Hometown runner wins Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport Napa to Sonoma Wine Country Half Marathon
5,000 runners celebrate the 21st edition of Northern California’s iconic half marathon
SONOMA, Calif. — July 20, 2025 — On a cool, misty morning in wine country, nearly 5,000 runners lined up for the Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport Napa to Sonoma Wine Country Half Marathon – an event as scenic as it is celebrated.
And in Sunday’s half marathon, none were faster than University of Portland senior Nolan Hosbein, a Petaluma native. The 22-year-old clocked 1 hour, 10 minutes, 27 seconds to win the 13.1-mile race by more than four minutes. Ivan Medina finished second in 1:14:30.
“It’s pretty with all of the rolling hills,” said Hosbein, who also won the race in 2023. “I looked at my watch before the race, looked at the miles that were a little uphill, and made sure not to spike my heart rate going up. Then I took advantage of the downhills. But my favorite part was all the kids at the water stops were just awesome. It was a fun time.”
Hosbein said he didn’t taper for the race, logging 90 miles during race week. His training volume often reaches 110 miles per week during base-building. A member of the Pilots’ cross country team, he hopes to help the team return to the NCAA Championships this fall.
In the women’s race, Yolanda Gago Blanco claimed victory in 1:30:31. But no one smiled brighter at the finish than second-place finisher Allyson Ahlstrom, who crossed in 1:32:04.
Ahlstrom, 30, lives in nearby Sausalito and celebrated her first-ever podium finish. She credited Runna, the race’s official training app, for helping her prepare.
“I’ve been training a lot with the Runna app, I really appreciated that partnership,” she said. “I just wanted to go for it, and I’m so happy.”
Ahlstrom grew up in Santa Rosa and said she loved the course.
“There’s nothing like running through the vineyards,” she said. “The hills aren’t bad because you have such an amazing view. There were lots of spectators along the way that helped me keep pushing the pace. It’s a party. I highly recommend the race. I love the color.”
Following the race, runners gathered in Sonoma Plaza for the post-race Wine Festival, featuring tastings from 34 world-class wineries and live entertainment. The festival highlighted the region’s reputation as one of the premier wine destinations in the world. This year’s celebration also included a crowd-favorite bubble bar, where participants toasted their achievement with champagne and sparkling prosecco.
One of the weekend’s most inspirational stories came from 78-year-old Julius Schillinger, who won his age group in Saturday’s Rosé 5K for the fourth consecutive year. In 2023, Schillinger collapsed from cardiac arrest after a 5K in Petaluma. His heart stopped for 23 minutes, but he survived thanks to CPR administered before paramedics arrived.
One of the runners who helped save his life was cardiac nurse Vanessa Cummings. “It didn’t look good,” Cummings said of Schillinger’s initial condition. Later that day, she visited him at the hospital – where she also worked – and a lasting friendship was formed.
Asked why he continues to race, Schillinger said, “I try to always improve. Almost every runner, no matter the age or caliber, is always looking to get a second better. That’s a lesson for life: always try to get better. Don’t ever be satisfied.”
The 2026 event is scheduled for the weekend of July 18–19, and those who join the Early Access VIP List will receive 48-hour priority registration and can save up to $70 before entries open to the public. For full results, race photos, and more, visit www.runnapatosonoma.com.