians, and a bag pipe processional to start the morning, it’s a great way to celebrate a day on the Parkway.
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The good the bad and the ugly
The good- the course is on a trail by a river so it’s mostly flat. I came for a PR and just missed it. The post race food and atmosphere … MORE
The good- the course is on a trail by a river so it’s mostly flat. I came for a PR and just missed it. The post race food and atmosphere were great for a small race and the shirt wasn’t bad. The medal was also of high quality too. The bad- there was two miles randomly on a rocky side trail when we could have returned on the same flat trail we ran out on. The ugly- the start line was a mess. They had a great charity at the start line, kids in wheelchairs being pushed by runners but they had them at the front and didn’t have them start a minute early. Because of that, people ran right in to that group at the start and a 7 year old almost got trampled next to me because of the pileup. The finish was also crazy as it was the skinniest section of the course and tons of kids were all over the trail so you couldn’t finish fast. If they can fix the start finish area, this race could have been a great little half marathon.
2nd year running it
(The race is the same as last year, so I am copying my review from last year.) This course is fairly flat, and the climbing involved is not very steep. … MORE
(The race is the same as last year, so I am copying my review from last year.)
This course is fairly flat, and the climbing involved is not very steep. It is mostly on paved roads, with something like 1/2 a mile on a dirt path.
The tech shirt was a nice design, the personalized medal was awesome, and the post-race snacks were delicious.
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New to this review:
The live bands were fun and there were lots of volunteers cheering you on (the same thing was true last year as well.)
The one new negative (I deducted a star) is that there were no timing mats this year, (I was looking for them because I missed the halfway point mat last year and wanted to make sure I stepped on it this year,)
Great course for a first half marathon
This course is fairly flat, and the climbing involved is not very steep. It is mostly on paved roads, with something like 1/2 a mile on a dirt path. The … MORE
This course is fairly flat, and the climbing involved is not very steep. It is mostly on paved roads, with something like 1/2 a mile on a dirt path.
The tech shirt was a nice design, the personalized medal was awesome, and the post-race snacks were delicious.
Wonderful race
Ran the parkway half marathon. Packet pick up great, race morning great, lovely and scenic. The bling is custom with your name and bib number, how fun is that. Loved … MORE
Ran the parkway half marathon. Packet pick up great, race morning great, lovely and scenic. The bling is custom with your name and bib number, how fun is that. Loved this race and yes I’ll do it again
2nd year running and it was Great
Awesome finisher medals printed with my name, first time they did that! Course was well thought out and clearly marked. Lots of volunteers throughout. The party afterwards was great, especially … MORE
Awesome finisher medals printed with my name, first time they did that! Course was well thought out and clearly marked. Lots of volunteers throughout. The party afterwards was great, especially the free sandwich, snacks and beer.
First time running this Half
Loved the course and really liked it when they called each runners name as they crossed the finish line..... Cool finisher medal and tech shirt. Well organized event from start … MORE
Loved the course and really liked it when they called each runners name as they crossed the finish line….. Cool finisher medal and tech shirt. Well organized event from start to finish
Gusty day
Wind gusts 20-40MPH, temperatures in the 80s. Great live bands along the course, out and back, mostly paved bike trails except one dirt/rock portion, river views. Plenty of aid stations, … MORE
Wind gusts 20-40MPH, temperatures in the 80s. Great live bands along the course, out and back, mostly paved bike trails except one dirt/rock portion, river views. Plenty of aid stations, some inclines. Huge spinner medals. Post-race festivities were ok.
Well organized, but a "meh" course
This is a nice "big-small" race with a local feel (~1300 runners in the half, with a few more hundred in the walkers' half, 5K, relay, & wheel chair division). … MORE
This is a nice “big-small” race with a local feel (~1300 runners in the half, with a few more hundred in the walkers’ half, 5K, relay, & wheel chair division). It’s an inexpensive, all-volunteer charity race benefiting the maintenance of the Parkway, so don’t expect a lot of frills. Still, everything was well-organized and ran quite smoothly.
If a lot of scenery and crowd support and entertainment are important to you, this is probably not your race. The course is really just an out-and-back on miles of mostly exposed bike path without much too look at besides trees. (Though there were small musical ensembles every mile or two.) Also, it’s often sunny and warm in Sacramento this time of year, even early, so it’s important to be prepared for a hot race. But, if those things don’t bother you, this could be a good choice for an excellent price if you’re looking for a well-organized, small-but-not-too-small spring half.
Great for my first half marathon!
This was my first half marathon and I had not fully prepared for running 13.1....so although I was quite sore, I really enjoyed this race. It was a great prices … MORE
This was my first half marathon and I had not fully prepared for running 13.1….so although I was quite sore, I really enjoyed this race. It was a great prices race with a beautiful course along the American river…race swag was nice….but my favorite part was they provided a full lunch post race….truly wish more races did this because I was a meal after I run (I know, weird!)
I had a
Question for the race staff and it was immediately answered. They also had a TON of hydration stations! Honestly I didn’t even need to bring my
Own water because they were on top of it.
If you are wanting to do a great but smaller race you will
Not be dissappointed!