Race Report: Lake Forest 4th of July 5k & Huntington Beach 5ks (July)
Normally I drive to Huntington Beach to do their 5ks. To be honest, it is my favorite 4th of July race. Usually my plan is to race the Huntington Beach residents 5k at 7am, then turnaround and join the "open" division 5k at 8am. You run on Main toward PCH and back. What's nice about Huntington Beach's 5k is people are setting up for their spot to watch the parade... so, it's a "captured audience" ;)
Course is easy, flat and fast! Awards are given out to top 3 in each age group.
But, the best part of the Huntington Beach race is the 5k Stroller Division! It's the race where all the fathers do their best to race each other with their kids. And when I say race, I mean a 17 minute 5k! We are talking in shape triathlete/running fathers, lacing up their race shoes in an attempt to win! I love it! The top three to five finishers have times under 20 minutes, easy. And the kids just have a blast as they race down Main. Year over year, the competition changes... you never know who recently had a baby ;)
This year, however, I stuck around Lake Forest and participated in their 5k and festivities. I grew up in Lake Forest and even ran the 5k about 10 years (or so) ago. I forgot how charming the race is.
Running late as usual, I dropped Georgia T. off at my parents house and ran to the start line for registration. $30 if you do race day sign up, or $25 if you registered before 6/29.
After a quick scantron registration, I met up with some of The Ladies to chit chat - mostly talk about how hot and humid it already was! We head to the start line, and after the National Anthem, we are off! It seemed to me this race was sponsored by El Toro High School. You had the kids volunteering for sign ups, water stations, singing the national anthem and winning the race overall! It provided a nice nostalgic feel for me...
The course itself is an out and back down Lake Forest Drive with one turn off on Toledo. Since Lake Forest has a slight hill, you're treated with a wonderful downhill pull in the beginning, and punished with a negative flat at the end. And similar to Huntington Beach, you have folks setting up for the parade, so they are cheering you on for most of the course.
I don't have a breakdown of "what sucks about this course" and "what I love" because at the end of the day, both races are charming courses and when a local race gets people thinking about running more (I heard one guy running to the finish line shout out to his friend, "next, the Turkey Trot!"), it makes me happy!
Well done to all that came out and enjoyed the (HOT) weather before indulging in the festivities on the 4th!
Both races get an 8 out 10 from me!
Course is easy, flat and fast! Awards are given out to top 3 in each age group.
But, the best part of the Huntington Beach race is the 5k Stroller Division! It's the race where all the fathers do their best to race each other with their kids. And when I say race, I mean a 17 minute 5k! We are talking in shape triathlete/running fathers, lacing up their race shoes in an attempt to win! I love it! The top three to five finishers have times under 20 minutes, easy. And the kids just have a blast as they race down Main. Year over year, the competition changes... you never know who recently had a baby ;)
This year, however, I stuck around Lake Forest and participated in their 5k and festivities. I grew up in Lake Forest and even ran the 5k about 10 years (or so) ago. I forgot how charming the race is.
Running late as usual, I dropped Georgia T. off at my parents house and ran to the start line for registration. $30 if you do race day sign up, or $25 if you registered before 6/29.
After a quick scantron registration, I met up with some of The Ladies to chit chat - mostly talk about how hot and humid it already was! We head to the start line, and after the National Anthem, we are off! It seemed to me this race was sponsored by El Toro High School. You had the kids volunteering for sign ups, water stations, singing the national anthem and winning the race overall! It provided a nice nostalgic feel for me...
The course itself is an out and back down Lake Forest Drive with one turn off on Toledo. Since Lake Forest has a slight hill, you're treated with a wonderful downhill pull in the beginning, and punished with a negative flat at the end. And similar to Huntington Beach, you have folks setting up for the parade, so they are cheering you on for most of the course.
I don't have a breakdown of "what sucks about this course" and "what I love" because at the end of the day, both races are charming courses and when a local race gets people thinking about running more (I heard one guy running to the finish line shout out to his friend, "next, the Turkey Trot!"), it makes me happy!
Well done to all that came out and enjoyed the (HOT) weather before indulging in the festivities on the 4th!
Both races get an 8 out 10 from me!
I'm glad you stayed out of HB this year. I couldn't have handled you promising to stop by for drinks and then standing me up...again.
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