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It was a great marathon course, but not as easy as everyone says. You should study the course and stick with your own pace. I ran too fast in first … MORE
It was a great marathon course, but not as easy as everyone says. You should study the course and stick with your own pace. I ran too fast in first 18 miles because I felt so good. Big mistake! I will try again next year.
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Study the topo profile. Note the rising hill in Ojai at the first three miles and a 100 foot hill in Ventura at 23.5 miles. Develop a race strategy that … MORE
Study the topo profile. Note the rising hill in Ojai at the first three miles and a 100 foot hill in Ventura at 23.5 miles. Develop a race strategy that include paces for the uphills and downhills. Try to maintain even effort going up and down so that the average pace equals your goal pace. Note that you will lose approximately 3 – 6 seconds per mile (off your running pace) due to water stations. That hill at 23.5 miles is around 1 mile long and will slow you down by 30-60 sec or more. Also, you can expect a temperature rise of 10-15 degrees by the end of the race, since the race begins at 6 AM and since there is a net elevation drop to sea level. This is a beautiful course with enough but not too many runners. The race attracts many strong runners and the percentage if Boston Qualifiers is much higher than most marathons. The race organizers have it down pat.
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Perfect race for PR's and BQ's. Fast, beautiful and well maintained course, but be prepared for some lengthy inclines (nothing too steep), and a couple of little hills. The rest … MORE
Perfect race for PR’s and BQ’s. Fast, beautiful and well maintained course, but be prepared for some lengthy inclines (nothing too steep), and a couple of little hills. The rest is gradual downhill…but train on downhills before you do this race, otherwise, It will eat your quads and calves alive. The 6 am start and shuttles in the morning is a bit rough (430 am shuttles?? Ugh). The expo and swag isn’t much, but this may not be important to many runners anyway. Winners and age group winners don’t get any recognition at end; the awards don’t even have a category. This is too bad.
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Excellent race to PR, beautiful diverse scenery with mountains, ocean views and slight downhill. Very good organization Excellent chances to PR and BQ Unfortunately for me my injury came back … MORE
Excellent race to PR, beautiful diverse scenery with mountains, ocean views and slight downhill.
Very good organization
Excellent chances to PR and BQ
Unfortunately for me my injury came back to haunt me after 5k so it was a painful long run.
I want to go back and have another chance at it!
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Plenty of aid stations and race support! Easy package pick up and great instructions to make it safely to the start line!! I had wished they would let my husband … MORE
Plenty of aid stations and race support! Easy package pick up and great instructions to make it safely to the start line!!
I had wished they would let my husband come walk me out of the finishers shoot. I was dizzy and asked several people working the race and the medic tent. They all said no. So that was disappointing especially after I was told I couldn’t sit there because I didn’t need medical attention. I explained I would if I got up because I was dizzy. So better training for just after the finish line and before the medals.
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Overall Rating: Very good. Course Difficulty: Super easy. The course started with an uphill out and back, then downhill or flat the rest of the way. Course Scenery: Beautiful California … MORE
Overall Rating: Very good.
Course Difficulty: Super easy. The course started with an uphill out and back, then downhill or flat the rest of the way.
Course Scenery: Beautiful California mountain, agriculture and beach scenery. The smell of all the citrus blossoms and flowering plants was equal to or better than the scenery though.
Race Production: Great. The RD opened packet pickup a little early for me, the race started on time, excellent aid stations and volunteers, and perfect course markings. The only thing that I didn’t love (I get it, just didn’t love it), was that if you weren’t able to make packet pickup on time, there wasn’t a race day option, and your bib would be sold at the end of expo. Pretty tough for out-of-staters driving in, and a little extra stress before the race.
Race Swag: Loved the tech shirts and designs, and the medals were pretty fancy.
My Performance: Still recovering during this race, so I took it slow and easy. Managed to finish in less than 5 hours, and I was totally good with that.
My family and I walked from the finish to the beach (100 yds), where we relaxed for a little while after the race. Got to meet my Race Raves family on the way out, and then headed north for a week of camping along the coast. This is a very well produced and run event along a really pretty course; I can certainly recommend it.
