Race: Napa Valley Marathon
Runner: Cesar Lira
Race Date: 03/03/2024
Location: Napa, CA
Strava Activity Link: https://strava.app.link/KXvt1wyLNHb
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
- Weather was perfect for racing
- The course for the most part runs in a straight line and it’s easy to hit the tangents.
- Very peaceful scenery!
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
Lack of spectators.
Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
If nature calls, there isn’t much coverage on the course 😃
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
- Running a 2 minute PR in the half and winning the masters division with a time of 1:12:56.
- I was able to execute pacing well on this course. I executed well on the climbs and pushed on the downhill.
- I was able to stay focused the last 4 miles which helped me negative split the second half of the race!
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
Scout the course profile on strava or online. You should be able to set a good game plan to a successful race.
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
Probably could have pushed harder in the first 10k. I was too focused on being strong in the last 5k because of my past experience on this course.
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
Run the tangents. This is a course where your watch will hit at or very close to the mile markers.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
It is a very nice course. Lots of land and very peaceful.
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
I would say it’s a course you can be competitive.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Well organized. These folks were great from the organizers to the volunteers.
Competition – Is there a strong field?
Yes you can run with some fast folks in the half marathon!
Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.
The hotels can be expensive if you stay in Napa. If you like wine, then this is a good destination race if you’re not from the area.
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
They had enough. Every 2-3 miles.
Weather and typical race conditions
Both times I have run this race, the temps were in the low 40s.
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?
Arm sleeves and gloves if needed.
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
Yes they have designated areas for spectators but you can’t just go anywhere on the course to spectate. You will need a car to get around the course.
How’s the Swag?
The gear bag was a big Bogo bag! It was nice. The finisher’s shirt was eh!
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
4.5 out of 5 stars. I would recommend this race to others.