Four Bridges Half Marathon

FYI, I didn’t finish this race… I’m not surprised because I didn’t really train for it and I ended crashing and burning at the 10.5 mile mark. The EMS guy who drove the ATV picked me up and hauled my out of shape butt to the finish line. Not very happy that I didn’t finish but still had a good time due to how the race was organized.
The race day packet pickup went pretty smooth although I wasn’t intending on picking up my shirt until after the race, the shirt people who were handling them out told me that I should take it now or else they may run out. So I took it and hustled back to the car before the race.
The staggered start at the race beginning worked out well… Those of us who are slower runners can stay behind the pack and not feel pressured to run faster than our comfortable pace. The course itself was moderately difficult with some deeper inclines and declines along the way. The latter part of the race was on a shared bike path near the reservoir which meant I had to be mindful of bicyclists zooming past me from behind and in front of me. Also, I’m a lot more used to races where there was more onlooker and crowd support and this race had a bunch of great volunteers encouraging us along but no big crowds to pump us up.
I wouldn’t mind running this half marathon again but consider how away this was located from me, I will most likely do one closer to me. Props to the medical staff who helped me recover though when I got to their tent though… that deserves a 4 star review in and of itself.

It’s a good thing I was too lazy to drive to Folsom on Saturday for packet pick-​up. I read that it was a disaster. On race day, the wait was less than a minute. I love the shirt– greenish blue with an owl on it.
The start and finish line was at Rodeo Park. Runners cross four bridges (Willow Creek Bridge, Old Railroad Car Bridge, Hazel Avenue Bridge, and Walker Bridge) on the course that circles Lake Natoma. Trolls lurk under the four bridges but I didn’t see any when I crossed my bridge. Many runners dress in costume, with the best Halloween outfit earning an award. I’m not sure what the award was or how they determine who has the best outfit.
I did the three-​person half marathon relay. The relay legs are 3.7 miles, 4.1 miles and 5.3 miles. I lucked out by doing the first leg. Runners in the first leg run through the historic district of Folsom (downhill) and onto a bike trail. While on the bike trail, there was a deer that ran past us. I thought it was a wolf at first. Yes, I have an overactive imagination. My relay exchange point was a little past the first bridge. The course was scenic but I didn’t like the small elevation changes. I can’t complain too much though, since the person doing the last leg not only has to do the most mileage but they also have to run uphill toward the end of the run.
There wasn’t a shuttle service for relay runners, so I was a little worried about that. The three of us shuttled each other back and forth. It was easier than I thought it was going to be, and the directions that were given to us were clear.
After crossing the finish line, runners can refuel with water, fruits (apples, bananas, oranges), Power Bar Energy Blasts, and a variety of muffins (Entenmann’s Little Bites, Otis Spunkmeyer, and Uncle Wally’s).
I would like to make one suggestion– individual times for each person in the relay!

This moderate-​size run was impeccably organized, with easy registration and a good website, as well as lots of parking at the site. The course is fun and challenging, and on-​course services are on point. I really like how the start was staggered in three (closely-​spaced) groups, which made the start manageable and uncongested, while getting everyone out in an expeditious fashion. I already have this one on my short list for next year. All local race organizers should closely study this one to learn how to do it right.

This half-​marathon is more scenic and slightly more challenging than Cowtown (is it «Urban Cow» now?) in the city of Sacramento, but Cowtown is better-​organized.
The course follows the American River bike trail (paved, maybe 12 feet wide) along the American River west out of Folsom, across the bridge at Hazel Avenue (by the Nimbus fish hatchery), then back east along the north bank of the American River, crossing back into downtown Folsom at the finish. The course is a rolling one, with not a lot of steep hills, but lots of small elevation changes. I train on pancake-​flat roads amidst rice fields in the valley, so this added a little difficulty for me.
The start was frankly a mess this year (2010), with the gentleman MC not really explaining the «wave» start (where different speeds of runners start at different times to avoid trail congestion) or providing much useful info or exciting pre-​race countdown chatter. Not a big deal, but I’ve done enough of these races to know that a good MC can really add to the excitement of the experience.
The finisher’s medal is decent, not just a sticker slapped on a hunk of pot metal, but engraved and painted. You get a poly shirt too, which was OK.
There were a decent number of aid stations if you don’t carry your own water or goo, and there were some porta-​potties on the course. Not a lot of spots for spectators, and there were a couple of random garage bands at a couple of places.
Overall this is a decent race and definitely worth doing if you live in the Sacramento area, but I wouldn’t recommend traveling from out of the area to do it.

My first time running this race, and didn’t look at the course when I signed up. The last mile is a switchback fight to the finish, with a net elevation gain of about 150 ft. if I’m not mistaken. Not an easy race, but certainly not as hard as the ones in san francisco.
This race takes place on Halloween or the Sunday before it I believe. There are four bridges that you cross as you run the race and there are «trolls» and other dressed up people rooting for you as you cross them. It isn’t as large as some of the other races in Sacramento (think CIM) but there’s still a lot of participants.
The crowd support is less than other races due to the fact that most of the race goes along the bike trail and Lake Natoma, not allowing access for people to cheer. I suppose the only thing I didn’t like about the race is the fact that the wave start was confusing. The announcer didn’t announce the waves and to this day I’m not sure if I started of with the first wave or the second wave.
Finishers get a medal and a shirt, and the usual goodies.
Overall: pretty race, challenging course, confusing start, nice shirt. I’d run it again.