Everything you've ever heard about Big Sur is true. It's absolutely stunning. You'll likely not find views like this anywhere else in the country in a marathon. Picturesque.

That said, the course is difficult. Big hills. Long hills. Tall climbs. From mile 9.8 to mile 12.2 you'll go up over 500 feet. The second half of the race is rolling hills that are likely bigger than most people can train on.

The race is a lot of fun though. The organizers do a great job of putting entertainment on the course, and the few fans that have access to the course are extremely friendly and supportive. And the strawberry lady at mile 23 has the best tasting strawberries ever.