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Marathon Details - Mountains 2 Beach Marathon

North America Marathons > USA > CA > Ojai > Mountains 2 Beach Marathon

Mountains 2 Beach Marathon

Mountains 2 Beach Marathon & Half Marathon, 5K

Ojai, CA USA

April 13, 2025

http://www.mountains2beachmarathon.com

Marathon Results

By Year:

2024 2023 2022 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 Top 3 Finishers

Race Details

SUMMARY. The course begins near Nordoff High School in Ojai with a 10k road loop followed by over 10 miles of downhill, paved bike path before beginning a road and bike path loop near the Ventura Oceanfront. Over the 26.2 miles you will see beautiful mountain peaks, the Ventura River Basin, beach-front Pierpont neighborhood, the gorgeous Ventura Promenade, and more. There is a net downhill of over 700 feet.

The Mountains 2 Beach Marathon is a race that promises both beauty and speed, drawing participants from all over to experience its unique course. The marathon starts in the scenic Ojai Valley and follows a primarily downhill route, leading runners through picturesque landscapes before culminating at the Ventura beachfront. This combination of natural beauty and a net downhill trajectory makes it an ideal race for those looking to achieve personal records or qualify for Boston.

The organization of the marathon ensures a smooth experience for all participants. Early morning shuttles transport runners to the starting line, allowing ample time to prepare before the race begins. The course is well-marked and features numerous aid stations, providing water, electrolytes, and energy gels to keep runners fueled. While the initial part of the course includes some gentle inclines, the predominant downhill sections make for a fast and exhilarating run.

Runners are treated to stunning views throughout the race, from the rolling hills and citrus groves of Ojai to the coastal vistas of Ventura. The final stretch along the beach offers a refreshing breeze and the motivating sight of the ocean, making the last miles both challenging and rewarding. The finish line, set against the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean, welcomes runners with enthusiastic crowds and a festive atmosphere.

Each participant receives a distinctive medal featuring the race's emblem, serving as a memento of their achievement. Post-race amenities include a variety of snacks and beverages to help runners recover and celebrate their success. The marathon's efficient logistics, combined with its scenic and fast course, ensure a memorable experience for all who take part.

The Mountains 2 Beach Marathon is highly regarded for its excellent organization, supportive volunteers, and the breathtaking beauty of its route. Whether aiming for a personal best or simply enjoying the journey, every runner finds something special in this marathon, making it a standout event in the running calendar.

Contact Information

Name:	Ben DeWitt
Address:	9909 Las Cruces St Ventura CA 93004
Phone Number:	805-765-6019
Email:	Email the organizers

Runner Reviews (34)

Course 4.2

Organization 3.6

Spectators 3.3

Write a review

Number of comments: 34 [displaying comments 1 to 11]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 3 4 > ]

