Avenue of the Giants Marathon - Race Reviews

The date was May 5, 1974. I was a 19 year old sophomore at the University of Oregon having transferred from Eastern Michigan University (Gordon Minty era). Pre was still alive. Rudy Chapa and Alberto Salazar were still high school students, not arriving at UO until 1976. Nike had barely begun its existence. The 1974 Avenue of the Giants Marathon would be my 4th attempt at the distance. My first marathon, while a senior at Silverthorn Collegiate (high school) in Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada, was the Boston Marathon in 1972 (2:50:55). In February of 1974 I had placed 17th in 2:31:03 at the Trail's End Marathon in Seaside, Oregon. The Ave race started west of Avenue of the Giants at the Albee Creek Campground on Lower Bull Creek Flats Road, going west briefly, then returning to the starting point and continuing farther east to the Avenue. We then crossed over the south fork of the Eel River on the Dyerville bridge and headed south on the Avenue towards Weott. It was somewhere along this stretch that I heard a loud cracking sound a little distance into the forest on my left. As I watched, a large redwood tree fell to the ground with a heavy thud. For the next several miles I was on the lookout for any more dying redwoods that might decide to drop onto the course itself! From Weott, we headed farther south towards Myers Flat until we turned around to begin the north bound return. Crossing the south fork of the Eel River again, we turned west to finish at our original point of departure. Chuck Smead was the overall winner in 2:21:06. I successfully achieved my goal of running under 2:30, placing 4th overall in a 19 and under course record of 2:29:40. Yesterday, again on May 5th, I celebrated 50 years of holding the under 19 course record by running the 10K, placing 4th yet again, only this time in the 60-69 division. What a beautiful day to run under the lush, evergreen redwood forest: 40 degrees, fog rising through the trees, the Eel River running strongly from recent rains and the sun breaking through at the end with its warming embrace. This is definitely one of the most beautiful marathon courses in the US, run under the canopy of the Northern California coastal redwoods. Put this one on your marathon bucket list - you will not be disappointed!

This was a gorgeous race, a bucket list item for me and well worth the wait. We only ran the second half twice out and back, because the Bull Creek Trail portion was washed out. Either way, it did end up being overall fairly hilly, with rolling hills and, oddly, with the strange feeling that you are going downhill (an optical illusion, referenced by another reviewer as well). Some parts of the course are steeply cambered and hard on knees, etc. Getting to the Ave of the Giants area is no picnic, especially for me, coming from East Coast (5hr drive from SFO), but once there, it was very easy bib pickup, easy and well organized parking right at the start/end, and really great volunteers. I didn't sample any food after the race, and carried my own. There was one stop for gels (clif shot) along the way at the 1/2 marathon mark, and aid stations had water and gatorade. It is a smaller race so fewer spectators for sure. Plan your lodging well ahead of time. We stayed in an AirBNB in Fortuna, but there are overall slim pickings and you'll certainly have to drive a bit the morning of race to get here. We spent the next day after the race sightseeing and walking on nearby trails. One odd thing: I had signed up for a medium Tshirt and received a tank, which was not what I'd expected. The large sizes for women came in T-shirt model rather than tank top, so I sized up, but the short or long sleeve is standard for marathon swag. Thanks for a great race!

This was by far the most gorgeous and peaceful marathon I have ever run. I chose not to wear a garmin because I didn't want to be preoccupied with pace, I wanted to just run and enjoy the scenery. Running in the forest on a paved road is a very rare combination and if you want it can be a fast course, some hills, but nothing like Big Sur. The entire race (except the end) was cool and calm and dark. Sign were put out noting that there would be a water stop in 200 yards, which was awesome because you could start taking your gels/nutrition before hand in time to wash it down with water. Great volunteers, great expo. There are few spectators, mostly hikers passing by, but you don't want anything to distract you when running in such a beautiful place. Will definitely do again.

