Race Report: Seaside Half Marathon (Feb)
If you don't know about it yet RaceShed - Race for Less, is an awesome site that offers discounts on select races.
http://raceshed.com/
We got 30% off an already low cost Half Marathon race in Ventura, Ca: The Seaside Half Marathon. A local, Half Marathon race at the tune of $57! Now, that's what I'm talkin' about!
You're welcome.
I'd never heard of Seaside Half, or if I had it fell into the category of too far away and no benefit to drive there. Well, that was until I heard the Race price (already low) was being offered at 30% off! That, plus the offer to stay in Ojai for free the night before, locked me in.
Julie, one of the Ladies, is on her way to Run her 50th Half Marathon by the end of this year. She's also determined to not spend a fortune in order to meet her goal. (Let's be honest, my Race Entries surpasses my grocery budget - priorities) She has found quite a few local Races that, oftentimes, we overlook in favor of the BIG budget Races. I mean don't we all fall for those high profile BIG budget Races that lure us in with really cool Medals ($) with all out amenities ($$) and touting a professional athlete signing books at the Expo ($$$)? We can't help it, sometimes it's a badge of honor to have run BIG budget Race "X", right? So it was nice to try something different.
Seaside Half was on it's second year. It's a small (about 400 Half Marathoners) race that offers 5k, 10k and a Half Marathon. All of which are an out-and-back course that Starts and Finishes just outside of the Crown Plaza Hotel. The course takes you up the coast for 6+ Miles and then returns you the same exact way.
We realized the charm of this Race while we were parking our car.... for free, just a few short blocks from the Start/Finish. Taking in a few of the other Runners we casually lined up near the "9 Minute Pace" banner and waited for the typical starting routine (National Anthem + Wave starts).... instead, what we got was an out of the blue air horn! Which meant the Race started. GO!
It should be noted we weren't the only ones startled by the quick start - at least one 10k'er started with us Half Marathoners (8am start vs 8:15am 10k start). In fact everyone knew she started in the wrong Race because she caught everyone's attention. Well, because she was the ONLY person Running against the swarm of Runners heading back in before Mile 2. At first I thought she was the Leader (as I'm sure everyone else did)... until you realized that was impossible - 20 minutes or so into the Race, the leader wouldn't already be heading back. Even if they were Ryan Hall. Had a good laugh at her embarrassing mistake over beers later.
Back to the Race...
Scrambling to get into our actual wave (versus hanging out on the outskirts, like we were), we wished each other good luck with a giggle (this was a Training Run - aka not to be taken seriously - which is why we had wine the day before). The pressure to perform was lacking on us for Seaside and that made us giddy.
The course snaked you along the beach front. And at the .75 Mile you crossed some railroad tracks where I waved to two Volunteers in orange vests... curious why they needed Volunteers there. More to come later...
Overall, Seaside is a relatively flat course. A few minor rollers but nothing notable. What was a bit challenging was the actual course:
1) the condition of the bike path - I actually rolled my ankle once but recovered without injury
2) the question popped into my head - where were we going to be Running on the "Back" when the Race only coned off the bike lane and we have to share that limited space with 400 Runners?
That answer was revealed to me when I saw the lead Runners heading back to the Finish... We'd have to squeeze in. I guess I'll deal with that when I hit the turn around point.
Let's talk about the weather: beautiful, sunny and warm. Perfect for February, highlighting one of it's benefit. A bit challenging for the folks Running 13.1. That's what you get for booking a Race in SoCal.
Now, remember the train tracks and the two Volunteers who baffled me on the way back?? Sure enough, I learned why. Heading towards them, I see one of the two frequently looking down the tracks and up at the guard rails. At about 100 yards away I yell at him, "Is a train coming??!!" When I get a nod, I hightail it towards him. Cross over the tracks, quick look to see if I'm in the clear and back to Running down the folks ahead of me.
Not more than a minute later, I hear a train horn and railroad guard bells. Yup, be prepared to get stopped on this Race if you happen to hit the tracks just when the Metro comes.
Turning into the Finish Line. A few shout outs from the crowd and I'm done. I navigate through the assortment of pop-up tents looking for water and post Race treats - I got water poured into a cup and some oranges and bagels/pastries. (A little sad I couldn't have a bottle of water, I cannot lie... not to mention the lack of a beer garden)
After admitting we both Ran too fast for a Training Run and too slow for our Marathon Race Pace, Julie and I headed off in search of some Mexican Food and a beer (or two).
Perks of the Race:
7 out of 10 from me
#1000in2014 (787 to go)
http://raceshed.com/
We got 30% off an already low cost Half Marathon race in Ventura, Ca: The Seaside Half Marathon. A local, Half Marathon race at the tune of $57! Now, that's what I'm talkin' about!
You're welcome.
Now onto the Race itself...
I'd never heard of Seaside Half, or if I had it fell into the category of too far away and no benefit to drive there. Well, that was until I heard the Race price (already low) was being offered at 30% off! That, plus the offer to stay in Ojai for free the night before, locked me in.
