Race: Modesto Marathon
Runner: CJ Albertson
Race Date: 03/31/2019
Location: Modesto, CA
Results: Marathon: 2:16:47. 1st Place
Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/2255470369/overview
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
- It was a flat fast course.
- There was easy convenient parking.
- Expo was nice and simple; but with good vendors.
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
I’m not really picky about races.
Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?
Nothing much… you run by some random country houses that are kind of weird/cool.
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
They had a sign that said ‘Mt. Modesto… Elevation 134 Feet’ for the only ‘hill’ in the race. You ran up/down an overpass lol.
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
It’s a great race for a PR- (That’s not point to point or downhill). So train well and hit your splits the first half of the race (not faster) and you should have a good one!
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
The footing isn’t great- not bad- but the country roads aren’t that smooth. But other than that, the course is nice.
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
Probably not by most standards, but it was fine for me.
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
Not at all.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Seemed like it was ran well. Didn’t hear any complaints and everything seemed to flow smoothly.
Competition – Is there a strong field?
Typically, not really. But this year there was. I ran 2:16.. 2nd was 2:18:49. There was another guy who came through half way right around 68:00 but ended up dropping out. 3 Women ran 2:50 ish and 20-25 people or so were under 3 hours I believe.
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.
It’s pretty straightforward…you sign up. I don’t think it sells out either.
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
Standard. Water, electrolyte drink, some honey stingers.
Weather and typical race conditions
Perfect usually. 50 degrees, little to no wind.
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?
Nope.
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
Eh, Kind of. You could actually drive to a handful of spots if you study the course/road closures.
How’s the Swag?
Honestly, I never care. The shirt was pretty standard I think. We got a duffel bag which I’ve never gotten before. So that was different.
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
4/5 Stars. It’s not a big city marathon. But definitely a good race to come and PR and not be overwhelmed. Plus you don’t have to be bussed out somewhere and wait around in the cold.
CJ Albertson is a coach with Team RunRun. To learn more about him or to work with Coach CJ, check out his coaching page.