EVENT DISCONTINUED. From race website: “Salinas Valley Half Marathon Discontinued After Nine-Year Run. Thank you for your interest in the Salinas Valley Half Marathon. On January 2, 2019, the Big Sur Marathon Foundation announced that the Salinas Valley Half Marathon will no longer be held due to declining participation. The …
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EVENT DISCONTINUED. From race website: “Salinas Valley Half Marathon Discontinued After Nine-Year Run. Thank you for your interest in the Salinas Valley Half Marathon. On January 2, 2019, the Big Sur Marathon Foundation announced that the Salinas Valley Half Marathon will no longer be held due to declining participation. The 2018 race last August was the ninth and final event. We are deeply saddened by the cancellation of this local race loved by many, but we feel it is the right decision for our community at this time.
The non-profit Big Sur Marathon Foundation took over the race in 2016 at the request of the fellow non-profit Salinas Valley Half Marathon organization. It was hoped the additional marketing efforts of the larger organization combined with the popularity of Big Sur’s many sold-out races would help bring higher entry numbers back to the Salinas Valley event. Despite the Foundation’s best efforts, including the addition of a family-friendly 5K fun run, the Salinas Valley Half Marathon has proven itself no longer financially viable to produce. Only 772 individuals entered the last race, down more than 50 percent from eight years ago.
Race participants, volunteers, partners, vendors and suppliers have been notified of the cancellation. We are happy to report, however, that the former Salinas Valley Half Marathon and Big Sur Marathon Foundation will be donating a total of $10,000 from remaining event funds to three of our long-time partners: Sun Street Center, Soledad Mission, and the Salinas YMCA.
Thank you for your understanding. We are so grateful for the support of our runners, partners, vendors, volunteers, and suppliers over the past nine years.
– The Salinas Valley Half Marathon Team
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Celebrate the beauty of the Salinas Valley while experiencing the influence of cool coastal air from the Monterey Bay along our rolling 13.1 mile course. Runners and walkers start at the historic Soledad Mission, and then wind through lush row crops and vineyards at the foot of the beautiful Saint Lucia Mountains along Foothill and River Roads. Participants cross the finish line at Pessagno Winery where a spectacular finish festival awaits them.
The mission of the Salinas Valley Half Marathon is to produce a healthy, positive, world-class annual destination race in the Salinas Valley that brings visitors from all over the country and highlights the beauty of our area with a focus on our rich agricultural history, award-winning wines, and variety of family-friendly activities.
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Beast of Eden!
The Beast of Eden hill is about a mile long and is a killer! Wish it was within the first few miles to get it over with. Also, this can … MORE
The Beast of Eden hill is about a mile long and is a killer! Wish it was within the first few miles to get it over with. Also, this can be a rough, hot course if the sun comes out early.
A test of human limits, but rewarding!
Be prepared for more hills than you would think! Despite the occasional downhills, your body will likely not completely recover. Miles 6-8 are the toughest, and if you go into … MORE
Be prepared for more hills than you would think! Despite the occasional downhills, your body will likely not completely recover. Miles 6-8 are the toughest, and if you go into oxygen debt after those, it is very tough to push through the rest of the race due to fatigue. Prepare for a significant mental battle. One good thing is that you can see the finish line from about 0.75 miles away, making it easier to muster the adrenaline needed to move your body across the line, after 12.4 miles of exertion!
If I were to train for this race again, I would incorporate a lot of hill repeats with short recovery. This will have allowed my body to get used to the fatigue from the hills, making is less difficult for my pace to vary as much. Overall a scenic and fun race!
Beautiful well-organized course/race
Ran smoothly! Organizers were great and friendly. Wish there was a medal though for the 5k. But I enjoyed all the post race treats and wine! I also loved the … MORE
Ran smoothly! Organizers were great and friendly. Wish there was a medal though for the 5k. But I enjoyed all the post race treats and wine! I also loved the fresh strawberries at the turn around point.
