Pacific Crest Marathon - Race Reviews

This was ( the half Marathon) a nice course with lots of water stations with courteous volunteers. I do have a complaint in that I had to wait well in excess of an hour for my second place award in the 60 to 64 male division. To the best of my knowledge the results were never given to the awards area. I more than anyone else am aware of my poor running time, but the amount of effort put into this time was as grate as an 1;30 time forty years ago was for me. For my honesty and integrity to be questioned is insulting. I earned this award and should not have to plead for it. Thank you Jerry Stewart

I've run this race three times, PR'd in 2010 and then got my slowest time ever in 2011. If you're local then this doesn't matter, but if you're coming from out of state, give yourself time to acclimate to the altitude; I didn't do that the last two years and it made it much harder. That said, the course is stunning and the organization is solid - though there does seem to be confusion about the location of the start every year. The trail can also get crowded with bikers and slower half finishers towards the end, so be prepared for that. On the whole, though, it's my favorite race.

The course was terrific! The event was very well organized for 2012, the medals were serious 'bling.' The aid stations were every mile. The scenery was awesome. Totally enjoyed doing this course. Highly recommended for beginners as there were no major hills.

I decided to make this my summer marathon after finding out I wouldn't be able to run the Newport OR Marathon and based on what I heard about this race and I love the Bend/Sunriver area. After my experience with this race I'm not so sure it's one I'd do again.My first con w/this race was w/our registration, we got a generic participant shirt for the sports weekend and if we wanted a specific finisher's shirt we'd have to purchase one for $20. My other main grievance with this race was the confusion in finding the start line for the marathon. I tried to get help from 2 different race volunteers and one gave me wrong info and the other had no idea where the start line was- though she was sweet to try and help me find it. With the confusion, I ended up having to start my marathon late- though thankfully the event was chip timed so it did work out ok. It would just be nice if in the future they could clearly mark w/signs pointing towards the start line. As for the course, it is pretty running around the bike trails of the Sunriver Resort and it does nicely work out as a double loop, however I don't think I'd recommend this course if you're hoping for a faster time as there are lots of curves and turns, etc. It was a nice run and I even saw a coyote just off the course, but I don't think this is a course I will yearn to do again. On the plus side, the finisher medal I got is now the prettiest one I have in my collection!

Although I loved the beauty of the course, the two loops placed marathon runners at the back of the half marathon to pick their way through hundreds of walkers on a narrow path. When we reached the finish, the race organizers had no clue the race was over and sent the top 10 back out for a third loop! We didn't go, of course, but ten minutes after I finished, I heard the announcer say, "Here is our first place marathon winner!" We had to go back and correct them and get the results corrected for the top 10. The marathon really plays second fiddle to the weekend events. If you plan to run under 4 hours or qualify for Boston, I can't recommend this marathon. But if you are looking for a nice (slow) race while a family member participates in the triathlon, go for it.

I was planning on doing the Seattle Rock 'n' Roll Marathon, but it filled up so I decided to run this race. I am so glad I did this one instead. My family and I drove up from Southern California on Thursday and spent a wonderful day Friday exploring the area. The race was a small marathon (214 runners) consisting of two loops along a paved bike path through pine trees and along a scenic river. Running the same course twice didn't bother me because the scenery was so nice that I wanted to see it again. One runner just in front of me pulled out a camera and stopped by the river to take pictures during the race. My wife and son brought bikes and rode the course ahead of the runners so they had something to do also. Organization was good and the volunteers were very nice although some didn't know the difference between water and sports drink. Aid stations were quite frequent and well-staffed. The bathroom placement and starting line were a little confusing but not too bad. There were two port-a-potties near the pre-race briefing area and people started lining up for them. This was also a construction zone and we figured out later that these were for the workers. Several dozen runner's bathrooms were hidden up the street and around a corner with no signs telling us where they were. Timing was also an issue that I'm not completely satisfied with. My official time was about 1 minute faster than I had on my stopwatch and the person who finished ahead of me had the same observation. I phoned the race director and he swears it was accurate, so I have to believe him. The food after the race was plentiful and of good quality. Awards ceremony was just the right length. All things considered, this was a top-notch race and one that I would recommend to everyone.

