San Luis Obispo Half Marathon Race Info

Date: 4/28/19

Location: San Luis Obispo, CA

Start Time: 7:00am

Avg Temps (f): 68/48

Time Limit: 4 hours

Lessons Learned from Race Reports

While it’s a scenic course when running through downtown SLO early on, the hills on the country roads make it quite challenging
Temps tend to warm up quickly and the race starts fairly early to help accommodate for that (years past saw later start times)
With it being such an early start, be ready for an early wakeup and allow enough time for parking.
Hills are a mix of both short and steep, and long with with steep sections mixed in, so be ready for hills the entire way, especially the country road sections where you can see for long stretches at a time.
Course also tends to get windy on the country road sections, outside of town
1st mile is downhill – a lot of people tend to start out fast; try not to get too caught up in going out fast, as the rolling hills start shortly after mile 1
Last few miles are on a bike path with footbridges, which can cause some crowding and which has several hard turns, which can slow down pace and mess with your rhythm
Course looks fairly exposed once you leave downtown, so plan for sun being on your face – have a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, etc. whatever works for you and the sun
Country road miles likely fairly lonely since there are not many spectators, but you are at least seeing runners with the out and back portion from miles 7-10. Be prepared for lonely stretches though, since this isn’t the most spectator friendly course.

Course

Type: Mainly a loop with out and back portion from miles 7-10

Start/Finish Info: Approximately the same location, at Madonna Inn/Meadows. See parking information here.

Hills: ~700 feet of gain, biggest gain of ~220 feet from 3.5-5.5, rolling throughout with gains of ~40-80 feet and a net downhill from mile 6 to the finish, with several pop ups in elevation

Course Map/Elevation (see Strava)