The San Diego Half Marathon is an annual event held in Downtown San Diego that has a starting point on Harbor Drive and ending the In the historic Gaslamp quarter. I signed up for the race online, which was fairly easy to complete, and they had an expo at the Hilton hotel 2 days before the race to pick up your BIB. At the expo, they had many vendors selling items as well as free energy drinks. They also handed out the free shirt you got for entering the race, which was really nice, and the quality was great! On race day, which was on a Sunday, the run for the Half Marathon started at 650 am. From all the emails I was receiving, we were told to show up at least 40 minutes or even 1 hour prior to the race due to all the runners being in the location, giving you enough time to find the wave your in. The Half Marathon or 13.1 miles course had a beautiful layout that started by the convention center, bringing you up through the Embarcadero to Harbor Island and through Point Loma. The course was a nice flat course until mile 9, where you are running up Washington Hill, gaining elevation into Hillcrest and throughout Balboa Park finishing in the Gaslamp. When we finished the race, we were giving our medals or bling and were handed a goodie bag with a Monster, crackers, and a protein bar. They were even handing out chocolate milk, water, and bananas. They had photographers on-site taking pictures and a small after party in the park aside from the finish line. This was absolutely my favorite race I have run, and I had a blast doing it. The course was perfect and well organized. They had volunteers handing out water and Gatorade approximately every 2 miles. They had porter pottys all throughout the course, and the crowd was very motivating. I'm looking forward to come-back and doing the exact race next year as well since I had an amazing experience. Thank you to all the volunteers and the organizers who made this race possible. read more

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Sadly, along with other events of this magnitude, this event was canceled and made into a virtual race (to be ran on your own). I was really looking forward to running this particular half marathon for the first time. There was no expo with vendors, just a pickup at the Gaslamp Hilton. What was really special is the volunteers/organizers did a cheer as we were handed our medal so a big thank you to them! Besides the medal, what was picked up was the bib, shirt, and tote bag which included the Friar hat, snacks, and chocolate milk. The tech shirt was pretty unique. In my collection, it's the first to be patterned in camo style. I'm signed up for the challenge which consists of completing the Mammoth Half Marathon in June, thus receiving an extra medal. Crossing my fingers that event is allowed to take place. I crave the crisp mountain fresh air. read more

GOVX San Diego Half Marathon - Medals were given out at packet pickup as a few volunteers cheered. - Races & Competitions Near Me - San Marcos, California

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4.5... DAMN you hill on Washington!!! You cost me my PR!!! I was 4 seconds shy by beating my PR that I got a week prior in NOLA's RnR Half... I was pleasantly surprised that this event was as organized as it was for being an inaug race. Kudos! The expo was a little awkward being at Petco, but free parking in the streets if you are able to find a spot. Parking on race morning was free also if you're familiar with downtown SD. I saw that some people paid for spots while I parked on the street literally like 5 feet away where it was FREE. The port-o-potty line was LONG, but it actually went pretty quick and we were in our corrals on time. I would suggest more ports in another area since the line did create a bottleneck near the corrals. The corrals were not crowded and I had room to run and not bump into anyone. Bottleneck at the beginning since walkers were in the wrong corral, but once you pass them, it was wide open. I really enjoyed this route - 80% of the run was scenic and I got to see many attractions I typically bypass in the downtown area. What got to me (as well as everyone else) is the Washington hill during mile 8-9. HOLY ISHT! People were dropping off like flies. This hill was nuts and I swear it was never-ending. It was all downhill after, however. Another con is the fact that they stopped some runners for the trolley to pass (almost near the finish). Luckily, I wasn't in that group. What was cool was that you finish in Petco Park. Your "epic" finish is your face on the jumbo-tron. Unfortunately, my cheerleader missed me and didn't get my pic as I crossed the finish. BUMMED that MY finish was not so "epic". =============================================== STATS: Overall: 2132 out of 5488 Women: 871 out of 3130 F 30-34: 174 out of 576 Age/Grade: 53.48% Place: 2016 5 Km: 27:58 Pace: 9:01 3.7 Mi: 33:37 Pace: 9:05 10 Km: 56:25 Pace: 9:05 15 Km: 1:27:31 Pace: 9:24 Finish: 2:03:55 Pace: 9:28 Gun Time: 2:05:35 Tag Time: 2:03:55 read more

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Ready, set, rave review go! For a second annual race, the SD half-marathon was simply perfect and I am boldly labeling it as my favorite race of San Diego (counting the Triple Crown Series). EXPO: Held at the Port Pavilion, easy access from both the I-5 and I-163. I was able to park in a free 30 minute spot to get my bib and goodies. The number of vendors were plenty, just as many as the Carlsbad Expo. The volunteers were very helpful and efficient in directing racers to their destinations. RACE DAY: No traffic jam anywhere (thank goodness, I can't imagine going through the nightmare traffic jam again as I did for the LJ half... it took me an hour just to exit the freeway before the race). I actually thought for a second I tripped up on Daylights Savings Time and came too early (or late). Turns out having the race downtown is a great idea. COURSE SUPPORT: There was a station with a concert band and another with marching bands/color guard in uniform, playing for us. How GREAT is that? Thank you for coming out to play and thanks to all the volunteers/spectators! The dreaded hill on Washington is manageable if you ran the LJ half and its awful Torrey Pines hill. I still had to grit my teeth and repeat mind-over-matter a few times but still jogged the entire hill. Plus, it's basically a steady down incline after so a great pay-off. What I loved most about the race is our pace leader, Gina. While I couldn't hang with the group without a fear of being trampled on, I was able to stay ahead of them by a few yards at all times. It was pretty awesome to hear Gina shout words of motivation and reminding us to relax our posture at every mile.... Almost like a personal cheerleader throughout the entire race. I was able to finish with a new PR, 1:49:28!! As a final note, the organizers definitely spoiled us with replenishments after. Coconut water, fruits, chocolates, bagels, naked juice... Just perfect. read more

GOVX San Diego Half Marathon - Races & Competitions Near Me - San Marcos, California

