Race Report: Dana Point Turkey Trot (Nov)
Serious Social Hour for any OC Runner!
Dana Point's Turkey Trot has increased in popularity! It's a race for everyone: newbies and "experienced" alike. Not to mention purse money for those deemed "fastest of the fast". Seriously... in years past I've heard the announcer say, "If your in the front and I don't recognize your face, you shouldn't be there!"
It's been about 3 years since I've run this race. Opting to camp on Thanksgiving, our family created our own Turkey Trot in the morning close to the house so we could hit the road before lunch. In that 3 year's time, the local race has grown in size! Back in the day, 3000 runners was notable. This year, approximately 12,000 runners participated!
Arriving in Dana Point about 45 minutes early, we did not have problems finding parking. After chatting in the car for a few, we decided to head down and hit the bathroom line. Considering the amount of registered folks, things went relatively smoothly. We opted for the 10K to race, and 5k to cool down. Out we headed to the 10K line.
Argh! Pushing through the hoards of folks (seriously, spectators it's not a good idea to stand in the middle of the sidewalk with the whole family 5 minutes before the race start... move out, de-congest things by moving out onto the course where you'll have a better chance cheering/seeing you're loved one, and let runners line up for their start!)... we finally make it to the outskirts of the second wave.
Waiting, waiting, waiting... wasn't this race supposed to start at 7? Finally 7:15ish we push off...
Nice thing about this course is it's out and backs. You get to see who's ahead of you and cheer them on. So, heading down towards Doheny State Park, high five the Park Rangers and you see the lead racers coming in! We aren't even at Mile 1, they are doubling back to Mile 3.
The Race Organizers were smart and had 3 Waves for the race. So unlike years past where you literally got bottlenecked behind (Walkers with no business in the front) folks, this year it was more manageable.
First out and back was in Doheny in their parking lot. A nice crisp morning jog along cars, campers and the beach. Double back you give a shout out to the folks you know. A nice little pick me up as you huff and puff hoping this means you can have seconds on pie.
Less than 30 minutes later you cross the start line. It just so happened, the Race Leaders were also Finishing... yup, just as I was crossing the 3.1 Mile Marker. Dang!
Once past the start, the race pushes you out onto the little island. Over the slight bump/bridge you do two more out and backs. Then coming back over the bridge you head south for your final Mile and Half. Kick it in for your finish and your done!
This year was a nice touch with a Marine awarding you with a Finishing Medal (also a first for this race). Now blinged out with my medal, I run into a few fellow Running Friends. The chatter is less about this Race, but more of an opportunity to chat up. "What have you been up to?" "What Races have you done lately?" "What's next for you?"
Admittedly, I felt a little woozy after the 10K. Truth be told, I hate 10ks. Hate, actually, isn't a strong enough word for how much I can't stand 10k. It's basically a 5k, doubled. To me, you work just as hard in a 10k as you do in a 5k, except you do it twice as long. I'd much rather run a 5K and go balls to the walls, then run 6.2 miles at that pace! Why I do it?? Well, because this year we didn't go camping... otherwise, I wouldn't!
After some water and an attempt to walk around and cool off, the group meets up to get in line for the 5k. I power down a Gu and hope my wooziness will go away.
Waiting, waiting, waiting and then wait some more... we happen to be in the third wave for the 5k... and we actually hear the Winner come across the Final Line while waiting for our Race to start! Finally, we push off...
The 5k is the same course as the 10K except you don't go to Doheny. Instead you stay southwest, going over the bridge for your two out and backs. I'm starting to feel better in this race with my 10 min/pace. I'm a little annoyed by the woman who decided to bring her cat on the run... yup! Her cat! To make it worst, she couldn't hold her line with the miniature stroller it was in, and almost took out quite a few people during the course of the run. Really? Did Fluffy need to come?? Sure, if the Race Site said dogs were ok, I would have brought Georgia T, but it didn't.... somehow cats are an exception.
Back to the real subject:
Anyway... pealing off the course before the finish line, I cheer on The Ladies. Tease them about sprinting in (my signature move). We all finish up at just 40 minutes. A good day for all - so let the Turkey Day begin!
Perks of the race:
I give this race an 8 out 10.
Dana Point's Turkey Trot has increased in popularity! It's a race for everyone: newbies and "experienced" alike. Not to mention purse money for those deemed "fastest of the fast". Seriously... in years past I've heard the announcer say, "If your in the front and I don't recognize your face, you shouldn't be there!"
It's been about 3 years since I've run this race. Opting to camp on Thanksgiving, our family created our own Turkey Trot in the morning close to the house so we could hit the road before lunch. In that 3 year's time, the local race has grown in size! Back in the day, 3000 runners was notable. This year, approximately 12,000 runners participated!