The first out-and-back is, admittedly, on a paved road, but it hasn't been paved in a LONG time. Very uneven for most of the first half, which made enjoying the scenery dangerous, because you had to watch the road surface continuously to avoid potholes and other trip hazards. By contrast, once we got into the second half, the pavement was smooth and lovely to run on. I was glad to have finished the tricky foot-work part early! The scenery is beautiful and it was nice to have a small contingent of racers. I was never running all by myself, but it could have felt like it at times. (Disclaimer: I finished in 5 hours, so am hardly a front-of-the-pack runner) By the end the water stations were skimpy, and food at the finish was very minimal. The last bit of the race was in the sun and on concrete, and was pretty overwhelming. The finish area had no shade other than the tents that had food and other supplies. It wasn't as if you could escape the heat/sun. A hose/mister station would have been very welcome at that point. The volunteers were very polite and helpful, but I didn't feel that the race was all that well organized. All in all, I was glad to have participated, but won't be returning. I will recommend the race with serious caveats about the rough road and the need to bring your own food/drink.

I really enjoyed this race. It is not flat however. It constantly rolls but the hills are gentle. There is a steep-ish hill about a mile from the finish but it is short. The first out-and-back section is beautiful and with only marathoners on it there is a lot of open space. The second out-and-back section has half-marathoners and 10k racers and can get quite crowded. This makes it difficult to get water at times. There are not a lot of spectators on course but you don't miss them because The course is absolutely beautiful! Some hill training would be beneficial.

A relaxed race through a majestic redwood forest. We arrived an hour and a half prior to the race and avoided any traffic and was able to park within 100 yards of the start/finish line. Race-day packet pick-up was very much appreciated. I thought that the various races were very well staged and staggered effectively. I enjoyed running along side the 10K and half marathon racers through the second half, except for a couple groups of half marathon finishers who created a moving barricade toward the end. The course was very nice, I enjoyed the double out and back especially. I know it was an illusion, but it seemed as if every hill went downhill both ways. I wonder if anyone else had that impression. No difficult uphills throughout the entire course. The finish area was fine with sufficient food and drink. The medal is colorful and solid and I really like the t-shirt. Overall, a low-stress, logistically simple race through beautiful country.

What a beautiful course. You really can't beat running in the forest. And not just any forest, but among the majestic Redwoods. So much of the course is in the shade, the few times that I did see the sky it actually was nice to feel the warmth of the sun. The first half of the course was filled with up hills and down hills. Save something for later, much later. That's because the second half is one nearly continuous uphill (never very steep) until the turn around near mile 20 when it now becomes one nearly continuous downhill to the finish. If you saved something (I didn't save that much), you have a chance for a very strong finish. As an out of towner, out of state even, I didn't know where to go until receiving the race confirmation email with my bib number. Then I knew, I was headed for exit 667 on U.S. 101, and then taking Avenue of the Giants several miles to the staging area. Or, if you arrive early enough, you can still take exit 663 before it is closed to traffic. The staging area is just off exit 663. Great run support on the course. Always plenty of water and gatorade at the water stops, as well as orange and banana slices after half-way. Maybe as a result of finishing in the middle of the marathon pack, and after most half-marathoners and 10K runners, the food at the finish was sparse, although the PBJs wrapped in tortillas were awesome. Definitely add this to your list of marathons to run.

Highly recommended. Small race with amazing scenery, great volunteers, and good course support. Hardly any spectators, as it is quite remote. Look around and listen! Rolling hills, but not steep at all (except for that one highway overpass at mile 25. You will remember it from mile 14. Not a big one either, but at that point, I wished it had not been there). Most beautiful medal. Arrive early for parking, and bring your own food and recovery drinks. Since you will park almost next to the start line, I did not mind that there were only few post-race snacks (oranges, bananas, and tortilla chips).

The race is in Humboldt Redwoods State Park, not in Eureka, like MarathonGuide states. Year after year, this race has perfect weather. Even if it gets warm in the sun, the shady course (about 24 of the 26 miles) doesn't really warm up. It is a double out-and-back course and really beautiful the entire way. First half has some tricky pavement sections, the second half is freshly paved. It is gorgeous. The only issue I had with this marathon is that when I got tired and the scenery didn't change, it felt like I was running and not going anywhere. Organization is wonderful and volunteers very helpful. Parking was fine. The medal was nice, the shirt a little too flimsy feeling.

The trees are just amazing. I found myself energized by the beauty of the course. There were a decent number of runners, so I was never alone, but never crowded either. The second out-and-back is easier than the first, and the road is in better shape. I prefer the cotton T-shirt and also bought a hoodie (and was given a free leftover t-shirt from the prior year when I did so). Very nice folks running the event, and good organization.