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Oh Heeeeeeeeeeeeeyy !!! It's another one ! If you LOVE San Diego, you'll LOVE this run ! Perfect weather !!! Course was picturesque and fairly flat except for two hills. Washington St. kicked my arse, but it wasn't the most difficult hill I've ever ran. Torrey Pines hill is still the number one BEAST compared to this. Anyway, I'm not bragging, because I ended up walking half of it. Oy ! Must.do.more.lunges Other than that, I can see how people can set a PR since it was a fun and overall easy course, especially for noobs. I stayed in downtown so I was pretty close to the start line and it's super convenient since I didn't want to deal with traffic. Considering I have a small bladder I have to always use the restroom a gazillion times before a run so I was happy to see plenty of port-a-potties. Pacers and waves were also well-organized. Supporters/fans/volunteers were amazing as always. Not many spectators as I had hoped, but I really enjoyed the live bands and running through the communities of Hillcrest and Downtown. If you really want to see beautiful San Diego and get a great workout at the same time, I recommend signing up for this race. Fuel stations were well stocked and I made sure to take advantage of it. Nice downhill finish, but man if you have knee problems this is a no-no ! I had to side step my finish and do some funky moves since my knees started to bother me. Ugh...the last couple miles were torture. It was worth it though. Sweet looking tech t-shirt and medal ! One of the nicest medals I've gotten ! Plus, I'm a local San Diegan so this hits close to home. San Diego pride baby ! Overall, 4.5 STARS ! Running Fans: Taking a break from halfies and taking up a new sport..kettlebells ?? read more

GOVX San Diego Half Marathon - Sweet medal - Races & Competitions Near Me - San Marcos, California

*Expo* They have a very well organized expo and race packet pick-up. It has been held at Broadway Pier. Parking might be your only problem to deal with in getting to the expo. You can hunt for some meter parking or find a parking lot for about $5-$10. Once there, you look up your bib number and pick up your bib under the corresponding bib range. Then you pick up a drawstring bag before entering the expo. Don't forget to pick up your race shirt at the very back of the pier. There they will hand out shirts underneath a tent. *Course* They offer a challenging course through America's Finest City. It's almost the AFC Half Marathon course run in reverse. However this one is more convenient as it is a loop course so there is no need for a early morning pre-race bus ride to the start line. It starts and ends at the Gaslamp Quarter. If you want to do well at this race, you'll need to make sure to do your hill training. *Race Day Tip* There's free meter parking in Downtown San Diego on Sundays. Overall, this is a great race. I would run this race every year if it weren't around the same time as the Los Angeles Marathon. From time to time they fall on the date. They do a good job and offer you a great race. read more

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This is my 2nd year running the SD Half Marathon. I was a bit disappointed that the finish wasn't inside Petco Park. However, overall experience was amazing. VIP perks included free parking for the expo, convenient bib pick up with massages and refreshments/treats. On race day, parking was easy, free (6th & Parkade) and close to the start line. The Hilton at the Gaslamp accommodated the VIP pre-race breakfast. They had fruits, yogurts, pastries, warmth (indoor stretching area) and clean/hotel restrooms. Post-race included a brunch at Lou & Mickey's. Brunch included sausage, egg, bacon, quiche, french toast, assorted juices, water and coffee in the menu. They also distributed the post-race goodies after you eat. VIPs also get a massage. If you can afford to add VIP treatment, do it. The massage after the race is a must! The course reminded me of Carlsbad Half except SD Half has the mile long hill climb - yes... Washington Street. My feet/knees despise slanted hill climbs so I was sore in the most awkward way after the race. I will continue to run this race, though. It's one of my fave races - not only because it's local, but everyone I know from various running communities run this race. It's good to run and suffer in number than to run and suffer alone. read more

GOVX San Diego Half Marathon - 2016 Expo - Races & Competitions Near Me - San Marcos, California

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(Half #8, 2015) This Half raises the bar: The "San Diego -- Mammoth Challenge." Running both in the same calendar year--San Diego in March and Mammoth in June--earns you an additional, extra-large commemorative medal at the finish! It's "challenges" such as this that pushed me into long-distance running in the first place: setting personal goals (even when it's a 13-mile run) and completing them, as tired and as sore as I become, make me feel great...about myself. So I push back... San Diego's Half, USATF Certified and now in its 5th year, began at Petco Park and wound around the beautifully scenic city itself: amidst the San Diego Bay, Liberty Station, and the Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD); through Mission Hills, Hillcrest, and Balboa Park. And the big finish: down 5th Avenue and into the Gaslamp District. This race, however, requires a little grit: Washington Street, climbing almost a quarter-mile at a 4-5% grade, was ominous, especially at mile 10; but it didn't hinder most. The sooner you reach the top, the sooner it's over. Like a band-aid: One motion! Right Off! San Diego delivers one of its premier runs with this event. The route was adventurous; the participation was brimming; the excitement was evident; and--as expected--the medals, shining in the morning sun, were exceptional! For those who love this race, and there are many who do, there are Legacy perks as well: legacy bib designations; premium tech shirts; awesome-looking half-zip, long-sleeved techs; and very cool, commemorative jackets as well. Take a look: http://www.sdhalfmarathon.com/legacy/ Mammoth...I'm comin' for ya! Tips: 1) Parking is simple. There's plenty. For $10, I parked in the Convention Center's structure: easy in, easy out. 2) There's no race-day registration, and it costs extra to have your bib sent in the mail (I believe it was $20); but if you're not planning to attend the Expo anyway, it's worth it. read more

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One of the most organized 5k I've ran. Than gain, it was also paired with a half marathon so there was probably lots of feedback on how to make this run as awesome as it was. Right from the start, sd half was very transparent and communicative on bib pick up, parking details and so forth. We got to one of the parking lot early ($10) and you can see the line of coach buses ready to shuttle folks to the 5k start. Having to use the restroom we walked past the buses and on the other side of the trolley tracks was a whole section of fresh clean portapotties with a hand washing station at each section. The only thing I suggest is to have trash cans/boxes at each section too. With the time change and everything being so dark, it was hard to read when to hop on the shuttle since the last shuttle ended at 635. It was a good 8 min ride to the start. Once you got there, three area lined up, coral 1-3 and you went to your spot. You were expected to do warm ups on your own but they provided water, bathrooms and a bag check they shuttled back to the finish line which was very convenient and nice. At the start each coral was supposed to have a three min buffer in between but everyone just ended up going right after each other which turned out fine. The run itself was great. Perfect overcast, nice steady downhill run and two water stations with one electrolyte station through the course. I loved the finish under the Jumbotron! For a 5k I felt like I did one hell of a run...best pace, best time and feeling like I finished at such a high profile ending. And so many photographers..."you want a photo?" "Here, let me take your photo." Usually your trying to get one, here you have to say no thanks after like...5! And the medal is legit! It's brass, beautiful and loved how it captures the gas lamp quarter in its design. I plan to do the 1/2! read more