Beautiful and Friendly race
Great tour of the Salinas Valley with both wineries and vegetable fields. Sweeping vistas. Great course. Great finishers medal that can be used as a wine stopper. Age group placers … MORE
Great tour of the Salinas Valley with both wineries and vegetable fields. Sweeping vistas. Great course. Great finishers medal that can be used as a wine stopper. Age group placers get wine awards. Very “homey” and friendly race.
Okay
This year's race wasn't like 2017. The course felt harder due to being bored. There needed to be more entertainment on the side, instead of just the last 6 miles. … MORE
This year’s race wasn’t like 2017. The course felt harder due to being bored. There needed to be more entertainment on the side, instead of just the last 6 miles. Also they ran out of beer at the end, which didn’t affect me because I don’t drink it. But many other finishers were extremely disappointed.
a Taste of the Salinas Valley
This race offers a taste of the Salinas Valley with the food, wine, and view. The course contains rolling hills with 2 challenging hills. The food and wine at the … MORE
This race offers a taste of the Salinas Valley with the food, wine, and view.
The course contains rolling hills with 2 challenging hills.
The food and wine at the finish line are excellent.
Tour of Steinbeck's salad bowl
Some of the vistas are awe-inspiring, though so different from the coastal views of the other BSM courses. Passing Row crops studded with old barns as the morning fog hung … MORE
Some of the vistas are awe-inspiring, though so different from the coastal views of the other BSM courses. Passing Row crops studded with old barns as the morning fog hung over the hills put me in a serene, reflective mood. There were markers on the crops, “feeding the world Romaine,” for example which impressed the value of this place. The course also had references and quotes from John Steinbeck throughout, which I thought offered a neat literary grounding. My favorite was that Beast of Eden Hill! For me, it was a contemplative run. No record-breaking for me on this day, just another race accomplished. Gotta give a shout-out about the strawberries 🍓! My epiphany came at that mile 10 aid station: there is absolutely no food more delicious than Salinas strawberries!
Favorite half marathon!
Fun, challenging course. Not crowded with rolling hills. Weather usually cool fog to start and sunny at the finish. Super volunteers at abundant aid stations. Finish includes wine tasting, beer, … MORE
Fun, challenging course. Not crowded with rolling hills. Weather usually cool fog to start and sunny at the finish. Super volunteers at abundant aid stations. Finish includes wine tasting, beer, and a barbecue. The age group prizes are engraved bottles of wine!
challenging
runners should know that the 5th mile they will be running a steep hill so conserve your energy before that mark. At around the 9th mile things start getting tough … MORE
runners should know that the 5th mile they will be running a steep hill so conserve your energy before that mark. At around the 9th mile things start getting tough again as you make your way up and down more hills just before making it to the finish line.
Signed-up 2 Days Before the Race!
Loved this race, being it's right at home. It was a great race following my 50k trail run a month prior. I literally signed up 2 days before the Salinas … MORE
Loved this race, being it’s right at home. It was a great race following my 50k trail run a month prior. I literally signed up 2 days before the Salinas Half Marathon. Spur of the moment run, and it was totally worth it. Oh and P
post race food and swag were on point! Loved it!
My brothers house is on the course!
It's has hills so don't go in thinking it's all flat. Not a lot of spectators until finish. Fog in am but may break out in sunshine so be prepared. … MORE
It’s has hills so don’t go in thinking it’s all flat. Not a lot of spectators until finish. Fog in am but may break out in sunshine so be prepared. Good bag retrieval at the end if you bag up stuff to avoid taking on the course. If you love to drink wine it’s a race for you. I don’t drink but like the massage and runners rest areas and food they have.
Beautiful But Tuff Course
The scenery is amazing with rolling hills and vineyards. My first race ever so no basis of comparison but, everything went smoothly and seemed well organized. I enjoyed it very … MORE
The scenery is amazing with rolling hills and vineyards. My first race ever so no basis of comparison but, everything went smoothly and seemed well organized. I enjoyed it very much and am planning to run it again.