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I am trying to run a marathon in all 50 states and ran this as my California race. (My 17th state and 32nd marathon overall). I would recommend booking your … MORE
I am trying to run a marathon in all 50 states and ran this as my California race. (My 17th state and 32nd marathon overall). I would recommend booking your hotel early, as I was able to stay at the Crowne Plaza and this was an easy walk to the Expo, shuttles, and the finish line.
I was on a 4 am shuttle which meant a longer wait up at the start in Ojai, but I didn’t mind at all. Many runners hung out in the Post Office for a little extra warmth and I loved talking to people and meeting other runners. Everyone was so nice and friendly.
The first half of the race was absolutely amazing–the first loop out and back through Ojai and the orange groves as the sun is just coming over the mountains is spectacular. The early miles have a gradual downhill and some stunning views. On the advice of other runners, I was careful to hold back on pace as I think it would be easy to get going too fast.
There seemed to be a few more uphills in the second half or maybe I was just getting tired! As I had just run another marathon 4 weeks ago (Eugene, OR), I think the residual fatigue may have caught up to me around mile 20. The second half scenery isn’t nearly as beautiful–more industrial as has been noted. The gradual uphill through town (miles 23-25) was tough for me, but those miles are usually tough anyway, especially for my second marathon in a month.
The finish on the boardwalk next to the ocean was also amazing. I did end up with a BQ by almost 20 minutes, but that’s because I’m old! I would say that this course is decently fast if you run it with fresh legs and watch your pace early on. The post-race highlight for me was taking off my race shoes and wading into the ocean. Wow did that cold water feel good!
Overall a terrific race! If I had to nit-pick, my only criticism would be to swap out the Fluid Electrolyte drink for Gatorade and add one or two additional water stops. It does get warmer in the second half when the sun comes out and I think most runners would appreciate an extra stop. Otherwise a definite “5 Shoe” rating!
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For this race I ran an 8 minute PR. 2:47:42. 26.22 distance. 484 ft of elevation gain and a nice 1224 ft of elevation loss😀. There are some rollers along … MORE
For this race I ran an 8 minute PR. 2:47:42. 26.22 distance. 484 ft of elevation gain and a nice 1224 ft of elevation loss😀. There are some rollers along the course, but nothing crazy at all. That downhill is gradual which is nice so we don’t beat up our quads. The finish next to the Ocean is amazing. Temperature was mid 50’s at the start and low 60’s at the finish. The shirt and medal we got were amazing as well. If you haven’t ran this race it’s a must.
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If you are looking for net downhill race that won't blow out your quads, this is it. This is my second year running M2B, and my second BQ. I find … MORE
If you are looking for net downhill race that won’t blow out your quads, this is it. This is my second year running M2B, and my second BQ. I find the race size manageable, which means you won’t find yourself spending the first 5 miles dodging slower runners. I’ve read a few complaints that this race has limited course support, but it seemed like there was a water stop at least every mile to me. With reasonable temps, you don’t need to stop every mile anyway. I like the early start (6 am) so that you can finish before the sun gets too high. Yes, when you get to mile 23 you do have a slight uphill, but it’s only bad if you let it get to your head. I do, however, wish that the race finished closer to the Ventura Pier, as that last mile along the beach does seem like forever. One small complaint about the race swag- the shirts seem to get larger every year, and they don’t carry women’s XS. I’ll never wear the race shirt because even the small is like a dress on me, which is disappointing.
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The course is in a beautiful area of California with great weather and a nice rolling up and down course. Limited stations for energy food so bring some of your … MORE
The course is in a beautiful area of California with great weather and a nice rolling up and down course. Limited stations for energy food so bring some of your own. Small expo and small party area at the finish. This is a true runners race.
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While this course does sell itself as a "downhill" be prepared to climb! The last 4 miles to the finish line is all uphill. I also didn't find the views … MORE
While this course does sell itself as a “downhill” be prepared to climb! The last 4 miles to the finish line is all uphill. I also didn’t find the views to be that great during the race. There are a few areas of beautiful views of the mountains but the majority of the race is run thru industrial areas and a running trail. The view at the finish line of the water is beautiful, and the beer garden is a fun zone!
