River City Marathon and Half Marathon Official Website

The "Nitty Gritty" Details (User Opinions)

Geoff L.
San Mateo, CA

  (04-22-2010)

"As previously reviewed, this is a smaller race set up on the Jedediah Memorial trail. It is a point to point route which gives the race a huge plus.

The River City Marathon experience started on Saturday when we had to drive up to get our race packet and teeshirt. I arrived at 4:30 to the Ramada where the "expo" was. Pretty weak as there was only one vendor selling jewelry. Not much else and the "expo" was held in what seemed like a small motel room...

Anyways, the race starts at 7am. Buses take us from the finish line to the start at 5:30am. I was told the day before there would be no "sweats drop off service" to bring our warm clothes to the finish. I wore a long sleeve shirt that i ended up ditching at the start.(if anyone finds a nice new balance dri-fit...enjoy!!=)

The course itself as noted before is FLAT. The day was perfect with mild wind and just cool enough. Water was spaced 3 miles apart which i felt was too far. Since i was aiming for a PR, i opted not to carry my fuelbelt. I understand the difficulty of having more waterstops on a trail, but felt there were definitely more places to set them up.

The marathon meets up with the 1/2 marathoners just as they are starting. There is huge psychological advantage to passing some of the other runners and found a running high for a few miles. However, since the trail is fairly narrow and pedestrians are suppose to stay to the right, there was some necessary weaving..especially when bikers came aimed at us. I unfortunately did not wear a Garmin watch during this race and subsequently had a tough time figuring out my pace and i still have no idea what my half-marathon split was. It definitely wouldn't hurt to put up a sign for us Marathoners at the Halfway mark. (and maybe one mile to go...)


The volunteers were friendly and tried their best. I felt they were staffed okay, but some of the stations just had the cups of fluid on the table. It was up to you to figure out which was heed and which was h20. This was only at 2 stops though.

The finish was great and there was a nice cheering crowd to bring you in. I got a nice award plaque for finishing 1st in my age group...Despite a few marathon timing errors that were quickly fixed, i was very happy with my finishing time and if you want to run a PR, this is definitely a good option.


Despite my complaints, I still give this race 4 stars because i feel the race organizers will continue to improve this race and it will be great in years to come.

Boston here I come!

Next year tips:
1. wear an old ugly shirt or poncho to the start so you don't freeze or have to part ways with a nice shirt.
2. Wear a garmin watch
3. bring your own gel and water (if you're use to the fuelbelt) "

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2010

Dave A.
Las Vegas, NV

  (04-20-2010)

"Course would have gotten 5 stars but for the lack of water stations. There were four evenly spaced with water and Energy drink and one or two of them also had Hammer Gel and food.

I understand why there are only a few, it's a race on public land and it's not an out and back so logistically getting more than four water stops over the course would probably have been a problem. Plus it's not a large race I think there were about 800 participants total between the Half and Full Marathon so the cost of buying the extra supplies was probably a factor. Now on to the fun stuff:

The course is great spelled F L A T. You run the whole thing on an asphalt bike trail alongside the American River, no overpasses some minor undulations in the road.

A previous reviewer indicated the distances were unmarked. This year there are permanent markings on the road every half a mile 2 feet wide, you really can't miss them. The mileage is off about half a mile because they weren't placed for the race they are there for the bike route but once you just need to back off half a mile and you know your distance to the finish. If you want a better idea buy a Garmin. (God I Love my Garmin).

The half started at 8:15 at around 55 degrees and warmed up to 65 at finish time of around 10:15. I had to carried two water bottles on an Amphipod belt but I still PR'd.

At the end of the race they had Snickers energy bars, bananas, oranges, water, Hammer energy drink and there was the barbeque. Each participant got a brisket barbeque that was pretty good but not wonderful.

Trophies were given out three deep to all age groups, and all finishers got medals.

You had to drive or take a bus to the starting point. The bus will set you back an extra $10 but the race is cheap at $30 so all in it's still a cheap race to enter.

The course organizers were VERY nice and helpful. I had some questions that were answered quickly and fully before the race and getting them on the phone was easy as well.

The dry release shirt was kind of weak and looks like a normal shirt to me but again I'm thrilled with the race and given the size of the event and the cheap price the shirt is just fine.

If you want to set a PR and you want do it cheaply and you want to go to an event set up by a nice group of people this is a race you don't want to miss.
"

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2010

MsV 1.
ripon, CA

  (08-14-2009)

"I May Have Given Up Running Today*
Posted on April 19, 2009 by Ms V. | Edit
*…aka River City Half Marathon Report.

