Race Report: OC Half Marathon (May)
Originally, this was my "A" Race. I was planning to compete in the Full Marathon versus the Half. Due to injuries, I decided the best thing to do was drop back to the Half. I'll just pick a Full up sometime in the Fall.
I've decided that was the best decision! Today was not only HOT, but it was also windy. From what I hear, some Full Marathoners got hit with a headwind off the Santa Ana River Trail (a.k.a. the worst trail EVER).
So, yesterday I ran with The Ladies and then drove up to the Fair Grounds to pick up my packet. Now, I've attended some pretty bad Expos in the past, but this one takes the cake!
First, parking cost $5. Why? Didn't I just pay over $100? Why can't parking be included? Or why can't you up the price of registration so I don't have to "see" that cost? It's so frustrating to pay expensive registration fees only to find out you also have to pay for parking just to pick up your packet. Which, oh by the way, should only take 20 minutes, 1/2 hour tops, to get! It's one of my pet peeves!
After you pay your $5, you have to walk approximately 1/2 a mile to get to the Expo. No big deal, except they didn't have signs to help direct you to where you needed to go. To make things more frustrating, they had the Kids Run going on... don't get me wrong, it warms my heart to see the kids active and running... it's just I wasn't feeling the love with the Race Organizers who clearly didn't think through parking/directions/crowds. The result: chaos and confusion. I was over stimulated (and coming from me, that says a LOT)!
Once I got to the Expo, more chaos. Again, do not get me wrong... I know the drill when it comes to packet pickup. There are people who like to mosey. There are people confused. And there are people like me... just want in and want out, fast! I just think their Expo Staging area was too small. I became annoyed. All I wanted to do was pick up my packet and T-Shirt, do a quick sweep through the Expo for Cliff Shots and hit the road... instead we were sandwiched in and piling on top of each other. All that for $5!
Fast forward to race day:
I was told by the Race Organizers my shuttle time was 4:15am. Yea, that's not going to happen! For starters the race doesn't start until 6am! And I live out in the boonies... so I'm not getting up at 3am for a 1/2 Marathon, sorry! I showed up to get on my shuttle at 4:45. Oh, and did I mention I had to pay ANOTHER $5 to park??
Again, no organization to help direct racers onto the shuttles. The line very frequently had to cross in front of the buses and/or buses had to honk at the line to move so they could move. When we finally got on the bus it was close to 5:30. At least I can say the bathroom line at the Shuttle Pick Up wasn't bad.
Onto the bus with about 60 other runners... a few near missed accidents involving our bus (I kind you not, we all panicked our bus would rear end another bus)... for the 20 minute ride to the start. Once at the start things began to fall into place. We found Gear Drop and hopped right into Corral A.
Overall the race was pretty good. You start at Fashion Island and (this year) they take you around it clockwise until you hit MacArthur. Onward (and downhill) you go through CDM, past Balboa, parallel to Newport Backbay and on home to the Fair Grounds. Plenty of bathrooms and aid stations every two miles or so.
The route has some slight rolling hills but for the most part feels downhill. We noted some places that were challenging to pass folks at last year's race, were much easier and less crowded this year. Some residents turned their hoses on for us to cool down, and others passed out food/drinks. A very friendly course! But the most notable cheer section (who were also at Carlsbad) was Lululemon! They took up about a block, cheering us on with some fantastic signs (my fav: Don't Stop! That's what she said!)
At mile 12, the Marathoners turn off to complete the full course and we Half Marathoners get to head towards the Finish Line and Beer Tent! Since I had a Full Marathon Bid Number I had some folks yell at me I was on the wrong course... but apparently they did not get everyone because I saw two folks (one literally in the Half Marathon finishing parking lot, about a mile off course) who had to double back towards the Full. Bummer!
Let's get to the breakdown...
Race Perks:
I mean, come on! We just ran major distance, you should throw us a bone (or a free beer!)
I've decided that was the best decision! Today was not only HOT, but it was also windy. From what I hear, some Full Marathoners got hit with a headwind off the Santa Ana River Trail (a.k.a. the worst trail EVER).
