Morgan McGuire's Staging Area

I decided to do this as my 2nd marathon, since it is relatively close to me (I’m in the Bay Area, so it was just a 4 hour drive). I couldn’t find much information online about the race beforehand, so I wanted to leave a thorough review in case it helps other runners in the future. More details will follow, but in summary, it’s a great race, on a beautiful course, and is definitely worth the trip!

The race takes place on Avenue of the Giants in Humboldt Redwoods State Park, in Weott, CA. The drive from the Bay Area was beautiful. I was surprised that the elevation wasn’t higher – only 300-400 ft above sea level, which was nice since I was coming from sea level. The giant redwoods are beautiful, and there were some changing leaves that made everything even prettier than usual!

Packet pickup takes place near the race start, which is in Founders Grove. If you’re coming from 101, it’s exit 663, but you can also get to it from exit 667. It’s a very simple packet pickup – you get your bib, and your shirt, with a nice tote bag. The tote bag has a Hammer Gel inside, and a cool sticker. There’s some other merch for sale from years past, and that’s about it. It’s all outdoors under tents. There are some picnic tables and nice views in case you want to hang out and have a picnic after your long drive.

There’s an option to do packet pickup before race morning, and even though the race starts at 9 and we wouldn’t have to be there super early, we opted to do it the day before just to get familiar with the area and eliminate stress on race morning. We also drove through some of the park and went to the visitor’s center, which is also really cute!

We stayed in Garberville, which was about a 25-min drive from the race. There are a few closer places, but I chose the Best Western in Garberville just based on familiarity with the hotel chain – I didn’t want to end up somewhere with uncomfortable beds or no ice machine or anything else that would add stress! And it was a fine place to stay – it’s right off the 101, so it’s easy to get in and out. Garberville is not very exciting and seems like it’s a bit sad in general, but there are a few restaurants (we ate at the Humboldt Bar & Grill, which is in walking distance of the Best Western) and there’s also a really cute store across the street from the hotel that you should definitely check out if you’re in the area! It’s called The Blue Moon and it’s the oldest shop in Garberville, and has lots of kitschy gifts and jewelry and chocolates and random things.

We left the hotel around 8 am Sunday morning and the temperature was around 37 degrees – pretty chilly! The sun was coming out though and in the sun, it felt warmer. There were plenty of portapotties near the race start, and some dogs to pet, which is always nice. The race started promptly at 9 am with no fanfare, and we were off. There are people cheering at the start, and then you’re pretty much alone with the trees and volunteers and other runners until you’re back at the race start at mile 13.

The half marathon and marathon run the first out/back together, so you turn around at mile 6.5. The course is completely shaded by the giant redwoods, and it was great running weather, though a little chilly (I’d much rather be cold than hot though!). The first half is completely flat. There is a slope to the road in some places, and I always try to avoid running on slopes, but in some places it was unavoidable. It wasn’t terrible though, just something worth noting.

At mile 13, which is back at the race start, the half marathoners go to the right to finish, and the marathoners continue left. This road is also almost completely shaded except for a few sections, but it’s hillier. Gentle rolling hills, so they never feel especially difficult, and it feels like it’s mostly downhill after the turnaround at mile 19.5ish.

It’s a small race. There were only 130 or so people running the marathon, and maybe 600 running the whole race (there was a 5k and 10k as well as the half), so once the half split off, it was pretty lonely on the course. I didn’t mind, I was running with my husband, but if I’d been running alone it might have been tougher for me. Having other runners nearby is helpful for adrenaline and moral support, so if that’s something that’s important for you in a race, I’d stick to the half on this one!

The one thing about the 2nd section that was a little annoying was that it was open to traffic. There were police escorts for the cars/trucks that needed to get by on the road, and it wasn’t constant, but it happened often enough that it was frustrating to have to move to the very edge of the road to let traffic pass. Especially on parts where the road was sloped and it was easiest to run in the middle, because that’s where there was the least amount of slope, but you couldn’t run in the middle because of the traffic.