I loved the course: The trees were majestic, and running through them nearly took my mind off how lousy my body felt. The only quibble I have with the race organization was that even though there were plenty of water stops, some of them were sparsely staffed, requiring us to grab our own water. The t-shirt is cool, and the medal is perfect in size and design. It's off the beaten path, but if you want to be serenaded by thousands of enormous trees, rather than a rock and roll band every mile, it's worth the trip.

Course is beautiful. T-shirts are 90s style cotton shirts with graphics ironed on. If you want the technical shirt you pay an additional $30. Gels only available at mile 6 and nowhere else on course.

A real treat to run in a wilderness setting. The second half follows the river adding to the experience. The volunteers are the only spectators until the end, but they do a good job of cheering the runners. Pro: Fast course, adequate aid stations, friendly volunteers, nice medal. Con: Race instructions say to arrive an hour early. What they didn't mention was on race day the long road in and the pace of the parking means that it can take 45 minutes to get parked. Delaying the start time of the half to an hour or more after the marathon would help.

This review is for the half-marathon... If you like cheering crowds, bands, funny stuff to look at while running, this race is not for you. I am not saying those things are bad...some people thrive on spectator support. Almost no spectators on this course, except at the start and finish. This course is greater than any big city race because of the beautiful redwoods you run through. I found it easier to concentrate on my run because I was surrounded by the gorgeous natural environment. Some people commented on lack of food at the finish. Really? I honestly didn't care - bring your own food and don't depend on someone else to feed you. I have never really cared about post-race food. The only things they could improve are: I would have liked to have a sweat/gear check, because it was cold at the start, also...need more port-a-potties... Other than that, the race was awesome, the shirt was awesome, and the medal was awesome. I would definitely do it again.

This is a very beautiful course on two-lane roads through ancient redwoods. The forest is cool and peaceful, with streams cascading and birds in the trees. The double out-and-back arrangement is very nice, as it breaks the distance into four 10Ks. It also allows you to see friends and other runners doing the half marathon. The terrain is rolling, but no challenging hills. Getting to the start was a hassle. We were coming down from Eureka, and encountered a very long traffic jam on the local road. I got to the starting line 8 minutes after the start  my first late start. After 40 years, the organizers can do better than this. For example, allow people to come in off the nearest highway exit, and/or organize shuttle buses to bring people in. Also, the finish amenities were quite spartan  more like what you'd see at a small 10K race. I was handed one water bottle and I could pick banana and orange pieces out of a box. That's it! There really needs to be more after running a marathon. I would do this race again, though I'd be better prepared for the start traffic and bring more of my own food and drink for the end.

WOW! WOW! WOW! I owe a great debt of gratitude to the people who 40-years ago decided to organize a marathon on one of the most beautiful stretches of road in the lower 48. Combine that with starting temps in the high 40's and finishing temps in the low 60's, plus plenty of sunshine and voila! But you actually don't experience the heat of the sunshine, just the beauty of the sunshine streaming through the canopy of the 300' tall redwoods. And the coolness and rich aroma of the forest combine to make this a one of a kind event, NOT to be missed. The course is a very gentle up and down, with only one moderate uphill/downhill on the course. The volunteers were wonderful and supportive. Your biggest challenge is finding a hotel, as most are 10-50 miles away from the start.

I loved this race! I'm a very poor runner - my marathon times are all well over 5 hours. This course seemed very reasonable to me - it had some modest hills, but nothing too serious. And running under the dense canopy controlled the temperature. Having the trees (and occasional banana slugs) to look at really helped keep my mind off of the effort and pain. I loved having fruit available at many of the aid stations, too. They could have been better displayed at one or two of them, but eating some fresh orange slices now and again was much more refreshing than trying to choke down more energy gel or jelly beans. I'm glad that my partner agreed to come along for support, though. If I hadn't been able to bail out of the car and head for the start line before she finished parking, I'd never have made the starting gun. We timed it so that we'd be there an hour before the start, and almost didn't make it due to the parking congestion. I didn't stick around long after the race, but if there was much food or drink available at the end for late runners, I missed it. All I got was some water.

