So I did the 5k. Not reviewing the half. It's a great downhill course. Except for 1 mile, it's all downhill. Parking situation was okay with the multiple garages around La Jolla and the 5am bus. read more

La Jolla Half Marathon - Last 3 miles - Races & Competitions Near Me

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This is race #2 in the Triple Crown Series (Carlsbad-La Jolla-AFC). It's probably the most difficult race out of the 3 races. I have run this challenging race from 2007-2013 and returned again in 2019. I took a hiatus from this race in order to run other races. It has always remained a well organized race throughout the years! They always have plenty of portapotties. *Race course* The course has remained the same in all of the years that I've run it. The course is very scenic and hilly, so make sure to do your hill training! If you don't, you will suffer especially at about mile 5.5 while running up the monster hill at Torrey Pines. After you get to the top, it's mostly a downhill run to the finish at the La Jolla cove. Be sure to save something for that last climb up Prospect! *Shuttles* I've always opted for parking at the dirt parking lot at the Del Mar Fairgrounds and taking a post race shuttle back to my car after the race. The shuttles load near the corner of Coast Blvd and Ocean St. You do have the option of parking in downtown La Jolla and taking a pre-race shuttle to the starting line. I might try that option one year. *Post-race goodies* Their finisher medals have improved quite a bit since when I first ran this race. The beer garden also has beer from Ballast Point, one of favorites when I used to drink beer. read more

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One of the worst half marathons I've ran. They didn't have any food before the race, no gels throughout the race, and the race photos came out terribly. Not to mention it was an incredibly incline heavy race. read more

Not a big fan of this race... I mean the views are gorgeous! You run through the neighbor of La Jolla and Torrey Pines... great ocean view... but... -The Hills?! I'm sure everyone who lives in SD knows that Torrey Pines hill... people hike up that hill. Here they make you run up that hill at mile 6. And the incline is like 400ft in 1/2 mile. So steep. Most people just walk it. -No GUs or gels or anything other than water/sports drink. Carlsbad gives you energy gels, other races give you orange slices, or beans or anything along the race. LJ gives you nothing but water and this nasty sport drink. -Shuttling service. I mean lots buses but you have to go there early and catch the bus by 5:30am to Del Mar race tracks. Sucks waiting for 2 hours in the cold. Or shuttle back to the Del Mar, when all you wanna do is go home. Perks... some goodies at the end, Ballast point beers upon finish... and the bragging rights of finishing La Jolla!! read more

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bucketlist item checked! top 12 "Must-Do Half Marathons in the U.S. 100% of net proceeds benefit children's charities! so the LJ Half and 5k is put on by the La jolla kiwanis club and logistically organized by inmotionevents. the half marathon portion starts at the delmar fairgrounds and makes it way out towards the scenic coastal route, heading south through the iconic torrey pines beach up an over the torrey pines hills, before heading towards la jolla cove. the gorgeous ocean views make the courses hills hardly noticeable, but be warned the hills will be challenging. I was too busy taking in the views to notice them lol. more information... so this race is part of the triple crown series... the race entry comes with a tech T-shirt, results and tracking, pre-day expo and post race fest. I really like the vendors and booths! jerky, oatmeal coffee, coconut water, and tons of post race snacks. overall the event was well organized, shuttle services to take runners to the starting line from LJ ( which we did ). free parking for the expo and tons of goodies. looking forward to doing it again in 2020!! read more