R. C. from Fullerton, CA (6/21/2022) "Post Pandemic Problems Plagued 2022" (about: 2022) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Mountains 2 Beach Marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 3 I was able to register late for this race because the law enforcement refused to allow the race to be held when it was scheduled. That decision was made due to lack of staffing during a holiday weekend, but the many race day blunders made me wonder if there was some chafe in staffing. The race started 17 minutes late because the national anthem singer was late. I hated standing around as the sun rose above the hills on what was expected to be a warmer than average race day. Then the mile markers ended up not matching up and it was obvious the course was off. My pacing group seems to be really off as it started slow, but then started running 20 seconds faster per mile once we got to mile 7. Not sure if they were trying to make up time because of the misdirection or if this was just the plan due to the down hill portions of the race. The course felt like something I would run in training and didn't really impress me. The weather was sunny and warmer than you would want for running 26.2 miles. I honestly thought about dropping out to save my legs for another race (I've ran 30 marathons and was seeing if I could get a BQ before the fall) but there was no race personal or medical tents for long stretches of the race. I should have gone with my gut and just waited to run CIM in the Fall.
F. C. from Illinois (6/11/2022) "Worst Organized Race EVER" (about: 2022) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 Mountains 2 Beach Marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 I've run 30+ marathons, ranging from small field sizes (27 participants in my gender) to huge (10s of thousands). This one BY FAR was the worst organized race. After being notified less than 2 months before the race that it would be delayed 1 week, I didn't think it was a big deal, even though I had to pay extra for airfare and make adjustments to hotel and car rental. But not only did the race start 17 minutes late, we were misdirected by the lead cyclist/moto AND by someone standing on the road where we were SUPPOSED to turn (someone in front of me tried to run on it following the signage, but he was turned away and told the course changed), resulting an extra 1/2 mile of running with plenty of elevation gain (and increase of 71 feet compared to previous years). There were only 2 places in the first half of the race where electrolytes were being offered, and some tables we had to grab our own drinks (which the race director later blamed on reduction of volunteers due to covid). Gear check bags were not given at the expo, causing me to assume there was no gear check (even though the website said there would be) and wearing only light throwaway clothes in the 2+ hours I was waiting in the cold before the race started. It turns out that there WERE gear check bags at the start line, and the race director explained that he does that because people lose their bags (who does that?!) and he didn't want to waste plastic. Although the race organizers KNEW the runners went too long on the course, they did absolutely nothing in the following hours, even though they had plenty of time and could have easily moved the 25 mile timing mat to the correct 26.2 mile distance so that the final mat could still be used for the half marathoners. The organizers claimed the extra distance was .38 mi, but according to everyone's GPS watches it was actually 0.48-0.50 extra miles added between miles 3 and 5. After taking NO responsibility for the course error (which resulted in a LOT of extra climbing for the runners, not just distance), the organizers finally made an adjustment to the finish times by looking at the paces run in the early miles and subtracting the prorated time accordingly - essentially pretending the course error did not exist. The RIGHT way to make the adjustment is to calculate how long it took for the runners to cover the marathon distance based on the penultimate timing mat and delete the extra distance run at the END, as that's what races are supposed to do - measure the time it takes for people to run 26.2 miles! It often takes runners less time to cover 0.38-0.50 mi run in the first few miles than it takes to cover the same distance at the end, so the race's time adjustment gypped every runner who ran a faster pace in the beginning vs the end. The organizers have repeatedly blamed the cyclist/moto leading the runners, but that is simply wrong - not only were we also misdirected by someone standing on the correct road where we were SUPPOSED to turn, but that error would not even be possible if they had a couple of cones blocking us from missing the turn and if there were course marshals correctly directing us. (I told the race director about my experience of hearing someone incorrectly directing us while standing on the road, and his response was that it must have been a bystander. What?! Even if that were true, which seems unlikely, that would not have happened if an official course marshal was at that intersection directing runners - and the lead cyclist - correctly.) To say that I am disappointed by this race is a massive understatement. The race director claimed that he wanted to make it up to the runners, but nothing but a (short) time adjustment was offered & and we still don't even know if it will be accepted by Boston or NYC. Suffice it to say, I will NOT be running this race again. EVER.
