Santa Clarita Marathon - Race Reviews

It was a really good experience. The volunteers were friendly and helpful. The course being only on paseos was nice, did not have to deal with any car traffic. Plenty of water stops, the cupless water stops worked really well. However,there were a few spots on the course that weren't clearly marked, and some runners went the wrong way for a short time. No porta potties at the start of the race, only a couple of stalls in the park bathroom. Lots of parking, but it was 3/4 of a mile from the start. I would definitely recommend this race, and I will do it again. New organizers, new course, after no race for 4 years.

Santa Clarita Marathon is a small, well organized local event. The course starts on a wide street. After 3 miles, it loops along the bank of a dry river bike route; and local parks. The scenic is valley view about the same all the way. Although it is small event, there were plenty well staffed and well stocked aid stations. There were volunteers to guide the ways in all road branches, junctions. Without their guidance, I may get lost somewhere along the way. Consider the size, there were many spectators along the way. Some sit on their balconies to cheer for the runners. It was a very nice day for running a marathon in 2019. The run started in cold morning. When we got into half way, the temperature got higher and air was dry. The California fire were in the neighborhood these few days. There was no pollution or any hint of impact to the event.

Mile 9-13 is slightly downhill but 7-9 is slightly uphill. Most of the other race is fairly flat and goes through a combination of natural parkland (though you run on asphalt) and regular roads. A few highlights for me: Pace runners at many different levels so its easy to find one going your desired speed; tons of volunteers and community members cheering you on; the starting and finish lines are fairly close together, making it easy for friends and family to find you; they have a loud and high-energy drum corps pounding away right near the finish line so that you get that last burst of energy to cross the finish line.

Flawless organization, PROMPT on-time start, excellent course support (water and sports drink almost every mile, never more than 2 miles apart), and some of the cheapest registration fees around make this a great marathon! The full marathon course gets a bit boring, due in part to the scenery and in part due to the lack of spectators after the half turn-off, but the scenery isn't by any means ugly (e.g., industrial yards and warehouses). 5-year age group brackets maximize your chance at an age-group placement/prize. I have run the half once and the full once and will definitely be returning for at least the half every year!

I thought that his race was especially well-organized, especially considering the marathon was only a few hundred runners (versus the much larger half marathon). It was less expensive than the going marathon price, hotels are plentiful in the area, parking was free and easy. The course has rolling hills, though nothing particularly steep of any length. Some parts weren't that interesting, especially Soledad Cyn Rd. at Miles 20-22. But the spectators and course support were excellent. I didn't pay exact attention, but it seemed like an aid station with both water and poweraid at least every mile, if not more. The finish line area was great - lots of places to sit and relax, unlike other marathons where there's no place to rest weary legs. Finish line refreshments were a bit sparse, but staffed with enthusiastic volunteers. Overall an excellent race and extremely well organized.

The logistical set up of this race was excellent. No traffic pulling in at 55 min prior to start. Less than an hour drive from most parts of LA. Easy parking structure right at the finish line and only a couple blocks from the start. Also this was the first time I've ever seen a race with enough porto-potties. And they were very nice ones to boot. It is a medium sized race (I believe a couple thousand runners), big enough to have energy at the start, small enough to make it easy to get in and out. The course was pretty flat except for the pedestrian overpasses near the finish. Some of the road to path transitions are a bit odd, running through apartment complex parking lots. Well stocked and frequent water stations. The weather was very cool, mid-40s to start, mid-60s to finish. A great PR opportunity. Flawless organization!

Loved the course which was mainly on bike/walking trails. There were very gradual hills but not any killer climbs. The 2nd half of course does get lonely and I had a stretch with nobody ahead or behind to be seen for about 15 minutes. 4 hr pace group was a little faster than it should have been at about 8:50/mile through 14 at that point I dropped back. Spectators sparse but volunteers enthusiatic. A little hot last few miles.

