My favorite race yet. I ran Boston to Big Sur, and had an incredible Big Sur race experience. To say it's hilly is an understatement - there are no flats; you're either going up or down! But, that's just part of what makes BSIM unique. The Taiko drummers at the base of Hurricane Point are perfect motivation to get up the 2-mile climb, and the piano player at Bixby Bridge is so calming, and you can't help but appreciate your surroundings. Strawberries at mile 23 are a treat, and the clay medals are a keepsake.
The only downside to the race is having to wake up at 3am to catch a bus to the start. Waiting two hours in the dark by a row of port-a-potties doesn't make for a nice pre-race experience, but well worth it once your start running.

Delicious idea! There was so much chocolate fondue in the finishers area - I felt like I was going to get sick. Bananas, pretzels, rice krispie treats, marshmallows- all in a plastic cup with chocolate fondue. The cup was cheap and plastic, and ended up in the trash, so my only race complaint is the amount of landfill they created.
The fleece hoodies are really nice, and I wear mine on cold morning runs. Great swag!
The weather was perfect! It could have been cold and miserable, but we lucked out with great sun and no wind along the highway. It was so nice to watch the huge waves crash on the surf.
I was worried about the logistics of the shuttles since the race was in San Francisco, but it went so smoothly, it was super easy to get to.
The last two miles were uphill so it was a nice challenge to finish strong - great course!

Other than the weather - this race is awesome! It's a fast net downhill course with great spectators and a "real runners" vibe. The course scenery is mostly nice except for a section along some commercial strips, but I love heading into downtown Sacramento. It's a great finish. The first year I ran, there was a heavy rainstorm. The second year I ran, it was freezing (literally). Who knows what the weather will be next year - but I'll probably be there! The start line is very nice - with busses that park right next to the start line and a long wall of port-a-potties. The aid stations are plentiful, and there is fun course entertainment. The expo is big, easy to navigate and full of great swag.

I love the Napa Valley Marathon! As a local, it is so fun to run this event in my own backyard. But, even for those running destination marathons, it doesn't get much better than this. The course is gorgeous - who doesn't love Napa Valley in the springtime? The course is full of nice, rolling hills that offer the best challenge (and the last 5 flat, straight miles are a good mental challenge). The volunteers are wonderful - at the finish each runner is greeted by someone to make sure they are okay. The swag bag is amazing! It's a reusable duffel bag with the NVM and Asics logos to reuse for the gym or overnight trips stuffed with snacks. I have three small complaints about the race: There are no pacers so you have to pace yourself, the expo is small (but it's a small race, so it doesn't matter much), and the t-shirts are unisex. This is probably my biggest complaint - I'm pretty sure separate men's and women's shirts don't hurt the bottom line.
I would totally recommend this race to anyone!
EDIT: T-shirts are now gender specific! Horray!

The SF Marathon is a world class event! I ran the first half, and from start to finish it was perfect. Bib pickup is a breeze, I was dropped off very near the start line, the finisher's shirt fit perfectly and was high quality, the scenery was out of this world (Golden Gate Bridge!!), and the hills were just the right amount of challenge. I couldn't ask for a better event. Everyone must experience this race.