Ventura Marathon Reviews & Race Reports
7 reviews from runners who've completed this race
Reviews & Race Reports
Rolling Course — The first 9 miles feature rolling hills, which can challenge your pacing. Many runners noted the need to conserve energy early to avoid fatigue later on.
Aid Station Strategy — Porta potties are available at every aid station, a huge plus for those with GI issues. Stations serve Tailwind and water approximately every 2 miles, but some runners preferred their own gels or chews for energy.
Local Knowledge — Familiarity with the course can be a game changer. One runner who trains in Ojai felt confident in their pacing, resulting in a significant PR despite an injury.
Final Miles Challenge — The last 6 miles flatten out, but several runners reported fading energy and fatigue after mile 20. It's crucial to manage your effort early to finish strong.
Overcame GI distress and finished strong despite the heat
At around mile 8, the race leaves Ojai and starts dipping gently downhill. I was plugging away at the Tailwind I carried as well as Huma gels every 3-4 miles. My stomach felt a little off, but I pushed through it. Around this time I started grabbing water at aid stations and seeing if I could land the cups in the trash cans off a running toss.
Felt strong until mile 20, then struggled with heat and fatigue
The temperature was great (for me), with nice views of the mountains and many residents out and supporting the race. The race has water and Tailwind every ~2mi, but I stuck with Blox salted watermelon and water at the ~6 blox per hour rate. The water stations are well staffed and efficient. At 12.7mi, the course heads downhill and south toward the ocean.
Struggled with GI issues but still hit sub-3:40 goal
What I learned to appreciate a lot about this race organizer though were the porta potties located at every aid station. I decided I'd try to stick with the 3:40 pacer for the first couple miles to build up a bit of a lead on my 3:45 ideal pace so the effect of my inevitable pit-stop was lessened. Once I hit mile 4 I made the quickest restroom trip of my life, and was out in under 2 minutes.
Perfect weather and pacing strategy led to a strong finish.
The start of the race was slightly uphill, and we had a bit of elevation loss and gain in the first 9 or so miles, and that is clearly shown in the splits. I asked the pacer what his strategy was and he said we would aim for about a 7:06 average to open the race and get down to a 6:50 on the downhill, aiming to finish at 3:04. For the first 11 I was just out for a rather brisk Sunday long run, my heart rate was great, breathing easy, and chatting with the group of about 10 that were sticking with the pacer.
Injured foot but pushed through to a 50-minute PR
I live in Ojai which is where the race start was. I run the course 5-6 days a week so was very familiar with it. Morning was mid 40s which is ideal for me. I run hot so I ran in a singlet, 5 in inseam shorts, and endorphin elites. I also had a handheld filled with maurten 320. I switched this out halfway with water from a handoff with my wife. I also consumed gels every 30 minutes.