I was worried about this race after reading all the negative comments, but my experience was entirely positive. Seeing the ocean for so much of the route was a blast and the part around the back of the town provided variety. The hardest bit for me was not being able to sit down in the beer tent after finishing my run.
The shuttles to the start and finish were well organised and I enjoyed the expo. The race merchandise showed a lot more colour and flair than many race clothing.

I enjoyed this race completely! The course, spectators and organizers were all great. Even the weather made for a perfect day. Had a good race even though I slowed down on the last 4 miles. My only disappointment is that I was given the incorrect award and would love to receive the right one. Thanks for the wonderful race!

The organization was excellent, spectators were fantastic...I loved the fact that the marathon started one hour before the half...great start!

The course scenery was fantastic but I got to see it four times (running up and down the Pacific Coast Highway and back up and down the bike path along the same route). The diversion around the park, etc. the first part of the race was nice...I wish there had been a break somewhere on the back half of the course as well (I guess that may be difficult to get permits, etc.)

Overall, the it was a great run. I would definitely recommend it to others.

I've run this race a few times as this is local to me and this will be the last time. Its progressed from a smaller race that provided a good runner experience to being a very large event with more of a profit-maximization motive. Unfortunately this race now offers the consumer experience of shopping at a WalMart Superstore.

Here's one funny example: at the Expo, you go in the entrance, pick up your number within 20 ft of the entrance and can turn around and leave, right? Wrong - instead they have personnel stationed at all the entrances forcing you to navigate the next 300yds of merchants to get to the exit (which is also 20 ft away from the entrance, coincidentally, but blocked by a - you guessed it - person telling you that you have to go all the way around the gauntlet citing 'traffic flow' concerns). If you've been to several expos in the last year, you're not necessarily interested in fighting through crowds and racks of merchandise in the middle of the walkway to get to the exit (or if someone is waiting in the car for you), you'd like to take 3 steps to daylight and let those interested in the expo do their thing. It was pretty comical. Note to organizers: if you want to have everyone walk through the merchant displays, put the number pickup in the back like every other expo rather than relying on people not letting anyone exit once they've picked up their number.

Overall, race has gotten too big to still be able to provide a meaningful experience. Volunteers are great, but the course is pretty boring going out and back a few times over the same route, and it tends to get overcrowded in spots. If this will be your only race, or if you're traveling from out of town to get here, this is not really an experience worthy of the effort. My recommendation is to find something smaller that provides a better runner experience and a meaningful benefit to the local community.

In 2011, I ran the half which was really great. This year, I ran the full and it goes along the beach on the bike path. They do not close the bike path to traffic and it was dangerous at times trying to evade bicyclers, some carrying surfboards.

The Surf City Marathon was one to remember, but not because I achieved a PR. Frankly, I was only marginally happy with my run. The marathon will be one to remember because the organizers and people of Huntington Beach put on a GREAT event! The marathon: I didn't like the last 10 miles of the course. We came out of the neighborhoods overlooking the ocean, running down onto Pacific Coast Highway. And then...we ran north along PCH, then back down PCH south, then back up PCH north, then back down PCH south to the finish. It was a terrible route! The first 16 miles: AWESOME! Everything else about this race was fantastic! Fellow runners, organizers, crowds. Awesome! I'd recommend it to all!

Loved this race - especially the last 9 miles, which were on the bicycle path within yards of the Pacific Ocean. The course is mostly flat and I was able to PR in this race. Crowd support was good, the long-sleeve technical shirt was good, and the medal was nice, but not as big as the one in 2010. Overall, I would recommend this race; you will love it.

This is a good marathon for a PR attempt. Only a couple of minor hills and the tortuous path in the park make it not as fast as it could be. Good organization and support. The only part I did not like was the merge with the half marathoners towards the finish. It sorts of dilutes the accomplishment to cross the finish line at the same time as 18,000+ half marathoners. It also makes it very difficult to find family and friends at the finish. The race is victim of its own success and growth, and I wish the marathon could be separated from the half (not going to happen).

My experience was like most others reporting here. I've been running the Redondo Beach Super Bowl 10K for years, always held the same day as the marathon in Huntington Beach. This year I opted for Surf City for the first time, for no particular reason. I wasn't disappointed. T-shirt and medal are excellent. The weather was near perfect for running and the volunteer support and conveniences along the route were excellent. Fan support was fair; often sparse to non-existent. An intangible: among the runners, there seemed to be a good "vibe." The stretch along the bike path was not as bad as I had feared, but I ran 3:10+ and so probably was ahead of most of the crowding that others have mentioned.... I did have to dodge a few cyclists though. I parked on city streets a 10-minute walk from the starting line and had no worries getting in or out, both for the expo and on race day. Speaking of the expo, there was a ridiculously long line to get in, like 20+ minutes. I dinged "organization" for that, which was otherwise fine. The post-race beer garden served Kona Longboard, which was a nice surprise; I had expected only Michelob Ultra, which is completely undrinkable. I'll leave it at that. Cheers.

I flew from Washington DC to run this and it didn't disappoint! The weather was fantastic (cloudy but sunnier after the race), the scenery was nice and the spectators were awesome (lots of them throughout). The t-shirt and medal were nice! Great organization! I am tempted to do the California Dreaming series now.