Wayne Wright from Palmdale, California USA (8/4/2018) "A Golden Run in the Golden State" (about: 2018) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Mountains 2 Beach Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 INTRODUCTION: I am a race-walker with a median marathon completion time of 5:20:04. The Mountains 2 Beach Marathon was my fiftieth 26.2-miler accomplished. COURSE: It was a great day for a marathon: weather at the start line was 48 degrees, 90 percent relative humidity with winds from the east at 2 mph with gusts up to 3 mph. The race started at the Spanish Colonial Revival Arcade and headed east out of town into the orange groves framed by the surrounding hills and mountains. We returned to the start line at mile 6 and headed west toward Meiner Oaks, with the course's most significant incline taking place during the seventh mile. At mile 9 we proceeded south for the next 14 miles, either on rural two-lane roads or on bicycle trails parallel to the Ventura River. Most of the downhill part of the course took place between mile 9 and mile 19. From a heat standpoint, we benefitted from the fact we were heading closer to the ocean with the cool coastal breezes heading inland. Miles 23 through 25 took us through downtown Ventura. With the buildings blocking the wind, this was the warmest part of the course. The final mile took us on a walkway alongside the beach where we could enjoy the sight and scent of the ocean. Finish line temperature was 64 degrees, 72 percent relative humidity, with wind from the southwest at 6 mph with gusts up to 14 mph. ORGANIZATION: Well executed event. The very helpful organizers and volunteers at the expo allowed us to pick up our bibs, finisher jackets, bus and pasta dinner tickets before the official opening. The pasta dinner held at the expo was spartan but satisfactory. The school bus transportation from downtown Ventura to the Ojai ran smoothly. Enthusiastic water stop support at mile 15; otherwise, ordinary. Traffic control was well done. After the marathon, those of us who pre-ordered finisher jackets were informed of manufacturing flaws on some of the items. Two months later, the organizers followed-up by mailing new jackets to us--extraordinary. SPECTATORS: Lots of thumbs up provided by the passing vehicles. The only music on the course was a taiko ensemble at mile 18. CONCLUSION: Given this has one of the fastest average completion times in the country and the focus is on qualifying runners for Boston, the race is enjoyable for the back-of-the-packer as well. For the most part, it is a quiet race that allows us to enjoy the Ojai Valley and Ventura beach. Well done, Ventura County.
D. F. from NJ (6/7/2018) "Competitive and fun!" (about: 2018) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Mountains 2 Beach Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I had heard great things about this race from some other NYC based runners. Packed up the family and headed to Ventura. We loved Ventura and I enjoyed seeing Ojai which was scenic and running down the road with orange trees on both sides was terrific. I wasn't expecting much in the way of spectators so I wasn't disappointed. I PR'd but not by as much as I had hoped but that was due to a five week training gap in March/early April. Loved the race. It was a destination race and it exceeded my expectations. Dinner tip the night before - Cafe Fiore on California St.
C. S. from Orlando, FL (10/9/2017) "Lightning fast, downhill course" (about: 2017) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Mountains 2 Beach Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 Everyone should PR on this downhill course. That being said, the best parts where the first 6-7 in and around beautiful Ojai and the finish along the beach boardwalk. The miles in between were not so nice. Not much to look at heading down to Ventura and a stretch on a bike path. In several spots there were bikes, non race runners and even pedestrians with strollers on the course walking against the racers. The finish line and finish area were pretty cool. I liked how the runners walked into the ice cold surf for their post race 'ice bath'. The food provided at the finish was sad, bring your own. Not much of an expo, so bring anything you need beyond the very basics. The bus loading in the morning was painful to watch. They had a row of buses waiting, but would only load one at a time. There was a good sized line of runners and loading even two at a time would have been much better. Be early to catch your bus, I was on time for my assigned load time, but had to rush to check my bag and get to the start because of the slow loading and subsequent late arrival. Also no check bags or tags provided until you got to the bag check at the start line. I don't get why they weren't passed out at expo if they had them. Picking up checked bags disorganized and took way too long. Don't plan on checking a bag unless you absolutely have to. Not much in terms of spectators until you hit the beach. Overall I would not run this race again, but its a BQ course and Ojai was beautiful.
M. M. from Edmond, OK (5/30/2017) "Great race-be prepared by reading reviews." (about: 2017) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Mountains 2 Beach Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 M2B Race Summary: Really, really enjoyed running M2B2017. It was a great day and a really enjoyable course. Our pre race meal at Barrel 33 was fantastic too! My dad and I set out to hold 8:12's as long as we could. Our training was sub par-his due to injury, mine due to post partum with baby #3. We were optimistic but realistic. We both need a 3:40 due to our ages. I ran CIM in 2014 and got a BQ but not enough buffer time to get in. Pros: 1) 5:00 bus was perfect. We rode it, used the port a pottie, lined up and ran. Not much time for anything else. By no means rushed, but not a lot of extra time just standing around. This works well for me. I don't like to wait. Some people complain about how cold it is. Not me. I love it. There are two thrift stores in Ventura if you need a throw off. 2) Course is absolutely downhill with long downhill stretches. First three are uphill and you could lose it mentally if you didn't do your homework with the course elevation chart. But after that, wow, down down down. 3) Race is small and not crowded. Never had to jockey for position. Wave start in the beginning worked well. 4) I ran 26.20. On the dot. Not an inch further for the first time in 17 races (10 half, 7 full). 5) Spectators as well as many of the runners appear to be experienced. People cheering in Boston jackets telling you '8 more miles to Boston' is inspiring (to me). 6) Free race pics, amazing! Cons 1) The road divots in the teenage miles are a major problem. Dad and I were going well together and he twisted his ankle and fell. Possibly broke his ankle. We separated at mile 15.5. Along the way we witnessed other falls along that path. Apparently another lady broke her nose. I realize you should be cautious and stay away but the mind is not working so well at this point and having to think about miles of divots is not great. 