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☰
Silicon Valley Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Silicon Valley Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 3.7 
Organization 3.9 
Spectators 3.1
Number of comments: 54 [displaying comments 21 to 31]
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R. E. from Vancouver, WA
(10/31/2006)
"This is a DELIGHTFUL mid-sized marathon" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Silicon Valley Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This is a delightful mid-sized marathon. Easy logistics: I was able to park for free just two blocks from the start and finish. The course was quite scenic once you got out onto the Los Gatos Creek Trail. The course had a nice elevation profile: slight incline on the way out to M13 and then a slight decline back. Excellent race organization overall. I am baffled by a previous comment about the post-race celebration... because I thought it was great - plenty of food, two live jazz bands, FREE SMOOTHIES, plenty of green park space to soak up the sun, well-run awards; wonderful, really.... I have run six marathons just in California, and this is definitely one of my favorites. I would do this race again in a heartbeat.... Worth a trip for out-of-towners, THANKS to the whole marathon planning and management team (and I have no relation to any of them!). | |
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h. j. from australia
(10/31/2006)
"My 4th marathon and the most fun!" (about: 2001)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Silicon Valley Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Nice course for those who like constant change of scenery, and not many open road stretches. Plenty of water stops with nice temp water. - not too cold to drink! Lol! I'm a raw vegan and they had oranges and bananas after the finish. I don't eat plastic sugar anymore, but they had that at various parts on the course for those who do. Small bunches of very cheerful spectators. EXTREMELEY well run by organizers! I recommend it to all! | |
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K. K. from San Francisco
(10/31/2006)
"Avoid Amino Vital as a sports drink!" (about: 2006)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Silicon Valley Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 The course was well marked but I would try to alert the community about the Los Gatos Trail being used that day. Trying to dodge bikers, walkers and dogs wasn't easy. Also, I would consider serving a different sports drink from Amino Vital - why serve a drink with so little carbs/sugars? I ended up drinking it on accident and had stomach cramps from mile 6 to the end of the half-marathon. | |
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M. F. from Silicon Valley
(10/31/2006)
"OK, but not great..." (about: 2006)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Silicon Valley Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 Much of the course is on a local trail that is not closed for the race. The trail itself is fine (though a bit boring), but the zooming cyclists and large groups of weekend walkers can be a distraction. It is tough for spectators to get to the trail portions of the course as well. Considering this race takes place in and is named after Silicon Valley, home of much technological innovation, it is surprising how few technology-based features this race has to offer. The expo before and the post-race celebration aren't worth the time. Silicon Valley has lovely weather this time of year, so that's a plus! | |
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J. Z. from Oakland, CA
(10/30/2006)
"Better than I expected" (about: 1997)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Silicon Valley Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my 2nd marathon. I wasn't expecting much, and was pleasantly surprised. Most of the course is along a public creek trail and there weren't that many others on the trail. The course was well marked and well staffed. Lots of hydration stops, a few Clif Shots, and one stop offering doughnuts(!). The finish-line expo was pretty small. Enthusiastic fans. | |
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K. P. from Oakland, CA
(10/30/2006)
"Beautiful Run" (about: 2006)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Silicon Valley Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This was a very well organized race. The weather was PERFECT for running. There were plenty of water stop stations - I didn't even use all of the liquids I was carrying. The Los Gatos Creek trail is a nice path to run along, but can get very lonely. There aren't a lot a spectators, but I ran with an awesome group of people and finished with a first-time marathoner. GREAT EXPERIENCE! | |
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J. G. from Santa Cruz, CA
(10/30/2006)
"Marketing excellent, organization fair" (about: 2006)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Silicon Valley Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 This is a small and quiet marathon. Excellent, friendly and helpful volunteers and plenty of water stops. Police did a great job with the traffic. Not much of cheering crowds but the people who came were enthusiastic. It was 52 at the start, 68 at the finish - sunny with low clouds toward the mountains. The trail was really crowded with runners, walkers, people walking their dogs and bicycles in the first half. I had a hard time finding my pace while dodging obstacles/people. There are some sneaky poles in the way and the course has many 90 deg. turns. It was a completely different and fun race experience in the second half when one actually had the opportunity to enjoy the scenery, the weather and the people. Organization was pretty disappointing. No online information available regarding the sweat bags at the start line, small numbers of toilets at the start line (30-minute wait), and although advertised online, there were no half marathon split times. Results became available online very late and messed up (ranking) - I came in 1500th out of 1030 (not final I am sure)? Silicon Valley? Volunteers, spectators, Los Gatos Creek Trail and other runners made the race worthwhile. | |
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T. c. from USA
(11/2/2005)
"Not the best, but good for a first-timer" (about: 2005)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Silicon Valley Marathon
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 This is my first marathon. I did the 1/2 in SF so I think I got a little spoiled. I have run the Los Gatos Creek Trail every Saturday for 6 months so I knew what to expect but wanted the support of my running group. I think the trail was a mistake due to the fact there were only 3 places for spectators to watch. The course does get very lonely and lots of bikers were very inconsiderate to runners. I think the biggest letdown was the post-marathon party. More goodies would have made me want to come back again, but I won't do this race again. | |
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S. R. from Petaluma, CA
(11/2/2005)
"Small, well-organized race" (about: 2005)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Silicon Valley Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I was impressed by the organization of this race. The host hotel was very near the start/finish areas, and it began right on time (my previous marathon got started 25 minutes late). Aid stations were plentiful enough and well-manned. The course was flat except for a few small inclines and much of it followed a paved trail through some fairly scenic parklands. A bit warmer than I would have liked, but not bad. I didn't meet my time goal but still set a PR. | |
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J. P. from the midwest
(11/2/2005)
"Low-stress marathon" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Silicon Valley Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This a real nice, small, low-stress marathon. Good organization. Excellent volunteers and good water stops. Police did a great job with the traffic. Not much in the way of cheering crowds but that's OK. Those that came out were enthusiastic. The Mariott host hotel was very accommodating and I would definitely recommend. The start and finish are both about a block or two away. The course has a couple little grades and hills to deal with but nothing overly taxing. The elevation chart on the website depicts the course very well. Only suggestion is that they look for a bottled-water sponsor. I refilled my water bottle at one of the water stops on the way back from Los Gatos and the water was either over-chlorinated or bleached. Thought I had been poisoned and couldn't drink my sports drink going in the last ten miles. Also would suggest starting earlier since the time changed on race-day, which made it a little warmer (although overall it was a beautiful running day). Cool medal too. Good race to run and would recommend it if you're going to California. |
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