La Jolla Half Marathon - Races & Competitions Near Me

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It's a bit difficult to review this race because I have such mixed feelings about it. Sure, there's the crazy hill around mile 6 (yes, 400ft elevation gain) and in all my years of hiking through Torrey Pines State Beach, I rarely see anyone run up it, so you can only imagine how many ppl painfully walked up it this past weekend! It was a beast, and will really wear your legs down, but keep pushing through! The view of the beach is nice, but truthfully, if I was serious about running this race, I don't think I would enjoy it that much. The course itself felt a bit lackluster compared to AFC and Carlsbad Half, even though I was excited to run by my alma mater in La Jolla. Believe me, I enjoy hiking up that hill in Torrey Pines and jogging along the beach, or grabbing brunch in downtown La Jolla. Heck, I even jogged down Torrey Pines when I used to train (UCSD campus loop!). But something about running this race just felt a bit... underwhelming after experiencing the other two races in the triple crown series. I don't see this as a race I look forward to running in the next year, but have definitely ran some hilly races in San Francisco that I enjoyed. Aside from the actual race day, the tech shirt that comes with the race is pretty nice! The 2017 shirt was even better! The fitness expo was small (not much to stick around for), the course ends and begins at a different place (5am shuttle, anyone? These logistics aren't the best), and I found that the finish line festival felt smaller in comparison to the AFC Half or Carlsbad (half) marathon races. read more

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I have run a lot of half marathons and this was one of my least favorite. The expo the day before didn't have any samples and trying to find a parking spot was a nightmare. On race day, the route was mostly fine until the last half mile where you have to run up a hill in downtown La Jolla. They didn't close the road so there were cars everywhere. It was super dangerous and breathing exhaust after 2 hours of running was horrible. They only offered electrolytes at the mile 12 station and it tasted awful. It was basically salt at the bottom of a water pitcher. The finish was the worst part of all. They ran out of bananas, ran out of beer, and the medals are really small and cheaply made. I do not recommend this race, especially for the high price. There are other half marathons in Southern California that are better organized, and offer much better products for a cheaper price. read more

The La Jolla Half Marathon is a challenging, but serene course. The views are spectacular; plenty of coast-line sights as you are running parallel to it ~85% over the duration of the race. I guess I hadn't been to Torrey Pines in quite some time because I forgot just how steep that hill was! Thankfully, it was at mile 6, so mid-race when you have enough energy for the climb. No water stations in the reserve, but I was pretty well hydrated beforehand so it was no big deal. After that 1.5 mile or so hill, you have a sweet and breezy 1 mile drop. Going up Torrey Pines Rd. the last mile was still brutal though. Expo was at the Hilton and parking was in the dirt lot they use for the Del Mar fairgrounds. Near the freeway so you have an easy and quick entry and exit. Medal this year was a bit 'meh', but needed it to complete the Triple Crown series. Very high quality technical tee and simple cinch bag were some of the freebies although that bag did break on me pretty easily, lol. I carry too much sh*t I guess. Would I run this race again? MAYBE, since it is rather nature-y, but to be honest I am so over these street/ city races. read more

I'M A SURVIVOR !!! What can I say ?! By far the toughest run I have ever done in my life. Torrey Pines hill was killer, but thanks to Lady Gaga, I managed to defeat that insane climb. I was able to run it non-stop and even though my pace slowed down a bit, I more than made up for it during the downhill runs (and there were quite a few of them). This time around, I wanted to finish strong and sprint the last half mile as fast as I could. Fortunately, I accomplished that with arms raised high with a HUGE @$$ smile as I crossed the finish line. Yeah baby! It was mind blowing! Such a rush and an unbelievable feeling. The amazing thing is I finished faster on this run than the Carlsbad in 2:11. Not bad for my second half marathon. The reason why I gave this event 5 stars was because it was an experience unlike any other. It mentally and physically tested and challenged me to the max. I believed that I was capable of finishing as long as I kept my eye on the goal: Finish strong under 2:30. Anything really is possible. With motivation, determination, and hard work you can really open up your mind to reaching your highest potential. It's truly a rewarding experience. As for the event itself, I admit there weren't enough water stations, porta-potties and traffic is an issue going in and out since the start and finish lines were in separate locations. Also, there weren't many spectators compared to Carlsbad. I didn't see any live bands on the course, but I did give a few high-fives to a few fans, which was cool. So do your research first folks. To be on the safe side I made sure to: 1. Get dropped off/picked up so I wouldn't have to deal with parking 2. Bring my fuel belt with enough liquids and energy supps. in case water stations are limited 3. Use the restroom prior - avoid drinking too much liquid before the run, especially if you have a small bladder like me 4. Know the course well - expect to save energy for the hills and pace yourself so you can finish strong 5. Find what will motivate you when you run. My ipod was my saving grace Thanks to all the sponsors, fans, and volunteers who helped make this event a memorable one. AFC here I come..1 step closer to my Triple Crown! =) read more