This is great little marathon nestled in a pristine valley outside of Bend, Oregon. The distant mountain vistas are a great backdrop for a marathon run. The entire run is on a well-maintained bike path that is well marked. They rang a cowbell to start the race, which is hilarious and what you look for in the smaller marathons. This is an almost entirely flat course, with two average hills (times two because of the double loop), so if you train where there are any hills, this course will be a breeze. I liked the fact that they started the half-marathon 30 minutes later to keep the traffic down for the full marathoners and vice versa. Half-marathoners get a medal too with a different color ribbon, which is nice for this often overlooked segment of racers. This is not a closed course, so you will run into recreational bikers and walkers on the path. Most stay out of your way and the race organizers make it clear that in spite of their best efforts to make the resort visitors aware of the events, people still seem oblivious. I had one biker park his bike with his wheel sticking out onto the path, causing me angst at mile 25.5. But hey, most can match that inconvenience to a major marathon, where some spectator decided to dash across the course right in front of you, or a policeman who let a car cross the course at the wrong time. Point is, there will always be something. Water stops were frequent and well-manned, although some of the volunteers were putting out HEED (which I don't like) in water cups and water in HEED cups. That was quickly solved by asking for my fluid preference when I got to the stop. There were even children offering to spray your face with water, which was nice. The medal is beautiful and the post-race food was surprisingly good and high quality. Two mild criticisms to race organizers: please, please provide a map of the resort with directions to the packet pickup and race start. This has been a past complaint from previous marathon comments I've read and still appears to be ignored. Due to a flight delay, we couldn't pick up our packets until race morning, and couldn't find the expo. There are a lot of other events going on with staging areas being set up that make it confusing. I then missed the call for all marathoners (there's a walk to the start line) and started jogging around frantically trying to find which direction everyone went. I looked behind me and found that 5-7 people were following me (!!), so it's a common problem. I (and my posse) found it, so it all worked out. Otherwise, a great marathon experience.

I chose this race for the completion of my 50-state goal, and am so glad that I did. Beautiful course, helpful and plentiful volunteers, great organization, very nice finisher's medal, and good one on one communication with race director and other leaders. It is also a wonderful place to bring the family so that they can experience the race. I highly recommend this race to anyone, from a first-time marathoner to a seasoned finisher.

This is my 24th half-marathon, and my favorite!! There were lots of aid stations, and plenty of water. The event was straightforward, and easy to get to in the morning (we were camping). The post-run food was good. The watermelon ran out though. The medals were great, and the t-shirts were great (a little hard to find after the race). Overall, it is my favorite half-marathon so far. The whole course, and I mean all of it, is paradise. Made in the shade... cool!

This was my first Pacific Crest Marathon. I was so pleased with the course and the organization. Everything was very well explained and the course was marked perfectly. The course is very flat, and it is on an all asphalt bike path. It was not too crowded for me at a 4:30 finishing time. The medal was very nice, and the festivities for the whole weekend were entertaining. It's a great destination marathon, as Sunriver has lots of golf, swimming, hiking, bike paths, etc.

I just got home from running this marathon and I wanted to add my comments to the list. Even though it is a double loop, the course is good and quite beautiful. The areas along the river are especially scenic, with the water in the foreground and the mountain behind. There were water stops about every mile, and most of the course seemed like it was downhill. Oregon is a beautiful place in general, and Sunriver is one of its crown jewels. If you get an opportunity, run this one. You will not be disappointed!!

I loved the fact that it was run in Sunriver. Aid stations at every mile were great; people staffing them did an outstanding job too. Thanks!