The aid stations were pretty frequent and I never felt like too much time or distance passed between them. A couple of the aid stations near the end had watermelon and banana and possibly other foods. Plus Gatorade and water. The aid station volunteers were very friendly.

The shirt for the race is a long sleeve wicking material, and the girls’ version is v-neck. They’re pretty true to size but the sleeves are pretty tight. The design of the shirt is nice, and the medal as well. I’m not one who collects medals or even keeps them usually, but I will probably keep this one.

Long story short, this is definitely a great race, and a beautiful course! This same race is also run in May, and I think either of them are worth a trip to Northern California to do.

I ran the half marathon distance of this race in 2017, and in 2018 when a friend who was new to running wanted to do her first 10k, I suggested this one – the flat, fast course is perfect for a beginner, and the atmosphere at Brazen races is always fun! Packet pickup is always easy, race morning is well coordinated and organized, and the race itself is great as always! The race photographers did a great job too! Brazen is an awesome organization and I love supporting them, and will always choose a Brazen race whenever possible!

Brazen races are my first choice when it comes to running in the Bay Area, and this was my 1st time running the Nitro Turkey 10k. Like all Brazen races, it is as smooth and simple as can be, from packet pickup to race day to the finish line. Sam and Jasmine and the Brazen crew really set the bar pretty high and most other Bay Area races just can’t compete—it has made me a loyal Brazen runner!

The Nitro 10k is a pretty course, with great scenery. The 5k starts at the same time, and follows the same course for the first half. The course is a bit crowded at the beginning and until the 5k runners go their separate ways. The weather was perfect – the smoke finally cleared just in time for us to have a beautiful Thanksgiving race day. The aid stations were well-stocked with all of the necessities and then some. I didn’t partake in the finish line feast, since I have a weird special diet and can’t eat most of the stuff that was there, but it looked delicious and everyone seemed to be really enjoying it! The medals are awesome, and the special 10th anniversary mug all of the finishers got was great too. Another stellar Brazen race that I would highly recommend to anyone considering it!

Unfortunately the Camp Fire caused the air quality in the Bay Area and beyond to be extremely hazardous and the half was canceled in 2018. I have run this race twice before though and it’s wonderful and I will definitely be back to run it again! There’s a reason it’s on many bucket lists as a must-do!

Who would’ve thought one of my favorite events ever was a 6 hour endurance event? Certainly not me, at least not before running this event a couple of weeks ago. I’ve run a full marathon and dozens of half marathons, but this was a challenge unlike anything else I’d done before. It takes place at Point Pinole, which is a beautiful park right on the Bay. Even though it was hot, there’s breeze from the water, and shade from the trees—there are only a few parts of the big loop that are in full sun. The start/finish line is where all of the tents/etc are set up, so you pass by your own personal aid station after each loop. In our tent, my friend and I had sunscreen, chapstick, electrolytes, snacks (I don’t eat carbs and there wasn’t much at the aid stations I could have, so I brought my own, but for most people there was more than enough stuff to choose from at the aid stations!), and changes of socks and shoes. (I was happy to have the change of socks and shoes after the 4th loop!) For the last hour of your event, there is a smaller loop you can run – this year it was .4 miles, so you can get in several smaller loops in that last hour before the course closes. There are 2 aid stations, one at the start/finish line that’s pretty massive and has all kinds of carb-y snacks (salty and sweet! pretzels, fruit, candy, etc), and at 11 am, there’s a BBQ. The aid station on the big loop is around mile 1.8 and has slightly less than the one at the start/finish, but still stocked with pretty much anything you might need. There are signs along the course that were entertaining and humorous – I appreciated those esp. as I started to get tired. There are a couple of hills, but they’re not terrible and are over pretty quickly. Along with most people, I walked the 2 biggest hills, which I think helped save my legs some. My only complaint is super minor—the water provided at the aid stations was cool, but not ice cold, which would’ve been nice since it was hot out. And the only other thing that might be helpful to know is that the sweatshirts (which are awesome) are unisex, and the small is pretty big on me (it fits my husband comfortably and he’s a men’s medium). So I’ll be better prepared next year with my own ice and an XS sweatshirt 🙂 Thank you Brazen, for an awesome challenge!

