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Latest reviews by Alex
Alex recommends this race
(2014)
"Home Sweet Home"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management
I was fortunate enough to receive a comp entry to the Ventura Marathon on behalf of BibRave! A race I wanted to do since its inauguration last year. I was born in Oxnard, Ca so having a chance to run in Oxnard/Ventura was like a dream come true for me.
From the minute I registered, I immediately noticed the 1st class type of folks this race organization was. Although I didn't participate in them, they put on THREE practice runs on 3 different Sundays for all runners participating in event. It would be on the actual course and provide hydration stations! Something that in my 13 previous marathons I have never seen!
My race weekend began on Saturday, the day of the expo. I arrived in Ventura around 1pm. The expo/packet pick up was below the beautiful Ventura Pier. The location for me was a bit sentimental because in high school in 1999 I worked at the Holiday Inn, now called Crown Plaza, right at the Pier. So I immediately felt at home. BIB pick up was seamless and they gave all runners a beautiful bag with the Official Race t-shirt.
I checked into race hotel Ventura Beach Marriott, about 1 mile South from pier along the actual course. The location has a plethora of pre race dining options so my lovely girlfriend and I opted for a Ventura County staple : Toppers Pizza Place.
Sunday/race day!
With a 6:20 start time, I awoke at 4am to begin prep. I used the 1 mile walk as my warm up. The race started right on time at 6:20 and off we went! My girlfriend, Laura, was waiting to cheer for me at mile 1 right outside our hotel!
The course was not gonna provide any surprises for me, as I've ran these same roads hundreds of times throughout my running life. But boy are they gorgeous. Miles 1- 9 travel all along Harbor Blvd into Oxnard. You get to see the classic farm lands of Ventura County as well the beautiful neighborhood of Mandalay Beach. Water stations were plentiful every couple miles!
Mile 9 we turned onto Channel Islands blvd, which runs along the Port Hueneme Naval Base. Mile 10-13 we run along the Base as well into Hueneme Beach area where we turned around and reversed the course.
Although not alot of spectators like you'd get at big events such as the Los Angeles marathon, the volunteers at the water stations were not lacking enthusiasm. Kids ready and cheerful to hand out water and "Fluid", the official race drink, were delightful! I made my back the same routes towards the finish with Laura again waiting to run with me the last mile.
The finish was very well organized with crowds cheering on both sides of the barriers. Sweet kids promptly gave us our gorgeous medals as well as water!
My finish time was 4:29:41. Not quite what my goal was but just as sweet as this race is perhaps my favorite out of the 14 I've done. I have all intentions of going back next year and running it again!
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Alex recommends this race
(2014)
"1st class event! "
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management
I participated in this race in 2012. Cheered my girlfriend in it in 2013. Returned to run it in 2014! Expo was at orange County fair event center which provided ample parking. Race drop off was a breeze, which was at Fashion Island, the trendy shopping center! Corrals were neatly organized for the 5:30am start for full. First 6 miles take you along the beautiful beach homes in Redondo Beach! Miles 7-9 you head inland with gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean.
After the half marathon split of 12, full marathoners are taken into Costa mesa, ca. A bit dull, as we run through some industrial type areas and weave our way back inland to finish line. As usual, course support was great. Not jam packed, as say Los Angeles marathon or new York City, but people are quite energetic & encouraging. Water stations are well manned by kids with plenty of gatorade and water! Finish line is at the fair event(where expo is) and race offers a great finish line party with live bands and food! Would definitely recommend this race for a beginner or a seasoned veteran.
Alex recommends this race
(2014)
"City of Angels. "
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management
The granddaddy of the Westcoast. My 5th year running this event and 4th time on the newer Stadium to sea course. My marathon weekend kicked off checking into the downtown Sheraton hotel. Even though I reside in La County, I always prefer to experience the whole event by staying at a race hotel.
The La marathon expo is always grand. This year it went back to being indoors at the Los Angeles convention center, which I loved. Plenty of vendors & freebies!
Race morning kicked off by being at shuttle from hotel to the Los Angeles Dodger Stadium! And its a sight to behold. 25k runners right outside of Dodger stadium waiting to run! Race kicked off at 7am, with the a quarter mile downhill out of Dodger stadium. First 6 miles wind through downtown Los Angeles, passing by Echo Park. This past of the course has plenty of climbing through downtown La around the home of the Los Angeles Lakers, Staples center. After mile 6, you enter Sunset Blvd and start checking off the famous landmarks. Whiskey go go bar. The troubadour. Hollywood walk of fame. The streets don't lack crowd supporters here! Miles 13 you pass through the vibrant West Hollywood with a welcoming vibe by Drag Queens! You leave Hollywood and enter the glamorous city of Beverly Hills. Fatigue started to set in here for me but at mile 16 I ran right by where my better half's office is on Wilshire & Beverly Blvd so I felt her in spirit. The marathon really starts at mile 20, as you enter the last big Hill of the course in the Veterans Hospital. After that I knew i could cruise the downhill last 6 miles of San Vicente Blvd into Santa Monica onto the ocean Blvd. The only drawback to this race for me is the finish line. Its thousands & thousands of runners and spectators all crammed into one thin stretch of Ocean Blvd. This particular year was a hotter than comfortable 85+ degrees so it didn't make it comfortable to look for family after. Finish time was just north of 4hrs for me. This race will always hold a special place in my heart as it was my first marathon completed in 2009 so I am sure I will be back!
