Eye-Q Two Cities Marathon Official Website

The "Nitty Gritty" Details (User Opinions)

Zachary E.
Toluca Lake, CA

  (03-23-2010)

"This course was fairly flat and fast, though has a tough hill around mile 21 that really killed me. It's a smaller race, and this was just its 2nd running. I was impressed on how well it was run. I also really appreciated that the marathon only cost $80 but they had the best swag of any of the races I've run! I got a long sleeve black technical shirt, a racing cap, a finisher's medal AND sweatshirt! and they had a warm breakfast (eggs, sausage, etc.) at the finish line, AND ice cream sundaes!!! oh... and 2 beers at the beer garden. :-) I definitely recommend this race... though, you do have to go to Fresno to run it... oh well..."

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2009

MsV 1.
ripon, CA

  (11-14-2009)

"Fresno Half Marathon Report

Can I write a race report in 15 minutes? (That’s when a cake comes out of the oven…the Mom treat my boys get when they come home on Sunday).

Okay. Don’t let the title fool you. I did not get a BQ, nor did I do the Full Marathon, but today, completed a Half Marathon in FRESNO. Fresno? The home of the awesome Championship Baseball team, and my Alma Mater for both BA and MS degrees. But, you say…nothing ever happens in Fresno.

Well. That was then, this is now. This year’s Eye Q Two Cities Marathon was only its second offering. I missed last year due to PF injury, and the race reporters gave me a free bib for this year. Kim decided a few weeks ago to run it with me.

I woke at 3:30am, and picked her up at 4, for a 100 mile drive to Fresno. My eyes were slamming shut at Chowchilla, so she drove us right into the Herndon Starbucks.

We got to the race about 5:50, and it was starting to get packed with cars. We parked, and had to find a line to get our bib, since we weren’t able to come down. No big drama. Just a few folks in a line, quietly handing out bibs and shirts. Very nice people. Chairs. No table.

I get into the Half Marathon line, and this guy comes to the girl at front saying, “I left my chip at the hotel!!! Can you get me to the race with another chip?” They stared at him. I remembered that Danica had run a killer race in Long Beach…without a timing chip, and knew how awful this would be. I said, “Where’s your hotel?” He told us, and I said, “We’ll take you!” It was 6:20, Half Mary started at 7.

It was then his story started. He missed his BQ in Long Beach by ONE MINUTE, and wanted to get it in Fresno. Can’t give you his full name, cuz the best part…He’s sober in AA 4 years, and me with 30…well we had lots to talk about. Cue up keystone cops, and racing a few miles away ensued. We got him to his hotel room, and got back to the course just minutes before we lined up …I used the dreaded portapotties with success…and we were off.

Kim and I hit mile 3 at 31:00, which is SHOCKING for me…we walked, and she took off. I ran and stopped at mile 5. It was a gently slopping downgrade, then up a little, but VERY pleasant, and I was loving this race. It was about 48 degrees at race start, so excellent weather. At mile 6, I took an S!Cap, then Mile 7 took a LONG time to get there. Turns out that the mile marker was actually aroung 7.87, which is win for everyone.

Drank and stopped, walked a bit…took out music.

Then a hill which I thought was TOTALLY unnecessary at mile 9. Then, I remembered Nike, and knew I could take the hill. My quads were happy, as the run was pretty flat, so they had something to do.

Mile 10-12, I saw these two girls who were TOTALLY in makeup and hair and I was trying to pass these Barbies way back at Mile 7. They were cramping, and I gave them my last 2 S!CAPS. You know these things are magical, and they were very happy. At Mile 12, I heard Josh say to me, “Run till your wheels fall off”, an email he sent earlier in the week. I passed the Beer stand quickly…which was a little scary in the moment, but then got over to the finish. I powered pass a couple of people I had been trying to pass for miles. I suddenly had some fresh legs.

My unofficial time: 2:33:56, a new PR record. I shaved off 10:36 from the April Half Marathon of Death.

I was thrilled.

People, let me tell you about this schwag. We got a tech shirt and hat w/registration, but we rounded a corner, and were given a gray sweatshirt, with red stripes down the side, and our medal. Then. HOT breakfast. I have never had a HOT breakfast at a race. Scrambled eggs, sausage, bagels, coffee, potatoes. Then. Ice cream sundaes. It’s like a party for your mouth. AMAZING people and volunteers, supportive staff, helpful in every way.

We were looking at our clocks. Our friend Mike M. had to get 3:20 to BQ. We ran over to the finish line. Just in time. He turned the corner, and I was never so happy. His time? 3:15. He’s going to Boston. We saw him and congratulated him. He was thrilled.

Runners are the best people. On Twitter, which is where I spend more and more of my time, Anotorias made me a KILLER playlist, and SpeedySasquatch had sent me a running plan for this one week post marathon. The running community on Twitter is absolutely amazing. I thought of all of the ones I know there. Eric and I love the Fatboy Slim Wonderful Night song, parodied by Craig Ferguson, and it always make me laugh when I hear it. So many people I thought of while running today…

And. No. I didn’t get a BQ. BUT. I may just run a full at 5:00:00 someday. Today was a great run. Great course, flat and fast. Thank you FRESNO!!! Watching Mike come in was the topper. Seriously, it made my day.

Next up: LA Marathon Training plan…because, how could I not run a race that starts in Dodger Stadium??
"

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2009

Carmen R.
La Mirada, CA

  (05-14-2009)

"I ran the Inaugural Marathon last year and it was an amazing event. I signed up for it because Kathrine Switzer was going to be the guest speaker at the pasta party. She was an amazing speaker and very accessible to the participants. At the race expo, I had the opportunity to get my book signed by Ms. Switzer and meet the director of Spirit of the Marathon.

The race itself was very well put together. The course itself was good. Mostly flat with a couple of hills around Mile 21 and 24. There were plenty of aid stations and porta potties. I ran with a pace time most of the way.

The spectators were very supportive and cheered us on through most of the race. At the finish line, we received our medals and an ice cream sundae! This was on top of the hat and long sleeved tech tee I received the day before. All in all, this marathon is a great deal! "

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2008