Just loved this race, well organized, and inexpensive compared others! Would definitely do it again next year! Good job organizers ! Keep it up! ;-)))

This was my seventh marathon and set a PR by about three minutes. This event has about triple the number of half marathoners, so after the split it gets lonely out there, making it much different from a big city marathon. If you run an 8:00/mile or faster, plan on running alone for most of the second half. The course runs along bike paths for most of the course to reduce the amount of road closures. It is a well organized event, and had a decent amount of spectators for a smaller marathon. There were also plenty of water stations. There was only one pace group, which was four hours because of the size of the marathon. So if you want to run a smaller event on a flat course, I highly recommend this marathon.

Just completed this marathon and had a great time. The course support from the volunteers was fantastic! At every water station you were greeted by enthusiastic volunteers that encouraged you along the way. I agree with the prior comment that once the full marathoners split from the half runners, you are suddenly by yourself and the other runners are few and far between, which is the way I like it. The weather was warm (finishing temp was at about 84 for me), but the water and Gatorade were cold. Would definitely recommend this race.

This was the first marathon I have participated in, and I am hooked. I went into this marathon very unsure of what my experience would be like, but the event felt like a 5 star event. Albeit this is my first marathon, the spectators and multitude of volunteers and motivation from other runners made it feel like family. Great accolades to the event organizers, volunteers, and countless involved. SCM you rock!

If it rains again this year and you want to wear a sweatshirt the first few miles and might want it back, the course lends itself to this. Shed the sweatshirt at mile 4 when the course turns left off the bike path and goes north on McBean over the river. Leave the shirt hanging on the fence. When you pass this same spot at mile 12, retrieve your shirt, carry it down to the turnoff for the half marathon, and leave it hanging on the fence again. You pass by this same spot at mile 25.8 and can grab your shirt with ease and carry it the last .4 to the finish line.

This was the first time I ran a marathon hoping to get a BQ so I had specific goals - flat, fast and good weather. Santa Clarita delivered on all three even though it rained for the first hour or so. The race itself is small if you're running the marathon. As is typical these days a vast majority of the people who run the race are doing the 1/2 so at the split off point you're all of a sudden running alone or virtually alone. The course is flat - I don't count overpasses as hills - but it makes a lot of turns. It avoids a lot of roads but you end up in strange places. There was one point where I was running and I couldn't see a runner ahead of me or behind me and couldn't see a spectator or volunteer and was navigating by signs posted on trees, fences, etc. Odd. At the end of the day I was able to fall in to my pace quickly, the aid stations were well stocked with supportive people and the price was great. And, if it matters, I BQ'd.

The local newspaper said the 2011 running of the Santa Clarita marathon was a 'well hydrated' event. It rained and was a bit cold at the start. This made the course tougher because of all the subtle turns on trails between subdivisions. There was an area of the course that was a stretch of loose gravel - hard to run on. Hills consisted of several overpasses and underpasses. There were also a few pedestrian bridges to cross. Otherwise one gets their money worth for the race. Spectators were few. Volunteers were great especially in the rain. Host hotel was great place to stay - easy walk to start and from finish.

The out-and-back around mile 20 was brutal, but other than that, the course was nice. The paseos are a fun challenge along the way, but they are taller than I was expecting. A very scenic, and surprisingly flat, course. It was also impressive how little of it was actually on city streets. The spectators/volunteers along the way were great, despite the rain at the beginning. It was quiet along most of the course, so it was great to have people stationed throughout it. Having the bibs for the full and half so similar in color did make pacing a littler harder at the beginning (especially considering how many more people do the half than the full), but I was able to find my groove quite easily.

I would highly recommend this marathon for anyone who is looking for a small cozy atmosphere and convenience. This is not a mega marathon, but a small city marathon that is priced right. You get a shirt, a medal, and plenty of support along the way. The marathon starts and finishes at the Hyatt Regency and there is plenty of parking. One of my favorite marathons to run in Southern California.

Having ran 16 Marathons and numerous 1/2's. It's nice to have a big marathon offered to you for a great value. For $73 bucks you get a great course, aid stations, shirt and medal. What a bargain. I really like the idea of the small crowds and the fact that you don't have to get up 3 hours early to be shuttled to the starting line- it's a looped course. Santa Clarita organizers thank you putting on this event. BL

The organization was great. In spite of bad weather, everyone did their part to make it a great marathon. It wasn't too crowded at all. My only complaints are their were a lot of down and backs, especially in the last half, and alot of the run was on bike paths, which is kind of hard on this old mans knees. Great T-shirt, medal wasn't very good. Overall great marathon.