Alex recommends this race
(2014)
"Thought there were no hills? "
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management
Surf City Marathon began at Los Angeles International Airport at 3pm on Saturday when I landed from Houston, TX. Laura picked me up and we were en route to the expo! We arrived at expo around 4pm, at gorgeous Huntington Beach! Expo could have definitely been bigger. With close to 20k runners participating in race, it was hard to navigate through the whole expo. Nonetheless we made it out smoothly with bib & goody bag!
We met the wonderful couple of Cookies on the Run and their 2 kids for dinner at the Yardhouse for a carb-filled meal of chicken/rice bowl with a side of mashed potatoes! After saying our good lucks we went to check in at our hotel and soon fell asleep.Alex Surf City
Alex Surf City3Race day! Woke up at 3:30am! Ate 2 packets of oatmeal with a good liter of fluids and off we were to the start line. Parking was very smooth, as we managed to park at the beach parking lot. With about 45mins to start, I had plenty of time to go through my pre-race rituals or dynamic stretching & warm up drills. Laura walked with me to the start chute, a few good luck kisses and pictures and the gun went off.
Alex Surf City6Alex Surf City2
Miles 1-5 were fairly flat. The first third of a marathon is where I am nervous due to my lungs and heart problems. It takes me a good 45mins for my heart to adjust. Luckily it settled quickly. I maintained a good 8:20ish pace for the first 10k, as planned. Miles 6-8 were in a beautiful park, reminiscent of my beloved Central Park in New York City.
Alex Surf City7
My first shock was at mile 8. I was told there would be some “baby hills”. Well, mile 8.5 was no baby hill. It was a half mile steep incline. I dropped my pace to 9.5 and pushed up knowing Laura was to meet me at mile 9 with some water and Gu!. Seeing her was a lovely sight, she handed me my water and gave me a few cheers and off I went.
Mile 10 was when it all went down hill. We turned onto a street and that’s when I realized the remaining 16 miles were all going to be “out & back” along the same area in parallel streets. Meaning it was going to be agonizingly boring. Not only that, it sure as heck was not flat. It was gentle rolling inclines. And with my Achilles Tendinitis, this was going to become troublesome.
Mile 14 was my sweet Laura again! With the same bright smile and water bottle for me. My pace had dropped close to 9 min miles by then and I told her my goal had to become to run under 4hrs.
Course proceeded to take us back and forth closer to the board walk along the beach to miles 17-26. We ran along a narrow, 7 foot wide path with runners going in both directions among non-participating pedestrians. That became very bothersome because not only was I dealing with a failing body but dodging walkers with their dogs was frustrating.
At mile 19 was my last encounter with Laura. I handed her the gloves I had been running with, exchanged water and more Gu and told her I was miserable! I knew the last 7 miles were on my own.
Alex Surf City4Got to the turn around mark of mile 21 and headed towards the finish line. Completely distraught knowing I wasn’t going to break 4hrs, a runner came up from behind and asked me about my shirt I was wearing. I told him they were names of people in my life who have been affected by Cancer and I was representing Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, the hospital that’s kept me alive ’til this day. Larry, the runner, was running in honor of a friend with cancer and raising money for a cancer charity as well. We bonded over that and decided we were going to run the last 5 miles together! When I wanted to walk he would say “No! Do it for the names on the shirt!” When he wanted to walk I would tell him “No! Lets go! Cancer can’t win today!” It was such an amazing experience running with Larry that I’ll forever love. We crossed the finish line together in 4 hours and 19 mins. A far cry from my goal but this Alex Surf City5was bigger than that. It was me crossing the finish line while at the same time battling chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Paranasal Cancer. It was not letting cancer take away from me something I love so much, running! It was honoring all the people who have lost their battle and those who have kicked cancer to the curb. It was as humbling experience and satisfying as well, knowing this was my way of showing cancer it cannot destroy my spirit.
After receiving my medal and taking a few photos with my newly found buddy, Larry, I found Laura and embraced her. I couldn’t have done it without her love and support. There will be faster races in my future, but on that day I told cancer to “Fuck off” regardless of my finishing time.