From what I have heard from others, the Carnation, WA Beat the Blerch was much better than the Sacramento Beat the Blerch. Meeting Matt Inman (The Oatmeal) at both race packet pick up the day before and at the race was exciting. Completing my sixth marathon in less than four years was exciting. Purchasing my bib from a fellow races for half the price was exciting. Completing the actual race, however, was lackluster.

The course was a huge letdown. At one point I was literally taking selfies with sheep grazing on the field adjacent to the path. We stayed on the path, which felt as though it was in the middle of nowhere, for about 15 miles! I saw a blerch at the starting line and a blerch at mile 23, but no blerch in between. Perhaps a blerch could have broken up the monotony of the course?

One of the only positives of the course was the fact that it began and ended at Raley Field. It was fun to have a finish line down on the field. Sadly, however, when I crossed the finish line, my watch read 24.8 miles as opposed to the 26.2 advertised course distance. Nearly 1.5 miles off?! How'd that happen?

In the end, would I recommend this race to a friend? Yes, only because one would hope that the next time around it would be better.