La Jolla Half Marathon - Woot Woot!!! - Races & Competitions Near Me

This is a great event. Just make sure you know what you are getting into. I would suggest to run Torrey Pines at least once so there won't be any surprises. Trust me when you run up that hill at mile five of six and you get to the top you feel accomplished. I am not sure but this year they did not pass out any goo which a lot of the runner would have probably appreciate before hitting the hill. I am looking forward to next year. read more

La Jolla Half Marathon - Beer Garden - Races & Competitions Near Me

Thank you very much past-Yelpers for getting the word out about the nightmarish EXPO situation. I took it to heart and went right as the EXPO opened. I was able to avoid the long drive in and even got breakfast at The Cottage! :) Also, thank you to all the wonderful volunteers and spectators who came out to cheer us on (especially during the inclines, your shoutout was much appreciated). While La Jolla Shores was an absolute killer on the knees, I did enjoy the challenge that came with this half. I managed not to get bored, even without my iPod, and avoided hitting the wall around mile 11. I do hope, though, that the logistics of race day drive in to Del Mar is changed for next year. It took us fifty extra minutes to drive in! read more

La Jolla Half Marathon - Races & Competitions Near Me

(Half #11, 2015) The La Jolla Half Marathon made me its b*tch! Seriously, in my push toward achieving the Triple Crown Series--a challenge including the Carlsbad Half, the La Jolla Half, and America's Finest City Half--La Jolla's course required grit--more effort, in fact, than I had anticipated. You see, after the first five miles, the course climbs...and climbs...and climbs! (With each step after exhausting step, I could swear I heard La Jolla mocking me.) Beginning at the Del Mar Racetrack, an 18 ft. elevation, the course then winds leisurely south toward the coastline. It's a beautifully scenic run, really. Many runners paused for selfies! However, the elevation soon turns, and from mile 5.3 to about mile 8, you'll trudge upward to 440 ft. (I pushed just beyond mile 7 before I broke.) Cramping ensued... I made it though, pushed through. Two down and one to go! Sure, I cursed the run itself, verbally defiled each mile marker; but when finally finishing and crossing the line, I felt stronger, more confident. It's a great feeling, to set a goal--no matter how challenging--and to accomplish it. The La Jolla Half, it took discipline--over 5,300 runners would most assuredly agree. But maybe that's the point, to push runners beyond their comfort zone. This race'll do that. Be ready! read more

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2nd half marathon complete! One more to complete the Triple Crown.. Expo was at the Hilton, across the street from the Del Mar racetrack. There's a short walk from the dirt lot parking lot (same parking for race day) if you want to park for free. Otherwise you can valet or pay to park in the hotel's parking lot. The expo seemed fairly small compared to the number of runners participating. I didn't see much worth staying for, so I was in and out fairly quick. Race Day - I was fortunate enough to be dropped off in Del Mar and picked up in La Jolla, so I didn't have to deal with shuttles. There is definitely traffic getting to Del Mar. It took about 30 mins or so just to get through the exit. Ample parking in the dirt lot by the race track. Waves were 1-6, and it seemed like there was little time in between each wave. I really enjoyed the course. The scenery was beautiful with a nice ocean breeze. Even though it started to get a bit warm in the early afternoon, there was enough shade and breeze to keep cool. The hills are rough, and there are a few hills, but expected (you know the course and likely someone has mentioned the treacherous hills or you've read reviews). Due to the drought and park regulations, there unfortunately were no water stations in Torrey Pines Reserve. It's about a 2 mile stretch and during the biggest incline, so be prepared if it's the same next year. Quite a few spectators and crowds cheering and supporting throughout the race, but seemed like a lot more at Carlsbad. La Jolla was challenging, but a great course to run. If I'm still running next year I would considered doing this again. read more

La Jolla Half Marathon - 2016 Carlsbad and La Jolla. - Races & Competitions Near Me

