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Apr 29, 2024

Big Sur International Marathon Runner Comments

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Course 4.9

Organization 4.8

Spectators 3.7

Number of comments: 212 [displaying comments 11 to 21]

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S. F. from New Jersey (4/30/2016) "Brutalful" (about: 2016) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Big Sur International Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 I like to think I did B2B...but Boston was 2002 and Big Sur, my first marathon since Boston, was 2016...needed a bucket lister for motivation and this fit the bill...I was well trained but missed my PR by about 4 miles...far hillier, far windier, far friendlier and far more beautiful than I would have imagined.
S. S. from Canada (4/28/2016) "Do It!" (about: 2016) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Big Sur International Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Bucket list marathon Inspiring vistas Grazing cows and grizzled vets Seaside cliffs Unending hills Robust winds Loved, loved, loved Big Sur!!
L. L. from San Francisco (4/26/2016) "Absolute must-run." (about: 2016) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Big Sur International Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 First of all - the course is tough. No way around that. Major hills and head winds. But the scenery is incredible and the organization is spectacular. This run should be on any serious marathon runner's bucket list.
K. N. from Chicago, USA (4/25/2016) "Beautiful Challenge" (about: 2016) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Big Sur International Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I echo previous comments. Very challenging terrain plus wind. Gorgeous views. Great organization. Friendly, helpful volunteers. This was the most majestic and difficult marathon of my 23. Monterey area is a sweet destination.
louis Baillargeon from saskatoon Saskatchewan canada (4/25/2016) "Wow what a view" (about: 2016) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Big Sur International Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Did the big sur yesterday. In fact did the B2B. What an enjoyable race. Great volunteers and very well organized. Wind did make it very difficult. Hurricane peak was a killer. Would recommend this race to any marathoner
S. S. from Minneapolis, MN (6/29/2015) "Tough but GRAND!" (about: 2015) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Big Sur International Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 The rumors are true! By FAR the most picturesque course of any marathon I have ever done, but under no contest, the most difficult. I am not sure I have ever worked so hard for a marathon medal! That being said, I never thought about dropping and geniuenly had a fun time running. Where else can you go from camp ground, to cows meandering, to the loud crash of the ocean, in under an hours time of running? The expo was well-run and easy to navigate. I had my bib/packet in under 5 minutes and the expo was smaller and nice to wonder around. The shuttle does start early, but I understand for a good reason. The ride on the shuttle from downtown Monterey to the start was about 75 minutes. The start area, I felt, was really unique (I have done many marathons and typically bigger ones) near a state park. It was pretty chilly with the headwind most of the way, so I never ditched my throwaway shirt. The course was really beautiful, and honestly, the Hurricane Point hill portion was not that brutal, if taken slowly and easily. Charging up this hill will do you no favors come the later miles. In my mind, the hardest part was the uphill at mile 25. I swear tears formed in my eyes when I saw the hill and my legs were just shot from the rolling hills from mile 11 on. Never have I been so sore after a marathon, and I took this one relatively easy. It was great to run a smaller race (about 3000 marathon runners), but never was I alone out on the course. One thing to note is that relay racers and runners of other varying distances (21, 10.6, 9) will be on the course along with you. This means 2 things: 1) there will be runners out there with fresh legs, and 2) there will be a LOT of walkers. It did get to be pretty irritating towards the end that the 10.6 & 9-mile participants were walking 4-6 people abreast, essentially take up the whole road. I felt that as a marathon runner, getting to the end miles with completely destroyed legs, this was the worst part of the race. I would definitely do this race again in the future. It was such a grand experience and I am so glad I went out!
m. s. from Boston, MA (4/29/2015) "Boston to Big Sur!" (about: 2015) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Big Sur International Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 I ran the Boston to Big Sur challenge this year and boy was it challenging. I had trained through a brutal New England winter, but I was prepared for Boston sized hills. The hills of Central CA are ridiculous! But I knew this going in... This marathon was incredibly beautiful. I ran Boston on Monday and pretty much went all out on it, so I was pretty sore.. On Friday, my husband and I hopped a plane to the west coast. Attended the expo on Saturday and it was great. Very organized..got a wonderfully needed massage, picked up my number and went on my way. Because this race is point to point, they bus you to the start at like 3AM. and the bus drivers are really champs, they navigate those switchbacks on Rt 1 like nobody's business. It's a pretty small marathon in comparison to Boston, so I think I crossed the start line in like a minute..3K runners, doesn't take a long time. :) The course was brutal and I did a lot of shuffle running...but hey, I finished the Boston to Big Sur challenge! The B2B challenge has its own tent...which is so cool. I got my big sur medal and headed to the tent, where I got another medal (b2b) and a finisher jacket.. They had a huge buffet table of food in the tent plus beer! I'm not an eater post marathon, but the tent was cool. All in all, this marathon was awesome. I'm glad I did the b2b challenge, not sure I would do it again, just because my quads are totally shot..I would come back and do big sur again, on its own. It's a great marathon, awesomely organized with amazing scenery.
