Santa Rosa Full & Half Marathon & 5K

As someone who runs a lot of races, I was surprised to discover that the sponsors of the Santa Rosa marathon have a policy that states that there is no mailing of race packets and no packet pick-​up on the day of the race. What does this mean? If, like me, you live close enough to the event that you can drive up on the race morning but not that close (San Francisco), you need to make a second trip the day prior just to pick up a race packet that could have been easily mailed. For me, that’s a minimum of a two hour round trip, not to mention the waste of polluting fuel. Every other race I’ve participated in offers packet mailing, usually at a extra fee of about $ 10 which I’m happy to pay. I can’t figure out their logic except that they want to force participants to come early, probably to buy DeLoach wine.
I will skip this race and you should too.

I ran this marathon for the first time in 2013 and had an amazing time including at the pre-​marathon expo! Loved the gifts (jacket, wine) and also that I qualified for my first Boston Marathon at this race. Even just received an «award» in the mail for this qualification from the Santa Rosa organizers. Very classy!

This has to be my most favorite half marathon, I’m falling in love with Santa Rosa even more, and this running event has increased that loving feeling! Whoa that loving feeling!
Thanks to the event organizers for putting on the most well organized running events that I’ve ever participated in, from the Pre-​race Expo to the Post-​race Expo. It’s a smaller race (~2,000 runners), with the staggered starts-​Full Marathon (6AM); Half Marathon (6:30AM); and 5K Downtown Run (7:15AM). Early starts, but necessary given how hot it can get in the area during summertime.
Here are my Top 10 reasons to run:
1) Pre-​race Expo at DeLoach Winery, one of the major sponsors. Enjoy free tasting too, and all Full Marathon participants get a bottle of wine with their Expo schwag.
2) Expo Schwag — All Men get a Lululemon bag of schwag and Women get a Macy’s drawstring backpack of schwag that includes healthy foods and coupons.
3) Nice running jacket for all Half and Full Marathon participants; tshirt for 5Kers.
4) Cool spinner medal for all Half and Full Marathon participants.
5) Beautiful Course — Starting/​ending in downtown, the course is so scenic as you pass through the wine vineyards and creeks, and underneath the trestle bridges. It’s a flat, fast course, with road markers to help navigate.
6) Volunteers & Spectators — from parking attendants to the helpers passing out the water and gatorade, to the family and friends along the course. Such positive and motivating energy, especially when nearing the finish line. I saw one marathoner fall so close to the finish line, and the claps and cheers got even louder for him, willing and encouraging him to get up and finish!
7) Boston Qualifying event — Some serious runners here who run Fulls at 3 hours!
8) Plenty of porta-​potties — From near the start/​finish line and all throughout the course. Waits no more than 5 people deep, and no longer than a few minutes.
9) Post-​race Expo at Julliard Park. Participants get free beer, coffee, and pancakes, oh and refreshing watermelon, too! Aside from the vendors like Zico coconut water and PowerBar, there’s live music and even bounce houses for the kids. Special bonus seeing Snoopy and Charlie there for a short time, and got a pic with my beloved Snoopy too! I was a tired, yet happy camper!
10) Sponsored by Blood Centers of Pacific, the Marathon partners with some amazing local organizations from Open Table (providing outreach and services to the community’s homeless), as well as the Weight Loss for Warriors in partnership with the Navy SEAL foundation, and One Team One Fight in honor of the 31 heroes that died August 6^th, 2011 when their Chinook helicopter was shot down in the Wardak Province of Afghanistan. There were 31 runners wearing t-​shirts in honor of each of those who had fallen, and funds raised will go to programs that support surviving families of all military heroes that have been killed.
A few other tips –
Register early as the it sells out. This is becoming an increasingly popular running event!
Also, be sure to book hotels early! This year’s marathon happened to be on the same weekend as the Mensona Kennel Club Dog Show. All hotels in Santa Rosa were fully booked, and even in neighboring city of Rohnert Park.
Thanks Santa Rosa Half! I’ll definitely be back! Cheers and go get your run on!