I am working on my 50 state marathons and this was state number 10. We - my non-running husband, daughter and I - chose Oregon as our vacation destination this year, so we came when there was a marathon. The course was beautiful. I really liked the bike paths we ran on, and it was very easy for family members to drive around and see runners. It was very warm (record-setting temperatures in much of Oregon that day), but the water stations were plentiful and had cold liquid. The volunteers and spectators were very friendly - like almost everyone we met in Oregon. We did have a little trouble finding athlete village, but no big deal. Very nice expo - even though the marathon field was small, due to all the other races going on. I would highly recommend this race to anyone.

Gosh, I feel like I was at a different race when reading the comment below. I don't know if the half marathon experience was different, but the full marathon experience was great! There's no question that the course was sensational, but I felt that the organization and support were also terrific. There were a ton of porta-potties at the finish, which is where we were gathered; the start time for the full marathon was right on track; the path was more than adequate in width and the water stops were ESSENTIAL on such a hot day - it might have felt early but if you were doing the full it was actually not early; and the field is so small that it's not that hard to figure out when the "official" start is, even if it's just a "go" - and besides, it's chip-timed, so it's not that critical. It's unfortunate that there wasn't a clock at the finish - something for next year. This is a small, local race and I'm so glad that the organizers were willing to put this on - a huge success, given that it's just one of several events. I'd highly recommend this to anyone who likes a small-town feel, wants to run in beautiful scenery, and enjoys friendly folks. Keep up the good work!!

This weekend in Sunriver was very busy. There were a lot of different races going on, so lots of folks were present. The marathon event (what I am reporting on) was well done. It did not seem like anything was left to chance. It was confusing where to go for packet pickup, but everybody seemed to figure it out. Runners were briefed ahead of time, and directed (actually led) to the starting line, which was perhaps 1/2 a mile from the expo area. The overnight temperature was in the upper 40's. The course was well marked, and volunteers helped direct traffic in the resort, while other volunteers provided fluids at very frequently spaced aid stations. Some stations had ice to share, if we asked. That was good. The course did two loops around the resort, on a bike path. A lot of it was shaded, and there was plenty in the meadow areas too, which was direct sunshine. The course was very pleasant and scenic, nestled in the trees, with lakes, rivers, and glaciers all nearby. The neighbors were friendly and encouraging. Fans and spectators were not abundant, except near the finish area, but still all fans are always welcome. The organizers used Hammer Gel and a sports drink that contained no sugar - then told us, with the temperature expected to be in the upper 90's, not to try anything new on the race course. So I carried my own Clif-Shots and Gatorade, but still used the sports drink provided - and it worked well. By the way, the Clif-Shot folks were at the expo handing out their stuff free, while others were trying to sell the exact same stuff. I was told that the organizers would not let the Clif-Shot folks hand out their stuff during the race. That was poor decision-making, when runners needed more options and flexibility due to the excessive heat. Anyway, Clif-Shots were handed over the rail to the marathoners passing the expo at the start of the second loop. Hats off to the Clif-Shot personnel. The heat and altitude took their toll on the runners. I experimented with alternating between run and walk, as encouraged by Jeff Galloway folks, and I still had a consistent finish time. Thanks to the Sunriver Resort for letting us use their community for our race. As a final note, I camped for this marathon. There are National Forest Campgrounds quite close to Sunriver, and at $6.00, it is a reasonable alternative to getting a room with a bed in it (for those so inclined), and free showers were available at the resort.

