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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 51 to 61]
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B. O. from San Diego, CA
(3/20/2008)
"Great race; almost lived up to expectations" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Napa Valley Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 The course lived up to expectations. Very scenic, peaceful and free from traffic. There are a few rolling hills, but nothing too difficult. Expect to be running with the sun in your eyes for the last 6 miles. Plenty of water stations and great volunteers. The organization was good, but still had plenty of room for improvement. The finish area was a bit of a disappointment. You finish along on a small driveway at the school, and spectators are not allowed in the area. Also, it's nice that there is a volunteer to greet you and ask if everything is okay, but it would have been nice if they would have provided some directions as to food, showers, bag pick-up, etc. As it was, I wandered around looking for things. Packet pick-up was easy, but the expo was small compared to others. On race day, expect a 15-minute wait to board the bus. It was very windy and cold at the start in Calistoga, so take advantage of the sweat bag transport option. There were very long lines for the porta-potties and not very many along the course. If you have spectators, you are given a map at the expo listing the best places for viewing. People tend to crowd into two locations at mile 9.5 and 16, but don't overlook the other locations. Lastly, they seem to make a big deal about not wearing headphones on the race website. However, this was never mentioned at all during packet pick-up or pre-race. I didn't bring mine, but I saw a few people with music players on the course. Overall, I would consider doing this race again. | |
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D. G. from Minnesota
(3/11/2008)
"late to the start" (about: 2008)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Napa Valley Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 Beautiful course, and exceptional volunteers. I'm a little annoyed that the bus got us to the start line late, however. I got off the bus and immediately got in line for the porta-potty. Still not enough time to get the job done and get up to the starting line. There were probably 200+ people still waiting in line for the johns when the gun went off. This wouldn't be that bad if the race was chip-timed, but it was not, so I lost about 3-4 minutes off my actual time. My only other complaint is that the packet pickup was a disorganized mess. Despite starting late, I still posted a PR on this really fast course, and had a great time. I'll definitely do Napa Valley again!!! | |
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B. G. from Bellingham, WA
(3/9/2008)
"Lives up to its reputation" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Napa Valley Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my 6th marathon and a great event to be privileged to participate in. The expo and presentations were outstanding for a race of this size. Hearing Joe Henderson, Dick Beardsley, Helen Klein and Joan Benoit-Samuelson was a huge treat and motivator. Though a bit chillier than expected at the windy start, temps raised quickly as the sun stayed with us in perfectly clear skies and the tailwind gave a nice gentle push up the early easy undulating hills. Beautiful landscape and so nice to be running in a spring in full blossom and warmth compared to the colder climate I left. Aid stations were well stocked and friendly. They seemed to be there just when I needed them (the orange slices saved me for the last 8 miles). The only glitch seemed to bet that my shuttle bus arriving 15 minutes prior to start. Many people trying to hit the porta-potties located smack in the middle of the start. Also seems that if they ban our Mp3's (OK with me), they should ban cell phones too. Amazed at how many people chat on phones when they run (in no way ruined this great race; just noticing more cell phone talkers at races these days). What a great race!! A huge thanks to the organizers and volunteers. A personal best was the icing on the cake. | |
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T. S. from Indianapolis
(3/7/2008)
"Lousy time, but a great time!" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Napa Valley Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Despite running one of my worst races ever, I had loads of fun. Beautiful course, and even for a flatlander, the hills weren't bad. While it's difficult for the spectators to get to a lot of places on the course, the ones that made it were enthusiastic and helped a lot. The only negative was lack of chip-timing. Going into the event, I felt I was on cusp of BQ. Turned out I wasn't even close, but had I missed it by a minute or two due to lack of chip, I would have been upset. I recommend staying at a B&B in Calistoga. Didn't have to get up so early to catch a bus to the start, met a lot of other fun running people, and seven inns went together to provide a pasta feed that featured a great talk from Dick Beardsley. Coming a few hours after hearing Joan Benoit Samuelson at the expo, there's no reason why I shouldn't have had enough inspiration to get that BQ. Oh, well, maybe next time, and maybe it will be here. | |
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K. T. from Minnesota
(3/7/2008)