2) A little research about aid stations and electrolyte availability led me to use a hand bottle. Thank goodness for that decision. 3 consecutive stations without 'fluid'. I believe that would equate to nearly 6 miles without any option besides water. I saw many people with fuel belts on. Plus the stops don't have many volunteers and at one stop you had to run over to some fence posts to get your cup. 3) The expo is small and not a lot of hype. No bags for your race number and shirt and I never saw where to get a gear check bag. This isn't a deal breaker for me because I throw my race bag away but some people could be put off by this. 4) I mentioned researching the elevation chart. Mile 24 is gut wrenching. It is so late in the race for a long uphill. Plus I was under the impression you could see the ocean earlier in the late miles but it is at mile 25. Brutal! 5) If you trained in cold weather, get ready. It is a moderate temp but it gets hot at the end. I wore tons of sunscreen and a visor. Do not overdress! 6) Post race food is super sad. It doesn't reflect anything fresh and healthy. Two pieces of licorice, 1/4 bagel, sliver of watermelon and some pretzels and gummy bears? And all of it thrown in one container. Yuck! I am from Oklahoma and when I come to California I expect something California'ish for post race nutrition. Bottom line-great race. If I did it again, I would know exactly what to do to be ready and that would make it a near perfect race to BQ and PR.
D. L. from Southern Calif. (10/23/2016) "Love the Race not the New Course" (about: 2016) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 Mountains 2 Beach Marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I have run Mountains 2 Beach Marathon two previous years and BQ it both times. What made the race so good was the course. Now to accommodate more runners the course no longer runs down the gentle bike path but on the road in a different area. I would rather deal with the old finish line than run in traffic and be cursed at by the locals for the traffic jams. They did a much better job with expo taken it out of the high school. Please keep your race small and bring back the old course. It really made it a better race.
Mark Minichiello from Los Angeles (6/23/2016) "A fast tactical course" (about: 2016) 11-50 previous marathons \| 3 Mountains 2 Beach Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This point to point course is one of the best Boston Qualifying courses on the West Coast. Its a small race (a few thousand) which is nice and growing. It starts early at 6:00 am from Ojai, CA when the temperature is usually cool (1,400ft elevation) and finishes in Ventura (Sea level). In 2016, the course was altered (wider) to accommodate the growing number of runners. Its a fast course but has become more of a tactical course with the slight course changes. The first 5 miles are slightly elevated as you run a loop in Ojai. You then start your decent towards Ventura. At Mile 16 there is a slight upgrade, but once over the hill its all downhill. The views as you run down hill are spectacular. Fan support is sporadic because of the nature of the course but picks up the last 6 miles of the course when you truly need it. The race is over Memorial Day weekend so hotel accommodations need to be made ASAP. You also need to register before January because it always sells out. They offer a wait list and allow bib transfers. The race Director clearly knows how to run a race and the course is spectacular. They offer shuttle transportation from Ventura to the start line. I have run marathons all over the country and it is truly one of my favorite PR courses. In 2016, I coached 17 runners to new PRs with 4 of 5 becoming BQrs. I have run it three times, and it has never disappointed! I highly recommend it if you are looking for a PR!!!
J. S. from Northern California (6/2/2016) "For all the downhill, there was a lot of uphill" (about: 2016) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 Mountains 2 Beach Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I ran this race two years ago and this year was a new course. There's still the same 700 foot drop net, but mile 2-3 was a surprisingly tough uphill followed by a hairpin turn and then the fastest mile of the race. The trek down Ventura avenue is tough because of how poorly paved the road is, but the finish is better now, since the old course broke your heart when you passed the finish for a last out and back. The portapotties were really crowded and I couldn't find the hand wash, but otherwise the race was very well organized. The fans were sparse, but the community cheer teams were wonderful pick-me-ups.
W. C. from Peoria AZ (6/1/2016) "Course completely changed from previous" (about: 2016) 11-50 previous marathons \| 3 Mountains 2 Beach Marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I loved the old M2B course. Miles of gentle downhill on an urban trail; calm, quiet, easy to get into a rhythm. However, due to the number of registrants this year (almost double last year's) 99.9% of the course was moved to the roads. For out-of-towners, better course and elevation info should have been posted on the website. Many segments of the new course were quite fast, but with steep downhills you need to pace carefully or your quads will be shot in the final miles. No elevation gains were too daunting, but a couple hills around mile 16 and some rises in the closing miles could slow you down. Road surface was also uneven in places and I witnessed a couple sprained ankles and face plants. The volunteers were fantastic and there were plenty of aid stations (admittedly a problem in previous years due to difficulty in setting up stations on the urban trail). I just wish the race could have been capped. Even with 3 waves it was tough to get into a groove during the 1st couple miles (no one paid any attention to the cones), and in the home stretch the slower 5K/half marathoners straying in the middle of the lane could be an issue if you were trying to book it in. This race is obviously geared toward BQ hopefuls, which is great, but it's gotten too big for my taste. Love Ventura & this is my 3rd time running this race (PR'd here 2 years ago) but probably won't return.