GOVX San Diego Half Marathon - For the 5k we got to finish with the jumbotron too! - Races & Competitions Near Me - San Marcos, California

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ANOTHER RACE, ANOTHER MEDAL I love San Diego!!! And I guess I now love running there too. THE EXPO. It was held at Broadway Pier... a place cluttered with tourists and no free parking. Is it an ideal location? Probably for tourists and participates had discounts to see the naval vessels (explains why it was held at the waterfront). The expo was also open all week - wise organizational choice; reduce clutter and crowds. Parking is across the street and expect a line to pay at the self service machines. I didn't pay for parking... hundreds of people in and out all day long, do you really think the (2) parking tenants will be walking a large parking lots checking everybody's dashboards for a small piece of paper. No. Did I get a ticket after not paying for my parking? No. And on to the expo... small expo, nothing out of the ordinary. The only new thing at this expo that I didn't see at other race expos - donating blood for research. I gave blood for research before a race, there really is a first for everything. THE RACE. They changed the course this year (as I heard). And the most annoying words you will hear is "its all downhill from here".... I call that BS. Parking for the event was easy, street and parking structures were everywhere. There were alot of portal-pottys for the racers. Bag check was convenient. Coral line ups were VERY organized. The first 3-4 miles was too narrow and I felt like I was shuffling behind people more than ever and wasting my energy shuffling behind others because the pathways was too short. Around mile 4-5 the path ways start to open up and the crowds start to spread out. BEAUTIFUL COURSE around San Diego. Mile 8 is a short tiny steep hill, then mini rolling hills, then by mile 8.75 you start to feel small inclines. Mile 9 (that mile up Washington) was B-R-U-T-A-L. I've ran alot of races and ones with hills too but that was probably the craziest hill I've ever encountered. I will say 99% of the people walked it. When you reach the top which is around Mile 9.75 you hear all these volunteers and spectators saying "its all downhill from here". WHATEVER. Could they please clarify. It wasn't it was just flat until you hit Mile 11. They gave us runners the impression onces you hit the top of that brutal hill it would be downhill from that point. LIES. Mile 11 - 12.1 is where the nice downhill is then it becomes flat again. People should be more specific when they say "it's all down hill from here". I was getting annoyed and was responding back to spectators "people keep saying that but I don't see a downhill". Overall, it was a very organized and beautiful race. Chatted and met randoms on the course... small convos and a few laughs to help us chug along!!! WE DID IT PEOPLE!!! THE AFTERMATH. Medal, bag-check pick-up, and a bag of goodies. I like how a bag was already prepared. Usually at races you walk and collect goodies on your way out. Here, everything was in a bag already. 3 of 12 in 2016 - done and done. read more

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LEGACY RUNNER IN THE HIZ-OUSE! lol. Okay, so this is was my 2nd year running this race, and all I was really entitled to was a star on the sleeve of my shirt, and bib designation -- whatever that means. Lol. I'm going to aim for the 5 year mark, and earn that legacy jacket. This has been one of my favorite races (half marathon) in San Diego. The race is very well organized, and shows off the beautiful parts of San Diego. The Rock n Roll fellas need to consult with the San Diego Half Marathon fellas because the Rock n Roll Half Marathon in San Diego is just a hot mess. PROS -- The race starts by Petco Park, and ends at The Gaslamp on 5th. Life is so much easier when races begin/end in close proximity of each other. -- Parking is plentiful, it's just a matter of picking and choosing where you want to park: far/free, cheap, moderately pricey, parking lot, parking structure, street, by the homeless, ect. -- Prefilled re-usable bag with goodies after the race. -- An actual Gaslamp Block Party Map for race day discounts from local businesses. Hello, $1 craft beer! -- Free entry to Historic USS Midway Museum CONS -- Always lands on Daylight Savings Time. Why!?! -- I'm not exactly fond of the expo at Broadway Pier. Parking sucks, and I don't even spend that much time at the expo. I heard it used to be at Petco Park before.... -- It would be nice to have a portion of the race inside Petco Park. Other cities run inside their baseball park. -- OR have the finish line in Petco Park, as it was previously. It's not like there are any baseball games going on in March anyways. -- Can you tell I am a fan of Petco Park? Lol. -- And let's not forget WASHINGTON STREET on mile 9. (Refer to my review written in 2014 about WASHINGTON STREET.) -- And again, men had the nicer shirt. Luckily I do my "research" prior to registration, thus earn my blue shirt instead of purple. However, I still think last years shirt was better. read more

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For 2013, the expo was located at the Broadway pier. Nice venue, that is the perfect size for the number of runners for this event. As for the course itself, well this was a fun course; although I was slightly deceived when they said that the start line was at Petco Park. Well, technically it was true, but the start line was right outside the park, so we never actually got to run through the park. And the finish line is near where you started at. And you can do your post-race celebrating right away with the access of all the bars in downtown San Diego. The course wasn't at all that challenging with the exception of the big hill on Washington St. Just conserve your energy up to this point so you can bolt down the last two miles for a strong finish. And you really do need to conserve your energy, as the drink stations were sparse and very far apart from the next station. So if you're used to getting a drink on every mile, well, this race might not be the best for you. But the post-race refreshment was worth the strong finish, with endless supplies of Zico, chocolate, oranges, bananas, water, and bagels. The medal for 2013 was very nice with the Gaslamp arch on the medal. Pretty cool, since that's where the finish line is. This is a great, early year half-marathon that everyone can do. It was fun, cheap, semi-organized, with plenty of free goodies at the end. I can definitely do this again. Note to self: 1:40:04 in 2013. read more

GOVX San Diego Half Marathon - Races & Competitions Near Me - San Marcos, California

