Marathon Details - Half Moon Bay International Marathon

North America Marathons > USA > CA > Half Moon Bay > Half Moon Bay International Marathon

Half Moon Bay International Marathon & Half Marathon, 10k, 5K

Half Moon Bay, CA USA

September 17, 2017

http://halfmoonbayim.org

More Info:	News
Results:	2016 \| 2013 \| 2012 \| 2011 Top 3 Finishers by Year

Contact

Name:	Info
Address:	P.O. Box 2574 El Granada, CA 94018
Phone Number:	650-479-5786
Fax Number:	650-284-3061
Email:	Email the organizers



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Reviews

Course 2.8

Organization 3.5

Spectators 3.5

Write a review

Number of comments: 4

G. E. from San Jose (8/13/2017) "Beautiful course, but some organizational issues" (about: 2016) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Half Moon Bay International Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 The HMB Marathon was definitely a beautiful course, as advertised. However, it had some negatives. PROS: - Beautiful course - Far from any city, making for a peaceful ambiance and clean air. CONS: - NOT a fast course, and not the 'mostly flat' course that was advertised on their website. A decent portion of the course is run on a semi-technical dirt path, with ruts and rocks, over narrow trails that sometimes snake between fences, take sharp 180-degree turns, and go up and down short, but steep, inclines. - Poor volunteer instruction. I appreciate the volunteers who got up before the crack of dawn on a Sunday morning and gave their time for the benefit for the runners. However, the race staff did not do a good job preparing them for their roles. Frequently, as I approached a fork in the trail, with no clear indication of which way to go, the volunteers stationed there just silently watched, rather than proactively directing me. I had to ask, and their response was often delayed (as if they were not expecting this question), causing me to make wrong turns and have to double back after they finally answered. At one point, I approached a fork, called out my question of which way to go, but the two volunteers standing there had conflicting answers (one said left and the other said right). I had to guess which one to believe. - The course turns were frequently not marked. When no volunteers were present, I had to either ask spectators which way the last runner went or, if no spectators were present, just guess. - Expensive for what you get. This is not a big-city race with expensive road closures and off-duty police officers to hire. Not sure why it costs so much.
C. Y. from CA (5/7/2014) "This was a great run and beautiful" (about: 2012) First Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I ran the half in 2012. It was a beautiful course and the weather was perfect. This event is relatively new. I think the organizers did a great job~it takes a couple of years before all the kinks get smoothed out. I go for the event not for all the fluff around it. Was out of town in 2013 or I would have run it again.
L. G. from San Jose ca (11/9/2012) "Good people, treacherous dirt trails" (about: 2012) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Half Moon Bay International Marathon COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 The organization and racing staff were all good. People were all friendly and supportive. The last out and back section had very hard, narrow dirt trails that were extremely uneven and treacherous to run on. I had to actively watch my footing to avoid twisting a knee or ankle and this really slowed me down on the part of the course I thought would be flatter and easier. I wouldn't recommend just because it seems like an easy course to get injured on.
David Zajic from Alabama (9/25/2012) "Not much for the price $$" (about: 2012) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Half Moon Bay International Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 This was one of the most expensive races I've run in my quest for the 50 States. I've even paid less for last minute entry. Here are my pros and cons. Pros: Great volunteers - good enthusiasm and willing to encourage. Bagpipes at 18 - great touch really inspiring! No logistical nightmares - well organized. Scenery - coastline very nice Cool finisher's metal Name on bib made it easy to cheer others on Cons: Going green meant recyclable plastic cups - very hard to drink on the run Course was on very uneven trails used by horses - deep groves, hard to run on. Because I had to watch my footing I could not enjoy the coastline as much as I wanted. No expo - not that I needed it but for the money I expected more. Because of the course route not many spectators. Not much food at the finish - 1/2 Banana, 1/2 bagel, fiber bars. All in all not a bad race but I'll look for another in California the next time around for the 50 Sates.

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G. E. from San Jose (8/13/2017) "Beautiful course, but some organizational issues" (about: 2016) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Half Moon Bay International Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 The HMB Marathon was definitely a beautiful course, as advertised. However, it had some negatives. PROS: - Beautiful course - Far from any city, making for a peaceful ambiance and clean air. CONS: - NOT a fast course, and not the 'mostly flat' course that was advertised on their website. A decent portion of the course is run on a semi-technical dirt path, with ruts and rocks, over narrow trails that sometimes snake between fences, take sharp 180-degree turns, and go up and down short, but steep, inclines. - Poor volunteer instruction. I appreciate the volunteers who got up before the crack of dawn on a Sunday morning and gave their time for the benefit for the runners. However, the race staff did not do a good job preparing them for their roles. Frequently, as I approached a fork in the trail, with no clear indication of which way to go, the volunteers stationed there just silently watched, rather than proactively directing me. I had to ask, and their response was often delayed (as if they were not expecting this question), causing me to make wrong turns and have to double back after they finally answered. At one point, I approached a fork, called out my question of which way to go, but the two volunteers standing there had conflicting answers (one said left and the other said right). I had to guess which one to believe. - The course turns were frequently not marked. When no volunteers were present, I had to either ask spectators which way the last runner went or, if no spectators were present, just guess. - Expensive for what you get. This is not a big-city race with expensive road closures and off-duty police officers to hire. Not sure why it costs so much.
C. Y. from CA (5/7/2014) "This was a great run and beautiful" (about: 2012) First Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I ran the half in 2012. It was a beautiful course and the weather was perfect. This event is relatively new. I think the organizers did a great job~it takes a couple of years before all the kinks get smoothed out. I go for the event not for all the fluff around it. Was out of town in 2013 or I would have run it again.
L. G. from San Jose ca (11/9/2012) "Good people, treacherous dirt trails" (about: 2012) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Half Moon Bay International Marathon COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 The organization and racing staff were all good. People were all friendly and supportive. The last out and back section had very hard, narrow dirt trails that were extremely uneven and treacherous to run on. I had to actively watch my footing to avoid twisting a knee or ankle and this really slowed me down on the part of the course I thought would be flatter and easier. I wouldn't recommend just because it seems like an easy course to get injured on.
David Zajic from Alabama (9/25/2012) "Not much for the price $$" (about: 2012) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Half Moon Bay International Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 This was one of the most expensive races I've run in my quest for the 50 States. I've even paid less for last minute entry. Here are my pros and cons. Pros: Great volunteers - good enthusiasm and willing to encourage. Bagpipes at 18 - great touch really inspiring! No logistical nightmares - well organized. Scenery - coastline very nice Cool finisher's metal Name on bib made it easy to cheer others on Cons: Going green meant recyclable plastic cups - very hard to drink on the run Course was on very uneven trails used by horses - deep groves, hard to run on. Because I had to watch my footing I could not enjoy the coastline as much as I wanted. No expo - not that I needed it but for the money I expected more. Because of the course route not many spectators. Not much food at the finish - 1/2 Banana, 1/2 bagel, fiber bars. All in all not a bad race but I'll look for another in California the next time around for the 50 Sates.

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Marathon Details - Half Moon Bay International Marathon