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R. C. from Fullerton, CA (6/21/2022) "Post Pandemic Problems Plagued 2022" (about: 2022) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Mountains 2 Beach Marathon COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 3 I was able to register late for this race because the law enforcement refused to allow the race to be held when it was scheduled. That decision was made due to lack of staffing during a holiday weekend, but the many race day blunders made me wonder if there was some chafe in staffing. The race started 17 minutes late because the national anthem singer was late. I hated standing around as the sun rose above the hills on what was expected to be a warmer than average race day. Then the mile markers ended up not matching up and it was obvious the course was off. My pacing group seems to be really off as it started slow, but then started running 20 seconds faster per mile once we got to mile 7. Not sure if they were trying to make up time because of the misdirection or if this was just the plan due to the down hill portions of the race. The course felt like something I would run in training and didn't really impress me. The weather was sunny and warmer than you would want for running 26.2 miles. I honestly thought about dropping out to save my legs for another race (I've ran 30 marathons and was seeing if I could get a BQ before the fall) but there was no race personal or medical tents for long stretches of the race. I should have gone with my gut and just waited to run CIM in the Fall.
F. C. from Illinois (6/11/2022) "Worst Organized Race EVER" (about: 2022) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 Mountains 2 Beach Marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 1 I've run 30+ marathons, ranging from small field sizes (27 participants in my gender) to huge (10s of thousands). This one BY FAR was the worst organized race. After being notified less than 2 months before the race that it would be delayed 1 week, I didn't think it was a big deal, even though I had to pay extra for airfare and make adjustments to hotel and car rental. But not only did the race start 17 minutes late, we were misdirected by the lead cyclist/moto AND by someone standing on the road where we were SUPPOSED to turn (someone in front of me tried to run on it following the signage, but he was turned away and told the course changed), resulting an extra 1/2 mile of running with plenty of elevation gain (and increase of 71 feet compared to previous years). There were only 2 places in the first half of the race where electrolytes were being offered, and some tables we had to grab our own drinks (which the race director later blamed on reduction of volunteers due to covid). Gear check bags were not given at the expo, causing me to assume there was no gear check (even though the website said there would be) and wearing only light throwaway clothes in the 2+ hours I was waiting in the cold before the race started. It turns out that there WERE gear check bags at the start line, and the race director explained that he does that because people lose their bags (who does that?!) and he didn't want to waste plastic. Although the race organizers KNEW the runners went too long on the course, they did absolutely nothing in the following hours, even though they had plenty of time and could have easily moved the 25 mile timing mat to the correct 26.2 mile distance so that the final mat could still be used for the half marathoners. The organizers claimed the extra distance was .38 mi, but according to everyone's GPS watches it was actually 0.48-0.50 extra miles added between miles 3 and 5. After taking NO responsibility for the course error (which resulted in a LOT of extra climbing for the runners, not just distance), the organizers finally made an adjustment to the finish times by looking at the paces run in the early miles and subtracting the prorated time accordingly - essentially pretending the course error did not exist. The RIGHT way to make the adjustment is to calculate how long it took for the runners to cover the marathon distance based on the penultimate timing mat and delete the extra distance run at the END, as that's what races are supposed to do - measure the time it takes for people to run 26.2 miles! It often takes runners less time to cover 0.38-0.50 mi run in the first few miles than it takes to cover the same distance at the end, so the race's time adjustment gypped every runner who ran a faster pace in the beginning vs the end. The organizers have repeatedly blamed the cyclist/moto leading the runners, but that is simply wrong - not only were we also misdirected by someone standing on the correct road where we were SUPPOSED to turn, but that error