This is a stunningly gorgeous marathon with breathtaking vistas of the Pacific and the runners snaking up and down the steep, semi-wild terrain of Catalina Island. I don't recall ever having spontaneously exclaimed 'wow...' during a race so many times. The course is challenging, to be sure, and mostly on dirt jeep tracks, which is nice. Running this marathon is an unforgettable experience. I can't recommend it more highly, and can't wait to go back.

I signed up for the Catalina Island marathon shortly after running the Huntington Beach, CA 'Surf City Marathon' in February 2012. Essentially, I was looking for a marathon in March, and this fit the bill (and was something of an impulse buy.) At any rate, the course looked challenging from the map and elevation profile. The comments / feedback from other runners (on this site) really made the decision easy. Everything about this race exceeded my expectations  including the boat ride, the quaint tourist town of Avalon, proprietors of the lodging and dining establishments, challenging hilly course with tons of vistas, fellow runners per dialogs on course and off, maintenance stops every two miles staffed with happy volunteers, excellent weather, delightful cheers from the locals and tourists at the finish line& I could go on, but you get the picture. So many of the runners are veterans, and for good reason. This is a fantastic marathon. You will not likely achieve your PR here; so as a running friend advocated: PR in Fun. Catalina will likely become a yearly tradition for me as it has for so many others. Looking forward to adding the 2013 Pin to by Catalina Island Marathon Bar. Cheers.

Say what you want about the race organization change, after many-many great years by the other guys. The Catalina Conservancy took over and provided a seamless event, compared to prior years. I could not make it to the expo on Friday night, so one of the organizers met me at the boat dock upon arriving at 4:30am on race day, with my race packet. That's impressive! The aid stations were plentiful and the aid station support, while a little under-staffed in the early miles, were really outstanding in the 2nd half of the race. If you want to run a marathon you'll never forget, this is the one. The participants are super supportive to one another.

Not designed for competitive runners. The walkers are allowed to start earlier and do not show much awareness of runners who are passing on single track and double track trails. The support stations are well-manned for a remote point-to-point course.

Ferry ride, birds singing, cool breezes, crashing waves, winding vistas of trails;
volunteers assisting, Peanut M&Ms, cloud cover till noon, buffalo grazing, mile 18 buffet;
the radio tower at last, Avalon and Catalina Cantina, soft trails;
finish line.
What a day; sleep well for job well done - that is the Catalina 2010 Marathon.

Ready, willing and registered for 2011!!!

One of the best things I've ever done in my life. If you are at all able to ever get to Catalina Island, make sure you run this race (and if it's not during that weekend, run the course). Mountain running, hill running, is one of the most incredible things in the entire world, and for this reason: at no other point in your life are you directly rewarded for heartbreaking physical exhaustion with a heartbreaking experience of nature. To run across the length of a mountainous island in the middle of the Pacific is everything you are expecting it to be. The return to Avalon is the perfect finish - a wonderful little town with great places to hang out. I've been lucky enough to see a lot of the world and this island is my favorite place. My heart goes out to the volunteers and organizers who help make this race what it is. Thank you.

This was my 97th 26.2-mile marathon, and the most spectacular I have done. I knew it would be hilly and I did some last-minute training on hills, but it was the views that really took my breath away.

From the moment we docked at the start line, I knew it would be a great day - and things just got better and better. The hills were tough and some were quite steep, but it was so fantastic to arrive at the top by the airport and look down on Avalon, knowing we were headed there.

I loved the downhill. I had been looking forward to it all morning and I really let rip.

Wow! I agree with Scott. I kept saying, "Wow!" over and over.

This is my 26th marathon and 17th state, and it was the best. It's hard to imagine a better experience. I just couldn't believe how beautiful it was. The hills are amazing and really tough, but I managed them well. I had trained for hills, and you better too, if you plan on running it. (In addition to running a lot of hills outside, I did a treadmill routine with the machine on an 8-hill setting).

I came from Marina Del Rey on the 4 a.m. ferry by myself. We arrived at sunrise, and when I saw the island for the first time I was very intimidated. It looked like Jurassic Park. Big mountains, fog, etc. By the time the race started, the fog burned off. The first half-mile was flat and that was it. By mile two we were already high up, looking down on the beautiful harbor below. I didn't seem to mind. I walked a couple of times, but mostly I jogged the uphills and ran the downs. I did 4:33 about an hour slower than a recent marathon. I was a little slower because it was so intense and I was really enjoying it.

If you run it, save something for the second half. Up, up, up - till mile 23 - so high; and then down 1,800 feet in the last 3 miles. Relax and let it rip. Trail shoes are a good idea.

I had the most fun of any of my previous marathons.

I have a lot of states left to do, but I would do this one again with some friends. Unbelievable!

After doing this for the first time, I understand why so many people come back over and over. The scenery was incredible, well worth the difficulty of the course. The volunteers were amazing (that's why I gave the spectators a 5). Special thanks to the Catalina Island Conservancy for the great buffet at mile 18. I ran by myself and got some great support along the way from some race veterans... I'm sure I'll remember them when I see them next year.

That course is tough: Up, down, up, down, up, more up, down.... I thought I'd like the last 3 miles with the downhill, but by that time, my legs were so fried that it was painful. Good event all around. Well stocked aid stations, helpful volunteers, good medal and shirt, neat tradition with year bars, and cheering spectators at the finish. The amazing views are better when you have to run up to 1,500 feet to see the blue water and waves on the beach. The boat ride to the start was quite an adventure - thanks for the new story.