Santa Clarita was my first marathon ever! Though I found it difficult to walk the next day, I'm completely hooked! It was an amazing experience and I can't wait to run another! As a novice, I chose this course because of the downhill start and the close proximity to LA. It began fast and easy. Crowds were spirited as were the runners. However, around mile 13 everyone vanished! I soon discovered why. Around mile 14 or so, the course took a strange jaunt through residents' backyards for several miles. Though shady, the course was dreadfully boring and hard follow. The race staff was terrific though as were the cute pre-teen spectators dressed in their Halloween costumes cheering me on! After the jog around the neighborhood, the hill was a welcome challenge. It felt like climbing Mount Whitney after an easy path through suburbia! The flat switch back towards the end was a nice idea though the area wasn't picturesque and the spectators were virtually non-existant. Plenty of H2O to the finish line though!! Overall, it was a great experience. Thank you Santa Clarita!!

I've run the marahon twice & have enjoyed it, setting a PR both times. However, the meandering through the pathways in the housing estate is the worst section of any marathon I've run. Not only is there no spectators, but it is unclear where to go at several points. If there was any way to eliminate this portion & the hill that follows, the marathon would be fantastic. The organization is top notch.

Once again the organizers did extremely well. The only snafu was the morning 'traffic jam' parking. This delayed the start time. The weather could have been a bit better. Windy and cool turning windy and warm. Other than that, I enjoyed the course change from last year. Thank you for not taking us over the 5 fwy. I was on my way to a SCM PR until my legs totally cramped after the 22 mile mark. I still managed a respectable time. While waiting for my friend to come in I got to know the race director and some of his staff. Very nice people. I highly recommend this race.

I ran the half marathon and virtually every aspect of this race was well organized. Everything from the shuttle buses to street closures to water stations went off without a hitch. There was Gatorade at each water station and most of the volunteers were kids groups which added a lot of enthusiasm.

The course wasn't particularly scenic but it was mostly downhill and much of it was on a riverside bike trail (ok, the river is one of Southern California's classic concrete-line rivers) which kept street and lane closures to a minimum. The course was nice and fast. I hadn't trained and still came within 4 minutes of my PR.

There are only 450 entrants.The course is great, It was far from my PR. (I ran a marathon 28 days prior.) The race didn't feel like a race at all, epecially through the pathway at the townhouse community. Although the fans are light, but I'm careless. The aid station volunteer are SUPER, they are so CUTE :)
Only complaints, the mile 4 maker was missing, and there was neither clocks nor callers at the mile markers.No split time on the 13.1 marker for the full marathon runners; timing system was poor! :(
Since the race is so small, it feel like a family atmosphere. :)

Great course with first 13 miles downhill. If you want to set a PR in a half-marathon, this is one to consider. Very well organized, water/gatorade stations at least every mile and Carb-Boom, which is the best gel on the market. They did have a few issues this year, though, with delayed shuttle buses and a lack of drinks available at the finish. One event person said that Pepsi dropped out the night before the race and left everyone dry! There were tons of food vendors at the end but no drinks! Great local support, but not a lot of folks along the course. Course seemed very well considered with paseos, tree-lined streets, and fairly flat. I highly recommend this event to anyone.

Very nicely organized marathon. (Why would anyone put up with the hassles of mega-marathons?...) Water/Gatorade stations more than adequate, lots of volunteers for a race of that size.

The one thing I didn't like was waiting amid dust 'tornadoes' in the start area. Maybe the organizers should look for a better starting point. As for the rest of the course, I thought there were too many hills after the mid-point. Better to design a course in which the challenges are in the earlier part of the race.

Hardly anyone along the course (other than the volunteers), but I couldn't care less.

All I have to say is that this was one of the best half marathons I have participated in. Everything was well organized from parking (no fee) to busing (no fee) to computer chips (many international Marathons don't use them such as California international marathon on Dec 2, 2001 in Sacramento), to great warm breakfast post race, plenty of seating, convenient bus ride back, beautiful long sleeve tshirts, Excellent course for PR. Wished I would have done the marathon and not just the half marathon.

Great course, nice start area (coffee and heaters were wonderful) and the volunteers were most accommodating.
It was worth the 2 hour drive from San Diego!!!!!!

A very well organized marathon - with a great course. A 'fun' event. Enthusiastic organizers and volunteers. Looking forward to 2002, and would highly recommend this marathon to anyone.
Ken Richards, Santa Barbara