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Big Sur International Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Big Sur International Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.9 
Organization 4.8 
Spectators 3.7
Number of comments: 212 [displaying comments 131 to 141]
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D. S. from Minneapolis MN
(5/2/2006)
"the most spectacular view I have ever seen" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Big Sur International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Yes, a hard one; ok, it's a given. But WOW, I have never run on such a beautiful coarse. I just got inspired by each and every turn. I was high the whole time. I loved it, and I'd do it again in a minute (well maybe a year). | |
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J. K. from San Francisco, CA
(5/2/2006)
"The ultimate runner's high!" (about: 2006)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Big Sur International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 While this is a bear of a course, it was by far the best I've run! There's nothing like the scenic views of Big Sur to make you forget the pain of all those hills! The organization of this race is phenomenal - I have to applaud all those volunteers for getting out there to set up at 4 a.m. on a dark highway, and the transportation to the start was like clockwork. While the crowds are sparse, those who actually came out to watch were great, and the on-course entertainment was awesome (a little different from your typical Rock N Roll Marathon, but definitely fitting for the course)! This marathon is a must-run! | |
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Laurel Grasset from Oakville, Ontario, Canada
(4/30/2006)
"AMAZING RACE" (about: 2002)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Big Sur International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 I power-walked the BIG SUR 21-mile walk in 2005. Our coach did it in 2004. She took a group down 2006 again. I just did LONDON FLORA in England. Amazing, beautiful and our walkers DO walk to the left and train just as hard as the runners do for this. We had a special hour-and-a-half class for this weekly, doing hills! WOULD LIKE TO DO IT NEXT YEAR again. YEAH to Big Sur organization for having a POWER-WALK. I did 4:57 in 2005 and we had two of our male walkers do 3:48. So thanks again, and what a great race, with great views and weather. | |
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William Tichenor from Dallas, TX
(2/16/2006)
"It sucked me in again!" (about: 2005)
2 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This was my first marathon of 2005, and I did three more! It is the best. Course, organization, everything! And when you have to bus down there at 4 a.m., that's saying something. I'm in again this year as well. It is a tough course to P.R. on, though. | |
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M. D. from Somerville, MA
(8/2/2005)
"Perfect Race Experience!" (about: 2005)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Big Sur International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I enjoyed this race experience all around. The scenery was breathtaking, the course was challenging but not impossible, the other runners were friendly as were the volunteers and the weather was also perfect for running 26.2 miles. It definitely helped that I was able to run a personal best here by 12 minutes! I also want to add that I enjoyed having the walkers on the course. Due to it being point-to-point, there is not much chance for spectators before the final miles. I found the walkers to be very supportive and always ready with an encouraging word. They did a great job of following the markings in the road as well. I had been worried about congestion based on comments read on this site but experienced none of what the others report! Go walkers! :) Definitely worth the trip. I'd recommend to anyone to do this race at least once! | |
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Patrick McColgan from Atlanta GA
(5/15/2005)
"Worth doing once or twice" (about: 2005)
2 previous marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Course was challanging and the scenery was amazing. Who didn't enjoy seeing the whales jumping in the ocean, the cries of the sea lions, or the mist along the cliffs? Lots of power walkers kept you focusing on getting around them instead of enjoying what was around you. Not much for activities before or after except for the pasta party and the expo. I thought I was going to get run over while I was at the expo it was so crowded, and I missed the pasta party. The after-race activities shut down quickly and there wasn't much else to do for the 'out-of-towners' around the area. Buses back to Monterey were a little confusing Being on East Coast time I didn't mind the 3:30am wake up to make the buses, but I could see how this could be annoying. The race itself was well organized, I did hear a few people complain they ran out of Gatorade at the later water stations. Overall, I enjoyed the race; I would like to do it again for the challange of the course and the scenery, but I was not impressed with Monterey enough to make this a yearly outing. | |
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G. P. from Atlanta, GA
(5/11/2005)
"Really a wonderful experience" (about: 2005)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Big Sur International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I agree with the previous commenter (AM from the East Coast). I too traveled across the county and I'm glad I did, because it was a five-star experience. Nevertheless it probably is slightly over-hyped. I thought the race officials (in their blue blazers) were exceptional and I was surprised how well the bus ride to the start was handled. The descents really hurt me. After this experience, I will pay closer attention to course elevation charts and information. I sort of concur with other commenters about the walkers. But I think we non-walkers sometimes get a little uppity. I finished exactly in the middle and never was overly annoyed by the walkers. Actually, I was more bothered by the Galloway runner/walkers who would suddenly stop and begin walking. I thought the spectators were very supportive where there actually were spectators. The finish area was kind of over-congested, but I suspect the area is really the only available space remotely large enough. | |
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B. L. from Cleveland, Ohio
(5/9/2005)
"Magnificent in all facets" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Big Sur International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 What a magnificent experience. It was 26.2 of the most beautiful, challenging, fun miles I have ever run. I haven't been able to stop raving about this run since I got back. This course is all it is reported to be. Words just don't measure up to the the beauty of the course. The volunteers were the friendliest I've come across in all my past marathons. Medical personnel on bikes are a great idea. But to me the best part of the whole run was the camaraderie of the runners. Since there aren't many spectators throughout most of the course, it was just us and the course, and that is what made this marathon experience so special. Big Sur should be on every marathoners 'must-do' list. | |
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G. T. from Pennsylvania
(5/8/2005)
"Most beautiful course of the 14 marathons ran." (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Big Sur International Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 The scenery is awesome and the support was more than up to the task. Sometimes it was difficult to find the mile markers because this marathon relies on people calling out your location and time. No times were being called at some of the mile markers. Finish line festivities were excellent. Recommend staying at the Lighthouse Inn. They went out of their way to pack us a bagged breakfast and even offered to drive us to the shuttle buses. Make sure you do plenty of hill training if you plan to run this marathon. Think of Hurricane Point as your first hill, not your last... there are many more to come. | |
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A. M. from East Coast
(5/3/2005)
"A little blown out of proportion" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Big Sur International Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Reading the comments on the BSIM, you would think this race was some magical experience. It is not, but that is not to say that it is not a great race. It is, but the hype is a little too much. That being said, I would run it again, but not fly across the country for it. It is a well run marathon. The course is difficult, much more so because of all the walkers. They seem to walk 4-5 abreast. It is difficult to run as hard as you can when you see people walking, taking pictures, etc... One starts to think, 'What is the point?' At some points I felt like I was running through people walking around at an outdoor mall. It sort of cheapened the ending to be finishing with 30 walkers around you. The aid stations are good, although there should be more of them. Packet pickup was great, the shirt and medal were fine. Do not underestimate the hills or the slant/canter of the road. The last 5 miles are much more difficult than Hurricane Point. The views are nice, but they are the same all throughout the area. If the sun is shining or the wind is blowing, the course would be more difficult due to the exposure. The timers were great. Every mile they called out your gun time and estimated finish time. The post-race massage was wonderful, as was the beer. The weather was great this year. The buses at the end were somewhat confusing and the 3:00 a.m. wake-up call for a 3:45 a.m. bus is draining. |
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