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It's a well organized race but there's not a lot of support on the course so make sure you bring your own hydration and products to take. The half marathon … MORE
It’s a well organized race but there’s not a lot of support on the course so make sure you bring your own hydration and products to take. The half marathon course isn’t as scenic until you get close to the ocean but its a nice run if you like to run on the bike trail. I would come back and run it again, Love the medal, its one of the nicest ones I have earned! The tech shirt wasn’t bad, just a bit long for the women. Overall one of the best races I’ve ran!
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This became of my favorite races, because the scenery of the course was just beautiful ! It is a great course , if this will be you first half marathon. … MORE
This became of my favorite races, because the scenery of the course was just beautiful ! It is a great course , if this will be you first half marathon. It is down hill, however it was not rough on you knees. The race started early , which is good because you are able to see the sun rise from the mountains and you beat the heat. Definitely would love to do this race again next year. If you plan to do this race and are coming out of town , book your hotel asap , because the do sell out quickly and prices go up.
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This is the perfect race to nail your PR (or BQ)!!! This was my first year running the half, which had a redesigned course that started at the halfway point … MORE
This is the perfect race to nail your PR (or BQ)!!!
This was my first year running the half, which had a redesigned course that started at the halfway point of the full. It was mostly all gradual downhill with a few rollers thrown in.
This year’s shirt is great quality and it’s not covered in sponsor logos!
This year’s medal was outstanding, my favorite from this race so far.
Love the fact that the beer garden lined the finish line approach, which really made for a great cheering section!! Firestone Walker was once again the beer garden sponsor and they brought their Lager, DBA, and Luponic Distortion this year. The BQ gong is still there and constantly going off, I may never get to use it but I love seeing others nail their goal at this event.
I can’t wait to run this again next year (back to the full), it just keeps getting better! This is an event for runners by runners that know exactly what they are doing.
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The course is beautiful and the race had only 2,000 marathon runners so it has a nice mellow feel. Lots of dedicated student volunteers work the expo and the course … MORE
The course is beautiful and the race had only 2,000 marathon runners so it has a nice mellow feel. Lots of dedicated student volunteers work the expo and the course since the race benefits Ventura public schools. It was an easy drive from the Bay Area down 101 — the only traffic was in Santa Barbara.
My number one takeaway is that the the net downhill does not feel like much of a downhill, and there are uphills too.
Apparently the race usually sells out months before, but I was able to register in late April. I had myself on the waitlist but then found someone willing to directly transfer his registration to me on the Facebook event page. The transfer was so easy: I sent him my email address and M2B sent me a link to register. When I did, they issued my transferor a refund.
Since I registered so late, finding a hotel was a little problematic. We ended up staying at a motel about 3 miles away from the expo/start that normally might cost less than $100 but for our one night it was $323 (including tax and fees). Ugh!
In terms of logistics, I was on a 5am shuttle and arrived at the start about 5:40 because we didn’t leave downtown Ventura until about 5:08. There were tons of portapotties at the start but with very long lines to use them so a lot of people were feeling a little rushed. This didn’t bug me because I’m used to being late.
I ran with a pacer for the first half and planned to push the second half, but I was so hungry, tired, and thirsty by mile 14, I actually fell back. My first half was 10 minutes faster than my second, which seems to be the way a lot of people ended up running this race, too. The aid stations were well stocked and volunteers were nice about letting me have more water, etc.
The crowd for the marathon was hardcore. Lots of BQ’s! I’m not even close but I did get a huge PR.
The best part of the race is the beach finish. I wish I had put flip-flops in a gear bag because I dunked my legs in the ocean right after and had to put my running shoes back on to get to the car.
I paid for my medal to be engraved online with my registration, but forgot to get that done at the finish so I’m going to email the race directors to see if they can help me with that. I also bought the pasta dinner with registration and that worked out well — we picked up our bibs, ate, and turned in for the night.