"Beautiful Course!" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Napa Valley Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Napa 2008 was one of my favorite courses. The scenery is beautiful and we had a perfect weather day - 40 at the start and high 60's at the finish. The CHP did a great job of keeping cars off the course. Volunteers and water stops were plentiful with water, Gatorade, oranges and other stuff. Appreciated the GU! The course is mostly flat with a few hills at miles 1.5, 5 and 19, but downhill from 20.5. Course is easy to spectate - my husband saw me at the start, four places during the race and still made it to the finish. It's not like the Twin Cities, but the spectators that are out there are great and you get to enjoy the scenery. Best goody bag - a nice canvas duffel bag perfect for taking to the gym! T-shirt is a quality Asics long-sleeve technical. Medal is a heavy spinner - really pretty. Downers - packet pickup was crowded and a little disorganized. Give it its own place out of the expo. There were lots of porta-potties at the start but too close to everyone lining up - need to move them back. Highly recommend the Napa Marathon!! | |
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S. M. from Boise, Id
(3/6/2008)
"A marathon to do; it's a beautiful course!" (about: 2008)
6-10 previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 This was my 8th marathon; the course was lovely. For the 1st 13 miles, the curves and slanting roads made it a bit difficult consistently to find level sections to run. This made for a challenging 1st half. The bananas at the rest stations were awesome. I generally find they are quick and easy-to-digest source of potassium. Even though it was a small marathon, chip timing would have been nice for those of us who like looking at splits. The number of people was just the right amount. I never felt alone. The start of the marathon was weak - no national anthem, and if I had not been near the front, I would not have been able to hear whoever called out, "Go!" (if that was even what they called out). All in all, the run was very pleasant... along with the post-race food and the lovely music. The beautiful sunshine was great, even though that's not something the race directors can control. It sure helps to have great weather. | |
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t. m. from lakeport ca.
(3/6/2008)
"The marathon was great" (about: 2008)
4-5 previous marathons
| 3 Napa Valley Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 The way we started was bad for my time. By the time I was able to get in front at the starting point, I had lost about 10 to 15 minutes. | |
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c. b. from Reno, NV
(3/5/2008)
"Great mid-sized marathon" (about: 2008)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Napa Valley Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my 5th marathon, and 4th since October. I've run a large international race (Las Vegas '96), and 3 smaller ones (Sacramento-Cowtown '07, Santa Clarita '07, and Redding '08). This one was larger than the last 3, as it reached the 2,300 person limit. If you're into vineyards, the course is all you could ask for, as it runs the entire length of the Silverado Trail. Nine out of 10 years, there is great weather for this race. It was windy, but more tailwind than anything else - catastrophe averted! The expo on Saturday was small, but fun. The pasta feed was the best I've experienced so far (5 choices of pasta of which I had 4), although having wine and beer at pre-race festivities is just mean. :) There were rolling hills, and although I wouldn't describe it as a PR course, it does lose over 200 feet in elevation. There were 2 or 3 uphills of notice, and4-5 downhills... the rest was pretty gentle. Crowd support was sporadic, but enthusiastic! The finish area was adequate, although a little short on the type of calorie-dense foods I was craving after the race. Stretching and massage were both available, and your sweat bag is actually an Asics gym bag with the race logo (in additional to a long-sleeve Asics tech tee). Overall, a great experience, and since I'm new at this long stuff, I did manage a 2:42:10 PR! This was my favorite of the 5 marathons I've done, but that may have just as much to do with the fact that we went wine tasting for the next two days as the race itself. I will be back in the future if the fates allow. | |
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T. W. from Scottsdale, AZ
(3/5/2008)
"Great Marathon" (about: 2008)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Napa Valley Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 What an awesome run! From the pasta dinner the night before with Joan Benoit Samuelson as featured speaker, to the jazz band at the finish, everything was great. The hills were short and over before you knew it, and the tailwind was a big help. It seemed to pick up just as I was heading up a hill! I would highly recommend this marathon and will return. | |
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J. B. from Dayton, OH
(3/5/2008)
"Add this marathon to your 'must do' list!" (about: 2008)
4-5 previous marathons
| 2 Napa Valley Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This is my second NVM and I can't say enough about how well the race is organized and how much I enjoy the course. Because of the self-imposed size limite, we rarely get such a great course and sophisticated organization with a race of this size. If you have friends or family with you, and they have a car, they can find you at a number of points along the way. |
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