Race: San Diego Half Marathon
Runner: Philippe D
Race Date: 03/10/2019
Location: San Diego, CA
Results: 1:42:54
Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/2204494112
3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
- Great itinerary that shows a lot of the city
- Fantastic finish inside Petco Park with athletes shown on big screen
- Solid organization despite the 6K runners (parking, aid stations, easy in and out of race)
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you
Overall everything was quite positive. One thing I didn’t like was that a lot of people didn’t respect their wave number and a lot of people pushed to be in wave 1 creating a very busy start line.
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?
For the first time, I followed a pacer who helped me push harder than I would on my own. I was able to manage my pace well, and for the last 3 miles, I stayed close to another runner and we pushed each other until the end. I usually get worried when my pace is too fast compared to my normal training pace, but this race showed me that I have more in the tank and I’m able to push harder than I thought.
Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner
- No need to arrive super early. I got there 30 minutes before the start of the race, was able to park right across from the start line, and still have plenty of time to drop my bag and warm up.
- The course is mostly flat until mile 9 where there is a short but very steep hill before some more flat. But then mile 10 starts with a 0.75 mile steep hill that is hard for the mind. When you think you’ve reached the top, there’s another 0.25 miles left.
- The last 3 miles are downhill and a great opportunity to make up time
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around
My main lesson is that I can start faster than I thought and still be able to manage my pace and overall run well.
Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race
Be prepared for the hill at mile 10
Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?
Yes – there are a couple of miles where the scenery is not that great, but overall it’s a pretty course.
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?
It’s not difficult besides that one hill.
Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?
Very well organized through out.
Competition – Is there a strong field?
My time put me in the first 8% so I would say that competition is not that strong considering I’m not super fast 🙂
Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?
Aid stations every 2-3 miles, which make them important because missing one toward the end may mean no water for several miles.
Weather and typical race conditions
We have a cold winter for San Diego but we still had a sunny day and started the race at around 52 degrees which was perfect!
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?
No – nothing special needed
Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?
Yes – plenty of opportunities for friends to cheer along the course and be in the stadium for the arrival.
How’s the Swag?
Pretty good – strong baseball theme. Nice t-shirt and big heavy medal
The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?
5 stars!
