Photos: Napa Valley Marathon Brings Runners, Crowds

By Al Francis

NAPA VALLEY -Simi Valley resident Isidore Herrera stood at the front of the Napa Valley Marathon starting line at 7 a.m. Sunday morning, just as the sun rose with some 3,000 runners behind him.

The running conditions were ideal.

But, when the starting gun cracked, that was the last anyone saw of the tall runner.

Herrera took the lead and was never challenged in the 38th year of the popular Napa Valley race that covers 26.2 miles from Calistoga to Vintage High School in Napa.

By the time Herrera reached the first major checkpoint on Dear Park road, there was not another runner anywhere near him.

For most of the marathon, Herrera was paced by a sole CHP motorcycle escort as his only companion. He clocked in at 2 hours, 27 minutes and 29 seconds and is headed for Olympic trials.

Cat Beck of Utica, New York won the women's division with a time of 2 hours, 52 minutes and 40 seconds. As she crossed the finish line, the public address announcer advised that it was her first marathon.

Family, friends and supporters followed the runners along the closed Silverado Trail by going to cross roads and waiting to cheer on loved ones with cow bells, signs and cheers.

-all images via Al Francis