My sixth marathon. I was trying to qualify for Boston with a 3:40. The hardpack areas were uneven and not good for anyone with knee issues. There was MINIMAL crowd support. A man played the flute but that's about it. I came from Texas so the weather wasn't bad, but the heed drink was terrible! I should have brought my own gatorade. The course was flat. That's a positive. But SO boring. Out, back, out, back. Towards the end it was like no mans land. It was small and quaint and the race director is nice, but not a memorable awesome run. Did Chicago 2 months after and PRd. I guess if you like it to feel like an independent training run then do it, if you want those chills from the cheering crowds find another.

I have run for thirty years, but this was my first marathon. I chose it because I had trained on the creek side trails before and found them to be PERFECT for running long and fast. The course (half soft, level asphalt trail and half hard-packed dirt) was ideal, someone clearly spent some time grooming this course. The weather was a typical late summer Sonoma County morning: foggy and cool for the first half and sunny but mild for the second half. Despite the course's extending out of town a bit, there were PLENTY of encouraging volunteers along the route.

The race organizers clearly took pride in what they were doing, and it shined through in every aspect of this event. They send course updates and follow-ups and make every runner feel as if they know the director personally. Every other person seemed to qualify for Boston (and a couple for the Olympic Trials!).

My only suggestion is that they could have used an energy drink and gels that are easier for runners to find before the marathon. HEED is a great product (and the huckleberry gel was incredibly good), but it is next to impossible to find at GNCs or other running stores. A bigger name electrolyte option will help runners get used to the same product in training that they'll be using on race day.

Overall, a terrific experience. I initially wanted to try to do New York or Chicago next fall, but, after running Santa Rosa, I think I'd rather do this excellent event again.

This was one of my favorite races! I love small races and this is one of the best. Great weather, easy course, scenic, no dodging cars, wonderful volunteers and organizers with heart. It was my 63rd marathon and I haven't repeated one yet - but this will be an exception.

For basis of comparison I have completed about 140 marathons, big, small and in between. It certainly ranks in the top 10 in terms of organization.
Some of the things I liked: perfect race weather. Low 60s in August. Cloudy/foggy. Race morning packet pick up-this is unheard of at most marathons. Very informed race director who sent us weekly e-mail updates.
On course support was adequate-water, heed, gu, orange slices and motivated, informed volunteers.
Some aspects could be improved: the flat course made for fast times-but could the hair pin turns be eliminated? Excellent configuration in any case-runners never encountered traffic. The tech. shirt is an excellent material and had NO adverstising (love it!) Nonetheles I am not a fan of the minute breast logo-give us a larger one to promote the race!! The marquee event was the half marathon-so us full entrants often ran alone. The medal is beautiful-but outside of cost, why recognize both events with the same award? Lastly-control the finish area better or provide MORE POST RACE (recovery area food.) I finished in 4:43 and got half a bagel and a water.

I've done now 44 marathons and this was one of the most memorable. Santa Rosa is such a quaint little town and such a beautiful place to run. The people are nice and the weather was even nicer-especially coming from So. Cal in the hottest weekend of the year, as I did. Then you go to the expo and pick up seriously the BEST t-shirt I've ever received from a race and I've really tried to mix up my 44. Anyway, the expo is small but exactly what I like. Race is close to hotels and expo, within 1/2 a mile. There was plenty of parking and port-a-potties. The race started EXACTLY (I have a GPS watch) at 7:00 as scheduled and was exactly as it had been described both on the website and by the director who wrote many long emails keeping us all very well informed about what to expect. As I ran the race, I continued to appreciate the fact that the race director is a runner and knew exactly what he was doing to make this a dream come true for us marathoners. The course was beautiful!!! Stunning babbling brook/creek on one side and scenery or farms and vineyards on the other and very very flat and fast. You could really set a PR here. I felt like I was just out for a long run with water stops and people cheering every couple of miles or so. Seriously the most peaceful, race day magic I've experienced. My husband decided to run me in and instead of being up tight and kicking him off the course the announcer started saying, 'we know you are pacing her and we're ok with it,' and continued to tease him all the way in. Then they had the most amazing band and free beer waiting for us past the finish. Jeeze I think this may ruin my other races I've got planned for the year. I can't see how anything else could beat this-excluding Boston (which I have done 5 times).

The 3rd annual Santa Rosa marathon was run like they had been doing it for years. It's a small race, 400 for the marathon, but also a half, and you run the first out and back loop with them.

It was worried about two loops for a marathon...honestly thought it would be boring, but the course follows a nice little creek and is really very pleasant. I see now why this is such a nice run.