Nice quick course for the 5k. Great views of downtown in the early AM. Roads are closed off for the runners so no worries of getting run over by any rougue cars. Free swag at the end. Pay attention to the signs for the shuttles to the 5k course. It can be a bit confusing in the dark. Recommend signing up early as prices start to to spike at the end. read more

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One of the most organized runs I've ever been to. Started on time. Corrals were organized well by times and the amount of water stations set up along the half marathon route were perfectly spaced out. Bathroom stations were well placed. I got a leg cramp after the crazy hill and right away the first aid girls were there to spray some of their magic stuff on my leg. They were very friendly and even asked if I was doing ok when they saw me later at mile 10. A beautiful course, beautiful medal, and one I would definitely do again. read more

GOVX San Diego Half Marathon - Great medal! - Races & Competitions Near Me - San Marcos, California

The 2015 San Diego Half Marathon was my FIRST-EVER half marathon. The race was recommended to me by my girlfriend, who ran it last year. We both signed up and trained for it with the San Diego Track Club. It was an amazing experience that brought us closer together. The best thing about the San Diego Half Marathon is that the course takes you through some of the most beautiful parts of San Diego. You will run through parts of downtown, along the harbor, across Hillcrest, and down 6th street along Balboa Park. In terms of elevation gain, the course starts out fairly flat, builds to a mile long incline (which is brutal but completely do-able), and ends downhill where thousands of spectators will be cheering as you cross the finish line. A defining feature of the San Diego Half Marathon is how organized it is. The course is well-marked with directional arrows and mile markers. There are more than enough water and re-fuel stations scattered about, so that you do not need to make any tactical decisions about when you should stop and take a break. Moreover, all of the volunteers were enthusiastic about assisting you and giving words of encouragement. Leading up to the race, the organizers issued updates through Facebook and Twitter. I particularly like their inspirational posts, which kept me motivated during my training. The organizers were also keen on notifying when the registration price would increase for those who were still on the fence about signing up. There is also an expo the weekend of the race, where you will pick up your race packet and technical t-shirt, as well as have the opportunity to mingle with other runners and check out various vendors for running products. Bottom line, what you pay for is a very well-organized race that gives great support leading up to and during the race. You should also take pride in that the money you give will go towards local charities and the time you spend training can be personally quite rewarding. I would recommend the San Diego Half Marathon to anyone, especially those contemplating running a half marathon for the first time. PS- In case anyone was wondering, my finishing time was around 1 hour and 49 minutes. I just signed up to run this again in 2016 and it will be my second-ever half marathon. read more

GOVX San Diego Half Marathon - Finishers of the 2015 San Diego Half Marathon - Races & Competitions Near Me - San Marcos, California

This is just a horrible, HORRIBLE race company!!! It's completely understandable that they canceled the 2020 SDHM race but to keep everyone's money and not offer a refund or at least a deferral to 2021 is just plain thievery!!! They seem to think that because they are a 501c3 non profit organization, (or at least that's what they claim) that they don't have to return people's money when they cancel a race!! I paid for a race entry! I did NOT make a donation to them, their cause, or any other charitable organization to participate in this event!! It's not my fault that they didn't have the proper insurance to cover against financial losses in the event they weren't able to put on the race for some reason!! They claim they "cant afford" to refund people's money. Seriously??? Where did my money go that you cant afford to refund it or at the very least, offer me a deferral to the 2021 race??? If you've already shelled out money for things having to do with the race, then go to those people and get your money back so that you can give me MY money back!!! And if those people/companies wont give you your money back, then either sue them or file a claim with YOUR insurance company to get reimbursed and then GIVE ME MY MONEY BACK!!!! At the end of the day, it looks like I will have to file a complaint with the California State Attorney General's office to have them put some pressure on the people running the SDHM and hopefully we can obtain class action status so that everyone can get their money back!! You cant trust the SDHM to not rip you off, so it's probably better to find another race to run in that has the proper insurance to put on races and cover loses in the event of unforeseen circumstances!!! read more

Great half marathon. Very well organized and nice tshirts / goodie bags. The course is amazing and a great tour of some beautiful areas of San Diego. I prefer the finish line in gaslamp read more

First up - having the expo at Petco was fantastic. The area was wide open, and I didn't have to fight my way through crowds to check out the booths or to the registration area. I registered onsite (again - I wasn't even sure I was going to be able to run the event), and the onsite registration was a breeze - if stinkin expensive! ($150). The packet pickup itself was the only snafu of the expo - it was down an odd hallway with unclear lines and poor traffic management. The morning of the race the one thing I noticed was the inability to find any water before the start of the race (or at least I couldn't find any). But the corals were well spaced out and managed, which anyone who's run a large event will tell you is very important. The pace groups were easy to find and I toed the line with the 1:45 pace group. The start of the course was great - through downtown and along the harbor. I could have done without the stretch through the rental car center, though. ;-) I enjoyed the tour through Liberty Station (and resisted the urge to stop at Oggi's). All was going well until we took that left onto to (*@^ing Washington. That did my race in. The course was still scenic, but I was done for. The finish in Petco was awesome. Cuz really - how often do you get to run on the field of a ballpark and not risk being arrested? And the medal is awesome. During the race, outside of the rental car stretch the course was well done - if designed by a sadist. :-) The one complaint that I did have was the water tables needed to be longer - it was hard to fight to get over and get water. But - beyond that, this was extremely well run. Two little things to change for next year: 1. Longer tables for the water stations, especially the early ones when people are more compacted together. 2. Better traffic management for the packet pickup. This is already on the edge of a "must-do" event every year - those couple of little changes and this race is a gem. As for my time - well, Washington did me in. I finished at about 1:50. :-/ Next time I'll train more for that hill. read more

GOVX San Diego Half Marathon - The start line the day before the event. - Races & Competitions Near Me - San Marcos, California