Overall, this was an extremely gratifying and pleasant race!
This race is very beautiful. The people running are great, the production is smooth. I like the swag with nice usable t shirt and medal made from wood and metal. … MORE
This race is very beautiful. The people running are great, the production is smooth. I like the swag with nice usable t shirt and medal made from wood and metal. There were plenty of bathroom pods at the start and mid race. Also strategically placed hydration stations. Minor side race bands and support groups but honestly you don’t need it as the scenery is amazing. Overall fantastic. See you next year. Also, please see full race at YouTube link attached to this review.
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This was my first marathon almost 1 year ago and I can't wait to run again this year! I would recommend finding a hotel early as Ventura is not a … MORE
This was my first marathon almost 1 year ago and I can’t wait to run again this year! I would recommend finding a hotel early as Ventura is not a huge town and his limited options. The 6 am start time seems crazy but you’re running as the sun is rising, really cool. The course is a net downhill with a beach finish and awesome food. For most of the course you’re running through lots of landscape so there isn’t much spectator support until you get to the last 2 miles. Water stations are well spaced with really nice volunteers. Overall an awesome experience!
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Decided to do this with my husband 2 weeks after our wedding. Race was fun and tons of people. Lot of pacers for all levels. Scenery was ok- i expected … MORE
Decided to do this with my husband 2 weeks after our wedding.
Race was fun and tons of people. Lot of pacers for all levels.
Scenery was ok- i expected more different kinds of views but maybe I was so tired by mile 18- I did not realize my surroundings lol. Anyways, great race and production. Lots of swag and vendors.
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My 4th time running this race. Course has improved over the years. You run about a 10k loop and then head down towards the beach. I like this race because … MORE
My 4th time running this race. Course has improved over the years. You run about a 10k loop and then head down towards the beach. I like this race because my family can pull over on the side of the road and cheer for me multiple times over the course. Lots of volunteers. I haven’t qualified for Boston yet but I have dropped 29 minutes since my first time running this.
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This was my first time running this course, and I loved it! Packet pick-up was efficient and allowed for race distance changes at the table. The expo itself was a … MORE
This was my first time running this course, and I loved it! Packet pick-up was efficient and allowed for race distance changes at the table. The expo itself was a small affair and didn’t take too long to peruse through.
The bus shuttles that took participants to the starting line ran on time, and there were plenty of available porta-potties around that area. This is always a worry of mine on race day, and I didn’t have any trouble going to the restroom 3x before the start. The weather was around mid-50s at 6AM, but I took refuge with other runners in an open post office building, so it wasn’t too bad.
The course itself was well marked and scenic in the beginning, with mountain views and an idyllic countryside feeling. I had enough room on the path to set my own pace and appreciated that pacer groups were set at 3 minutes faster than BQ qualifying times (e.g. 3:32 instead of 3:35). The backdrop does change from mountains to more of an urban feel later on with mostly industrial fields and areas without much shade, which can make the last few miles difficult as the temperature did hit 70F with sunny skies near the end. Though advertised as net downhill, the drops didn’t feel as dramatic as the elevation map suggested, and I found the course a good challenge overall since a few rolling hills were sprinkled in near the latter half of the race. As for electrolyte fluids and water, the stations were well spaced for the most part, but I wished there was an extra water station between miles 24-26 as I was parched by the time due to the blistering sun. The ocean view on that last mile though was uplifting and definitely helped put some pep in my step.
The finisher’s medal had a nice design of waves with an insert for your photo, but the tech tee was somewhat plain. Free race photos were a plus though. Post-race food was not too exciting and consisted of a bagel, banana, fruit, and licorice. I did get to ring the BQ gong which was a nice touch after setting a PR and achieving my goal. Overall, I found this race well-organized and runner-friendly, though the post-race fuel could use some improvement.
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Don't be overconfident
It was a great marathon course, but not as easy as everyone says. You should study the course and stick with your own pace. I ran too fast in first … MORE
It was a great marathon course, but not as easy as everyone says. You should study the course and stick with your own pace. I ran too fast in first 18 miles because I felt so good. Big mistake! I will try again next year.