The organization of the marathon was great. Being able to stay at a hotel within steps of the starting line is outstanding. While there are plenty of periods without spectators, the supporters that were there were very vocal. The course itself is beautiful and fast (except for the overpasses towards the end of the race!). I would suggest this race to anybody looking for a marathon that isn't overcrowded and overpriced. With LA only a short drive away, the race is in a perfect location.

Kudos to Santa Clarita for being well organized, well supported, and for having an increasingly beautiful course every year. The weather cooperated as usual. I have run this race several times, and 2010 was another super experience. It is the best local race going!

The Santa Clarita Marathon is a refreshing break from large marathon scene and is a great example of how an entire small community can pull of such a good event. Entry Fees: Even if you register late, the entry fee is still substantially lower than other local marathons such as Los Angeles, Long Beach and any Rock and Roll Marathon. Registration: Registration was easy, and you had the option to register via on-line or paper. Marathon Expo/Host Hotel: The marathon expo was fairly small but well-organized. It was held at the host hotel, the Hyatt. The marathon start and finish was just outside of the hotel. There was no pre-race pasta meal. The Starting Area: There seemed to be plenty of porta-potties in the starting area. The lines did not seem that long. The marathoners and half-marathoners started together at the same time, and although the 5K runners also began at the same time, they were on the opposite side of the street and a medium separated them from everyone else. A six-year-old girl sang the national anthem and received a loud round of applause when she finished. As usual, there were some slower runners who felt the need to station themselves near the front of the starting area. The Course: The course was mostly along bike paths throughout the city. There were a lot of twists and turns, some of them sharp, so at times the course was crowded. The half-marathoners split from the marathoners at the 12.5-mile mark, so the course really opened up for the marathoners after that. Although not an extremely difficult course, the course was at times deceptively challenging due to the rolling hills and numerous 90-, 180- and 360-degree turns. There were plenty of water stations along the way, and porta-potties were available. Spectators: There were a lot of enthusiastic spectators cheering on the runners throughout the marathon. As we ran through neighborhoods, it seemed that entire communities were out of their houses cheering for us. Volunteers: The volunteers were very helpful and supportive. They cheered us on as much as the spectators. The Finish Area: My only complaint of the marathon was the finish area. Once we crossed the finish line, there was not adequate space available for us to recover. Only about 10 yards separated the finish line from the volunteers who placed medals around the finishers' necks. There was no recovery area that separated the finishers from the crowds. We were all mixed in with one another less then 25 yards from the finish line. If bottled water was available, I did not see it. Recommendation: Although some fine-tuning needs to be done at the finish line, this is a great, small, community marathon that everyone should experience. I will run this one again at some point in the future.

This was my first marathon so I don't have other experiences for comparison but I thought it was fantastic, especially for a first marathon. I live in the area and had a chance to run many parts of the course. It starts on city streets and moves to running/bike paths after about 4 miles. It works well as the mixed marathon/half marathon participants spread out by the time the paths get narrower. The second half of the course is a bit quieter, as fewer than 25% of the people run the full (about 350 this year); however, the aid stations are plentiful (nearly every mile) and well staffed. There is great course staffing and pretty good fan/spectator support throughout. A great "first time" marathon, as it has a small-town feel but is supported as well as any large marathon and is a Boston qualifier. Highly recommended!

The marathoners are fewer than the half and the run is incredibly fun! The sights and terrain are constantly changing to make it go even more quickly. The support from the volunteers and on-lookers is unbeatable. :)

This was a fun little race. The course is flat to undulating with no major hills. It's a fairly fast course, but running up the ramps of the pedestrian bridges that came after mile 25 was challenging. Even so, this was my 10th marathon and my fastest. It was a luxury to be able to stay warm (and use a real bathroom!) at the Hyatt and then walk out to the start line 10 minutes before the race. Then at the finish you can walk right back to your room again since it finishes near the Hyatt. The expo is also at the Hyatt so the organization and convenience is nice. As expected at a small race, there are not a lot of spectators. If you need lots of music and cheering, go do a Rock-n-Roll. But the volunteers were superb; they were so enthusiastic! There were lots of kids with boundless energy, and people in costumes. They really helped keep me going. I would run this race again in a heartbeat.

