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☰
Napa Valley Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Napa Valley Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.7 
Organization 4.7 
Spectators 3.9
Number of comments: 160 [displaying comments 111 to 121]
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J. L. from San Jose, California
(3/8/2005)
"Lovely day, majestic course, and friendly cast" (about: 2005)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Napa Valley Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Napa was my second marathon. I had a blast. Literally, all the stars were aligned for this race; the sun came up just seconds before the start! Aid stations were plentiful, the goody bag was cool, the NVM shirt was a real running shirt, the course was better than advertised, and we were blessed with perfect weather. Thanks to the organizers and I look forward to running NVM in '07 ('06 is reserved for Boston, thanks to this run!). | |
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G. U. from Elk Grove, CA
(3/7/2005)
"Must Run This One" (about: 2005)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Napa Valley Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 Overall - a very nice race and well organized. The course scenery is spectacular - miniature fog banks hang over vineyards in the early morning - and then evaporate as the sun peeks over the hills. North to South run - so bring your sunglasses. You get the whole Silverado Trail (two-lane highway) for most of the race (mile 19) so not crowded at all. Predominantly downhill - but there are rolling hills (but nothing major). Maybe a slightly more difficult course than the CIM with some of those hills later in the race (mile 19-20 is the last one). Good spectators - but sparse. I think access for spectators is not easy (but am not certain). Finish is at a local high school where the volunteer/race organization was great. No less than 20 tables of post-race massages meant less than a 5 minute wait! Also - a very nice goody bag and race shirt. Only complaint is this: Mile markers are these little signs like sidewalk cafe signs. They are too low to the ground and difficult to see if you are in a crowd of runners or if spectators are standing around them. Nobody there reading out times either. We passed a number of markers without realizing it. | |
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Dave Bart from Antioch, California
(3/7/2005)
"Wonderful experience, perfect race!!" (about: 2005)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Napa Valley Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I just fininshed the 2005 Napa Marathon and it was PERFECT. The course was very beautiful, the organization well run and efficient, the weather was better than I had hoped for and the experience was one I will always remember. In truth, I can't find anything negative to say about the race. THANKS to the all the people who made this happen, THANKS to all the spectators who got up early and came out on Sunday morning to cheer and share the joy and excitement with us runners...THANKS to the kind folks who were there at the aid stations and at the finish line...YOU ARE THE BEST!!! Of the five marathons I have participated in, this one is the BEST!!! | |
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S. M. from Lakeport, CA
(1/19/2005)
"Neighboring Treasure" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 6+ Napa Valley Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Gearing up for my 8th trip down the Silverado Trail. I look forward to this marathon each year. Living just an hour from the starting line in Lake County, I find it truly a gift to live in such beautiful surroundings. My first marathon was the '76 Honolulu and this will be my 48th. My son will be running with me this year for the first time. It will be his 3rd. Look forward to seeing the horses dancing and playing for the race crowd in the field adjacent to starting line... and hope for no rain and wind like we had a few years back. Nasty! | |
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A. H. from New Haven, CT
(12/8/2004)
"Absolutely great" (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Napa Valley Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon (at age 58). I ran with my daughter. The course is beautiful and very easy to run. The water stations were good for my needs (5:03:45). The weather was great - a little warm at the end. The buses could have left earlier which would have given a little more time for the porta-potties. A great trip for Easterner's to visit Napa and San Francisco. This one sold out in January, so don't wait too long. | |
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A. M. from San Francisco
(12/6/2004)
"Great race, little pacing help" (about: 2004)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Napa Valley Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 4 What a great course. The downside is that there are no pacing volunteers (just mile markers), so you are on your own. I would have friends be there to make sure you have food, because GU is not available and you are not sure what aid stations will have during the course. It is like the CIM, but with no running help. But a great crowd of locals! All in all, a great course for a 'fun' run. | |
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M. R. from San Diego, CA
(3/23/2004)
"A race that gives 150%!" (about: 2004)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Napa Valley Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Napa Marathon is a spectacular race for first-timers and veteran marathoners! Thank you for setting up personal aid stations. This truly makes your race a cut above the rest!!! I have just one complaint: Please go back to a shirt that has a dry weave or polyester blend so I can use it!!!! The cotton shirt is of no use to me! And I love the past design with the map of the course. Thanks, Michelle. | |
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J. L. from toronto, canada
(3/22/2004)
"Couldn't have picked a better first marathon" (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Napa Valley Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon, and I chose it carefully (okay I relied heavily on ratings/comments from this site when choosing between it and some other, bigger marathons) but I wasn't really sure what to expect. I'm so glad I chose Napa - I can't imagine a better overall marathon experience. An experienced marathoner had told me 'your goal for a first shouldn't be time, it should be to finish happy and feeling like you want to do another'. Well, I missed my time goal but I sure hit the 'happy, do another' goal. The scenery (especially first 18 miles) has to be seen to be believed, and the volunteers are so polite and encouraging - Napa guaranteed I will run another marathon. I'd recommend this race to anyone. It's old-school, sure, with no Championchip or gels. But isn't that more of a positive than a negative? A watch does the same job as a chip and it's such a small field of runners, they'll put out 'special drinks' for anyone, not just elite runners. I enjoyed the small, supportive scale and found it a plus that it was less of a circus than some half-marathons I've run. I wasn't quite prepared for the heat (especially after doing all my long training runs in blizzards) but a hat was enough to keep sun out of my eyes, and there was plenty of water at aid stations to dump over your head or body. I really didn't find traffic an issue. Race staff had warned runners that one lane is open to traffic after the first bit (ten miles or so?) but even after that point, to be honest, I have no memory of seeing more than a half-dozen cars in total, and a few squads of cyclists - certainly nothing in the runners' lane. Drawbacks? I guess, as in all races, there could be more porta potties... the first few miles do feature that ankle-busting slant (but the road levels off pretty quickly, so your ankles do recover)... that last hill isn't steep, but it sure is long and sunny... Pretty lame drawbacks, eh? But that's the best (or do I mean worst?) I could come up with - and I had to think hard! Run this race. You won't regret it. | |
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F. G. from San Francisco
(3/15/2004)
"Run this course!!" (about: 2004)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Napa Valley Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 The course is gently rolling for the most part - yes, there are some inclines in the first 10 miles and one later in the race, around 19-20 or so, but nothing horrible. The only negative thing I have to say about this race is that you're facing the sun the whole way, so do bring sunglasses and/or a hat. Lots of food and drink along the course, great volunteers, well organized... this is definitely going to become an annual event! | |
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Jim Daigneau from Calgary, AB, Canada
(3/15/2004)
"Well-organized, very scenic and enjoyable race!" (about: 2004)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Napa Valley Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was my second marathon and quite a contrast from running with the the huge crowds at the Chicago LaSalle in 2002. NVM offers a 'postcard' scenic race course, well organized, well supported, friendly people and very good logistics (although would have appreciated gels in the final miles). The race shirt, bag and finisher's medal were all first rate. Would run this one again without hesitation and highly recommmend it to other runners. Really enjoyed running a smaller race in a picturesque setting and...the sunny, warm weather in early March was a welcome bonus (I'm from Western Canada). |
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