would not even be possible if they had a couple of cones blocking us from missing the turn and if there were course marshals correctly directing us. (I told the race director about my experience of hearing someone incorrectly directing us while standing on the road, and his response was that it must have been a bystander. What?! Even if that were true, which seems unlikely, that would not have happened if an official course marshal was at that intersection directing runners - and the lead cyclist - correctly.) To say that I am disappointed by this race is a massive understatement. The race director claimed that he wanted to make it up to the runners, but nothing but a (short) time adjustment was offered & and we still don't even know if it will be accepted by Boston or NYC. Suffice it to say, I will NOT be running this race again. EVER.
Wayne Wright from Palmdale, California USA (8/4/2018) "A Golden Run in the Golden State" (about: 2018) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Mountains 2 Beach Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 INTRODUCTION: I am a race-walker with a median marathon completion time of 5:20:04. The Mountains 2 Beach Marathon was my fiftieth 26.2-miler accomplished. COURSE: It was a great day for a marathon: weather at the start line was 48 degrees, 90 percent relative humidity with winds from the east at 2 mph with gusts up to 3 mph. The race started at the Spanish Colonial Revival Arcade and headed east out of town into the orange groves framed by the surrounding hills and mountains. We returned to the start line at mile 6 and headed west toward Meiner Oaks, with the course's most significant incline taking place during the seventh mile. At mile 9 we proceeded south for the next 14 miles, either on rural two-lane roads or on bicycle trails parallel to the Ventura River. Most of the downhill part of the course took place between mile 9 and mile 19. From a heat standpoint, we benefitted from the fact we were heading closer to the ocean with the cool coastal breezes heading inland. Miles 23 through 25 took us through downtown Ventura. With the buildings blocking the wind, this was the warmest part of the course. The final mile took us on a walkway alongside the beach where we could enjoy the sight and scent of the ocean. Finish line temperature was 64 degrees, 72 percent relative humidity, with wind from the southwest at 6 mph with gusts up to 14 mph. ORGANIZATION: Well executed event. The very helpful organizers and volunteers at the expo allowed us to pick up our bibs, finisher jackets, bus and pasta dinner tickets before the official opening. The pasta dinner held at the expo was spartan but satisfactory. The school bus transportation from downtown Ventura to the Ojai ran smoothly. Enthusiastic water stop support at mile 15; otherwise, ordinary. Traffic control was well done. After the marathon, those of us who pre-ordered finisher jackets were informed of manufacturing flaws on some of the items. Two months later, the organizers followed-up by mailing new jackets to us--extraordinary. SPECTATORS: Lots of thumbs up provided by the passing vehicles. The only music on the course was a taiko ensemble at mile 18. CONCLUSION: Given this has one of the fastest average completion times in the country and the focus is on qualifying runners for Boston, the race is enjoyable for the back-of-the-packer as well. For the most part, it is a quiet race that allows us to enjoy the Ojai Valley and Ventura beach. Well done, Ventura County.
D. F. from NJ (6/7/2018) "Competitive and fun!" (about: 2018) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Mountains 2 Beach Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I had heard great things about this race from some other NYC based runners. Packed up the family and headed to Ventura. We loved Ventura and I enjoyed seeing Ojai which was scenic and running down the road with orange trees on both sides was terrific. I wasn't expecting much in the way of spectators so I wasn't disappointed. I PR'd but not by as much as I had hoped but that was due to a five week training gap in March/early April. Loved the race. It was a destination race and it exceeded my expectations. Dinner tip the night before - Cafe Fiore on California St.