Very nice people; very pretty race through redwood trees. Website needs work. No info about how to find the packet pickup area (beside the road near the 663 exit from US 101). Few porta-potties; people were running into the woods constantly. Spectators were sparse, but very nice. Good number of aid stations, with signs warning that they were 200 yards ahead. Virtually no finish line food - bring your own. This year was a very nice day for running, though cold and windy while awaiting the start. Turned into a cool day with a little breeze, lots of shade among the trees, and only a few warm, sunny spots on the final leg. Very friendly, nice race.

This is one of the most beautiful courses ever and the support is top-notch. But if you need throngs of supporters, banners and cheer stations, this is not your race. For me, the giant redwoods and the other runners were the best company. The road in the first half of the course is a little beat up, but nothing too bad. The second half is gloriously flat and shaded. The fresh fruit slices were a tasty and refreshing alternative to sport drinks. I wish other races would provide them. I hope to do this race again!

Running the Avenue was a great experience. My wife ran the half marathon and I ran the full. We came from Connecticut and it was worth the trip. The course is "as advertised" - stunningly beautiful. I highly recommend driving the course before running it - it is a very pretty drive. I don't think any of the photos I saw of the course really did it justice. I do not recommend running this course to qualify for Boston or to set a PR. First of all  it's just too damn pretty to be caught up in your time. Second, although the course has no steep hills, the first half is very rolling and I think this is deceptively tiring. Also, although I think the "roughness" of the first half of the course has been exaggerated, the road is fairly cambered and twisty for the first half and I think that is a little more tiring than a straighter course. I was shooting for a 3:10 qualifier and I ran a 3:19. Great run - but I'd rather run this just for the scenery and not bother monitoring my splits so closely. Great organization for a small race; parking was easy. If you're traveling for this, give yourself a day before and a day after to relax and do some more exploring of the forests - well worth it. Not a ton of lodging choices, but we loved the Benbow Inn. Not fancy (no TV in our room), but a classic place with a fireplace and chess boards in the lobby, and a hidden gem of a restaurant. The hotel caters to runners, with special pasta dishes the night before, and an early breakfast spread the next morning. If you're thinking about running this, do it. The course is as beautiful as you've heard, and it's a nice break from the mega-marathons.

I chose the Ave to be the site of my first marathon, and I think I made an excellent choice!!! The course was amazingly beautiful - lined with amazing redwoods for most of the run. I can't comment on the post-race amenities because I brought my own food and drinks. Also, I brought my own bag and a friend to carry my stuff for me because I wasn't given a drop-off bag when I picked up my packet. Parking is not too far from the start line, so if you are by yourself, you can drop your stuff off at your car and make it to the start line in under 10 minutes. In regards to the "condition" of the course itself, it really was not that bad. I know that is a relative term, but I didn't find the first out-and-back to be dangerous whatsoever. And as far as "hills" go (again, this is a relative term), this race has no significant 'hills' at all - it's mostly flat! Lastly, if you choose to run this marathon, it should be because you appreciate nature and want to enjoy the scenery. If you want thousands and thousands of fans supporting you, i suggest you run a different event. Having said that, fellow marathoners, half marathoners, 10K runners, campers, and volunteers all supported and cheered for me and other marathoners, so one is not completely isolated in the "wilderness."

I ran the Avenue Marathon 2 years ago and the Humboldt Marathon twice before. As you can see, I love running on the Avenue of the Giants and I will run it again. It is really beautiful and serene and you are running in the shade of the giants most of the way. This time of year was so green after the winter rains this year that the state park was a beautiful destination to spend extra days. I went on a beautiful hike the following day and camped in the state park the night before and after the race and met some marathoners doing the same. I would definitely camp again the next time I run the Avenue. The organization has improved lots from 2 years ago, but it still needs improvement. The pros: There were lots of oranges and bananas on the course, along with Clif Bars and the ERG (better this time than last). The volunteers were awesome and very helpful, and there were lots of volunteers out there cheering on the runners. There were bananas and oranges left after the race when I finished. Cons: Post-race snacks still amounted to a bowl of tortilla chips for runners to grab as they crossed the finish. Not a very appealing or sanitary choice. Was there any post-race water? Also, there is no sweat bag drop-off at the start for the marathoners, which I did not see on the website. Overall, I love the run and the destination, and this year we had perfect weather.

