Race Report: Long Beach Half (October)
Driving home from St George on Sunday, I had little time to bask in the afterglow of the race. The following Sunday I'd be running one of my favorite Half Marathons, Long Beach.
Running back-to-back races isn't my thing. My body certainly needs some recovery time, and it wasn't until Wednesday (post StG) that I could go down stairs without having my legs give on me. So, why prey tell, did I want to run a Half when I'd just completed a Full??
Race Organizers are getting smart with their marketing. They've realized if they dangle another challenge in front of their runners, oftentimes we bite. So, when I received an email just one month before St George telling me all I had to do was complete LB 1/2 and I could be part of an elite Beach City Challenge group... I impulsively registered. I NEEDED that medal. And I would kill myself to get it (picture Zombie like gaze at the computer screen as I tapped away with my credit card information to sign up)!
Thankfully, some of The Ladies were running the race as well! They kindly offered to pick up my packet so I could focus on things outside of my running life (like throwing my sister a luncheon baby shower with 25 people the day before).
The thing about Long Beach 1/2 is, you have to be patient. It's a nice race, but an overcrowded race. They try to funnel about 20,000 Runners down to the Convention Center... for both the expo and race. Normally this wouldn't be an issue, except they close down all the surrounding surface streets for the race itself. Leaving all cyclists (there's a bike race that starts at 6am), runners and spectators ONE way into downtown. You HAVE to get there early... like 5ish... even when the running race doesn't start til 7am. Trust me on this!
After sitting on the freeway in dead stop traffic, we quickly geared up and ran down to the start line. Honestly, the three of us couldn't have timed it better... walking up, Coral 1:50-2:00, was just crossing the start line. In we jumped and off we went.
I am still surprised how good I felt post Marathon. I forgot my watch (not an issue since this race was supposed to be for fun - and to get that Stupid Medal), so I don't know my actual pace... but I averaged 9:05 overall. Not at all what I was expecting!
About Mile 6 I saw a coworker and fellow Runner. Up until Mile 10 we jostled back and forth. Then he just left me in the dust! Mile 11 that ol' familiar feeling (wheels falling off) came back and I realized how stupid I was to sign up for back-to-back races (again). Turning into the finishing shoot, I was pleased to be done. I grabbed Medal #1 (LB 1/2 Finisher) and then grabbed Medal #2 (Beach City Challenge - aka Stupid Medal I Wanted).
Cling, cling with my Medals... I found the Beer Garden and a few Running Friends. After the nausea went away, I managed to gulp down the one free beer they give to Runners. Just as my stomach was getting used to the fluid, my Running Friend plopped down another beer. It's in my genes to finish what's before you (particularly if it's beer), so we continued to exchange war stories and complain about all the lines you have to stand in post race.
All in all, the race delivered as it always has... great (hot) weather, flat course and beer garden.
Perks of the race...
Running back-to-back races isn't my thing. My body certainly needs some recovery time, and it wasn't until Wednesday (post StG) that I could go down stairs without having my legs give on me. So, why prey tell, did I want to run a Half when I'd just completed a Full??
Race Organizers are getting smart with their marketing. They've realized if they dangle another challenge in front of their runners, oftentimes we bite. So, when I received an email just one month before St George telling me all I had to do was complete LB 1/2 and I could be part of an elite Beach City Challenge group... I impulsively registered. I NEEDED that medal. And I would kill myself to get it (picture Zombie like gaze at the computer screen as I tapped away with my credit card information to sign up)!
Thankfully, some of The Ladies were running the race as well! They kindly offered to pick up my packet so I could focus on things outside of my running life (like throwing my sister a luncheon baby shower with 25 people the day before).
The thing about Long Beach 1/2 is, you have to be patient. It's a nice race, but an overcrowded race. They try to funnel about 20,000 Runners down to the Convention Center... for both the expo and race. Normally this wouldn't be an issue, except they close down all the surrounding surface streets for the race itself. Leaving all cyclists (there's a bike race that starts at 6am), runners and spectators ONE way into downtown. You HAVE to get there early... like 5ish... even when the running race doesn't start til 7am. Trust me on this!
After sitting on the freeway in dead stop traffic, we quickly geared up and ran down to the start line. Honestly, the three of us couldn't have timed it better... walking up, Coral 1:50-2:00, was just crossing the start line. In we jumped and off we went.
I am still surprised how good I felt post Marathon. I forgot my watch (not an issue since this race was supposed to be for fun - and to get that Stupid Medal), so I don't know my actual pace... but I averaged 9:05 overall. Not at all what I was expecting!
About Mile 6 I saw a coworker and fellow Runner. Up until Mile 10 we jostled back and forth. Then he just left me in the dust! Mile 11 that ol' familiar feeling (wheels falling off) came back and I realized how stupid I was to sign up for back-to-back races (again). Turning into the finishing shoot, I was pleased to be done. I grabbed Medal #1 (LB 1/2 Finisher) and then grabbed Medal #2 (Beach City Challenge - aka Stupid Medal I Wanted).
Cling, cling with my Medals... I found the Beer Garden and a few Running Friends. After the nausea went away, I managed to gulp down the one free beer they give to Runners. Just as my stomach was getting used to the fluid, my Running Friend plopped down another beer. It's in my genes to finish what's before you (particularly if it's beer), so we continued to exchange war stories and complain about all the lines you have to stand in post race.
All in all, the race delivered as it always has... great (hot) weather, flat course and beer garden.
Perks of the race...
- Mostly flat, fast course. There are two gradual hills: Mile 3 and Mile 5-6.
- Spectator friendly course. We circle past the start/finish line at Mile 7 and you can walk to places on the course (i.e. Ocean Street or Pier)
- Weather is usually pretty good- sunny around 70
- You run on the boardwalk by the beach and on the pier
- Beer Garden with (1) free beer per participant
- There's a Cycling Race, 5k, 1/2 Marathon and Marathon - so there's literally a race for everyone
- Live band in the Beer Garden
- I LOVE their Race Results stats!
- Really?? Only one free beer for a Half Marathon?? In the past, we got two... just saying!
- $5 for any extra beers
- $10 for expo parking - we all know my opinion in this!
- $$ for Race Day Parking - we paid $8 for VIP
- Traffic getting in requires you to get there WAY before the race starts and tests your patience - if you're a newbie doing this race, I guarantee you'll freak out if you don't plan accordingly
- Lines to get you Stupid Medal (I accidental cut... but was told by several Running Friends it took an hour to get your medal, and this is post race). The race needs to get more volunteers to hand these out.
- Lines to get into the Beer Garden about 1/2 hour (again, I got lucky and found Running Friends in line)
- Parts of the race are extremely congested. Particularly on the boardwalk
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