D. L. from Houston, Texas (4/28/2015) "Glad I was able to scratch this one off the list" (about: 2015) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Big Sur International Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 This one was much more than 'moderately difficult' in my book but it was a nice accomplishment. The hills were hardly 'rolling' and the headwinds were brutal. The scenery was nice BUT didn't make up for my discomfort. If you like music, be sure and bring it...there was very little entertainment on the course and it's true, hardly any spectators. This one will challenge you mentally, that's for sure. Never even considered quitting one til this one. I managed to end up with a surprisingly decent time given the speedy downhills, but that was my only saving grace.
L. P. from New York, NY (5/2/2014) "Beautiful, Challenging Course" (about: 2014) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Big Sur International Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 The course really is as beautiful as other reviewers have said. You run through the redwoods, then rolling green hills with cows, then have gorgeous ocean views, then more rolling hills. 2014 was a fantastic year weather-wise: the rain held off and the winds were freakishly low. Even without the headwinds, the course is still challenging. I was prepared for the hills and even for the 2-mile, 600-foot climb of Hurricane Point; I was not aiming to PR (and was in fact 16 minutes slower than my PR). I actually found the hardest part of the course to be the cambered roads. I had heard about the slant in the last 10K, but it's really there for the bulk of the course. Worth it, though, to climb Hurricane Point and descend to the Bixby Bridge at the halfway point (or to smell the redwoods in the first 10K, etc.). The expo was well-staffed and number pick-up was quick. I watched the Runner's World presentation on past Big Sur experiences and really enjoyed it; the information wasn't that novel, but hearing the personal stories was inspirational. The starting village area was crowded but fine. The porto lines were manageable and gear 'check' was quick (you basically throw your bag in the back of a truck). The only slightly disorganized piece was the 'wave' start, since they called various waves to the starting line but, to my knowledge, runners had not been assigned waves. That said, the race is small enough that it doesn't matter that much and you can line up wherever you feel is appropriate. Having expected no spectators, I was pleasantly surprised: because of the relay buses, there are groups at various points in the course, plus plenty of people who walk down from nearby farms, firehouses, etc. If you need NYC or Chicago marathon crowds, you won't get them at Big Sur, but you will get support from some spectators, volunteers and other runners. The volunteers at the aid stations (and overall) are outstandingfun and pleasant. I love the bottle refill program. There's also plenty of on-course entertainment that runs the whole gamut of styles. A word on running w/o electronics (which I extensively debated, given the race's discouragement of the same): I ran with a GPS watch and was glad I did, if only to slow myself at the downhill start and properly spread out my fuel intake. Many others did the same. I ran w/o music for almost 16 miles (and I always race with music), but then put on my iPod shuffle, although I paused it when passing the entertainment. I was glad I had music with me, but was also fine without it. Plenty of people especially those running alone ran with music. People will tell you to bring a camera. I don't like to run with one, so didn't. Plenty of others did. I was happy with the official photos (and without the extra bulk). Overall, just a fantastic experience, a nice weekend getaway and an opportunity to focus on something else while racing other than the final number (on that course, no matter what number you pull, you'll probably feel it was a good time).
P. C. from Indiana (4/29/2014) "The One to Run" (about: 2014) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Big Sur International Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This marathon blew me away. The organization was absolutely first rate, the hydration and fuel stations were well staffed and uncrowded, and the views are nothing short of amazing. The size of the field was perfect, the roads were never crowded, and even though I ran my slowest time in 15 years, I feel good about it. I will say that the hills are really tough, and they take a toll, and the slant of the road is often quite severe, but the views keep your mind distracted from the pain, and even though limited course access restricts fan support, the bands and Michael Martinez on the piano keep you going. To make this experience even better, my lovely wife accompanied me for the whole race, and we enjoyed a great little mini vacation in Monterey

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