Big Sur Marathon
Monterey, California
Sunday, April 26, 2009

I traveled to Monterey, California to race walk the Big Sur Marathon which was held on Sunday, April 26, 2009. The course is noted as the most scenic marathon in the United States and I totally agree. It begins at the Big Sur Ranger Station and ends in Carmel-by-the-Sea, utilizing 26.2 miles of the California Highway 1, known as the Big Sur section of the Pacific Coast Highway. The first 5 miles goes from a Redwood forest at 370 feet of elevation down to the Pacific coast where the rest of the course follows the beautiful, rugged coastline with numerous gains and loses of altitude along the highway which is carved out of the sides of the coastal mountains, making spectacular views along the challenging course. On this Sunday there was a sustained 20 or more miles per hour head wind from mile 5 to mile 22 which added to the challenge. There is a section of the course from just before mile 10 to mile 12 where I had to climb from 20 feet above sea level to 560 feet above sea level to a place known as hurricane point which lived up to its name this Sunday as the wind was blowing so hard that it was difficult to begin the descent as the wind kept trying to blow me back up. The wind also made the temperature which was mainly in the 40’s seem even colder.
Water/Gatorade stations were located every 2.5 miles in the first half of the marathon and every 1.5 miles in the second half. There were plenty on volunteers to man the stations. The coastal side of the highway was completely closed to traffic and the California Highway Patrol led the few cars that needed to travel the highway. This highway is very rural with no side roads and very few homesteads.
My friend, Bart Yasso of Runner’s World was at the event as was former Olympic marathoner, Jeff Galloway, also of Runner’s World, who is noted for his marathon training method which utilizes running with walking breaks. Jeff did the marathon with his wife and finished just over 5 hours.
The event was as well organized as any that I have ever done. The course was extremely scenic and I stayed 3 extra days to enjoy the beauty.