At the Folsom Blues Breakout events, it’s all about Johnny!– Johnny Cash Bridge start with views of the Folsom Dam and the Prison…– Run the Half Marathon & 2-Person Relay on a gently rolling course around scenic Lake Natoma.– “Fastest 5K Course in the World”– Rock-a-Billy music everywhere!– Finish Festival …
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At the Folsom Blues Breakout events, it’s all about Johnny!
– Johnny Cash Bridge start with views of the Folsom Dam and the Prison…
– Run the Half Marathon & 2-Person Relay on a gently rolling course around scenic Lake Natoma.
– “Fastest 5K Course in the World”
– Rock-a-Billy music everywhere!
– Finish Festival in Folsom’s festive, fun and funky Historic District with a Johnny Cash tribute band and free beer!
– And for the youngsters: the FREE Kids 1K Breakaway
Half Marathon, Relay and 5K runners “breakout” at the start on the “Johnny Cash Bridge” (Folsom Crossing) in the shadow of Folsom Prison and next to the Folsom Dam. Half Marathon and Relay runners rock out to Johnny’s rock-a-billy tunes while they follow a scenic, net-downhill, gently rolling course along Lake Natoma to the finish in Folsom’s famous Historic District. The 5K runners zoom down and across the Rainbow Bridge to their own finish nearby. All who “cross that line” will be rewarded with finisher medallions, lots of refreshments, a Johnny Cash tribute band, and free beer at the Finish Line Festival! The FREE Kids 1K takes place in Historic Folsom near the “big kids” finish area.
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Nice race
(copied from my review of last year's race.) The middle 7-ish miles of this race are relatively flat; the first few miles are downhill and the last few miles have … MORE
(copied from my review of last year’s race.)
The middle 7-ish miles of this race are relatively flat; the first few miles are downhill and the last few miles have their ups and downs (with more climbing than descending.)
The medal and the shirt were nice, but the “beer garden” was simply a can of cheap beer. Also, the bus from Dick’s Sporting Goods to the start line was supposed to leave at 6, but didn’t leave until close to 6:30. In my opinion, they should have said that we had to show up at Dick’s before 6:30, since we still got to the start line about 45 minutes early.
Update for 2019: The beer was better this year. it was still canned beer, but it was an IPA. I still think the bus coiuld have left later.
Logistics & beer not so good
The middle 7-ish miles of this race are relatively flat; the first few miles are downhill and the last few miles have their ups and downs (with more climbing than … MORE
The middle 7-ish miles of this race are relatively flat; the first few miles are downhill and the last few miles have their ups and downs (with more climbing than descending.)
The medal and the shirt were nice, but the “beer garden” was simply a can of cheap beer. Also, the bus from Dick’s Sporting Goods to the start line was supposed to leave at 6, but didn’t leave until close to 6:30. In my opinion, they should have said that we had to show up at Dick’s before 6:30, since we still got to the start line about 45 minutes early.
Nice race but....,
There are no awards ceremony, results were online but not posted on a score board, although it’s net downhill the uphill is mostly at the last part of the race … MORE
There are no awards ceremony, results were online but not posted on a score board, although it’s net downhill the uphill is mostly at the last part of the race which sucks after running more than 10 miles, the race is mostly in a park which sucks because they could have had it go through historic Folsom for more things to see, and, lastly, there weren’t many booths at the finish line to see, which I would have liked since it’s supposed to be a finish line celebration. All in all it wasn’t that bad, this half is definitely less hilly than the SF marathon so it felt good, but the need to readjust the course and make it more racer oriented with more vendors at the finish line and a awards ceremony to celebrate achievements.
My first half marathon
This was so fun. Folsom puts on great races. This was my very first half marathon. This first 5 miles are pretty much downhill. But one you hit the bike … MORE
This was so fun. Folsom puts on great races. This was my very first half marathon. This first 5 miles are pretty much downhill. But one you hit the bike trail you are going to have some ups and downs. Coming back at about mile 10 it’s a slow incline, but you will be going uphill most of the way. I recommend this fun race. Bling is awesome and I loved it so much, running it again next month
Run, Johnny, Run
The race was good. I paid extra for a bus ticket from the packet pickup to the start line...worth it. The packet pickup was smooth, but different than most. Instead … MORE
The race was good. I paid extra for a bus ticket from the packet pickup to the start line…worth it. The packet pickup was smooth, but different than most. Instead of giving my name to the bib-hand-outer, I looked up my own name on a list and recited my bib number to someone who handed me my bib. Then I walked to a table to choose a shirt from stacks sorted by gender and size. I wasn’t offered safety pins; I searched for them and choose a few from a box near the end of the table. Talk about DIY. The early morning bus ride was smooth. About 4 or 5 local school district buses caravanned to the start area. It was cold there. The 5K start was a little ways from the drop off. We ran past the Folsom State Prison property, with its coiled razor barbed wire-topped fencing. That was cool and creepy at the same time. The finish area was good. There were a few vendors, including a chiropractor giving free body scans and therapists giving free massages. The post-race snacks were good and I took advantage of the foam roller area. There was a padded area with a bunch of foam rollers you could use and a professional you gave tips if you wanted them. All at no charge. The live band at the finish was great! They call themselves Cash Prophets. The return bus ride was fine, too. Buses left the finish area one at a time every so often. You had to search for the return buses, though. They were tucked around a corner from the festivities. I’m glad I participated.