Having never run this, I wasn't expecting so much. I liked the course because it had a lot of variety of scenery with many changes in direction. The bike trails were ideal. The course volunteers did a great job in directing the runners on this maze. The small-town feel was refreshing. I will do this one again. Great job, Santa Clarita!

I ran the half-marathon. I found the course really nice to run. It was a little hilly and kept twisting and turning so that you never felt like you were just running in a long line to nowhere. It was very well organized. It was fantastic to be able to walk from the Hyatt Valencia to the starting line. Thanks to all of the great volunteers handing out water!

Overall, this was a very good race, and I would recommend it to anyone. The course was very pleasant - the route followed city streets for about the first four or five miles, and then followed a biking/jogging trail. This worked out well because it gave runners more room until the crowd dispersed a bit. The organization was overall very good, and the staff were very pleasant and helpful. One area of concern was that the half marathon participants began in the same group as the marathoners, and out-numbered the marathoners by about four to one. This was a problem for me, because I kind of allowed myself to be pulled by the flow at a pace slightly faster than I had planned running. This is my own fault; staying to your planned pace is much easier said than done when most everyone else is going fast. The spectators were great and very enthusiastic. The kids a the aid stations (water and Gatorade at every mile) were wonderful! I would only add that the race organizers could have made life A LOT easier for their volunteers had they placed trash cans about 50 feet past each aid station instead of just telling folks to just throw their cups on the ground. Although I normally don't like live bands at my marathons, the bands were actually pretty good and got people pumped up. Three cheers for "Bulletproof Socks." They rocked! The support at the finish line was great. Overall, no real criticisms... every marathon is different. I enjoyed this one a great deal. Finally, I would just like to say that this race, and all races in general would be a lot more enjoyable if all participants would be just a little more mindful of basic, good citizenship. For example, instead of just dropping their cups to the ground when finished, some people would throw them over fences or overpasses. Come on, people! Also, some people like to spit over their shoulders without looking. The examples of rude behavior could go on and on. It's a shame that some people are so oblivious to the impact of their actions on others. On the whole, great day.

This is a nice small marathon, with few spectators, beautiful volunteers - most of them children, filled with cheers and support for runners. The course is nice; once it splits from the half, it gets nicer but lonelier. It needs to have gel on mile 18-20, but they had very good hydration fountains. I like this marathons where there is no waiting in the cold or rain, and once you're finished, in 500 meters, you're in your hotel room. Congratulations; I enjoyed it.

I really don't have anything bad to say about this marathon: nice, small expo; very organized registration process; and parking was super easy, right by the finish line. I was a little worried when I saw that the marathoners and half-marathoners were all starting together, but the pack dispersed quickly, and the course never felt crowded. Overall, a nice course.... mostly on smooth asphalt bike paths. I wouldn't describe it as a fast course, as there were lots of twists, turns, and a few hills (equal number of downhills and uphills), but a fun course to run nevertheless. Volunteer support was excellent, with lots of kids handing out Gatorade and water. No spectators really, but the volunteers helped cheer the runners on. Nice, shiny, colorful medal at the finish! I would recommend this race to anyone... not the best if you're going for a PR, but a really nice marathon.

This was my first Santa Clarita Marathon. The whole experience was great! What made this marathon great was the volunteers. The kids on the course handing out water and Gatorade were amazing. I, for one, really appreciate people taking time out of their Sunday to cheer on others and hand out drinks and Clif Blocks. I would highly recommend this marathon to others. I will definitely be back next year. I loved the close proximity of the Hyatt Hotel to the start and finish. A big thanks to the organizers for putting on such a great race.