To me, this is one of the best marathons you'll find. The course is beautiful, running through the redwoods on two separate out-and-backs. Getting to see the frontrunners in the marathon coming back, and the half marathoners (who started an hour later) coming out on the first out-and-back, and the 10K'ers coming back in on the second out-and-back was nice. The aid stations are spaced nicely, about every 2 miles. The later ones even offered orange slices, bananas and watermelon! I appreciated ERG as the sports drink. Other than the intersection at the half, there aren't many spectators, so if that is what you need, then you might be disappointed. The race offers same-day packet pick up, which is really nice, especially since you're probably going to have to stay several miles down the road. Parking is easy and plentiful. The t-shirts and medals were nice, and we got a re-useable "Redwood" bag. All in all, a top-notch marathon that I would highly recommend.

I wanted to run this for a dear friend (TSL) who unfortunately couldn't do it this time. The course is breathtaking, and I'm not talking about the deceptive rolling hills that can trick you into running faster on the first half and leave you breathless at the end. It's breathtaking from the majestic beauty of the trees. It definitely is one of the marathons you have to run at least once in a lifetime.... Hope one day we'll run it together, my dear.

This was my first Ave and my second marathon overall. My first marathon was Rock and Roll in San Diego. If you feed off spectators, you might have problems here. There were hardly any spectators, but because of the double out-and-back, there was plenty of support from other runners and volunteers at aid stations. The scenery was amazing! The trees are just breathtaking, and I found myself looking up quite a bit while I ran. There's also a river that you can see most of the way along with several small waterfalls and creeks. The road is a little rough on the first half of the course, but it's a little easier than trail running. You just have to watch where you're going. The second half has a smoother road. The first half was rolling a bit, but I didn't feel it affected my time much at all. The second half was flatter, but the road was banked enough to feel it. Overall, this was an amazing run and I had an awesome finishing time. I would definitely do it again.

This year I ran the half-marathon. I have run the full marathon here four times, I think, and the half twice. This is a wonderful, magical place and is one of the most beautiful courses you will ever have the privilege to run. The first half of the marathon (which is the half-marathon course) is a little hilly, and some people complain about the road being rough. I almost exclusively run on trails, so it was a smooth treat for me! The second half of the full marathon seems downhill both ways - really. As far as lodging is concerned, get reservations early if you want to stay at one of the nicer places in Fortuna; but this year I stayed at a cheaper motel in Fortuna, which was just fine, and had vacancies the night before the race. My one complaint is that this year the shirts were made from very thin cotton. I can roll my entire XXL shirt up and hold it in my fist. It was, they said, "organic" cotton. But I can't for the life of me figure out the advantage of that - I'm certainly not going to eat it. Anyway, the shirts look like they aren't going to last too long, and the cotton is so thin that your, uh, anatomic features show readily through the shirt. It doesn't matter much to me because I have dozens of race shirts already, but two of my friends I ran the race with were running their first half-marathon. My first race was in 1983, and the shirt was a flimsy thing like this that didn't last more than a year. They were selling technical shirts for, I think, $30. I actually bought a tech shirt this year from last year's race for $15 and I love it. And no, I didn't run the race last year - shame on me - but I have run this course seven times total, so big deal. Anyway, my advice is that if you come back, buy the tech shirt for 15 bucks. Great deal. The volunteers and staff were all wonderful, helpful, and friendly. This race is a happy event. I took photos before and during the race this year and posted them on Flickr. I can't post a link, but just search Flickr for Avenue of the Giants Marathon. Hats off to the organizers and volunteers at this tremendous event!

Where I come from, the hills are of the "all up with no switchbacks" variety. I train on grades up to 13% and had read the profile. Nevertheless, my legs were surprised by the constant grade, though I never encountered what I thought would be a steep climb around mile 5. Describing the course as "relatively flat" is deceptive, even understanding that hills and perception of grade are relative. I've been running/racing for 37 years, so I have a bit of experience with hills. The grades will take your pace down a few notches. Be honest on the website; runners will still come for the opportunity to run "through the redwood forest," but will have a better understanding of what they're dealing with. Good support at the aid stations - lively Boy Scouts! As far as spectators, we had the company of the beautiful trees - plus it was fun to watch the unfolding of the marathon from the half-marathon's point of view on the other side of the road. I was baffled by the finish line, though, as both the 10K and marathoners fed in around the corner at the same time. While I'm sprinting to what I believed to be the timing mat, I cross, then slow, nearly stopping, not realizing until spectators yell at me and being passed by the other runners, to "keep going." That this wasn't the finish line. The first mat apparently was for the announcer to call names. This should be made clear on the website. Sometimes races with different distances have several finish line chutes. I didn't know. I kept on going the extra few feet, a few seconds slower for the stopping.