Great, crazy big medal...may be giving Little Rock a run for their money. Nice post-race party, though the pancake feed closed at the 4 hr cut-off...I'm rarely ready to eat after a race, so that wasn't an issues for me, but if you want pancakes...run faster.

Seamless packet pick-up, plus race day packet pick-up (great for 50 staters and flying in Saturday afternoon).

It is a small marathon, but that's what I like. Because of that and the route along the creek, the spectators are few and far between...not a big deal for me and the ones out there were great.

A great marathon and Art does a bang up job....lots of attention to details and really works to putting on a great race...would run it again.

I set my half marathon PR at the 2010 half marathon and I had my first age-group win. In fact, I qualified for the NY Marathon on this day. (Thank you, Santa Rosa!) Lovely, cool course. Organized start with runners considerately lining up according to their pace.

My only gripe, and it's a BIG one: I am a water-only drinker when I race, especially in a half marathon. No energy drink needed. At one stop near mile, 9 I asked for water; I was told I was getting water. I gulped. Turns out it was an energy drink. A mile later, my stomach started "talking" to me. I threw up 3 times on the course and once at the finish, in the chute! (Many awesome runners made sure I was okay both during the race and afterward.)

Despite the mix-up, I'll run again in 2011.

Just when I thought a marathon could not get any better, along comes the Santa Rosa Marathon. Although it did not have the hype, the crowds, and the bells and whistles of all the marathons that most recreational runners are accustomed to seeing, this marathon was a marathoner's marathon. As I reflect on my weekend experience, I can write with certainty that it was all good.

The Expo. It was small, but with a small marathon comes a small expo. The vendors were very friendly and they offered a unique selection of items. For once it was nice not to see the same vendors selling the same things that I see at every expo.

The Pasta Dinner. I did not attend the dinner, but at least there was a dinner available and the posted price seemed reasonable.

Porta-Potties. There were plenty of porta-potties near the starting area and along the course.

The Start. Runners were asked to line up according to the expected pace per mile signs that were posted at the starting line. Runners actually understood the concept of the honor system and lined up accordingly. This was one of the few times that I did not have to dodge walkers and joggers that feel it necessary to start near the front.

Having run marathons that began more than 30 minutes late (i.e., the 2010 LA Marathon), I have no complaints that this one began about five minutes late.

The Weather. The weather was perfect for a marathon. At the start, the temperature was near 50 degrees, there was a slight breeze, and the skies were slightly overcast. Although the sun came out an hour into the race, it did not get hot. Four hours after the start, I do not think it was any warmer than the low 60's.

The Course. The course consisted of two out-and-back, 13.1-mile loops to accommodate both the marathoners and half-marathoners. Although the marathon began near downtown Santa Rosa, the course had more of a rural feel as we ran on bike paths and trails along the Santa Rosa Creek. We passed a lot of vineyards, farms and some open space as well. The first loop was a little crowded with 200 marathoners and 600 half-marathoners, but the second loop was spacious and serene. Water, energy drink and gel stops were adequately spaced along the course. We had to make several turns, some of which were 90 and 180 degrees, but the course was perfectly marked.

Volunteers. How could any marathon be successful without the support of the volunteers? From those working at the water stations to those posted near turns in the course to those working at the starting and finish lines, thank you to you all. The marathon would not have been a success without you.

The Spectators. There were long stretches with no spectators, but when there were spectators, they clapped, yelled and cheered. Unlike some, I do not need spectators lining the entire length of a course to cheer me on. I train without spectators and can race without spectators.

The Finish. The marathon finished on grass in Julliard Park. I saw children running the straight-away with their moms and dads. You will never see this in a large marathon. Frankly, I thought it was refreshing. Remember, it is a team effort. Although the runner completes the race, it is the family and friends that support and encourage the runner in the weeks and months leading up to the race.

Post Race Party. Nice music, atmosphere and camaraderie.

Recommendation. Take a break from Competitor Group's money-making Rock and Roll Series and experience the marathon the way it was meant to be experienced: Run in next year's Santa Rosa Marathon.

This was a fabulous, well-organized marathon. The volunteers were great, always offering water, sports drink, gels, and support in the form of cheering. The course was beautiful. I didn't mind the double loop at all, it kind of helped the miles melt by. I didn't mind the hard-packed shale, but I could see how some wouldn't like it. The finish area was great. Loved the medal and t-shirt. Excellent marathon. I will be back next year!

This is a high-quality, small marathon, especially for the first time. I would second everything said by David Bourne.

It's not a PR course because of the gravel surface and many 90° and 180° turns going over the bridges. I got a little dizzy. :-) It is very safe because of the absence of motorized traffic, and I would recommend it to anyone not focused totally on setting a PR.

With most of the 600 participants opting for the half-marathon, the second loop can get a little lonely if you require other competitors to keep focused.