So, yesterday I ran with The Ladies and then drove up to the Fair Grounds to pick up my packet. Now, I've attended some pretty bad Expos in the past, but this one takes the cake!
First, parking cost $5. Why? Didn't I just pay over $100? Why can't parking be included? Or why can't you up the price of registration so I don't have to "see" that cost? It's so frustrating to pay expensive registration fees only to find out you also have to pay for parking just to pick up your packet. Which, oh by the way, should only take 20 minutes, 1/2 hour tops, to get! It's one of my pet peeves!
After you pay your $5, you have to walk approximately 1/2 a mile to get to the Expo. No big deal, except they didn't have signs to help direct you to where you needed to go. To make things more frustrating, they had the Kids Run going on... don't get me wrong, it warms my heart to see the kids active and running... it's just I wasn't feeling the love with the Race Organizers who clearly didn't think through parking/directions/crowds. The result: chaos and confusion. I was over stimulated (and coming from me, that says a LOT)!
Once I got to the Expo, more chaos. Again, do not get me wrong... I know the drill when it comes to packet pickup. There are people who like to mosey. There are people confused. And there are people like me... just want in and want out, fast! I just think their Expo Staging area was too small. I became annoyed. All I wanted to do was pick up my packet and T-Shirt, do a quick sweep through the Expo for Cliff Shots and hit the road... instead we were sandwiched in and piling on top of each other. All that for $5!
Fast forward to race day:
I was told by the Race Organizers my shuttle time was 4:15am. Yea, that's not going to happen! For starters the race doesn't start until 6am! And I live out in the boonies... so I'm not getting up at 3am for a 1/2 Marathon, sorry! I showed up to get on my shuttle at 4:45. Oh, and did I mention I had to pay ANOTHER $5 to park??
Again, no organization to help direct racers onto the shuttles. The line very frequently had to cross in front of the buses and/or buses had to honk at the line to move so they could move. When we finally got on the bus it was close to 5:30. At least I can say the bathroom line at the Shuttle Pick Up wasn't bad.
Onto the bus with about 60 other runners... a few near missed accidents involving our bus (I kind you not, we all panicked our bus would rear end another bus)... for the 20 minute ride to the start. Once at the start things began to fall into place. We found Gear Drop and hopped right into Corral A.
Overall the race was pretty good. You start at Fashion Island and (this year) they take you around it clockwise until you hit MacArthur. Onward (and downhill) you go through CDM, past Balboa, parallel to Newport Backbay and on home to the Fair Grounds. Plenty of bathrooms and aid stations every two miles or so.
The route has some slight rolling hills but for the most part feels downhill. We noted some places that were challenging to pass folks at last year's race, were much easier and less crowded this year. Some residents turned their hoses on for us to cool down, and others passed out food/drinks. A very friendly course! But the most notable cheer section (who were also at Carlsbad) was Lululemon! They took up about a block, cheering us on with some fantastic signs (my fav: Don't Stop! That's what she said!)
At mile 12, the Marathoners turn off to complete the full course and we Half Marathoners get to head towards the Finish Line and Beer Tent! Since I had a Full Marathon Bid Number I had some folks yell at me I was on the wrong course... but apparently they did not get everyone because I saw two folks (one literally in the Half Marathon finishing parking lot, about a mile off course) who had to double back towards the Full. Bummer!
Let's get to the breakdown...
Race Perks:
- Overall a great course that's very scenic
- Point to point race so you cover more ground
- Friendly Volunteers
- Decent crowd support
- Gear Drop was very turn key. Both, before and after, the race.
- Paying for parking (both for packet pick up and on race day!) - it should be factored in with your registration
- This race could win some serious points if it had clearer signs on where to go for packet pick up, shuttles, beer tent, etc
- Oh... brings up my next opportunity - no beer garden! Beers cost $7 for a small and $12 for a large. Bummer!
- Parking was a mess... we attempted to leave after one beer, but when we walked out to the parking lot, we learned no one was moving. A woman explained she was sitting in her car for an hour waiting to move from one spot! (we opted to get another beer and wait it out)
- This race is point to point... the disadvantage is it requires more planning (shuttle times, gear drop, etc)
I mean, come on! We just ran major distance, you should throw us a bone (or a free beer!)
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