C. S. from Orlando, FL (10/9/2017) "Lightning fast, downhill course" (about: 2017) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Mountains 2 Beach Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 2 Everyone should PR on this downhill course. That being said, the best parts where the first 6-7 in and around beautiful Ojai and the finish along the beach boardwalk. The miles in between were not so nice. Not much to look at heading down to Ventura and a stretch on a bike path. In several spots there were bikes, non race runners and even pedestrians with strollers on the course walking against the racers. The finish line and finish area were pretty cool. I liked how the runners walked into the ice cold surf for their post race 'ice bath'. The food provided at the finish was sad, bring your own. Not much of an expo, so bring anything you need beyond the very basics. The bus loading in the morning was painful to watch. They had a row of buses waiting, but would only load one at a time. There was a good sized line of runners and loading even two at a time would have been much better. Be early to catch your bus, I was on time for my assigned load time, but had to rush to check my bag and get to the start because of the slow loading and subsequent late arrival. Also no check bags or tags provided until you got to the bag check at the start line. I don't get why they weren't passed out at expo if they had them. Picking up checked bags disorganized and took way too long. Don't plan on checking a bag unless you absolutely have to. Not much in terms of spectators until you hit the beach. Overall I would not run this race again, but its a BQ course and Ojai was beautiful.
M. M. from Edmond, OK (5/30/2017) "Great race-be prepared by reading reviews." (about: 2017) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Mountains 2 Beach Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 M2B Race Summary: Really, really enjoyed running M2B2017. It was a great day and a really enjoyable course. Our pre race meal at Barrel 33 was fantastic too! My dad and I set out to hold 8:12's as long as we could. Our training was sub par-his due to injury, mine due to post partum with baby #3. We were optimistic but realistic. We both need a 3:40 due to our ages. I ran CIM in 2014 and got a BQ but not enough buffer time to get in. Pros: 1) 5:00 bus was perfect. We rode it, used the port a pottie, lined up and ran. Not much time for anything else. By no means rushed, but not a lot of extra time just standing around. This works well for me. I don't like to wait. Some people complain about how cold it is. Not me. I love it. There are two thrift stores in Ventura if you need a throw off. 2) Course is absolutely downhill with long downhill stretches. First three are uphill and you could lose it mentally if you didn't do your homework with the course elevation chart. But after that, wow, down down down. 3) Race is small and not crowded. Never had to jockey for position. Wave start in the beginning worked well. 4) I ran 26.20. On the dot. Not an inch further for the first time in 17 races (10 half, 7 full). 5) Spectators as well as many of the runners appear to be experienced. People cheering in Boston jackets telling you '8 more miles to Boston' is inspiring (to me). 6) Free race pics, amazing! Cons 1) The road divots in the teenage miles are a major problem. Dad and I were going well together and he twisted his ankle and fell. Possibly broke his ankle. We separated at mile 15.5. Along the way we witnessed other falls along that path. Apparently another lady broke her nose. I realize you should be cautious and stay away but the mind is not working so well at this point and having to think about miles of divots is not great. 2) A little research about aid stations and electrolyte availability led me to use a hand bottle. Thank goodness for that decision. 3 consecutive stations without 'fluid'. I believe that would equate to nearly 6 miles without any option besides water. I saw many people with fuel belts on. Plus the stops don't have many volunteers and at one stop you had to run over to some fence posts to get your cup. 3) The expo is small and not a lot of hype. No bags for your race number and shirt and I never saw where to get a gear check bag. This isn't a deal breaker for me because I throw my race bag away but some people could be put off by this. 4) I mentioned researching the elevation chart. Mile 24 is gut wrenching. It is so late in the race for a long uphill. Plus I was under the impression you could see the ocean earlier in the late miles but it is at mile 25. Brutal! 5) If you trained in cold weather, get ready. It is a moderate temp but it gets hot at the end. I wore tons of sunscreen and a visor. Do not overdress! 6) Post race food is super sad. It doesn't reflect anything fresh and healthy. Two pieces of licorice, 1/4 bagel, sliver of watermelon and some pretzels and gummy bears? And all of it thrown in one container. Yuck! I am from Oklahoma and when I come to California I expect something California'ish for post race nutrition. Bottom line-great race. If I did it again, I would know exactly what to do to be ready and that would make it a near perfect race to BQ and PR.