The scenery around Sunriver is highly acclaimed; I wasn't disappointed. The course wandered through trees and meadows and beside lakes framed by snowy mountains: The perfect setting. And when it comes to race settings, I haven't seen better. But that's where the praise stops, I'm afraid. The race - in fact, the whole weekend - lacked a number of basic features. 1. Though everybody in my party of 7 registered at the same time, only 5 of us received race confirmation packets. 2. There were no signs to the athlete village anywhere: not on the roads leading to the area nor in the resort village itself. ON RACE DAY: 3. Inadequate bathroom facilities. There were 4 port-a-johns in a parking lot some distance from the starting area, but around the "athlete's village," runners had to find the one or two businesses that had opened the bathrooms to the public. 4. The runners were asked to gather in the village for warm-ups, and were told they would be led to the start by 7:45. We did not start moving toward the start until 8 (start time), and after walking about 1/4 mile, found that many runners had skipped the warm-ups and were already waiting at the start. 5. The race began (and was run entirely) on narrow paths. This could work well if runners were asked to line up according to projected start times. However, many walkers and slower runners crowed to the front and clogged the course. This problem was compounded by water stops very early in the course, I think about mile one. It took a good 4-5 miles for me to reach the pace I had hoped to run throughout. 6. There was no obvious "official" start. I think somebody said, "Go," but I can't imagine many others behind me did. This wouldn't have been as big a problem if we had started on time, but since the race started well after 8, nobody was sure when everything was officially underway. 7. Perhaps the worst transgression was that there was NO CLOCK AT THE FINISH LINE. This is bad enough in and of itself - it gives runners a boost to see seconds ticking as they approach the finish - but since the race started late and there was so much backup and clogging, there was no way to know your "gun time." 8. A last minor note is that the website advertised moisture-wicking shirts, but we only received cotton ones. If you've a hankering to tour Sunriver, I'd recommend a training run rather than this race.

My wife and I flew into Portland from Connecticut to run this race. It was my 22nd marathon and her 12th. We did the 3+-hour scenic drive down the Columbia River Gorge highway and then south on Rt. 35/26 past Mt. Hood and 97 South stopping here and there to see the sights. The race was very well organized. The committee must be reading comments here, because everything I read about here was addressed. The expo was nice; held outside near where the finish line was. Marathon was part of many other races, but I give major kudos to the organizers who seemingly kept everything straight. The course was, simply put, just gorgeous. Much of the time is spent running on the bike path through the woods. Glances to either side were rewarded with views of snow-capped mountains, streams, rivers, lakes and wildlife (horses and my wife even saw a deer along the course!). The finisher's medal was excellent and the post-race food was okay. I liked the fresh fruit, but it could have had more things of substance. As mentioned, since the course winds through the woods in Sunriver, there are not a ton of spectators (which is okay for me). The course never gets lonely as there are a small number of people out cheering, and for the marathoners, it is quite possible to catch the 1/2 marathon walkers on your second circuit of the 13-mile loop. My wife and I are 50 Staters, so it will be awhile until we get around to running Oregon again, but we both highly recommend a trip to Sunriver Oregon to experience this race and everything they have to offer!

This is a beautiful course: two loops on asphalt trails around Sunriver, mostly tree-lined and passing the Deschutes and Sun Rivers. It's relatively flat, but at 4,200 feet, the altitude may take its toll on flat-landers. Still, there are water stops every mile, the finisher medal is superb, the results and award ceremony is timely, and it's a memorable course based on the scenery. It's one part of an endurance weekend, but they execute each different race well. Central Oregon is gorgeous in late June. Highly recommended.

This year the marathon portion of the race seemed to have bucked the negative trend described by runners below. Here are some improvements I noticed. I registered for this race on the morning of the run (Sat.) with my own ChampionChip. My results were available to me today (Monday). The medals were the largest and most beautiful I have yet to to see. I place its artistic design on par with the Great Wall Marathon medal (2007). Water stations were well staffed even on the second loop. The chiropratic/massage staff after the run was more experienced than those at the LA Marathon (2007). The views were of rivers, streams, far-away snowcapped mountains, championship golf course, private airport, horse and poney riding farm... were just totally unexpected. One thing I wish they had was a real shower - instead they only had a quick rinse station at the finish line (had to be fully dressed and the water was freezing!). It was a very memorable experience. I would recommend this run for 2008. (The tri and dual events were also fascinating to see....)