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I am SO glad to have chosen the SD Half as my first half marathon! I knew it had to be the one after completing the 5K last year and witnessing how well organized the entire event was. I signed up super early so my registration fee wasn't too bad. The closer to the event, the pricier it is, so sign up as soon as possible and start training too! Packet pickup was the Friday and Saturday before at the Embarcadero, so plan accordingly. Registration fee includes a racing bib, technical tee, drawstring knapsack, live tracking and timing, a tote bag (with snacks and goodies), and the finishers medal you worked so hard for at the finish! Photos are taken throughout the course, but are only available for purchase since it's MarathonFoto. Course is relatively flat until the evil Washington St. hill. It's also suppose to be very scenic but it was very foggy in the morning for the 2017 race. I still enjoyed running through the neighborhoods and witnessing all the cheerleaders on the side of the road. Most importantly, there were SO many water stations throughout as well as electrolyte drinks, a CLIF energy caffeine shot around mile 8, and a wet towel around mile 10. Lots of portable restrooms, but slightly irked that most did not have any hand sanitizer. Overall, great race and the jumbo-tron at the finish with the live commentary by the super exuberant announcers was icing on the cake after working so hard to get to the finish! Just a heads up, MapMyRun tracked this race at 13.87mi, so prepare to work extra hard towards the end! read more

Finally got a chance to run a half marathon here in my hometown and I managed to set a new PR for myself in my 5th half marathon.Official time 2:17:27 ! I went to the expo on Friday after I got off work and got to the Broadway Pier around 3:15pm. I thought the expo wouldn't be as busy and crowded compared to going on Saturday. But nope wrong.I'm kind of bummed that I didn't notice until I got home that my free tech shirt already lost the 2015 part on the logo of the shirt on the front. Race morning was really simple and I had no problem with parking. I got to the Petco Park tailgate parking lot around 6:15am.I did not want to be cheap by wasting time and chancing it with parking in some bad shady parts of downtown SD where your car might get broken into.Besides it was $10.Gear check in was simple and easy as well. This race from top to bottom is really great being very well organized and the course showcases San Diego really well.Well except for the dreaded Washington St. hill climb at.Since this year will be the first time I run Rock N Rolll SD we'll see how it compares to this half marathon course. Finishing in the Gaslamp Quarter was great. But I kind of hope they bring back the epic Petco Park finish sometime in future. Will I race this in the future ? Absolutely ! Half marathon #3 in 2015 complete and in the books ! read more

GOVX San Diego Half Marathon - San Diego Half Marathon 2015 Finishers Medal ! - Races & Competitions Near Me - San Marcos, California

It's true, this is one of the best organized races I have been to. Everything was super easy to get to, last minute gear check was a-ok, and I was never wanting for hydration throughout the whole race. The high school bands cheering us on on the course were a nice touch. The mile 9 up-hill was do-able for a run/walk. What amazed me was the sheer length of the downhill at the end. I kept looking at my watch and thinking holy crap-- how am I still maintaining such an awesome pace over all this time? I passed my pacer, lucked out on timing so I didn't have to stop for trains or any traffic at the bottom of the hill, and raced into Petco park, blazing past person after person. My final time was...3 minutes over my PR. The pacer was slow! Petco was fun. Photo ops were fun. Free massages were fun. The start was great with super convenient restrooms and plenty of them, and almost too much energy... went out too fast! Negatives: 1. There was a mile or 2 with a lot of potholes (2' plus diameter in some cases??). I rolled my ankle. Not cool. 2. Not as scenic as some races, just because it is so urban. I actually loved the up-hill at mile 9 because it was the most greenery we got the whole race. It was nice in general to run by the water, but even when doing so we were typically surrounded by concrete... read more

GOVX San Diego Half Marathon - Finish at Petco Park - Races & Competitions Near Me - San Marcos, California

I haven't been to San Diego for over twenty years. My husband has been a very strong advocate of San Diego because of the fine weather, pretty beaches, and well manicured landscape. We were really excited about signing up for this half marathon because he figured that it would be the best way for me to get acquainted with the city. Unfortunately, when we signed up back in October of last year, the route was not yet revealed. While running the race, I was a bit disappointed that we only ran by the water for a short distance. There were quite a few areas that was not the most scenic such as running through a rental car lot & an area where the homeless set camp. Overall, I the race was well organized and there were plenty of aid stations and restrooms to go around. The volunteers were ample and absolutely amazing as they cheered us on. If the 13.1 mile run already didn't bring you into a "high," the finish at Petco park made it every bit worth the while. I must say that I felt pretty "BADASS" with the crowd cheering me into the stadium. It made the two hour & twenty minute torture actually worth it!! ;) read more

San Diego Half Marathon should be held as "Evidence A" for what a race should aspire to be. By far, the biggest and most pleasant surprise was the fact that if I had so desired, I could have showed up to the lot next to the start 20 minutes before the race. Traffic coming into downtown was minimal, and parking was a breeze. Unlike the AFC half or La Jolla Half, you don't have to get shuttled to your starting position, so you don't need to get there hours early to avoid getting stuck in traffic (Curse you, AFC Half and your Balboa Park bottleneck from hell!) or having to worry about not making the shuttle. Honestly, it helps your pre-race psyche so much when you can focus on the race and not have to worry about getting to the start line on time. Second, I was blown away by the amount of port-a-potties they set up. Honestly, you have no idea how unbelievably happy that made me. I get those pre-race jitters, and the kids need to be dropped off at the pool. The last thing any runner wants is to have to wait in a damn line for 45 minutes in the cold (AFC, I'm looking at you again!) while trying to stave off the trots. The organizers were awesome though. Tons of toilets and no wait! Seriously, you can't discount how awesome this is. As far as the actual race goes, I love that they set everything up in waves, based on your estimated times. The course ran as expected. Nice and flat for the first 2/3, followed by the Washington hill. Surprisingly enough, the worst part of the race was the beginning of the downhill portion into the Gaslamp. When you look at the race topo, you see that it's all downhill, and you're expecting that downgrade will help pick up your pace. Oddly enough, that didn't seem to be the case for me. The only lame thing was that the 5K finish line popped up about a 1/8 mile before the half marathon finish line. I thought I was almost done, but then I saw the people in front of me chugging away still. I guess I should have paid attention to the map better. Post-race, it was a really organized and plentiful setup. Lots of food and water, and the addition of laptops to immediately check your results was really a nice extra touch. Overall, you can really see that the organizers really have their ducks in a row. All the things that I put up with the other half marathons never really was an issue with this race. For that, you can expect me back in the years to come (or at least until my knees give out). read more