Fast course but beware of hills.
Study the topo profile. Note the rising hill in Ojai at the first three miles and a 100 foot hill in Ventura at 23.5 miles. Develop a race strategy that … MORE
Study the topo profile. Note the rising hill in Ojai at the first three miles and a 100 foot hill in Ventura at 23.5 miles. Develop a race strategy that include paces for the uphills and downhills. Try to maintain even effort going up and down so that the average pace equals your goal pace. Note that you will lose approximately 3 – 6 seconds per mile (off your running pace) due to water stations. That hill at 23.5 miles is around 1 mile long and will slow you down by 30-60 sec or more. Also, you can expect a temperature rise of 10-15 degrees by the end of the race, since the race begins at 6 AM and since there is a net elevation drop to sea level. This is a beautiful course with enough but not too many runners. The race attracts many strong runners and the percentage if Boston Qualifiers is much higher than most marathons. The race organizers have it down pat.
Awesome low key marathon
Perfect race for PR's and BQ's. Fast, beautiful and well maintained course, but be prepared for some lengthy inclines (nothing too steep), and a couple of little hills. The rest … MORE
Perfect race for PR’s and BQ’s. Fast, beautiful and well maintained course, but be prepared for some lengthy inclines (nothing too steep), and a couple of little hills. The rest is gradual downhill…but train on downhills before you do this race, otherwise, It will eat your quads and calves alive. The 6 am start and shuttles in the morning is a bit rough (430 am shuttles?? Ugh). The expo and swag isn’t much, but this may not be important to many runners anyway. Winners and age group winners don’t get any recognition at end; the awards don’t even have a category. This is too bad.
You have to run M2B!
Excellent race to PR, beautiful diverse scenery with mountains, ocean views and slight downhill. Very good organization Excellent chances to PR and BQ Unfortunately for me my injury came back … MORE
Excellent race to PR, beautiful diverse scenery with mountains, ocean views and slight downhill.
Very good organization
Excellent chances to PR and BQ
Unfortunately for me my injury came back to haunt me after 5k so it was a painful long run.
I want to go back and have another chance at it!
Can’t wait to go back next year!
Plenty of aid stations and race support! Easy package pick up and great instructions to make it safely to the start line!! I had wished they would let my husband … MORE
Plenty of aid stations and race support! Easy package pick up and great instructions to make it safely to the start line!!
I had wished they would let my husband come walk me out of the finishers shoot. I was dizzy and asked several people working the race and the medic tent. They all said no. So that was disappointing especially after I was told I couldn’t sit there because I didn’t need medical attention. I explained I would if I got up because I was dizzy. So better training for just after the finish line and before the medals.
Nice scenic downhill
Overall Rating: Very good. Course Difficulty: Super easy. The course started with an uphill out and back, then downhill or flat the rest of the way. Course Scenery: Beautiful California … MORE
Overall Rating: Very good.
Course Difficulty: Super easy. The course started with an uphill out and back, then downhill or flat the rest of the way.
Course Scenery: Beautiful California mountain, agriculture and beach scenery. The smell of all the citrus blossoms and flowering plants was equal to or better than the scenery though.
Race Production: Great. The RD opened packet pickup a little early for me, the race started on time, excellent aid stations and volunteers, and perfect course markings. The only thing that I didn’t love (I get it, just didn’t love it), was that if you weren’t able to make packet pickup on time, there wasn’t a race day option, and your bib would be sold at the end of expo. Pretty tough for out-of-staters driving in, and a little extra stress before the race.
Race Swag: Loved the tech shirts and designs, and the medals were pretty fancy.
My Performance: Still recovering during this race, so I took it slow and easy. Managed to finish in less than 5 hours, and I was totally good with that.
My family and I walked from the finish to the beach (100 yds), where we relaxed for a little while after the race. Got to meet my Race Raves family on the way out, and then headed north for a week of camping along the coast. This is a very well produced and run event along a really pretty course; I can certainly recommend it.