The course itself is beautiful and fairly flat. There are a few hills, but no big deal. The weather was nice. It happened to be a record heat streak that week, but the temp was low 50's at race time and low 90's by the time it ended - very pleasant! The crowd was great, and there were several events through a scenic path with lots of homes so there was always someone there to cheer you on. Aid stations were located each mile or so. Some of the stations did not have adequate staffing though, and they were behind in getting fluids. Waiting for a drink is not good. Also a couple volunteers did not hand me the drink but just sat there and had me reach for it. The poorly marked start line was very frustrating as several of us (about half) had to run to the start line to make it on time. There was poor organization at the end, as there were marathon runners and du/tri athletes finishing at the same time. While I rate the course and fans fairly high, I give poor marks to the organization of the event. If they can get their act together, I think this would be a great marathon for anyone.

Ran the marathon and the course was excellent. Even though this is a small race, I saw runners the entire way and what a thrill to pass some half-marathoners on the second lap! The weather was very, very hot. However, there was water at every mile, which was greatly appreciated and needed. The post-race food was nice and even had fresh fruit! This was a very nice experience and being part of a larger event made it very entertaining as you could stay and watch the half ironman and others finish their events. This weekend's events had something for everyone, including the kids! Although there were not a lot of spectators, I enjoyed the little kids giving "high-fives"; some kids very politely asked if we wanted to be sprayed with their Super-Soakers, which was very welcome on such a hot day. The organization this year was very good and volunteers did a good job of guiding us through some spots which may have been confusing. The last part of both the half marathon and marathon are in wide open sun, so make sure and wear sunscreen and be prepared. The elevation is a bit of a factor with dehydration, but there were plenty of water stations consistently at each mile. An excellent event I would highly recommend. Be prepared for the "heat." The medals were very, very nice, also.

At the end of the Pacific Crest Marathon June 24, 2006 in Sunriver, when I finished the course, I was told they had run out of medals. Two weeks ago, I was called by AA Sport and told the medals had arrived and had been shipped out to the runners, who did not receive them during the run. I was told I would get it at the end of the week. I did not! Then I called AA Sport at the end of the week, and was told, if my medal did not arrive to me by next Tues. or Wed., to call and let them know. I did not receive my medal again, so I called AA Sport, and was told that they had not even received the medals from the company they get them from, and as soon as they do get them, they will send them out! Go figure: First I am told my medal is in the mail to me, and then I am told two weeks later they have not even arrived to AA Sport, and have not even been sent out to the runners who did not yet receive their marathon medal.

This was my first marathon for myself and my running partner. We are from Texas and were told repeatedly that the 4,000 ft. elevation would not be an issue. We trained for 6 months, and after the first four miles, I knew we were both in trouble. Our time was approximately one hour slower than our expected time, based on our training. On race day, several runners, including myself, were unable to find the start line, and luckily, we ran into a runner who had run the race in the past. We all ran to the start line one minute before the start of the race. Not a good way to start. During the race, many times the volunteers did not hand us the cups. After the race, our names did not appear on the results page because they thought all of the marathoners had finished and we were incorrectly put into a different race category. We also did not receive our medals. Hopefully, our names will appear and we will receive them. The only positive from the experience was the breathtaking scenery. Due to the lack of organization, I will probably never run in Sunriver again, at least at an "organized" event. I will try my luck closer to home at the White Rock Marathon in December. I ran the 1/2 marathon last year and it was first-class all the way.

Great race, well organized and part of a much bigger event. The Pacific Crest Marathon is only one race of the Pacific Crest Weekend Sports Festival. It has a half Ironman, duo-endurance and other running events. There was a very good athlete village and expo open three days. The course is relatively flat but very twisting, weaving through the trees, meadows and with great views of mountains and rivers. It turned out to be hot this year, near 80 at the finish. But there were aid stations at every mile, so one could keep taking in fluids. Great reception at the finish, plenty of fruits, liquids and snacks all undercover and out of the hot sun. There was a couple showers to cool off under and they presented a large and colorful enameled finishers medal. The division winners medals were excellent, in the the usual gold, silver and bronze colors and presented swiftly in a pleasant awards ceremony. All in all, a great race weekend, this is one you should enjoy.