Scenic. Lake Natoma.
13.07 Miles. 544 ft elevation gain. 929 ft elevation loss. First 3 mikes were the fastest, dropping 650 ft and gaining 275. Last 10 mikes was an out and back … MORE
13.07 Miles. 544 ft elevation gain. 929 ft elevation loss. First 3 mikes were the fastest, dropping 650 ft and gaining 275. Last 10 mikes was an out and back on a winding road on gentle rolling hills with a lot of turns which made it difficult to hold a steady pace since you are always either running downhill or uphill. Plenty of water stations and Johnny Cash music along the course. Nice medal and shirt. Race started right in time on a very cool 47 degree morning. Not enough porta potties at the start for all the runners… Huge lines. 5k race started at the same time a quarter mile ahead of half marathon so within a couple minutes we had to work out way around all the 5k walkers and runners. Overall it was a nice Half marathon that I would do again if I happened to be in that area for some reason. Price to register is very cheap $45-75 depending when you sign up. You can follow me on instagram @running_victor
My new favorite half marathon!
**PRICES** $45-$75 depending on when you register. I signed up in February to get the $45 price and WOW what a deal! **DEADLINES/SELL OUT FACTOR** I don't think either distance … MORE
**PRICES**
$45-$75 depending on when you register. I signed up in February to get the $45 price and WOW what a deal!
**DEADLINES/SELL OUT FACTOR**
I don’t think either distance fully sold out, but the deadline to register was 10/17. The incentive to sign up early is really all about the early-bird price; I signed up in February, so getting the half for a whopping $45 made me feel a little better about springing for gas & hotel.
**FIELD SIZE**
1055 finishers in the half, 259 in the 5K
**LODGING**
There were special rates available for runners at several area hotels, as well as shuttle service to the start and back from the finish. I highly recommend staying at the Lake Natoma Inn directly in front of the finish line!
**THE EXPO**
I don’t think there was an expo per se, but there was packet pickup at Dick’s Sporting Goods two miles from the finish in Folsom 3:00-6:00pm on Friday and 12:00-5:00pm on Saturday. I was VERY happy to learn that race morning packet pickup was also available at Dick’s 6:00-6:30am, and parking/shuttle service to the start & back from the finish. (Also, there were donuts, bananas, and coffee at Dick’s. I love it.)
**STAGING**
The start was on Folsom Lake Crossing Bridge (aka the “Johnny Cash Bridge”) over the American River, which has some spectacular views of both the river and Folsom Dam. Buses dropped us off near the start, and one of them also served as the sweat check/gear drop and took everything back to the finish for pickup. (Gear drop mostly involved a folding table, a box of trash bags, and a bunch of sharpies, but for the size of this race that worked fine. Bags were organized in piles by bib number at the finish and I found mine easily just minutes after crossing the line.)
The finish was right in front of the Lake Natoma Inn, & was pretty well organized and easy to navigate as far as my experience went. The only slight issue I had was finding the bus back to Dick’s Sporting Goods, but it was fine once I remembered that I’d seen them on a particular side street that morning.
**THE COURSE**
This course was very nearly everything I want in a half marathon course. Smooth concrete roads. Closed course. Gently rolling, with nothing particularly steep or particularly long. A handful of aid stations serving something with calories in it. Not too many turns. Lovely fall foliage, with the occasional breathtaking view. Given the location and the date, it’s a pretty darn good option if you’re looking for a fast race.
Now, is it a time trial-fast course? Ehhhh probably not really. None of the hills are very big and it is slightly net downhill, but if it’s your last chance for meeting some kind of high stakes time trial standard, there are a couple of *slightly* longer uphills that could ruin your day. (For example, the winding approach to the bridge in the Nimbus Dam area that crosses the American River, and that really demoralizing last .2-.4 right before the finish.) I would still absolutely 100% consider it a good option if I thought I was ready to PR.
**SWAG**
Logo tech shirt & finisher medal, plus post-race snacks & a free beer. (I don’t know what the beer was because honestly the idea of alcohol after running hard for 1.5+ hours is nauseating to me.)
**IF YOU DECIDE TO RUN**
– It didn’t sell out this year, but if you sign up early, you can save yourself some big bucks.
– Lake Natoma Inn. There is no question here. Just book it, as soon as you think you even *might* want to run this race.
– There is race morning bib pickup, but if you go ahead and get your bib the day before AND book the Lake Natoma Inn, you are basically guaranteed the smoothest race day experience possible.
– Get in the potty lines early.
**OVERALL ASSESSMENT**
I LOVED this event so much. A great course, super well organized, and $45 to sign up early? Yes please! Sure, if pressed, I can come up with a couple of TINY, WEE little quibbles, but in terms of the things I actually care about when I really, truly want to run a fast race, this one scores pretty highly.
I loved this Race!
I loved this Half marathon race. I had completed Long Beach the weekend prior and preferred this half over that one. The best part of the race was the scenery. … MORE
I loved this Half marathon race. I had completed Long Beach the weekend prior and preferred this half over that one. The best part of the race was the scenery. I loved running along the American River the full race. It starts out with a gentle downhill. There was live music along the way. I’ll do this one again!!