Real runner feedback on course feel, crowd support, aid stations, and logistics (parking, hotels, restaurants).
I ran the half and gotta say it was pretty irritating. Having run multiple marathons and halfs, this course, aid and overall logistics was not as it was advertised and subpar. The first miles are very hilly. There is indeed a stretch of very steep downhill to accommodate the claims they make on their website, but unfortunately there were cars constantly driving on the course which made it feel unsafe.
The aid stations were basically nonexistent. As someone running the half, I was fine, but I knew this would be an issue for marathoners running in the heat in JUNE. As I was leaving the event and driving home, I saw 2 different runners literally passed out on the side of the road with police with them as the course did not seem to have any medical staff... I understand this is the first year, but this is unacceptable to put people in harms way like this. I know people sign up to do a hard thing, and they are aware of the consequences, but cmon……
Dont run as a serious marathon PR attempt. More of an adventure/fun run type.
It's in a nice area, but it's hot so bring your own water.
Sure there is a nice mid-section of downhill. What wasn't talked about was the uphill the first several miles (serious uphill). The out-and-back portion (after the half marathon) was challenging with long hills, very little shade, and one really tough hill at the very end. Add in the relentless heat, and running a PR or BQ was extremely difficult. The only "hill" that was mentioned on the promos was "mile" and the driveway of the casino at the end. Seriously??? How about mile 1, and 2? How about all the long hills throughout miles 14 - 25? The several miles of faster downhill time were crushed by these! Fix the course, or stop selling it as a fast race!
Consider this a challenging course.
All good. Casino rooms were very nice and clean (except the smoke down stairs); all kinds of food available. Packet pickup very convenient. Bus access in the morning super easy. I used the coupon for the sports massage at the spa - spa was beautiful.
This course did not have nearly enough support.
Only water and Gatorade to sustain athletes for 13 or 26 miles in the heat of the summer in Southern California. No medical support either.
The finish line offered a dismal selection of bananas and granola bars.
What are we paying for ?
Don’t sign up
I find this race upsetting because of how misleading their website and Instagram page is. It is called Wicked Fast and it boasts “San Diego’s newest and fastest marathon,” “a fast course built for performance,” and has plenty of pictures implying PRs and BQs. The course has a net downhill of 1,108ft - key word being NET. I clocked over 1,200ft of elevation gain during the marathon occurring for the first 6mi when you’re trying to hold pace strategies and not gas your legs for the race to come and the last 6mi when you’ve already been wrecked by the downhill and just need to hold pace. It was also held in June where the race start was almost 70F and had runners finishing well into the 90F+ weather. I saw multiple people needing medical attention from the heat and was told later in the race, aid stations did not have water anymore. Aid stations at the start didn’t even have the advertised Gatorade, only water in Gatorade cups. I was hoping for a race that improved my current BQ similar to Ventura or Jack & Jill and I wish I had mapped the course on my Garmin prior (the race website only provides a picture of a map and a screenshot of the elevation that is heavily stretched to looking like smaller uphills, no GPX file) to see the information they were sugar coating. I strongly felt the need to review this race so other runners don't get mislead as well.
Don’t treat this as a BQ attempt unless they change the course next year. I went through the results list and maybe 15 people BQed.
Casino is nice enough to stay in, but a security guard literally had to walk me to my room because I didn’t carry my ID while running a marathon to prove I was 21+. Could do without the smoke and noise before a race. Apparently runners who arrived too late to the start had to park down 3mi below the casino parking.