3.5... WhereTF did all these hills come from?! Being a SD Native, I had NO idea we had all these hills! This is the most challenging race I've done to date. After doing the SD Half and the Hollywood Half recently with the excruciating hills, I thought I've done them all. LJ is a different breed, I tell you!!! I did a couple runs before the half to mentally and physically prepare myself, but doing the actual race in its entirety is completely different. I do admit, however, the scenery is beautiful. The weather was perfect for this kind of race - overcast, cool and I felt a little drizzle in Del Mar. Although at the finish LJ was a bit chilly after your cool down. I was smart enough to get dropped off and picked up at the finish line, but traffic and parking was horrendous! There were no attendants to assist while we were getting off the freeway in Del Mar. I was disappointed that there were no corrals - you were either in the first wave or second wave. I opted for the first wave to get the race over with. It was total bottlenecking at the start, but people started to dwindle on the hill up to coast highway. There was also additional bottlenecking in the Del Mar neighborhoods. I felt good going up Torrey Pines, and was happy that I didn't stop. However, shortly after that hill, I began to fade. Where's the GU?! Did I miss it??? Luckily, I brought my own!!! The last couple miles (and hills), I was seriously hurting. The hill heading up Prospect (last half mile) was torturous. I was soooo done. I was even more disappointed when I crossed the finish line and the volunteers were handing out half cups of water. Seriously?! Where's the bottled water? I was handed my medal that was still in the plastic bag. (At least place it over our necks like all other races.) The goodie bag at the end didn't contain much and the booths at the finish were a disappointment. Because there wasn't much to do or eat post-race, it's better if you eat elsewhere. Also, it's such a cluster at the end you just want to leave anyways. I felt like a cattle in a herd! So disorganized... Expect to be in bed the rest of the day... ================================================= STATS: Overall: 3133 out of 6301 Women: 1218 out of 3241 F 30-34: 263 out of 657 Age/Grade: 50.23% Place: 2973 Tag Time: 2:11:56 Pace: 10:04 read more

This year's half was more enjoyable than last year's for two reasons (even though my time was slower by 30 seconds): 1) They FINALLY got a tech shirt this year! 2) They opened up one of the buildings in the Del Mar Fairgrounds before the start of the race and there are plenty of actual restrooms!!! Totally beats having to wait for and use a porter potty! Again, it'd be hard to recommend the LJHM for people who aren't local and gunning for the Triple Crown just because it really does feel so disorganized compared to other races. But it is a rewarding race to run. Just be prepared for the Princess hill at mile 12. Everyone talks about Torrey Pines, but that hill at the end gets me every time. read more

This is a beautiful course. If you are not an elite runner and you are scared, do it anyway. If you ate scared you can't keep the pace time, do it anyway. If the hills scare you, do it anyway. The race is very well organized. It is small, less than 12,000 participants. There are enough water stations, even if you are toward the back of the pack. You can't meet the time limits by walking the entire race but if you can run/walk 50/50 split you should be okay The views are beautiful and the post race party is nice. Small but nice. They do gear check. Get someone to drop you off at the fairgrounds and meet you for brunch in la Jolla read more

La Jolla Half Marathon - This hill is hard but you can do it!! - Races & Competitions Near Me

This was my second year and I'd still give this race 4 stars out of 5 because again this is a beautiful scenic half marathon. But I don't think it'll be ever a 5 for me because it is really inconvenient with the whole postcard packet pick up. Also I felt that the 2 waves were quite hectic this year. I don't run fast so of course I'll run the second wave.. but I found myself in the first wave (and I wasn't at the start line but on the side).. perhaps it was the people who were surrounded by me that just started to move and I just had to?.. ehhh whatever. I did much better than last year.. a complete difference of 10 minutes which is amazing especially when I blew out my knee in January and in mid March. ANYWHO.... They needed to be more organized with the finish line because the stands were all over the place and they didn't have a lot of room for the finished runners... cmon its 6500 runners and some obviously will stick around for a bit for the replenishments. Oh well.. It was a nice run.. definitely a run for someone who wants a challenge on hills. read more