First half-marathon = successo. WINNING STRATEGY: Follow the cute girls who pass you if you suck at setting your own pace like I do, but avoid running to close behind them as you'll be a creep tailing them in all their photos. PRE-RACE: - parking / traffic for the expo was a pain, try to go earlier in the day - the pickup expo was neat, some decent sponsors trying out products - the actual packet pickup was slightly disorganized, they didn't give me any information, just handed me a bag with my bib inside, had to figure out the t-shirt thing myself (they ran out of my size, even though all sizes were pre-registered for) - I had asked a staff member about parking the next day, and they had no idea, which is fine, as I know all the info was online, I just thought I'd ask while I was there RACE-DAY: - parking was a breeze, was able to find one of the many free parking spots on the street (meters are free on Sunday) - race started right on time and the waves were well spaced out - "Many the Miles" was the first song to come on the running playlist, I thought that was a good sign - race itself was a solid course. Only one semi-difficult hill around mile 8-9. - lots of food / goodies at the finish line POST-RACE: - pictures were available the following day: AWESOME - pictures were not free (not only not free, but pretty outrageously priced): NOT AWESOME I've run a few Spartan Races and the fact that they give hi-res photos for free is such a monumental perk for me... it's a shame most races charge so much for the photos on top of the high registration fee Overall, super positive experience. A lot of great energy surrounding the entire event. Finish: 1:48:54 Pace: 8:19 read more

This was my second of 3 half marathons that i have done and so far still has my PR (i have 2 more this year to see if i can beat it). Amazingly organized Great water stations Awesome challenging hills Amazing down hill at the end Loved the petco park finish and the massages at the end Great photos Decent sized race expo with decent swag Very cool dry-fit style shirt VERY VERY cool medal Awesome speakers (i missed most of them but nice to have motivation at the end of a run) Very very san diego community oriented. Plus this was the race that made me realize i can compete and if i train hard enough break a top 100 finish Overall: 144 out of 5486 Men: 117 out of 2357 M 30-34: 35 out of 401 Age/Grade: 64.58% Place: 425 Finish: 1:31:43 Pace: 7:00 Tag Time: 1:31:43 Gun Time: 1:32:12 read more

From the start you can tell this race was well planned, meaning... Thorough "Final Race Info" email/info Great recommendations on local hotels (We stayed at Hotel Indigo, 3 blocks away) A ton of port-o-lets at the start so you don't waste time stretching in lines Several bag check-in people to assist Bib pickup event: great vendors that had all your essential needs (food & equipment) Great finish line experience with huge screens and wide lanes w/ no traffic jam Live high school bands every few miles Markers that tell you exactly how far the next water & port-o-lets are Awesome reusable finish line goodie bags Super duper, high quality, large/heavy finish medals Quick online results and even photos And of course the race course route itself: Beautiful San Diego The only improvement I thought they could have made was the design of the technical shirts. I thought they were a bit boring TIPS: Mile 9 sucks... super long incline and the last 25% gets even steeper so prepare yourself! Keep watch for MarathonFoto guys in the yellow vests read more

Ran this race in 2013 and 2014, and a had a great experience both times. The expo at the cruise ship terminal downtown is a little crowded but not too bad, and parking wasn't a big deal; just park at the meters on the south side of USS Midway near the sailor/nurse kissing statue and walk over...easy peasy. Parking at the start line is simple, plentiful, and cheap if you get there early. The course starts downtown and follows Harbor Drive to Liberty Station. From there it crosses Pacific Highway and hits the infamous mile 9 hill on Washington Street. Personally, I didn't find the hill to be too bad. It is maybe a half to 3/4 of a mile and admittedly quite steep and difficult, but once you've crested it you are up in Hillcrest with a pretty sweet downhill from mile 11 all the way to the finish downtown. I've run my two fastest half marathon times at this race (to this date my only two halfs under 1:30), so it is definitely a PR course if you're prepared for the hill. Well-organized finish and nice T-shirt and medal. It was annoying that they announced unofficial times via e-mail that were a minute off, but hopefully they fix the problem next year. Great race overall; I'm already registered for next year! read more

I've been wanting to do a race in San Diego for a while and I finally made it down here in 2016! My roommate and I ran this race together and it was her first half marathon. This was a really great race for a first. It was well organized, it's fairly priced and it's in a great city. The expo was very small. I didn't buy anything there and I didn't really look around for very long either. There wasn't much to look at or shop for even if you wanted to. But I don't race for the expos, so it wasn't a huge deal. Picking up my packet was pretty easy, but there were some problems. I originally got the race day packet pickup for $20 before my roommate decided to run this as well. Then we planned to come the day before the race. Of course, they wouldn't refund my $20 that I spent on race day pick up even though I would be picking up my packet on Saturday. Kind of annoying. When I actually did pick up my packet, my bib had a corral number that was way off. I submitted 2 hours as my finish time which should have put me in corral 5, but my bib said 9. So I had to go back to solutions to get that fixed once I realized that it was wrong. There was no one checking bibs to make sure you were in the correct corral on race day, anyway though. Race morning we decided to Uber to the start since parking seemed to be pretty pricey at $10 in the area. Some were even priced at $8/hour. Ubering was super easy and cheap so I totally recommend it over parking in one of the lots. It was really easy to drop off our bags and there were plenty of porto potties for the runners at the start. Then we were off! The course is pretty good. Honestly, I was expecting it to be nicer than it was just based on photos I had seen and other reviews I had read. The first few miles are along the ocean which is nice and then it goes inland. There also weren't very many spectators on the course. Most of the other local races I have run in Orange County and LA have had plenty of spectators along the whole course! This one, though, not so much. There weren't any spectators until the last half mile of the race. It was kind of lacking in that aspect. There were two marching bands along the course which was nice and my roommate really liked that part of it! There were two things that have never happened at any race I've ran before: before the woman sang the national anthem, she started doing a prayer. This is a neutral running event, not a church. It was completely inappropriate for her to be saying "praise Jesus, thank you lord for having us here today." It went on for at least a minute. The other thing is that we were stopped on the race course... twice. Race organizers sometimes allow traffic to go through a race course but only when there is a gap in between runners. On this course, we were running down a fairly long hill when we were stopped by security people to let a trolly through. The trolly wasn't even moving yet. It was just there, waiting. They should not have had us stop. Period. Then we turn the corner and they stopped us to let four busses through! It was totally out of line and inappropriate race etiquette from the organizers. The medals are awesome, though. This was the fifth anniversary so they went a little above and beyond on the medal. There's glitter in it, so that's already a winner in my book. It's a really large medal and you can tell they put a lot of thought into the design. I really love it and it's one of my favorites. I don't know if I'll return to this race since it's quite a drive for me and the course wasn't amazing, but it was a good time and I recommend it if you live in San Diego, read more