Julie, one of the Ladies, is on her way to Run her 50th Half Marathon by the end of this year. She's also determined to not spend a fortune in order to meet her goal. (Let's be honest, my Race Entries surpasses my grocery budget - priorities) She has found quite a few local Races that, oftentimes, we overlook in favor of the BIG budget Races. I mean don't we all fall for those high profile BIG budget Races that lure us in with really cool Medals ($) with all out amenities ($$) and touting a professional athlete signing books at the Expo ($$$)? We can't help it, sometimes it's a badge of honor to have run BIG budget Race "X", right? So it was nice to try something different.Seaside Half was on it's second year. It's a small (about 400 Half Marathoners) race that offers 5k, 10k and a Half Marathon. All of which are an out-and-back course that Starts and Finishes just outside of the Crown Plaza Hotel. The course takes you up the coast for 6+ Miles and then returns you the same exact way.
We realized the charm of this Race while we were parking our car.... for free, just a few short blocks from the Start/Finish. Taking in a few of the other Runners we casually lined up near the "9 Minute Pace" banner and waited for the typical starting routine (National Anthem + Wave starts).... instead, what we got was an out of the blue air horn! Which meant the Race started. GO!
It should be noted we weren't the only ones startled by the quick start - at least one 10k'er started with us Half Marathoners (8am start vs 8:15am 10k start). In fact everyone knew she started in the wrong Race because she caught everyone's attention. Well, because she was the ONLY person Running against the swarm of Runners heading back in before Mile 2. At first I thought she was the Leader (as I'm sure everyone else did)... until you realized that was impossible - 20 minutes or so into the Race, the leader wouldn't already be heading back. Even if they were Ryan Hall. Had a good laugh at her embarrassing mistake over beers later.
Back to the Race...
Scrambling to get into our actual wave (versus hanging out on the outskirts, like we were), we wished each other good luck with a giggle (this was a Training Run - aka not to be taken seriously - which is why we had wine the day before). The pressure to perform was lacking on us for Seaside and that made us giddy.
The course snaked you along the beach front. And at the .75 Mile you crossed some railroad tracks where I waved to two Volunteers in orange vests... curious why they needed Volunteers there. More to come later...
Overall, Seaside is a relatively flat course. A few minor rollers but nothing notable. What was a bit challenging was the actual course:
1) the condition of the bike path - I actually rolled my ankle once but recovered without injury
2) the question popped into my head - where were we going to be Running on the "Back" when the Race only coned off the bike lane and we have to share that limited space with 400 Runners?
That answer was revealed to me when I saw the lead Runners heading back to the Finish... We'd have to squeeze in. I guess I'll deal with that when I hit the turn around point.
Let's talk about the weather: beautiful, sunny and warm. Perfect for February, highlighting one of it's benefit. A bit challenging for the folks Running 13.1. That's what you get for booking a Race in SoCal.
Now, remember the train tracks and the two Volunteers who baffled me on the way back?? Sure enough, I learned why. Heading towards them, I see one of the two frequently looking down the tracks and up at the guard rails. At about 100 yards away I yell at him, "Is a train coming??!!" When I get a nod, I hightail it towards him. Cross over the tracks, quick look to see if I'm in the clear and back to Running down the folks ahead of me.
Not more than a minute later, I hear a train horn and railroad guard bells. Yup, be prepared to get stopped on this Race if you happen to hit the tracks just when the Metro comes.
Turning into the Finish Line. A few shout outs from the crowd and I'm done. I navigate through the assortment of pop-up tents looking for water and post Race treats - I got water poured into a cup and some oranges and bagels/pastries. (A little sad I couldn't have a bottle of water, I cannot lie... not to mention the lack of a beer garden)
After admitting we both Ran too fast for a Training Run and too slow for our Marathon Race Pace, Julie and I headed off in search of some Mexican Food and a beer (or two).
Perks of the Race:
- Inexpensive Half Marathon + a discount through RaceShed ($57 including registration fees)
- Beach front course
- Relatively flat, fast course
- Charming small Race (about 400 Half Marathoners)
- 5k and 10k options too
- Plenty of Port-a-Potties (just over every Mile)
- Same with Water Stations - which offered Gu
- Super easy packet pickup at a local sports shop (plus Race Day pickup available)
- Free Parking if you look around
- Website was tailored to beginning Runners
- Active Train tracks means you have to stop. However, I learned the Volunteers took down your Race Bib and credit you the delayed time
- All Races With Elite Sports Ventura County support local charity organizations
- Race start at 8am - enjoyed sleeping in!
- Crowded start for first 2 Miles - challenge to pass folks
- Pathway was a bit worn and you had to watch your step
- Out & Back on a Bike Path with traffic on road
- Admittedly this made me really nervous at points - not sure if blocking off a lane of traffic was possible but it would have helped
- In some instances the Water Stations scrambled
- It really does suck to stop for a train
- Bottled water at the finish is preferred
- And of course, a beer garden ;)
7 out of 10 from me
#1000in2014 (787 to go)
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