It is now 8pm PST, and I am finally, finally feeling back in this world. Today was my very first half Marathon. In Sacramento. In a place that we had run before…Discovery Park. We had our 10K back in October…so it was with trepidation as we were looking over Hwy 99 AGAIN…and realizing…Hey, are we doing THAT trail again?

Jami was at my door at 5:20…Kim’s husband had driven to Fleet Feet to get our bibs, but there was really no need…not a big race. We picked up Kim, and got on the road. I fell asleep around Galt, and woke up on 99, when we should have been on I5. Jami sped around the turns like a madwoman, and we finally made it to the Finish at Discovery park, where a big school bus would take us 13.1 miles away to the middle of the trail.

3 Bathroom stops later, and I realized that no, “nothing” would be moving today. No big crowds, which was nice, but with that comes no clocks, and no mile markers as I was soon to figure out. I read Glenn’s advice (THANK YOU!!!) on race strategy, and it was helpful. He was in my brain for the whole time. As was the mean girl, who also lived in my head from mile 7-11. (More on that later)

Mile 1-2. I really tried to go slowly. I ran a 10:35 or so, but wasn’t sure due to no markers. I practiced holding back. My calves were trying to talk to me, but I ignored them…

Mile 3-6. Plink, plink, plink. I was passing women my age one by one…I was trying to not go all out, because the advice was pace pace pace so you are not miserable the second half. (I was anyway). I didn’t stop at the first aid station, but decided to stop at every one afterward. It was in the mid 70s-low 80s that first hour. I was confident, and happy.

Mile 7. The calves were quiet, but suddenly my right baby toe was screaming. It hurt. I tried to alter my stride, to no avail. Mile 7-10 were characterized by long sunny runs. You would turn on the trail only to be met by another long hot run. Someone was smoking on the side. I do remember that. I had taken some HEED at mile 6, and I started to upchuck a little. What’s that advice about not trying anything new?

It was at this point that I had a very bad, negative, ugly voice in my head. I’m serious when I say I’m not schizophrenic. However, I battled her for 4 miles. She was yammering on and on about how ridiculous it was for me to even try to run…who did I think I was…you’re too heavy, too old…she went on to rake me over the coals…you have no career, what a loser, etc. On and off we battled, and I do have to say I won. I finally said outloud, “SHUT UP AND RUN”. She convinced me at one point to stop blogging, tweeting, etc., that I had nothing to offer, etc. This was the crux of my run.

Mile 11-12-13 were all the same. At 2 hours, I simply stopped and walked for a few minutes, and it felt wonderful. It was 85 or hotter, and I knew the last three would be brutal. Every runner I initially plinked off, now plinked off me. A few bikers shouted, “You’re almost there!”, at mile 11. My number one pet peeve…You’re almost there does not mean 2 more miles. Ever.

Mile 13 I finally saw Kim and Jami on the course waving frantically. I got up to them, and Kim yelled, “This is it. Last corner!!!” I had tears in my eyes, and wanted to bawl. I did not think I could take one.more.step. I turned and saw people, flags, cones. And finally, peace.

We got on the lawn, and I said that was it. I was done. Never again, and who wants my Nike Women’s Marathon spot? We got ice and laid the bag across my toes. For several minutes my feet were in real pain. I swore then and there that this 50 year old would NOT be running again. Ever. And, I meant it. It was ugly. It’s only now, after 2 hours in the spa and a big helping of Taco Bell, that I am finally feeling back in this world.

If I ever run again, ever, I will hire a coach/therapist for my head. Seriously, I battled today. My time is not terrible, considering my first half was better, but every step at the end was a struggle. I am disappointed, but I learned a huge lesson. I will have to slay this demon and b***h-slap her down to be able to run again. Seriously.

Date: 4/19/2009 8:30 AM
Type: Race
Course: River City Half Marathon
Distance: 13.1 miles
Duration: 2:42:00
Pace: 12:22 / mile
Shoe: Mizuno Alchemy
Weight: same
Misc: Quality: 6/10, Effort: 4/10
Weather: 83° F, Sunny
Event URL: www.rivercitymarathon.com/parkwaymap3.pdf
Notes: Heat!
Statistics: Calories: 1823
VO2 Max: 25.3

(PS! Great news: Jami was first in 40-44 division with 1:50, and Kim got 2:15~~ We had so much fun together~~)

"

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2009