Big Sur International Marathon

It was beautiful, it was hard, it was fun, it was inspiring. It was epic. Touted as THE must-run marathon, Big Sur did not disappoint. Everything from the host city to the finisher’s medal was top notch. It had the excitement of a big marathon and the quaintness of a boutique marathon. The expo was huge, the pasta dinner gourmet and the transportation seamless. The host hotel was wonderful and within walking distance to many attractions. Every meal was better than the last, every hour more glorious than the previous.

Words cannot describe the Big Sur experience. Photos can come close to conveying the beauty, but there is something about the energy of the Taiko Drummers as their beat carries your legs up Hurricane Point that is beyond description. There is something about the serenity of hearing the notes of a grand piano weaving along the rugged coast line 1/2 mile before actually seeing the instrument. Even the most fatigued legs come alive again when an icy cold breeze appears out of nowhere, cutting through the warm sunshine.

I’ll be back at Big Sur, but it will be awhile. It’s not one to be run year after year, but like the finest wine, this marathon has to be savored in memory.