Torrey Pines Hill was not the only hill. There were several. But with every climb came a glorious down hill. In fact, the downhills were almost harder on my hip (OH NO! There she goes again) than the hills! Almost! Miles 3, 5, 7, 12 were the hardest. The hill at 12 is the worst! I loved the downhill finish. There is something so satisfying about having the fastest time on Mile 13! I recommend everyone do this race at least once and you might as well do the Triple Crown series while you are at it. I will never do this one again but I much prefered it to Carlsbad! read more

THE HILLS CAN SUCK IT! I mentally (yes mentally, not physically. Lol.) trained myself for the hills, and in return I was not phased at all. The hill journey starts off at mile 5 on Torrey Pines, but don't bother fighting it... there will be others. The hills will come back when you least expect it and with vengeance. (Like mile 10. And be cautious on the decline. You may pick up some great -2 minute momentum, but if you aren't careful, you can seriously eat it... face first.) Save your strength for the home stretch. To me, the last mile counts the most. You want to finish hard, strong and not look like a hill-weenie at the end. Other than the hills, the run was amazingly scenic. I was surprised that they did not offer any gels/GU, and some water stations ran out of cups. They were pouring water directly into runners mouths. I saw someone wrap his mouth completely around one of the water jugs... um, gross. The post-run party at the La Jolla Cove was pretty packed, but good. It was filled with a lot of support, and community spirit. I enjoyed the band, and especially the Nothing Bundt Cake! :) The drive out of the La Jolla Cove looked nuts! You can either park at the start of the race, or at the finish. Both ways provided FREE shuttle service. I opted to park at Del Mar (start) because I wanted to sleep in a little more since the race started at 07:30. If you chose to park at La Jolla, you would have to be there at 05:30am, deal with the minimal parking, pay for parking fees, be shuttled to the start, ect. After the race, the shuttle ride back to Del Mar took almost an hour. It was long, but I didn't care. I just sat there with all my goodies in hand. I think parking at Del Mar was worth it. I was able to get more sleep, not deal with La Jolla parking and La Jolla traffic and they have a parking lot vs finding your own spot. Overall, the event was good. Beware AFC, you are next and the 2014 Triple Crown will be mine! Mwhahaha.... ;) read more

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I ran this half marathon for the first time this past April and it's definitely a tough and challenging course due to numerous hills but it's my favorite half marathon course (out of the Triple Crown series) because of gorgeous views of Del Mar to La Jolla. I ran well on the Torrey Pines State Reserve on Miles 6 and 7 but it's actually that Hill on Mile 12 that I "hit the wall". The race was well organized and the volunteers were not only great, but also encouraging and kept the runners motivated. I'm committed to participating in this half marathon every year (unless I decided to travel statewide to participate other half marathons on that time period). This is definitely recommended, especially if you're up for the challenge. read more

Race # 2 of 3 to get that Triple Crown medal. I think I have a love-hate relationship with La Jolla Half. Loved the scenery, but hate the TP/LJ hills. This was the race that put so much anxiety on me - from the moment I shared with fella runners that I am opting to do the Triple Crown. And on 04/27/14, I found out why. Here are the things I knew about LJ Half, but should have taken/done more seriously: 1) Don't just train running on hills... train running the actual Torrey Pines hill. 2) If you haven't already, figure out how to haul your own hydration/electrolyte support. No GU (or similar energy gels) are given during the race and cups are only half full of water and hydration fluids. 3) Dress in layers - with the SD April weather - AMs can start really chilly, but by the time you get up that first hill, you would want to take off everything coz it can get super hot/sunny. 4) Don't exhaust all your energy on the first really BIG hill, save some for the mini-hill on mile 12-12.5. 5) It's a hill... get over it. Whether you choose to sprint it, run it, or walk it... you really have no choice but get over it. So do so without psyching yourself out so much. 6) Be prepared to be in pain after the race. This race is definitely a BEAST! Most of my running friends complained of feeling fluish after the race... you know nausea, vomiting, stomach churning... all that exhaustion and anxiety can get to you like a virus. Make sure you hydrate well and get some food in your tummy right after running if you can stomach it. 7) Biofreeze, Motrin, my roller, and my running shoes (for tapering) - these were my savior. I'm on day 2 after the race and my soreness is 75% gone. The day after the race, I had a swagger... the kind where I had to crawl up and down the stairs. Surprisingly, my right foot & ankle injury from the Hollywood Half (two weeks ago) decided to let me run this race pain-free. I didn't lose a toe nail. I survived this race to run an even hillier race next week - the Safari Half. I heard running is supposed to help one keep his/her sanity... but I'm pretty sure I lost it. I will most likely run this race in 2015 - my best friend made me promise to do the Triple Crown thing with her again. But then again, she asked me right after she finished running this race.. so we'll see how good her memory will be a year from now. =P read more