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SD Half Marathon & 5K 3/8/2015 ...emphasis on 5K. :) Excellent race and extremely well-organized!! From the race packet pick-up, to the morning shuttles, to the finish line--everything was flawless. Whoever is in charge of organizing this race should help the Mardi Gras Run next year. I also enjoyed the 5K course--I had a blast running down 6th street by beautiful Balboa Park. I'll be back next year!! read more

This was the first time the race took place in San Diego and it was very well organized. The start corrals were not too crowded so that was really nice. No one really seemed tense. Perfect weather. The start to the finish was slightly over casted so the sun was not beating on us. Enough aid stations with water, electrolytes, and gu at one of them. Mile markers were well marked and visible. A slight uphill on Washington street, then a nice downhill on 6th avenue till we ran into the stadium for a finish. The race shirts were pretty nice. Many places for photo opts. Unlike the bigger rock and roll races, there were not as many people and so the crowds were smaller. The food at end of the race was ehhhhh. Usually they have something more substantial than coconut water and chocolate milk. I just wanted some carbs like a bagel or something. But bananas did fine. Down fall: (much like any other organized race) - expensive. read more

Easily the best organized run I've ever been a part of. 2015 marks my 3rd year running in this event. It also marks the 3rd year I take part in the San Diego-Mammoth Challenge. Very well worth it. The San Diego Half leaves the runner with no room for guessing about anything. The signs they post tell you exactly how long before the next water and bathroom stops occur, the medical support along the course is fantastic, the volunteers are some of the best I've ever seen, the spectators are phenomenal, and they have plenty of portajohns along the course. The t-shirts are nice, the medals are huge and have always been beautiful, you get a service member that hands you your medal, and the course is very scenic. Love love love their legacy program. Washington St hill is a killer if you dont train with hills but aside from that this run will keep me coming back. read more

Bib Pick Up: Friday evening, I drove to the Navy Pier and picked up my bib with no problem. The SD Half Marathon is always on the same day as Daylight Savings Time and so there were reminders in our bag to set our clocks an hour ahead. The tech shirt they gave out was really nice quality and it's probably one of my favorite techs received from a race. Pre-Race: Morning of, I parked at one of the free parking lots around San Diego and took the trolley down to the start line. I would suggest this for anyone running a race. Taking public transportation to the start line helps out so much with reducing stress level because you're not dealing with traffic. Race: And then I was off! I typically try to start off slow, but that just wasn't happening that day. I got really excited and started dodging people so that I could get a nice clear path. I do have to give the organizers credit for spacing all the corrals out. I was able to get a nice clear path only after a few dodges. The race was beautiful. The first five miles were on the water and so I saw a lot of boats on the marina. Once we turned inland, we started headiing through the different neighborhoods of San Diego (Liberty Station, Mission Hills, Hillcrest, the edge of Balboa Park, and back to Downtown). The aid stations were well spaced out, which I greatly appreciated. From talking to friends, I knew there was a hill at mile 8. How big of a hill was it? Well, let's just say I really regret not checking that elevation map. The hill looked massive, in part because there was a lot of fog rolling through the city. I couldn't see the top of the hill and that made it all the more mentally challenging. I pumped my arms, exchanged glances with other runners struggling with the same challenge, and slowly made my way through. Once I made it over that hill and then some, I gunned for the finish line. I didn't know my exact time, but I just knew I had to keep running or else regret missing a PR. Luckily, it's mostly downhill from miles 11 - 13.1 and I just ran as fast as I could through the streets of downtown. It was very peaceful running by the giant buildings covered with fog. Funnily enough, the fog cleared up just as I crossed the finish line. It had to be a sign because I looked down to see my Strava give me another sub 2 hour half marathon. :) I was so happy, I cried a little. Post-race: The announcers were really upbeat and with the sun just coming out, I relished in the moment of finishing. The volunteers were very organized and after grabbing a tote with all the goodies already inside, I was on my way out. This is a great race overall and I'd recommend anyone to run it. read more

The San Diego Half Marathon is the best organized race that I have ever participated in. It has everything a half marathoner could ask for: A venue that can accommodate the crowds Nearby parking Clean bathrooms with REAL toiliets A beautiful tech shirt A gorgeous, mostly flat, looped course The last three miles are downhill A stadium finish with cheering crowds Clearly, the organizers sat down and thought hard about how to make the most successful half marathon event and they succeeded. After running this race I think I might pass on the Rock and Roll Half Marathon with it's traffic, insufficient bathrooms, long shuttle rides, and parking lot finish line. Thank you, San Diego Half Marathon. I will be back. read more

For being its second annual race, it was very organized you would have thought its been around for years. From registration to the race and volunteers everything was an awesome experience and it was my first half marathon ever and this race motivated me to do more. The route was very scenic. More than enough water stations, electrolyte drinks and first aid. If anyone needed help there were quick responders. Careful for mile 9 it was a steep hill but the rest of it very flat. Will do this again next year read more

My dad flew out from Florida to run this race with me and we had a great time! It was very well organized which (I hate to say it) was a pleasant surprise, seeing as this was the half-marathon's inaugural year. There were plenty of water stations throughout and there seemed to be a good amount of port-a-potties and public restroom access. The course itself was great, taking runners through many of SD's neighborhoods including the Gaslamp, Liberty Station, Mission Hills, Hillcrest and Balboa Park. The Washington Street hill was the most challenging part of the race and then "it was all downhill from there" but in a good way! ;-) The finish over home-plate at Petco was really cool! I was also happy with the photographers event organizers hired as well. I will definitely run this half-marathon again next year! read more