Plenty of water stations, and a flat and fast course - my best time in years.

Those looking for big crowds (whether on the course or on the sidelines) will be disappointed. But for those who care only (or mostly) about the running, this is a great one. Easy and convenient parking, race starts on time, no need to dodge slow runners or walkers who feel compelled to start at the front, flat course, and good odds the weather will cooperate. To the lady who gave me some Clif electrolyte cubes (or something like that) after mile 18: I was so focused on not falling apart that I forgot to thank you. So here's A HUGE THANKS to you!

What I liked about this race was that everything was very convenient... from the hotel to the restaurants to the parking, everything was literally within a few steps away. Like a previous reviewer said, it seemed like all the kids in town volunteered for this race. Great crowd support. Concrete for a couple of miles around mile 17 was tough on the joints. A few out-and-backs made this course mentally challenging at times. Not terribly scenic... "peaceful" would be the best way I can describe the course. I finished dead last... that's probably the only reason I might be back for next year's race. Plus, as I mentioned earlier, it's hassle-free (make that two reasons). If I don't get in the lottery for NYC, I'll try to get my "revenge" on this course.

Staying at the host hotel 200 yards from the start was great. There are advantages to being able to use your own bathroom, and then stroll over to the start line. There were signs up all along the main road where the marathon would be run the next day, which I thought was great for getting people excited. The start was a little crowded as the half and full marathoners started together, but it quickly spread out. This course is pretty fast, the only "hills" coming from paseos (under freeways and roads) and overpasses, but it was a little warm for a longer race. It could start a little earlier. Pros: More than enough aid stations, well stocked, and a clearly marked (for the most part), relatively fast course. Great, small expo at the host hotel the day before. Cons: Not nearly enough food and drink at the finish, especially for a marathon. After two hours, they still had not figured out results (and nobody knew how much longer it would take), so I left without official results or awards (I'd get a nice plaque in the mail... a month later). The first 3-4 runners in the half were sent the wrong way two miles in (not sure if this was fixed)... and after seeing them go one way, we were directed another way. Very confusing. Otherwise, the course was well marked. Overall, it was an average effort. I'd do it again if I lived closer, but there are better run (and more scenic) marathons closer to Reno (Cowtown in Sacramento was great).

I think this is a great marathon event. I tend to have issues with dehydration and hyponatremia during endurance events. I ran both the 2006 and 2007 versions of this event (different courses) and did not have any severe health issues in either year, which indicates to me that there was sufficient nourishment out on the course. I thought the weather was excellent. I ran a 1:45 first half and a 1:33 second half. My guess is that folks who have issues in the second half of this or any other marathon event did not prepare adequately either in training or race day strategy or both. The only problem I had was near the end of the event when the course traverses a few narrow foot bridges. Coming off the last bridge, some half marathon walkers were walking two abreast and blocking that part of the last quarter mile where some people are trying pick up their pace.

There was almost no shade, and for runners who take more than 4 hours to finish, this became a problem as the sun rose higher in the sky. (Only about three of the 26 miles were in shade.) Because this race started after the end of daylight savings time, the sun was high in the sky shortly after the race began. I agree with those comment writers who suggested an earlier start on race day. There were plenty of water stops, most offering both water and Gatorade. (By the end of the race, though, the Gatorade was as hot as the atmosphere.) By my count, there were more than 25 water stops, each one of which was welcome in the sun-baked heat. The volunteers were cheerful and supportive. There were few spectators, but that doesn't bother me: I'm not a big fan of being cheered on by strangers.

Initially, I was negative about the entire event, but after running my first Santa Clarita Marathon, I was totally blown away. I thought it was highly organized. The staff and volunteers were fabulous. Unlike other marathons, Santa Clarita had more than enough water and Gatorade and power gels to go around for all the runners during the race. Next year I know not to run with a Fuel Belt next time. The sad part was that there wasn't anymore Gatorade left when I approached the finish line. There were many hills, but not like the steep hills in San Francisco. Everything was convenient.The parking, the location, and the nearby restaurants. The runners shirts and medals were great too. Thanks Santa Clarita for making it a great event.