D. L. from Southern Calif. (10/23/2016) "Love the Race not the New Course" (about: 2016) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 Mountains 2 Beach Marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I have run Mountains 2 Beach Marathon two previous years and BQ it both times. What made the race so good was the course. Now to accommodate more runners the course no longer runs down the gentle bike path but on the road in a different area. I would rather deal with the old finish line than run in traffic and be cursed at by the locals for the traffic jams. They did a much better job with expo taken it out of the high school. Please keep your race small and bring back the old course. It really made it a better race.
Mark Minichiello from Los Angeles (6/23/2016) "A fast tactical course" (about: 2016) 11-50 previous marathons \| 3 Mountains 2 Beach Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This point to point course is one of the best Boston Qualifying courses on the West Coast. Its a small race (a few thousand) which is nice and growing. It starts early at 6:00 am from Ojai, CA when the temperature is usually cool (1,400ft elevation) and finishes in Ventura (Sea level). In 2016, the course was altered (wider) to accommodate the growing number of runners. Its a fast course but has become more of a tactical course with the slight course changes. The first 5 miles are slightly elevated as you run a loop in Ojai. You then start your decent towards Ventura. At Mile 16 there is a slight upgrade, but once over the hill its all downhill. The views as you run down hill are spectacular. Fan support is sporadic because of the nature of the course but picks up the last 6 miles of the course when you truly need it. The race is over Memorial Day weekend so hotel accommodations need to be made ASAP. You also need to register before January because it always sells out. They offer a wait list and allow bib transfers. The race Director clearly knows how to run a race and the course is spectacular. They offer shuttle transportation from Ventura to the start line. I have run marathons all over the country and it is truly one of my favorite PR courses. In 2016, I coached 17 runners to new PRs with 4 of 5 becoming BQrs. I have run it three times, and it has never disappointed! I highly recommend it if you are looking for a PR!!!
J. S. from Northern California (6/2/2016) "For all the downhill, there was a lot of uphill" (about: 2016) 11-50 previous marathons \| 2 Mountains 2 Beach Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I ran this race two years ago and this year was a new course. There's still the same 700 foot drop net, but mile 2-3 was a surprisingly tough uphill followed by a hairpin turn and then the fastest mile of the race. The trek down Ventura avenue is tough because of how poorly paved the road is, but the finish is better now, since the old course broke your heart when you passed the finish for a last out and back. The portapotties were really crowded and I couldn't find the hand wash, but otherwise the race was very well organized. The fans were sparse, but the community cheer teams were wonderful pick-me-ups.
W. C. from Peoria AZ (6/1/2016) "Course completely changed from previous" (about: 2016) 11-50 previous marathons \| 3 Mountains 2 Beach Marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I loved the old M2B course. Miles of gentle downhill on an urban trail; calm, quiet, easy to get into a rhythm. However, due to the number of registrants this year (almost double last year's) 99.9% of the course was moved to the roads. For out-of-towners, better course and elevation info should have been posted on the website. Many segments of the new course were quite fast, but with steep downhills you need to pace carefully or your quads will be shot in the final miles. No elevation gains were too daunting, but a couple hills around mile 16 and some rises in the closing miles could slow you down. Road surface was also uneven in places and I witnessed a couple sprained ankles and face plants. The volunteers were fantastic and there were plenty of aid stations (admittedly a problem in previous years due to difficulty in setting up stations on the urban trail). I just wish the race could have been capped. Even with 3 waves it was tough to get into a groove during the 1st couple miles (no one paid any attention to the cones), and in the home stretch the slower 5K/half marathoners straying in the middle of the lane could be an issue if you were trying to book it in. This race is obviously geared toward BQ hopefuls, which is great, but it's gotten too big for my taste. Love Ventura & this is my 3rd time running this race (PR'd here 2 years ago) but probably won't return.

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Marathon Details - Mountains 2 Beach Marathon