Great California Marathon
I am trying to run a marathon in all 50 states and ran this as my California race. (My 17th state and 32nd marathon overall). I would recommend booking your … MORE
I am trying to run a marathon in all 50 states and ran this as my California race. (My 17th state and 32nd marathon overall). I would recommend booking your hotel early, as I was able to stay at the Crowne Plaza and this was an easy walk to the Expo, shuttles, and the finish line.
I was on a 4 am shuttle which meant a longer wait up at the start in Ojai, but I didn’t mind at all. Many runners hung out in the Post Office for a little extra warmth and I loved talking to people and meeting other runners. Everyone was so nice and friendly.
The first half of the race was absolutely amazing–the first loop out and back through Ojai and the orange groves as the sun is just coming over the mountains is spectacular. The early miles have a gradual downhill and some stunning views. On the advice of other runners, I was careful to hold back on pace as I think it would be easy to get going too fast.
There seemed to be a few more uphills in the second half or maybe I was just getting tired! As I had just run another marathon 4 weeks ago (Eugene, OR), I think the residual fatigue may have caught up to me around mile 20. The second half scenery isn’t nearly as beautiful–more industrial as has been noted. The gradual uphill through town (miles 23-25) was tough for me, but those miles are usually tough anyway, especially for my second marathon in a month.
The finish on the boardwalk next to the ocean was also amazing. I did end up with a BQ by almost 20 minutes, but that’s because I’m old! I would say that this course is decently fast if you run it with fresh legs and watch your pace early on. The post-race highlight for me was taking off my race shoes and wading into the ocean. Wow did that cold water feel good!
Overall a terrific race! If I had to nit-pick, my only criticism would be to swap out the Fluid Electrolyte drink for Gatorade and add one or two additional water stops. It does get warmer in the second half when the sun comes out and I think most runners would appreciate an extra stop. Otherwise a definite “5 Shoe” rating!
Great. Fast. PR.
For this race I ran an 8 minute PR. 2:47:42. 26.22 distance. 484 ft of elevation gain and a nice 1224 ft of elevation loss😀. There are some rollers along … MORE
For this race I ran an 8 minute PR. 2:47:42. 26.22 distance. 484 ft of elevation gain and a nice 1224 ft of elevation loss😀. There are some rollers along the course, but nothing crazy at all. That downhill is gradual which is nice so we don’t beat up our quads. The finish next to the Ocean is amazing. Temperature was mid 50’s at the start and low 60’s at the finish. The shirt and medal we got were amazing as well. If you haven’t ran this race it’s a must.
Great course for a BQ
If you are looking for net downhill race that won't blow out your quads, this is it. This is my second year running M2B, and my second BQ. I find … MORE
If you are looking for net downhill race that won’t blow out your quads, this is it. This is my second year running M2B, and my second BQ. I find the race size manageable, which means you won’t find yourself spending the first 5 miles dodging slower runners. I’ve read a few complaints that this race has limited course support, but it seemed like there was a water stop at least every mile to me. With reasonable temps, you don’t need to stop every mile anyway. I like the early start (6 am) so that you can finish before the sun gets too high. Yes, when you get to mile 23 you do have a slight uphill, but it’s only bad if you let it get to your head. I do, however, wish that the race finished closer to the Ventura Pier, as that last mile along the beach does seem like forever. One small complaint about the race swag- the shirts seem to get larger every year, and they don’t carry women’s XS. I’ll never wear the race shirt because even the small is like a dress on me, which is disappointing.
Mid-difficulty - Great location/course
The course is in a beautiful area of California with great weather and a nice rolling up and down course. Limited stations for energy food so bring some of your … MORE
The course is in a beautiful area of California with great weather and a nice rolling up and down course. Limited stations for energy food so bring some of your own. Small expo and small party area at the finish. This is a true runners race.
Don't let this course fool you!
While this course does sell itself as a "downhill" be prepared to climb! The last 4 miles to the finish line is all uphill. I also didn't find the views … MORE
While this course does sell itself as a “downhill” be prepared to climb! The last 4 miles to the finish line is all uphill. I also didn’t find the views to be that great during the race. There are a few areas of beautiful views of the mountains but the majority of the race is run thru industrial areas and a running trail. The view at the finish line of the water is beautiful, and the beer garden is a fun zone!
