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Napa Valley Marathon #51

I ran the Napa Valley Marathon to celebrate my friend Reggie’s 60th birthday, and I have to say, it’s now one of my favorite races!


Jeanne Corey Marchand, Napa Marathon, 2018 - Jeanne Runs

The Expo:

I’ve been to a lot of expos, but Napa’s stood out. It wasn’t huge, but it had just the right number of vendors, making it a personable experience. The food offerings were abundant and varied—cheese boards, protein bars, cold brew coffee, and of course, wine and beer tastings. They even had free facials! I also found some great merchandise, including last year’s gear at only $10 each. I walked away with new tights, a sweatshirt, a tank top, and two wine glasses. As a bonus, we got a Napa Valley marathon duffle bag to use as our gear bag, and each bag had a laminate with our bib number.


Shakeout Run:

The Saturday morning shakeout run was fantastic. We were lucky enough to have Joan Benoit join us! It was a great way to meet fellow runners and the race director. There was also a raffle with some nice prizes.


Pre-Race:

Logistics were seamless. The buses pick you up at the high school, where there are indoor bathrooms, and then take you to the start. You can stay on the bus until the race starts to stay warm. The bag check was handled by the bus you arrived on, and each bus had a range of bib numbers for easy drop-off. There were plenty of port-o-lets at the start as well, which is always a plus. The race director kicked off the marathon with a great announcement, and a gentleman who has sung the National Anthem for years led us in the song. It was amazing to see everyone join in and finish it together.


The Race:

The horn went off, and we were off! It was pretty cold at the start, around 33 degrees, but I had hand warmers and an extra throwaway top. I started to warm up around mile 3 but kept the hand warmers on. The course was stunning, with fog in the early miles and the sunlight casting beautiful silhouettes of runners ahead. The winding California roads were lined with well-maintained wineries, and every turn revealed more breathtaking views. Some sections of the road had quite a bit of camber, so I had to adjust my running position to minimize strain on my legs.


One of the highlights was running alongside Dean Karnazes for several miles. He was so down-to-earth and shared stories with us. His wife supported him on the course with nutrition, and Dean even offered us food. It was inspiring to meet such a kind and humble legend.


Water stops were frequent, about every 2 miles, and there were plenty of port-o-lets. In the later miles, there were Honey Stinger products, bananas, and some of the freshest oranges I’ve ever had. Though crowd support was limited, the natural beauty of the course and the camaraderie on the course kept me going. Despite the rolling hills, I felt the course was fast, with more downhill than uphill.


As soon as I crossed the finish line, I received a bottle of water and my medal. The young volunteers stayed with me to make sure I was okay and offered any needed medical assistance.


Post-Race:

The post-race festivities at the high school were fantastic. We picked up our duffle bags in the auditorium, and the school allowed runners to use their facilities for showers and changing. One of the best perks was the free massages! I had a wonderful massage from a young woman who was fantastic. The post-race food included a bag with a Kind bar and banana, and the school café served delicious hot soup and ice cream.


The awards for the 1st and 2nd place winners were huge bottles of wine—does it get any better? The award ceremony was great, followed by a raffle with about 20 prizes.


Final Thoughts:

I absolutely loved this race. Our group from Connecticut is already talking about coming back next year. One of the best parts of the race was hearing my friend Reggie say, “This is my last marathon,” before the race, and then after the race, she said, “I’d definitely come back and run this one again!” That just goes to show how great this event was. It’s refreshing to be part of such a well-organized race, and I can’t wait for next year!


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