This half marathon is as good as it gets. We signed up for the half marathon about a month before the start date, and upon registering, each runner gets a nice little bag with a bunch of great deals, a running shirt, some snack food, and a packet of athletic electrolyte gel. That was pretty cool. On the day of the half marathon, I was surprised to see that it was extremely well organized. I didn't see anyone lost, as there were staff around everywhere. Also, I was glad to see several GIANT rows of porta-potties. Gotta love being able to go when you need to. When you sign up for the run, you list your time and they give you a corral number. There were around 40 corrals that each started running a minute after the previous corral. This was to prevent people from running over each other. (Thank goodness) Every mile of the run, you will see people cheering you on, holding up signs, and groups playing music. There were also some motivational speakers on propped-up stages. Every couple miles there are water stations that give you water and gatorade. There are also gel stations that provide you with packets of electrolyte gel to keep you going strong. Throughout the race, there are stations with porta-potties in case you really need to go. At the end of the race, every runner will get their photo taken as they run across the finish line. And the medals look really cool. At the end of the race, there is a lot of free food and drinks, as well as great deals to get a massage and whatnot. Overall, I felt that this was an amazing race, even for a first-timer like me. I recommend to everyone who enjoys a great running experience. read more

Am I the only one who had a total "Meh. I've experienced better." opinion of this run? I've run plenty of half marathons (this was my 15th if I'm counting right, and my third this year - one a month for 2014, woo!) and while the course was (mostly) beautiful and they paid attention to many small details, they fell super short on others. I appreciated that expo parking was cheap and plentiful, but the expo was pretty cramped and I was personally annoyed that the woman at the solutions table refused to let me swap out my pink shirt for a way less obnoxious men's black one. Just because I'm a girl doesn't mean I like pink - races, stop forcing neon pink onto ladies! I was also kind of confused why everyone I interacted with (bib person, goodie bag person, shirt person) all were asking EVERY patron "Are you nervous for tomorrow?!" Uh, no. Am I supposed to be? Please just kindly give me my items and let me be on my way. Race morning was also a little frustrating. For a field of only 6,000-7,000 runners, they had 15+ waves. It was a little excessive. The official start time was 7:20. I'm slow, I know that, so I was in wave 12. I didn't cross the finish line until after 8:00 am. I don't necessarily have an issue with that, other than the fact that I could have gotten 40 more minutes of sleep on Daylight Savings day (seriously, the dumbest day to schedule an early race). I've done the Surf City half going on 6 years in a row now - they have a field of 20,000+ runners and it's broken up into about 20 waves. That's more reasonable. If you're going to delay the waves that much fine, but how about publish a predicted start time for the later waves so I can not be stuck standing around for 40 minutes? The thing that really ruined the race in my opinion was the poorly stocked water stops. They had water stops roughly every two miles. It was an unusually hot day (the whole week was 80-ish degrees). Mile 2 had water, then mile 4, but mile 6 was out of cups so the only people who got water were those that were carrying bottles that could be refilled. Whatever, one water stop, not a huge deal. Then, mile 8 was also out of water - but they were still handing out Gu's, which you NEED to take with water. Dumb. About a half a mile past this water stop I heard people talking about how huge the hill at mile 9 was and I began to wonder if there would be water at the next stops, so I diverted off the course into a gas station with a bunch of other people (including some pacers) and spent close to 5 minutes waiting in line and purchasing water. I thought some of the high registration fees were supposed to go towards course support? Apparently water isn't essential. The hill at mile 9 was annoying. I know I'm just being a complainer on this one because really, what are you going to do about it, but still by mile 9 I'm tired and grumpy and why on earth are you making me run up a big hill? Jerks. The finish area had lots of little things most people would appreciate. The jumbotron finish was cool, but probably made more sense when the course used to have you finish inside petco park. The medal was heavy, but I see no reason to keep them so it just goes straight into the recycle bin for me unless it serves another purpose (I'm in an anti-clutter phase of life - I keep bottle opener or keychain medals, that's about it). I did like that the post race snacks were all bagged up and ready to go so I didn't have to attempt to carry 5 things and find my way back to my hotel. A salty option in the bag would have been a nice addition as they provided a banana, a tangerine, coconut water, a tiny clif bar and some tiny chocolates. Overall, I would only consider doing this run again if I got crazy cheap early bird registration, falsely report my predicted time as super slow to just be in the very last corral to get close to an extra hour of sleep and carry my own water bottle just in case. read more

Very well organized. The communication leading up to the race was just right. Expo was great. For the race there was a total of 10 waves I believe with 4 minutes in between each wave. Very nice scenic run. Beware of the hill on mile 9. Only reason I took a star away was lack of parking for expo/race day but that's expected read more

I had the BEST time running this race. I highly recommend it. Well organized, plenty of volunteers who were equipped to answer all questions, and as advertised, an EPIC finish line in Petco Park. And Naval Officers to bestow the medals around our necks. Quite an honor. I'll be back for sure. read more

This was my 2nd year running this half marathon and it's so awesome that I plan to run this race for as many years as I can. Among the many reasons are: * Ease of race packet pickup with free entry into USS Midway * The best quality drawstring gear bag * Nice race shirt with "Legacy" printed on sleeve starting with 2nd (not 3rd) consecutive run! * Numerous hotel choices in the area (my hotel was only about a block and a half from the start line) * A wonderful area at that! Can't beat the vibe of downtown SD on Friday and Saturday night with so many choice places to go out and play/dine. So much to do within walking distance! * Race starts around 7:30, but it usually coincides with DST so your body will feel like it's 6:30 am (good or bad, you decide) * On-time race wave starts with a decent announcer/veejay and music * Very secure, easy and efficient gear check and pickup!! * Awesome course with a great challenge up Washington St. Also didn't come upon too many bottlenecks. * Powerful sense of community and top notch volunteers (THANK YOU!) * Adequate water (plus electrolyte drinks, Clif shot gels, vaseline, iodized salt), first aid, pitstop stations that are clearly marked along the way. Really great signs and mile markers. * Exhilarating jumbotron finish and great race photos (and they called my name out as I crossed!) * Lots of goodies at finish: water, coconut water, chocolate milk, banana, chips, Dole fruit, Clif Bar, and Larabar all in yet another awesome SD bag! Bonus: wipes being handed out as you grab your pre-packaged bags. All of the above comes with a very decent registration fee, even more so if you register early, which is what I plan to do once again because I can't wait for next year!! Hats off to the organizers and volunteers of this fantastic race! read more