Mountains 2 Beach Marathon

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.

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.

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.