Mountains 2 Beach

Mountains 2 Beach

Mountains 2 Beach

( 13 reviews )
84% of reviewers recommend this race
  • Ojai,
    California,
    United States
  • May
  • 13.1 miles/Half Marathon, 26.2 miles/Marathon
  • Road Race
  • Event Website

Mark Villalovos

California, United States
12 8
2014
"Seriously...it's a LOT of Downhill!"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management
Mark Villalovos's thoughts:

This course is made for your next PR. Many races claim "net negative elevation" or "fast, downhill course", but this one truly delivers. This is a point to point course starting in the picturesque city of Ojai and ending at the crashing waves off the Ventura Coast. You can look up the elevation stats, but suffice to say I was running sub-8:20 miles for most of the first half of this race. My biggest challenge was one hamstring began cramping up in miles 17 and on probably due to over-striding.
The shuttle service from Ventura to Ojai was fast and efficient and the early hour we were forced to report to the bus allowed time for this normally solitary runner to meet some really great fellow runners.
There are not many spectators, but if you have a race crew there is one section that the runners pass twice (first and last parts of a loop) where you have two opportunities to cheer on your runners. You have many opportunities to hop down the path, park, and lift the spirits of the runners as they pass.
Leaving the city you run along a nice bike path in scenic wooded areas that provide adequate distraction from the long miles.
The finish is magnificent - once you finally make the u-turn onto the shoreline, the waves are crashing off to your left as you can see the finishing area far off in the distance. Bling is great and the post race party is a great place to collapse and listen to great music.
Parking for your spectators waiting for you at the finish line is nearby and very reasonably priced.
There were minor things I would change (one more potty station and perhaps more food at the end) but overall I thought this was a well organized, FAST and FUN race!
We are from SoCal so we made a mini Race-cation out of this and stayed on the beach - which was a treat for the family and sitting in the surf was a great way to "ice" the legs after the race.
A couple of years away from a new Age Category and it's back to Ojai for a BQ attempt for me!

Mark V

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