Great Race to PR
It's a well organized race but there's not a lot of support on the course so make sure you bring your own hydration and products to take. The half marathon … MORE
It’s a well organized race but there’s not a lot of support on the course so make sure you bring your own hydration and products to take. The half marathon course isn’t as scenic until you get close to the ocean but its a nice run if you like to run on the bike trail. I would come back and run it again, Love the medal, its one of the nicest ones I have earned! The tech shirt wasn’t bad, just a bit long for the women. Overall one of the best races I’ve ran!
BEAUTIFUL SCENERY
This became of my favorite races, because the scenery of the course was just beautiful ! It is a great course , if this will be you first half marathon. … MORE
This became of my favorite races, because the scenery of the course was just beautiful ! It is a great course , if this will be you first half marathon. It is down hill, however it was not rough on you knees. The race started early , which is good because you are able to see the sun rise from the mountains and you beat the heat. Definitely would love to do this race again next year. If you plan to do this race and are coming out of town , book your hotel asap , because the do sell out quickly and prices go up.
Your premier Ventura County road race
This is the perfect race to nail your PR (or BQ)!!! This was my first year running the half, which had a redesigned course that started at the halfway point … MORE
This is the perfect race to nail your PR (or BQ)!!!
This was my first year running the half, which had a redesigned course that started at the halfway point of the full. It was mostly all gradual downhill with a few rollers thrown in.
This year’s shirt is great quality and it’s not covered in sponsor logos!
This year’s medal was outstanding, my favorite from this race so far.
Love the fact that the beer garden lined the finish line approach, which really made for a great cheering section!! Firestone Walker was once again the beer garden sponsor and they brought their Lager, DBA, and Luponic Distortion this year. The BQ gong is still there and constantly going off, I may never get to use it but I love seeing others nail their goal at this event.
I can’t wait to run this again next year (back to the full), it just keeps getting better! This is an event for runners by runners that know exactly what they are doing.
Worthwhile With No Real Weaknesses
The course is beautiful and the race had only 2,000 marathon runners so it has a nice mellow feel. Lots of dedicated student volunteers work the expo and the course … MORE
The course is beautiful and the race had only 2,000 marathon runners so it has a nice mellow feel. Lots of dedicated student volunteers work the expo and the course since the race benefits Ventura public schools. It was an easy drive from the Bay Area down 101 — the only traffic was in Santa Barbara.
My number one takeaway is that the the net downhill does not feel like much of a downhill, and there are uphills too.
Apparently the race usually sells out months before, but I was able to register in late April. I had myself on the waitlist but then found someone willing to directly transfer his registration to me on the Facebook event page. The transfer was so easy: I sent him my email address and M2B sent me a link to register. When I did, they issued my transferor a refund.
Since I registered so late, finding a hotel was a little problematic. We ended up staying at a motel about 3 miles away from the expo/start that normally might cost less than $100 but for our one night it was $323 (including tax and fees). Ugh!
In terms of logistics, I was on a 5am shuttle and arrived at the start about 5:40 because we didn’t leave downtown Ventura until about 5:08. There were tons of portapotties at the start but with very long lines to use them so a lot of people were feeling a little rushed. This didn’t bug me because I’m used to being late.
I ran with a pacer for the first half and planned to push the second half, but I was so hungry, tired, and thirsty by mile 14, I actually fell back. My first half was 10 minutes faster than my second, which seems to be the way a lot of people ended up running this race, too. The aid stations were well stocked and volunteers were nice about letting me have more water, etc.
The crowd for the marathon was hardcore. Lots of BQ’s! I’m not even close but I did get a huge PR.
The best part of the race is the beach finish. I wish I had put flip-flops in a gear bag because I dunked my legs in the ocean right after and had to put my running shoes back on to get to the car.