This was a wonderful race - the scenery was amazing and the people we encountered couldn't have been nicer. There were not too many spectators due to the race roads being closed to vehicular traffic, but the ones that were out there were fantastic. Also, I have never run a marathon where the other runners were so supportive! Those trees put everyone in a good mood! A lot of people have commented about the ERG - I actually liked it. I normally can't stomach the too-potent Gatorade/PowerAde at races, so this worked well for me. There were plenty of aid stations, which was nice. The port-a-johns were actually serviced during the race, which I have never seen before and really appreciated. The only complaint I would issue is that water and food were very scarce when I finished (3:58). I had read that about previous years so I packed some in the car for afterward and was fine. I would recommend doing the same. We made a vacation of the trip, and I would recommend the same to anyone. If you travel to that area, you certainly need a few days to do it justice. I highly recommend a drive to the coast, and the town of Ferndale was a great place to stay.

The trees are all they were advertised to be. Some of us even witnessed one of the giants fall around 50 yards to our left. Very majestic - I would have been frightened, but saw it clearly from the first crack, and it was definitely not headed toward the road. I also saw a deer leap across the road; it never touched down until it cleared the pavement. Now for the negatives: The pavement on the first half was very rough, and so much so that, for the first time in my nine marathons, my first half was significantly slower than my second. Also, take a hint from the other comments and bring your own snacks and drinks for the end. This part doesn't need to be a big deal. Most of us can plan ahead. Also, plan your lodging ahead. We did, and we were pleased, but it fills up fast. This race did a better job with the porta-potties than any of the other marathons I have done, even though the other races were better organized in other areas. The water stops were plentiful, but the last was out of cups when I came through. This was not a big deal, as it was only around three-tenths of a mile from the end. They still had some in pitchers for anyone willing to cup their hands.

This event must be the most scenic of all the events that I have run in my 26 years of running worldwide. I will never run a big-city marathon/half-marathon again. "Well done" to all who make the event possible, including the wonderful pasta party. I hope to see you all again next year, -Peter Torre

The course was as scenic as promised: there were majestic trees, moss and ferns, and cheery streams. The people were great too; I loved the Boy Scouts and other volunteers, and there were even some cheering campers on the second out-and-back. The first out-and-back was sort of scary and bumpy; I am not a fast runner, but I think that would be a problem for them. My main complaint was that there was no water at the finish for my time group (4:33). Getting into the river afterward was a big bonus - cooling therapeutic water. :) Thank you!

There is no question that this marathon is the most secenic that I have ever run. The trees are incredible and I would recommend it for that alone. Of course, every marathon has room for improvement and here are my suggestions: 1) Don't advertise this course as flat. While the hills were not steep inclines, there were definitely some hills (it's all relative in this part of the country, I know). 2) Please find some fluid replacement other than ERG. This was so diluted that it was sometimes no different from water. This was especially problematic for me since the air was quite humid and I began cramping up by mile 20 and could have used the extra sodium of a sports drink. I guess I should have carried my own. 3) There should be an abundance of water at the finish line. I finished mid-pack and there was very little water left. The 1/8th of a bagel with peanut butter was not very appetizing.... So, not too many complaints. I signed up for this race knowing that there would not be spectators, and that's fine. I also think they did a good job spacing the marathoners, half-marathoners, and 10K runners. Also, a nice t-shirt with no gaudy advertising.

