Last year, I signed up for a spur of the moment marathon in Sacramento; mostly because I was there, and so was the race. It was the first year of the Pony Express Marathon.

You had to pick up your packet the day before the race. It was at the hotel (I think the Hilton?) right next to the Tower Bridge in Sacramento. It was a small expo, but the overall packet pickup experience was very easy. Bib and shirt are picked up there. They also give you a bottle of beer from the local brewery, named Yolo.

I stayed at an AirBnB literally three blocks from the start line, so overall it was super easy for me to get to the start. But worst case, there is a parking ramp a few blocks down from the start line that you can get to before the race, and then (more importantly) get out of after the race.

The race start was actually really neat (although it started a little late). Runners follow two horses across the Tower Bridge before turning out onto the course. I liked that touch, and you don't always see something different like that at a race.

The first mile or so of the race is run with the Marathon and Half Marathon together before the Half splits back into Sacramento. This first part is run through a more industrial center area, so the scenery leaves a little to be desired. The Marathon course then rolls you onto a loop in the country-side. You'll spend a little time by the river, and a lot of time on various country roads. For us, those roads happened to be freshly black-topped, and the temps were already into the mid-70s by the start. Needless to say, it was a little warm.

You run the loop out here and then make your way back to the city proper. To me, it felt like we were running uphill forever to get to mile 8, but my elevation chart from my watch didn't indicate that. It's definitely an incline, but not a huge one.

Back in town, you cross the Tower Bridge again, and get a little crowd support for the first time around Mile 14. Depending on where you are in the pack, you might catch the tail end of the 5k race.

You don't stay here for long, though, the course sends you down the paved bike path along the river. Definitely more scenic, but it's not as shaded as you would expect, and again it was a hot day. You can also see back to the first half of the race across the river. Mostly, I was just thinking about rolling into the river and laying there.

Around mile 20 or so, you turn back and start weaving through some of the Sacramento neighborhoods. Beautiful area, and you finally see people other than the other runners and aid stations. There's also a short, but very steep, hill at about mile 22 or 23. One runner told me after the race that this hill destroyed his will to live.

You come back around the main road and finish about a block from the start line. You get your medal (it was huge and one of my favorites) and go explore the food options available. There are massages available post race as well.

I will say, there definitely were a couple hick-ups with the race, such as the late start and the mile markers being about a 1/4 mile off, but it was the first year. Medals were great, and the age group awards were even cooler! The age group awards are a horseshoe, with whatever place you finished on a plague attached to it!!

I will note, however, that the 2017 edition of the race was cancelled this past year. It's never a good sign if a race has it's second year cancelled. I, for one, hope that the Pony Express Marathon comes back. I would run it again.