Closing out the year by running a half marathon sounded like a great idea, and Brazen offers a NYE race at Quarry Lakes in Fremont. Brazen races are so well-done and chill that I have gotten spoiled by them and am no longer interested in running races put on by other organizations. Packet pickup at RoadRunner Sports in Berkeley was super fast and easy. Get to the race a few minutes before start time, no trouble finding parking, get to the start line, off we go. The race is mostly on flat, paved roads, with a few rolling hills. The 5k and 10k share part of the course with the half, and on those parts that are shared, there can be some congestion, but it’s really not a huge deal. For the parts of the race that are half marathon runners only, it’s pretty easy to pass people when you need to, and for the most part there’s plenty of space. There were plenty of aid stations but I also carried my own water, because sometimes it’s nice to have water when you want it and not wait for the next aid station. I was also thrilled to see that the aid stations were carrying Ultima Replenisher as their electrolyte drink – it’s sugar-free, and as someone who eats a ketogenic diet, I was really excited to see them offering a keto-friendly drink! I chose not to get the race shirt, so I can’t comment on that, but the medal was awesome as usual. The race production is always so smooth and easy and makes choosing to run a Brazen race a no-brainer! Plus, free race photos! I will be running this one again, and may even attempt to do the NY Day race the next day – though that course is hillier and I imagine it will be a total butt kicking, but that’s a good way to start off the year, right!? Thanks Brazen!

I chose the Crawlin’ Crab as a race to run with a good friend of mine. She lives on the east coast and I on the west. I grew up on the east coast so I know October weather can be unpredictable. I trained in cool Northern California temperatures all summer and was horribly unprepared for the weather of the Crawlin’ Crab this year. It was mid-80s at the start, and 85% humidity (that “local weather” map you see up there is WRONG). It was BRUTAL. Even people who had trained in the heat and humidity were struggling. I heard a lot of complaints about the start time – apparently the race had an earlier start time in previous years to try to avoid the heat. But not this year. The water at the water stops was air temperature and was not refreshing in the least. Finally at the 10 mile water stop, the volunteers had a bucket of ice water that they were dipping towels into to try to help us cool off. It helped minimally. My muscles were cramping even though I was taking electrolytes. My ears had filled with sweat and my eyes were burning. It took everything I had just to finish. It was my 17th half marathon, and my personal worst time. I was 40 minutes slower than my personal best. The course was mostly flat and fine, except for a section near the waterfront that smelled of fish, which is not what you want to smell when you’re already suffering and it’s HOT. There’s also not much shade, which would’ve been nice. The race shirt is great and I liked the mason jar (though it says 5k on it instead of half marathon). The hat is nice but would be better if it were wicking material instead of cotton. I didn’t get to enjoy any of the post-race food or beer—they were serving soup, and I honestly don’t know who could stand to eat hot soup after running 13.1 miles through air that felt like hot soup. I won’t ever run this race again—the race organizers did the best they could, I’m sure, but it was just brutally hot and humid and terrible racing conditions. Cooler water at water stops, an earlier start time, and ice cold cloths earlier in the race are the suggestions I would give for making it more bearable if the temperatures are like this next year.

