calendar icon Nov 15, 2024

Pacific Crest Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Pacific Crest Marathon Information & Reviews

Course Rating Course 4.4 
 
Oranization Rating Organization 4.1 
 
Spectator Rating Spectators 3.1 
 
 
Number of comments: 42 [displaying comments 1 to 11]
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J. S. from Boise Idaho (6/30/2013)
"Poor quality of getting results for awards." (about: 2013)

50+ previous marathons | 2 Pacific Crest Marathons
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 3  FANS: 5


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

 

C. H. from Brooklyn, NY (5/19/2013)
"Beautiful race, prepare for the altitude" (about: 2012)

6-10 previous marathons | 3 Pacific Crest Marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 4


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.

 

B. F. from Roseburg OR (6/24/2012)
"AWESOME Marathon in 2012" (about: 2012)

2 previous marathons | 1 Pacific Crest Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


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.

 

J. G. from Oregon (6/26/2011)
"pretty double loop marathon" (about: 2011)

6-10 previous marathons | 1 Pacific Crest Marathon
COURSE: 3  ORGANIZATION: 2  FANS: 2


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!

 

B. B. from Boise, ID (4/15/2011)
"Great course but not for racing." (about: 2009)

50+ previous marathons | 2 Pacific Crest Marathons
COURSE: 3  ORGANIZATION: 2  FANS: 3


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.

 

Gary Davis from Camarillo, California (11/27/2010)
"Beautiful course, great organization & volunteers" (about: 2010)

4-5 previous marathons | 1 Pacific Crest Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 2


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.

 

R. W. from Birmingham, Alabama (9/8/2009)
"Beautiful, scenic, small marathon" (about: 2009)

4-5 previous marathons | 1 Pacific Crest Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 3


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.

 

J. B. from Rock Hill, South Carolina (7/8/2009)
"Beautiful area, wonderful hosts and organization" (about: 2009)

50+ previous marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 4


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.

 

d. w. from Mesa, Arizona (6/29/2009)
"Beautiful, shady, scenic run" (about: 2009)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Pacific Crest Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


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!

 

J. H. from Washington State (6/29/2009)
"Great organization, great volunteers, great events" (about: 2009)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Pacific Crest Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 3


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.

 

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