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Apr 28, 2024

Big Sur International Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Big Sur International Marathon Information & Reviews

Course 4.9

Organization 4.8

Spectators 3.7

Number of comments: 212 [displaying comments 41 to 51]

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Jeff Knapp from NY, NY (5/7/2011) "Sublime" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 Big Sur International Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Ran this marathon for the second time this year. Other marathons would do well to use this first-class organization as a model. Unfortunately, they'll never be able to match the sublime course.
m. s. from Mansfield, TX (5/5/2011) "One of the "must run" marathons!" (about: 2011) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Big Sur International Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Race organizers did an outstanding job organizing this race after the closure of parts of Highway 1 dictated an out-and-back course. The scenery and weather could not have been better. Great aid stations that were well stocked - one even had fresh strawberries! As part of the Boston-to-Big Sur Challenge, this is a must-have event. Great medal and jacket for those who did the Boston-to-Big Sur Challenge. I hope to do this one again!
E. M. from Boston, MA (5/4/2011) "Best marathon by 26.2 miles" (about: 2011) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Big Sur International Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 * Unrivaled course - on scenic Highway 1 * Extremely well organized pre, during and post race * Tough course but worth it The alternative route for 2011 was tough but didn't diminish the experience one bit. I hope to be back in 2012.
j. m. from boston, ma (5/4/2011) "incredible run - scenery was amazing" (about: 2011) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Big Sur International Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 what an amazing run. exceedingly well organized from start to finish. hills were a bit more than i expected, but for some reason i didn't really feel them. probably because the scenery was so amazing, you just zone it out. this was my 6th marathon and i would say this is one i would highly, highly recommend. water stops were more than sufficient and the runners were as friendly as i have encountered on any marathon course.
S. S. from San Antonio, TX (5/4/2011) "Fabulous experience" (about: 2011) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Big Sur International Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This was my first marathon. Perhaps not the best choice for a first attempt at the distance, but I trained on hills and really didn't have a problem with the course beyond advertised challenges with the cambered (banked) road in Carmel Highlands near the finish. An absolutely beautiful course, an opportunity to enjoy one of America's most scenic highways without a car, and great organizers. The system of transport to the start (bus) helped eliminate one of the challenges I've seen at other events: how to get there/where to park. I'd love to run it again, next time on the point-to-point course.
B. G. from Cupertino, CA (5/3/2011) "Amazing course with outstanding support" (about: 2011) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Big Sur International Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I ran the out-and-back version of the Big Sur Marathon. There were a lot of hills (2400' of elevation change), but none were very steep. The support was excellent. You get the impression that everyone working the expo and volunteering takes a lot of pride in the race and the beauty of the area. The little touches (strawberries at mile 21, the piano player, the unique, individual mile markers) all contributed to a fantastic experience. We did the race with the Runner's World Challenge. I would highly recommend that if it's an option at a marathon you're running.
M. M. from San Antonio, TX (5/3/2011) "The Most Amazing Marathon!" (about: 2011) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Big Sur International Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I have to say, all the hype is trueand then some! Big Sur is truly a spectacular marathon. The course (and this year we did and out and back because of a landslide of part of Highway 1 into the Pacific) was amazing, and how many times have you heard that about an out and back? The organization was the best I've experienced. The fans and volunteers were awesome. I don't have one bad thing to say about this race. Okay, okay, so we did have a 1 1/2 hour wait in the cold beforehand, but we had hot chocolate, and coffee, and hot tea, and bagels, and fruit! Nothing was amiss. Plenty of port-o-potties and water and Gatorade and Gu and barking harbor seals and fresh strawberries around mile 20! If you're going to suffer at all, I'd say there's no better place than Big Sur! Oh, they also said not to expect to PR, but I did! AND I got to stop and take photos along the way, too!
Z. Z. from San Diego, CA (5/2/2011) "Awesome event, challenging and scenic" (about: 2011) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Big Sur International Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 As expected, I had a great time running the marathon. The modified out and back course was very challenging. That final hill at mile 25 was painful on the way up but a great run down to the finish. The scenery and race support were excellent. Thanks to all. I have to say the highlight was the strawberry table around mile 22. Those were the best strawberries EVER. Enjoyed seeing Big Sur, Carmel and Monterey. Will have to come back to see more. I agree with the write ups - this is a 'must do'!
Lucas Heart from Wausau, WI (3/19/2011) "Beautiful First Marathon" (about: 2010) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Big Sur International Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Big Sur was my first, and the race hooked me on marathons. Totally top-notch presentation - the expo was large with lots of samples and vendors. Informative and engaging speakers and presenters. The course is a challenge, but not if you train for bigger hills. The scenery is really awesome. I have yet to run another race that rivals the view you get on this run. It's a destination marathon so there are a lot of friendly people who've traveled to the event. Very few spectators on the course, but that is not a problem because of the stunning views. Post-race was also pretty nice. Unique finisher's medal (a piece of pottery in 2010). This is a marathon with the potential to fill a person's soul with the best that life has to offer.
Bradford Hammer from Old Tappan, NJ (6/3/2010) "Hard but bucket-worthy" (about: 2010) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Big Sur International Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 This is one tough marathon. Starting with Hurricane Point (mile 10), I fought leg cramps and long uphill climbs for hours. That being said, there is probably no place on earth that will get you through these challenges like the Big Sur scenery. Just spectacular. Unfortunately, I have to give a bit of a thumbs down to the expo and the organizers. The expo was simply too crowded. But the real issue was that I basically had to fight the BSIM staff to get a bus ticket from Carmel - they said they gave them all out. Could you imagine trying to make other arrangements to get to the start at 4 in the morning? Their issue was that they only have so many passes in trying to calculate how many people get picked up at each spot/town, and here I was first showing up at the expo in the middle of Day 2. My reply was that I just traveled all the way across the country to get there. Besides, a race this well-known should pre-assign bus tickets (like marathon shirt sizes) so they wouldn't have to "guess" who is staying where. I ended up getting a pass, and yes, the bus was only half-full. Still, a crummy way to start the 26.2 experience. This is not a race for spectators. The only place they can really meet you is the end. It's just you and the road and the surroundings and the very nice volunteers. They do have very good support for this race on-course (logistical and medical), and most every water stop had oranges or bananas or Bengay. Very helpful. Be sure to run with a camera in tow. Those pictures are priceless. Hotel-wise, there is NO REASON to stay anywhere else but Carmel. There is nothing to do near the race start (in Big Sur Park), and Monterey does not have the same charm as Carmel. Carmel has the shops, the restaurants, and the beach. Do your spouse/family a favor, and let them spend the morning in town and then meet you at the finish. Carmel-by-the-sea is small enough that any hotel is no more than 3/4 blocks from the main part of the downtown. I am thrilled to have run this race, and finishing it (after successfully hustling to beat the clock at the 22-mile cut-off point) remains incredibly special. I went into this race nursing an AT injury (and was therefore under-trained), and the fact that I finished was like pulling a rabbit out of a hat. I can only attribute it to the Pacific coastline. And I really am sorry to have to relay the story of the bus pass. Hopefully I'm that last person at BSIM who ever has to go through that.

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