This race was my first half marathon in 2012, and this year I was lucky to run it with my little sister as her first half marathon. It is the first really big race of the year in the Sacramento area. It will always be a special race for me since it was my first.

I can't believe I haven't run it since 2012! Shamrock'N is really fun! It is a great course that is pretty quick. Sacramento is pretty flat so it is a great first 13.1. It is a pretty nice course too. Along the bike path it can get a little crowded, but that is probably my only complaint. Once you get into Old Sac you think you are almost done, because all you have to do is cross Tower Bridge and head back to the ball park, right? Wrong! You have to run a bit down the river still, then back through the city, up Capitol Mall, then cross the bridge, then to the ball park. So that can kinda mess with your mind a bit.

What is awesome is starting and ending at Raley Field. We actually get to run on the field, have people cheering us on in the stands and we're up on the big screen as we run in. How cool is that? This race is very well organized too, I really appreciate that. And as most of the races in Sac there are a ton of spectators out there cheering for us. I love the Sacramento running community!!

This year was the first time I have run the Napa Valley Marathon. It was a great experience! I would like to start out my review by saying this race was the most well-run, organized race I have been a part of. Everything from the expo to crossing the finish line was perfect.
The expo was at the Marriott Hotel. There were a ton of booths, free wine tasting and awesome SWAG. Nice quality shirts & well designed and duffle bags! Not just little crappy bags but actual full size duffle bags with the NVM logo. SO COOL!
After the expo my boyfriend and I drove along the course. I wanted to know what to expect. I had heard from some people the race was hilly in the beginning and could be a tough race, from others I heard the hills weren't bad and was an overall easy course. To me, the hills were not bad. There was a really long hill at about mile 1.5 - the first hill of the course. Mile 6 was the end of the "rolling hills" and mile 19ish was the last hill. When I crossed the finish line I was asked how the hills were (a friend was volunteering at the end and we had been talking about the race leading up to race day) I pretty much said "what hills?". Not that there weren't any, but I didn't think they were too bad.
The course was beautiful! Volunteers at aid stations were awesome. Plenty of people with water & sports drinks. Mile markers had trash cans to dispose of gel packets and water cups. I really liked that, it made it easy to NOT litter. There were some good spots for spectators - the website said it would be hard for spectators to be there, small roads & not a lot of parking, but there were quite a lot of people at the major crossroads. Although, I don't know how parking was for them.
There were also lots of photographers along the course. I have never had so many pictures to choose from! There were over 60! And with the vineyards in the background most of my pictures came out great.
At the finish line there were people there to guide you to the pictures, give you your medal, give you water - they opened the bottle for you, thanks! :) and ask how you were doing. The only other marathon I've run is the California International Marathon and I had to find some one and ask for my medal. I also didn't have anyone guiding me where to go at that race. So the fact that Napa had that was pretty cool.
I recommend this race to everyone! Great views, small town race but with great perks and well organized. Which is so important, races NEED to be organized and managed well. To me, it was a pretty easy course. I ran a PR of 3:56:57. That is a 22 minute PR from my CIM time. Thanks Napa Valley for such a great marathon!

This is the only marathon I have run (to date). I ran it in 2012 - which you should look up the weather that year, it was a damn monsoon!! - and I ran it in 2013. I live in Sacramento and this race is huge deal! It is the last big race of the year.
This race is put on by the Sacramento Running Association and they do an amazing job. First off they have transportation buses to take you to the start. Only $10 if you purchase them early. I get picked up downtown Sacramento at the Sheraton Grand. Plenty of buses and it is a well organized pick up.
The start of this race is in Folsom. The race from the start to Fair Oaks is a beautiful course! Once you get in the beginning of Carmichael its not as nice, but all the spectators really make up for that. Both years I've run there are always people out there with bells, signs and food (THANK YOU) cheering you on. Once you get to about Watt Ave (when Carmichael is ending) the course is much nicer again. Running on J street and running through the "Fab 40s" is when the race really starts getting exciting! Not only are you almost to the finish, but the neighborhoods are nice, people are great and I just love running through that area! I have to say, my favorite part of the race is once you get to L street. This is the midtown area, that leads to downtown and the finish.
Running down L street, once you get to 15th is amazing! It is the last couple of miles and the crowds (once again) are great. The finish is down Capitol Mall and ends right in front of the California State Capitol. It makes for great pictures :)
Over all the course is downhill. Start elevation is 366 ft and the end elevation is 26 ft. Plenty of aid stations, the only thing I would ask for is more food at the stations. There is pretzels, oranges and bananas. This is the only marathon I've run so maybe food isn't a common thing that is offered? The medals and swag are great quality. The expo has tons of booths, sales on running clothes & equipment and speakers.
It is a huge race, but not overwhelming. I would recommend it to a first time marathoner. I have decided to become a CIM streaker, that is how much I love this race :)