I paid for my medal to be engraved online with my registration, but forgot to get that done at the finish so I’m going to email the race directors to see if they can help me with that. I also bought the pasta dinner with registration and that worked out well — we picked up our bibs, ate, and turned in for the night.
Overall, this was an extremely gratifying and pleasant race!
This Race is a Must
This race is very beautiful. The people running are great, the production is smooth. I like the swag with nice usable t shirt and medal made from wood and metal. … MORE
This race is very beautiful. The people running are great, the production is smooth. I like the swag with nice usable t shirt and medal made from wood and metal. There were plenty of bathroom pods at the start and mid race. Also strategically placed hydration stations. Minor side race bands and support groups but honestly you don’t need it as the scenery is amazing. Overall fantastic. See you next year. Also, please see full race at YouTube link attached to this review.
Great first marathon!
This was my first marathon almost 1 year ago and I can't wait to run again this year! I would recommend finding a hotel early as Ventura is not a … MORE
This was my first marathon almost 1 year ago and I can’t wait to run again this year! I would recommend finding a hotel early as Ventura is not a huge town and his limited options. The 6 am start time seems crazy but you’re running as the sun is rising, really cool. The course is a net downhill with a beach finish and awesome food. For most of the course you’re running through lots of landscape so there isn’t much spectator support until you get to the last 2 miles. Water stations are well spaced with really nice volunteers. Overall an awesome experience!
First Marathon Ever!
Decided to do this with my husband 2 weeks after our wedding. Race was fun and tons of people. Lot of pacers for all levels. Scenery was ok- i expected … MORE
Decided to do this with my husband 2 weeks after our wedding.
Race was fun and tons of people. Lot of pacers for all levels.
Scenery was ok- i expected more different kinds of views but maybe I was so tired by mile 18- I did not realize my surroundings lol. Anyways, great race and production. Lots of swag and vendors.
Downhill to a beach finish.
My 4th time running this race. Course has improved over the years. You run about a 10k loop and then head down towards the beach. I like this race because … MORE
My 4th time running this race. Course has improved over the years. You run about a 10k loop and then head down towards the beach. I like this race because my family can pull over on the side of the road and cheer for me multiple times over the course. Lots of volunteers. I haven’t qualified for Boston yet but I have dropped 29 minutes since my first time running this.
Fast course with a few rolling hills
This was my first time running this course, and I loved it! Packet pick-up was efficient and allowed for race distance changes at the table. The expo itself was a … MORE
This was my first time running this course, and I loved it! Packet pick-up was efficient and allowed for race distance changes at the table. The expo itself was a small affair and didn’t take too long to peruse through.
The bus shuttles that took participants to the starting line ran on time, and there were plenty of available porta-potties around that area. This is always a worry of mine on race day, and I didn’t have any trouble going to the restroom 3x before the start. The weather was around mid-50s at 6AM, but I took refuge with other runners in an open post office building, so it wasn’t too bad.
The course itself was well marked and scenic in the beginning, with mountain views and an idyllic countryside feeling. I had enough room on the path to set my own pace and appreciated that pacer groups were set at 3 minutes faster than BQ qualifying times (e.g. 3:32 instead of 3:35). The backdrop does change from mountains to more of an urban feel later on with mostly industrial fields and areas without much shade, which can make the last few miles difficult as the temperature did hit 70F with sunny skies near the end. Though advertised as net downhill, the drops didn’t feel as dramatic as the elevation map suggested, and I found the course a good challenge overall since a few rolling hills were sprinkled in near the latter half of the race. As for electrolyte fluids and water, the stations were well spaced for the most part, but I wished there was an extra water station between miles 24-26 as I was parched by the time due to the blistering sun. The ocean view on that last mile though was uplifting and definitely helped put some pep in my step.
The finisher’s medal had a nice design of waves with an insert for your photo, but the tech tee was somewhat plain. Free race photos were a plus though. Post-race food was not too exciting and consisted of a bagel, banana, fruit, and licorice. I did get to ring the BQ gong which was a nice touch after setting a PR and achieving my goal. Overall, I found this race well-organized and runner-friendly, though the post-race fuel could use some improvement.