Heart of America's Farmland & Wine!
This still small and humble run begins at a piece of history, the Soledad Mission, steeped in fog from the central valley farmland surrounding the monument. The race takes off … MORE
This still small and humble run begins at a piece of history, the Soledad Mission, steeped in fog from the central valley farmland surrounding the monument. The race takes off and heads to the foothills. Pass strawberries, lettuce, watermelon, broccoli, cactus and many other fields. As you make your way through the first few miles you can hear the faint sounds of the Taiko drums. Quotes from Steinbeck inspire you along the course. As you get to the second half of the course you begin questioning who has a tougher day ahead, you or the farmworkers picking the produce in the now hot sun. Multiple DJ’s cheer you on and you welcome delicious fresh strawberries at one of the water stations. After crossing the finish line you receive a unique medal that doubles as a cork stopper. The course finish line festival features a beautiful winery where you can sample reds, whites, and even beer! You leave the race with a better appreciation for where your food comes from, the people who harvest it and the land where it grows.
Awesome views and Well Organized!!!
Dress for the warm weather. Drink plenty of fluids, the aid stations are great. Great Wine tasting at the finish. The race start could have been better organized for starting … MORE
Dress for the warm weather.
Drink plenty of fluids, the aid stations are great.
Great Wine tasting at the finish.
The race start could have been better organized for starting on time.
The Pace team from Treadmill was great
Nicer and tougher than I thought
Decent amount of hills, but it is a beautiful course. I will definitely run it again the following year and I will prepare better for the hills. Weather was really … MORE
Decent amount of hills, but it is a beautiful course.
I will definitely run it again the following year and I will prepare better for the hills. Weather was really nice, just the right amount of cool breeze.
Nice race, good course
It gets hot if you take more than 2 hours. Best to have someone drop you at start so you don't have to wait for the shuttle from the finish MORE
It gets hot if you take more than 2 hours. Best to have someone drop you at start so you don’t have to wait for the shuttle from the finish area.
Challenging course with great wine!
Although it runs through Salinas Valley, the course is NOT flat Scenic point to point course starts at Soledad Mission and finishes at Pessagno Winery Great local training program at … MORE
Although it runs through Salinas Valley, the course is NOT flat
Scenic point to point course starts at Soledad Mission and finishes at Pessagno Winery
Great local training program at Hartnell College with Salinas Valley Elite running club
Very scenic, rolling hills.
13.19 miles with 446ft of elevation gain. I was the 1:45 pacer so I was running at a very comfortable pace. Plenty of aid stations serving electrolytes and water. Two … MORE
13.19 miles with 446ft of elevation gain. I was the 1:45 pacer so I was running at a very comfortable pace. Plenty of aid stations serving electrolytes and water. Two aid stations had GU gels and some had strawberries:) Some entertainment on course. Porta potties at start parking lot, at bib pick up area, finish line and shuttle bus area!!! Course well marked. Very good race.
Great Race and WINE
This race has it all. Wonderful rolling course through wine and vegetable region of the Santa Lucia Foothills between Soledad and Gonzales. Very pretty. Finishes in the grapes at Pessagno … MORE
This race has it all. Wonderful rolling course through wine and vegetable region of the Santa Lucia Foothills between Soledad and Gonzales. Very pretty. Finishes in the grapes at Pessagno Winery. Several wineries pouring and tasting. Finishers medal is a wine-stopper as well. Weather has been perfect the first 5 years of the race. Very friendly. Pacers, elites, great volunteers. Everything you want in a race at a reasonable price.
Salinas Wine Country
Mostly flat (except the Beast of Eden) course through Salinas Valley Wine Country. Point to Point Course from Soledad Mission to Pessagno Winery. Wine tasting in addition to good post … MORE
Mostly flat (except the Beast of Eden) course through Salinas Valley Wine Country.
Point to Point Course from Soledad Mission to Pessagno Winery.
Wine tasting in addition to good post race food and drink.
Nice long sleeve shirts.