The organizers and course operators of this race did a fabulous job for the 2005 marathon. Water/Gatorade/Hammer gel stations were present at every mile, and all street crossings were staffed by course officials to block traffic for runners. The biker that rode before the leader and the thorough course marking both worked to make sure that the runners knew the course. The course itself, at 4,200 feet in elevation, was quite scenic. Timing was done by shoe chips, so that timing started only after you cross the starting line and stopped immediately after you cross the finish line. The post-race tent was great as well. It's a smaller marathon, as it had only 120 runners.

Great support with water/gel every mile and lots of toilets. Hard to get motivated with only 120 runners. But if you are a front-of-the-mid-packer like me, there is a outside chance of age group placing. Course was very nice with pretty homes, river, and ponds and it was flat. I liked the part where my name was announced at the half. Do not let them fool you. Runners using this as a fun run or a training run will say that elevation was not a factor. If you are going for anything close to your PR you WILL notice the elevation; adjust your pace early and stick with it. If you have time, plan on staying a few days because this part of the state is beautiful and worth visiting.

This marathon was good in that it left me with no excuses other than my own poor training. Course was flat with two mild inclines in the first 3-or-so miles, aid stations and toilets every mile, cool temperature on race day. It was well marked (pink directional signs and white chalk lines) two days in advance, and I was never confused about where to go. We spent 4 days previous in Bend so the altitude was not a factor. We rented bikes from one of the multitude of rental places in Sunriver and biked the half-loop to check it out a few days before the race, so we had a good feel for the course in advance. Race-morning parking was a breeze: we rolled up about an hour before start and found parking very easily. They also had hammer gel packets, which I had been wanting to try out. I talked with various people who passed me up at different stages... it seems like most of them were either treating this race as a training run, or were just doing it on a whim at the last minute. This was only my third marathon, and I'll definitely consider running it in the future!

Great fun to turn Sunriver into Athlete Paradise for the weekend. Organizers and volunteers were excellent and KIND. Runners supportive, friendly. Great views, I didn't mind doing the same loop twice. These are the flattest rolling hills ever, a good personal best course. And NO CARS!! And lots of shady pines with river and mountains beyond. Strong request: start at 6:30am, not 7:30am. The sun's up by 5am, and we 4-5 hour runners dealt with midday sun since we didn't begin til 7:40am. Also, please clarify the starting PLACE in the guide - it was unnecessarily unclear. Only other suggestion: with names like Sunriver and Pacific Crest, why a grey t-shirt?????????? Go for color!! Thanks for a great race.

I wanted a small race before the summer set in, and this was perfect. The Sunriver resort area is beautiful, hence the course is too; the organization was excellent, expo was great, and there was water/Gatorade/gel/mile markers every mile. Volunteers were exceptional, courteous and helpful. And if you like a fairly mild (temps) morning run (maybe 50's at start, 60's by finish) in summer, this is the one. Traveled from Tennessee (left 90+ degree temps) so this was a supurb setting and marathon all around. May not make it every year due to distance, but if I can, I will.

I ran the 1/2 and the 10k over the weekend at Sunriver. The marathon is just a 2 loop half. The course is very nice on paved bike trails. This was the best organized running event I have been to. It never was crowded, the finish line was great, the expo fine. What else can I say? It was well done. If you are not from higher altitudes I would not suggest this as a first marathon. 4200 feet is pretty high up for a sea-level guy like me. (Got pretty anaerobic on the 10k race). Aid stations at almost every mile. No crowds except at the finish so if you need the support this may not be for you.