I love this course. Running in the majestic redwoods is like running through a cathedral of gentle giants. They are amazing trees. This is also a fast course due to the extra oxygen generated by the giant redwoods, and because it's relatively flat. I have run this race's sister - the Humboldt Marathon - twice in October, and the Humboldt Half Marathon three times. The Avenue of the Giants can take some lessons from Humboldt's organization. This was the first year with a new director. Since this race is expensive ($90 on race day), I hope she listens to my concerns. I remember when Humboldt was $35 around 6 or 7 years ago and it was such a great and enjoyable race because the runner support and organization was 100%; however, Avenue was the worst organized marathon that I have run. Prior to the race it took 45 minutes to get from the highway exit to the parking lot due to gridlock traffic. I suggest arriving 1.5 to 2 hours before the race. Volunteers did not know where the marathon start was nor where to leave our sweat bag when asked so I started 8 minutes late leaving my sweat bag with a volunteer. I had mistakenly left my own Cytomax bottle at the start and had to rely on the race's ERG drink, which was served in tiny cups half-way filled and super diluted (like water) on the second half of the marathon course. I bonked due to lack of electrolytes. The food and drink at the finish was disappointing: a bowl filled with tortilla chips in which thousands of runners before you had been reaching in to pull out chips, along with tiny cups to fill with apple juice. Lucky for me, an experienced volunteer (not the director) saw that I was bonking at the finish and asked me if I needed help. Thank you so much for noticing and caring. He found my sweat bag and sought medical help for me. The volunteer firemen who volunteer their time to assist runners in this race were extremely helpful and patient while I recovered and one of the firemen scored a PowerAde from a volunteer's personal stash. If it wasn't for the firemen's time and support, races would not be able to happen. The people who volunteer for this race are all helpful; I just hope that the race director listens to runner concerns so that she will improve the race for next year. We were lucky that the weather was not warm; otherwise, she may have had a line of runners at the medical tent due to the lack of ERG and food on the course. More bananas and the addition of cliff bars would be great. When I had recovered and told the race director my concerns she had remarked that her husband never drinks while running; so I suppose that this means she is not a runner and may not understand that probably 90% of runners need ERG while running a marathon and that her husband is an anomaly. Thanks to all the volunteers for their help - especially the volunteer who saw that I needed help and those great volunteer firemen who rely on donations to keep their station operating. I haven't forgotten.

This was my first marathon. Despite getting injured mid-run, and having to walk the last 5 miles, I loved every minute of it. The start of the race was a bit jumbled, and many of the slower runners had no regard for starting in the rear (like I assumed was common practice). The weather was excellent, the traffic control was perfect - even in the later hours that I was walking, and the aid was good. Fruit, ERG, and water were at every station, about every 2 miles apart. The thing I might see being a problem for some people is the crowd/support. There were campers and supporters maybe only once every 2 miles. As for the runners, the biggest gap between myself and another runner was probably never bigger than 100 feet. There was a large number of people participating in the early-bird and normal marathons.

Beautiful scenery made the run a pleasure. This is a race with no frills. The organizers work hard to accommodate walkers, which makes the entire first half somewhat challenging for runners who must meander frequently through clusters of walkers while being careful of footing on the uneven road surface. Course volunteers were plentiful and upbeat, and the fresh orange slices they offered at the aid stations every couple of miles were fabulous! The staging area was great. The run across the bridge just before the finish line was exhilarating. The short sleeve t-shirt was a disappointment - nice artwork, but even on a standard maroon shirt, it was rather feminine for a guy, and the fact that females were given a white 'girl style' shirt without being advised this would be the case before the race was a bummer. (I'd much rather have been able to have a maroon shirt). Very nice finisher's medals! The area is gorgeous. I plan to stay at least a few days to explore if you travel very far to get to this race!

What a privilege: 26.2 through thickets of the oldest standing creatures of the world. I loved every minute of it. The two out-and-backs make it a fun race to encourage others/find one's friends. Organization was seamless and the only run I've ever done with more than enough potties. My only suggestion is, please, a standard drink that we can find to try beforehand (ERG???) and that was undrinkable on the course (tasted like liquidized aluminum). And how about some Clif Bar chunks, or pretzels, or.... This is a race that's hard to get to; the drive is long in any direction before and after. But it's all very, very worth it. I loved New York; for very different reasons, I loved this one. Thank you.

You really have to love trees to love this race. Trees are great; if I had been out on a Sunday hike in the redwoods instead of running a marathon in them I would have been much happier. The problem for me was the monotony of the course. Running two loops of the course didn't help. After the first half I felt envious of the half-marathoners heading for their finish line. My finishing time was one of the slowest I have ever run, which I can largely attribute to the tedium of the course. But that's me. Someone else may be inspired and stimulated by such a course. I find I do much better in huge, city marathons like New York, where every minute the scene is changing, and many thousands are cheering. I guess I'm glad I did Ave. of Giants once, but I wouldn't do it again.