Arriving in Dana Point about 45 minutes early, we did not have problems finding parking. After chatting in the car for a few, we decided to head down and hit the bathroom line. Considering the amount of registered folks, things went relatively smoothly. We opted for the 10K to race, and 5k to cool down. Out we headed to the 10K line.
Argh! Pushing through the hoards of folks (seriously, spectators it's not a good idea to stand in the middle of the sidewalk with the whole family 5 minutes before the race start... move out, de-congest things by moving out onto the course where you'll have a better chance cheering/seeing you're loved one, and let runners line up for their start!)... we finally make it to the outskirts of the second wave.
Waiting, waiting, waiting... wasn't this race supposed to start at 7? Finally 7:15ish we push off...
Nice thing about this course is it's out and backs. You get to see who's ahead of you and cheer them on. So, heading down towards Doheny State Park, high five the Park Rangers and you see the lead racers coming in! We aren't even at Mile 1, they are doubling back to Mile 3.
The Race Organizers were smart and had 3 Waves for the race. So unlike years past where you literally got bottlenecked behind (Walkers with no business in the front) folks, this year it was more manageable.
First out and back was in Doheny in their parking lot. A nice crisp morning jog along cars, campers and the beach. Double back you give a shout out to the folks you know. A nice little pick me up as you huff and puff hoping this means you can have seconds on pie.
Less than 30 minutes later you cross the start line. It just so happened, the Race Leaders were also Finishing... yup, just as I was crossing the 3.1 Mile Marker. Dang!
Once past the start, the race pushes you out onto the little island. Over the slight bump/bridge you do two more out and backs. Then coming back over the bridge you head south for your final Mile and Half. Kick it in for your finish and your done!
This year was a nice touch with a Marine awarding you with a Finishing Medal (also a first for this race). Now blinged out with my medal, I run into a few fellow Running Friends. The chatter is less about this Race, but more of an opportunity to chat up. "What have you been up to?" "What Races have you done lately?" "What's next for you?"
Admittedly, I felt a little woozy after the 10K. Truth be told, I hate 10ks. Hate, actually, isn't a strong enough word for how much I can't stand 10k. It's basically a 5k, doubled. To me, you work just as hard in a 10k as you do in a 5k, except you do it twice as long. I'd much rather run a 5K and go balls to the walls, then run 6.2 miles at that pace! Why I do it?? Well, because this year we didn't go camping... otherwise, I wouldn't!
After some water and an attempt to walk around and cool off, the group meets up to get in line for the 5k. I power down a Gu and hope my wooziness will go away.
Waiting, waiting, waiting and then wait some more... we happen to be in the third wave for the 5k... and we actually hear the Winner come across the Final Line while waiting for our Race to start! Finally, we push off...
The 5k is the same course as the 10K except you don't go to Doheny. Instead you stay southwest, going over the bridge for your two out and backs. I'm starting to feel better in this race with my 10 min/pace. I'm a little annoyed by the woman who decided to bring her cat on the run... yup! Her cat! To make it worst, she couldn't hold her line with the miniature stroller it was in, and almost took out quite a few people during the course of the run. Really? Did Fluffy need to come?? Sure, if the Race Site said dogs were ok, I would have brought Georgia T, but it didn't.... somehow cats are an exception.
Back to the real subject:
Anyway... pealing off the course before the finish line, I cheer on The Ladies. Tease them about sprinting in (my signature move). We all finish up at just 40 minutes. A good day for all - so let the Turkey Day begin!
Perks of the race:
- One of the best local 5 & 10k races
- Very well organized
- Race Waves make the course less crowded
- Opportunity to see your Running Friends before, during and after the race
- Beach front scenery - assuming you can pull your head up from the hard work your doing to enjoy it
- Flat, fast course
- Ample bathrooms
- Pretty nice expo before the race
- Awarded your medal by a man in a uniform - what an honor!
- A big race feel, for a local 5/10K - complete with an announcer calling out names of folks finishing
- Looking to get extra miles, sign up for both - 10k starts at 7am; 5k at 8:30
- Costumed runners
- Kids race - 1 Miler
- Race benefits Second Harvest Rood Bank OC, and 5th Marine Regiment Support Group
- A great post Fall Marathon (Long Beach, Marine Corps, New York, etc) race.
- Let's just call a spade, a spade = best reason to eat what you want on Thanksgiving!
- Website cut off online registration Monday. Two extra days would have been helpful
- $40- $50 for 10k, $35-$45 for the 5k, and $50-60 for both = kind of expensive
- I'm still waiting on Race Results... so a little slow
- Promptness is not this races strength. I remember it always ran late, this year was no exception
- It would have been nice to have a water station on the island portion of the race
- Parking can be a bear if you don't plan and give yourself ample time
- Weather this time of year is unpredictable. This year chilly, last year sunny, year before that rain
- Alas, no Beer Garden... perhaps I'm the only one thinking about this on Turkey Day
I give this race an 8 out 10.
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