This was my first time running this race, which is literally in my backyard – we ran by my apartment around mile 11. Maybe because I run this course several times a week, it felt like the easiest half marathon ever for me (it was my 15th). The course is beautiful and the race wasn’t crowded, so it was never frustrating like some races can be when there are too many people and not enough space. The 5k and 10k started several minutes after the half, so we were pretty much out of their way by the time the fastest ones caught up to us on the course, and they turned around soon after.
I only have 2 complaints. The first is that it seems the distance was over 1/2 mile too long. My GPS, my husband’s GPS and several others we asked, all measured at least 13.6. My GPS was dead on with the race markers on miles 1-12, which makes me think my GPS was accurate for mile 13-13.6 as well. It’s not unusual for courses to be slightly off, but 1/2 mile is a bit much. Having a course that’s too long can be frustrating for a few reasons – mentally and physically, but also in my case, it means a race that should’ve been a PR now is not. It’s not a huge deal, but it’s kinda disappointing and seemingly totally avoidable, esp. for this course.
My other complaint is about one of the pacers. My husband and I were running together, and averaging 9:55-9:58 miles. The 2:20 pacer was DIRECTLY behind us for several miles (miles 3-8). Not only was he running too fast for his pace group (2:20 pace is a 10:41 overall pace), he was running WAY too close to us. I could almost feel him breathing on me, that’s how close he was. We even moved to the side at one point to let him pass us, but he didn’t – he stayed right there, right behind us. Just terrible race etiquette all around. If I was running in the 2:20 pace group, I would’ve been so mad that the pacer was running so fast and off pace. We finally lost him around mile 8, and never saw him again, so hopefully he slowed down a lot and ran the pace he was supposed to run. I’ve run several Brazen races and have never had any complaints about pacers before, so I don’t blame Brazen for this one rogue pacer.
Besides those 2 minor complaints, I loved the race. The aid stations were well-stocked with snacks and water, and the volunteers were awesome. I heard there were supposed to be ice cream sandwiches at the finish line but I didn’t see any – but I wasn’t hungry afterward and couldn’t have eaten one anyway! I’ll definitely be running this race for as long as I live in the neighborhood, and hopefully the distance issue will be fixed next year.

This was my first time running The Town Half, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’d run other races in Oakland before and there’s generally a lot of community support, so I was excited to see if The Town would be the same. It’s in August, which in the Bay Area is called “Fogust”, and the weather was pretty great for running. Foggy and cool and 57 at the start. It was a bit quieter than I expected, as far as people out cheering for you. That’s not a dealbreaker though, just a nice bonus to have. There were several times we were running on uneven, broken asphalt and had to be super careful not to break an ankle – that wasn’t awesome. There’s also a pretty big hill right in the middle which was challenging. Running around Lake Merritt is nice, but can get a little crowded. The race distance was also longer than 13.1 – it was about 1/2 mile too long. I know sometimes there are small discrepancies in distance and GPS isn’t always accurate, and there are lots of factors to consider, but I talked to several others who all said the same thing. My GPS said 13.6. I’m fine with 13.1, 13.2, even 13.3, but much more than that and your official finishing pace can get pretty inaccurate. I probably won’t run this one again since there are so many other great options in the Bay Area.

I was injured while training for this race, so I didn’t have high expectations for my performance. I actually was glad I had to run slowly because the course is so beautiful! It was a foggy cool day and perfect for running 13.1 miles.

I ran this race for several years when I lived in Wilmington, North Carolina. Bald Head Island is a car-less island, accessible only by ferry. The 10k looped the whole island and was 6.2 miles of beautiful scenery. It’s too bad it’s discontinued, but it looks like Bald Head Island has another 10k now, so if you have a chance to do that one, you should!

This was my very first half marathon, and I don’t have fond memories of it. It was in November, and it was 81 at the start (8 am). It was so hot and humid, which made running way harder, and your first half marathon is already mentally challenging as it is. I was a much slower runner then (11:30ish pace) but still sort of middle-of-the-pack because there were a lot of walkers, and by the time I got to some of the aid stations, they were out of water cups. They still had water, just no cups. Because it was so hot and humid, the faster runners had taken multiple cups I guess, and they ran out. There were 2 aid stations in a row that were out of cups, so we had to go something like 6 miles without water. It was brutal. The course has some pretty parts, but overall it’s just kind of fine. Maybe I’m biased now because I’ve run so many pretty half marathons since then, but if you’re in the Wilmington area, I think the Wrightsville Beach Half Marathon is a better option.