Sunriver has a beautiful marathon course. The course winds through pine forest, along a river, near a golf course and through houses on a paved trail. I will not run this marathon again. I will not recommend it to anyone. I felt like an afterthought of the tri-sporting events. --I was told I would receive a pamphlet in the mail 2 weeks prior; I did not. When I arrived to pick up my number, they did not have any pamphlets explaining the race course, showing the race profile, or telling where good places were for my supporters. I asked about busing to the start, since so many events were taking place, and was told by a veteren Sunriver volunteer to sleep in my car if I wanted a parking space. --The morning of the marathon we had great weather. There were plenty of aid stations with water, Gatorade and Gu. --Now I am one of those runners who says 'thank you' to the volunteers. The majority of volunteers did not say anything, not even say whether they had water or Gatorade. At one station, I was physically blocked by a biker who was supporting a runner. --The bikers on the trail did not give way, and one little kid even ran into me on his bike! Some of the bikers asked what I was doing; they did not seem to know that there was a marathon occuring. --The second loop of the course passes by the finish area. The second loop was not marked and there was no volunteer ushering us one way or the other. The runners I spoke with on the second lap all said they were very confused by the second lap transition zone. --When I finished, two people clapped - one a stranger and the other my boyfriend. I know I am slow, but I still feel like I was snubbed for running the marathon instead of one of the tri-events. --The post-race food was cheap. There were no bars to take with me. --And two days later, the marathon results are not posted, but the tri-event results are posted. I would go for a training run in Sunriver, but I will not be a part of a run organized by this group again.

My concerns about this race were all without merit. The marathon, despite the numerous events taking place simultaneously, was extremely well organized. I thought the expo would consist of one card table, and the expo might end early if a leg on that table broke. Boy was I wrong! The outdoor expo was huge and designed to please all the multi-sport enthusiasts in town. I made more purchases in Sunriver than I did at the Boston Marathon expo. I've learned the hard way not to believe brochures that promise a relatively flat course. That often means I'm going to be running up and down mountains. The route would be relatively flat to a Sherpa in Tibet--maybe. However the Pacific Crest Marathon IS flat--even to a guy from the East. After doing some backpacking for a few nights in the mountains, I was used to the altitude and I never noticed the 4200 feet. I worry a bit about dehydrating in a high and dry location but the course support was very good. The mountain scenery and forest exceeded my expectations. The people in Sunriver went out of their way to make us feel at home and the fellow racers were outstanding. Had a lot of fun in Bend and visiting Crater Lake National Park on the way out. We flew out of Eugene and even had the chance to run a couple laps around Hayward Field, the scene of Prefontane's legendary victories. Yes--it was worth a trip from Cleveland!

Surrounded by snow covered mountains, tall evergreens, lakes and ponds, the flat double loop bike trail course through the resort is a delight. Although the marathoners become widely separated, the hikers, bikers and boaters you pass are very supportive. The only downside is the 3+ hour scenic drive from Portland airport.

I was worried about the 4200 ft altitude and the heat at this race. The altitude was not a problem especially as this is a flat course. It was very hot with the last five miles being in open sun. The course is the most beautiful that I have run, the organization was excellent and the athlete's village and expo had a really festive air about it. Not many spectators but the people out on the course who were cycling and walking were very supportive. I loved this race, thoroughly enjoyed it and hope to be back. Medals and awards were excellent too. Well done!!!

I ran the marathon. It was all about location, location, location. The scenery was breathtaking. There were deer grazing by the route. The support was great...plenty of aid stations. It started out cool and ended as hot. If you like running with crowds of people, this race is not for you. As a sea-level person, the altitude was, surprisingly, not a huge challenge. The course was pretty flat. Would do it again. The Pacific Crest weekend is overall a fun time.

I ran the 1/2. This year was HOT, but hey, the race is in the very hottest part of the year here. Beautiful course. Many, many random bikers on the course. If you're going hard with your head down, you risk many near collisions. Definitelly worth it if you take it easy a bit. Yeah, i'll be back.

It was brisk at the start, but at the 4:19 mark when I finished, it was seriously hot! The last 5 miles are in the open too, so there's no relief. Overall, this was a beautiful course (but any course, no matter how beautiful, only garners 3 stars when it's a double loop). It was flat and there are few runs left in America where you can just breathe in the absolute freshness in the air like this on run (with the exception of the mile or so right by the stable). Don't expect spectators. In fact, most of the folks out and about the resort area seemed pretty clueless that this huge race weekend was going on.