La Jolla Half Marathon - Had to post the shirt for 2014... 33ND? = Fail - Races & Competitions Near Me

2 course of the triple crown series, and it was definitely tough but I liked this SOOO MUCH BETTER than the AFC 1/2. The expo was well organized, and packet pick up was easy. Opps, wanted to comment that there were tons of restrooms at the start, and they had corrals! The course had hills through out (small ones throughout the neighborhoods, but they still count!) I walked the big infamous hill and the hill on Torrey Pines Rd on Mile 12. It was tough, but I had a little motivation to run faster because my boyfriend cheered me on at the top of the first hill which gave me that extra push! read more

I ran the La Jolla Half Marathon yesterday, which was my first half marathon! The race has about 6,000 runners and they do cut it off. We found out the hard way when my husband and friend tried to register in early March and it was already at capacity/sold out. Thankfully, we were given the idea to check Craig's List, and both were able to snag registrations just a day or two before the race. Who knew!!? I was aware going in that there would be a few serious hills (be sure to check the elevation chart online), and I trained for them, but I had no idea how crazy they really were until the race. The entire course is practically uphill, and the major Torrey Pines State Park hill has the majority of runners walking up it because it is really that steep. All those up and down hills do take a toll on the body. Needless to say, it was still an amazing experience! There was a large, but comfortable, crowd of runners with you the entire race. However, I'd say practically no spectators until the finish. I expected more. Don't anticipate much for your complimentary race t-shirt (all are men's sizes and standard cotton) or a goodie bag with your race packet (you receive just your bib and a few informational brochures), but the scenery was amazing. There were a few times I wished I had my camera it was that beautiful. For the first time I truly experienced the "runners high" during this race. You will run along the ocean to see and hear it crashing in as you pass by. You start at Del Mar Fairgrounds, run through Torrey Pines State Park, past the Torrey Pines Golf Course, UCSD, beautiful neighborhoods where you will admire the homes, and down the boardwalk at La Jolla Shores where surfers and other beachgoers will be hanging out, back around to the park at La Jolla Cove. The 190 ft. hill over a short half mile at the very end was tough, but a shot of energy came over me toward the top before I sprinted down through the crowd toward the finish line. That feeling and sense of accomplishment is something I'll never forget. At the finish line you will get your well-deserved medal, and for nurishment, they had bananas and oranges, Odwalla samples, water, Vitalite (electrolite drink), and bottled Acai smoothies to take with you. You could get posed photographs with your friends, pay for a sports massage (started at 5 min for $8.00), etc. Outside the runner area were the spectators and more vendors and booths. I used the clothing check, which worked out well (although I almost forgot to pick my stuff up at the end!) We tried to use the shuttle system but ended up bailing. We parked at the start line and hoped to take the shuttle from the finish line to the fairgrounds after the race. The line for the bus was so incredibly long, we decided to forget it and take a cab from our hotel after we cleaned up. It did end up costing $40 for the cab, but we never saw a bus come or go on our way to the Fairgrounds. We were so glad we didn't wait for it. It seemed like they filled 2 large Coach sized buses at the same time to come and go, and didn't stagger them. So it would be more than 40 minutes between shifts. Traffic was jammed as well. The race specifies that headphones aren't allowed. I'm so glad we brought our ipods just in case, because that wasn't enforced at all and we enjoyed our music throughout the entire course. (Otherwise, no bands or anything along the way). You will want to invest in one of the water belts to guarantee you stay hydrated as often as you need, and to keep any other nutrition packs or things you might want. I did and was so thankful I was prepared. Overall, it was a fantastic experience. It is organized by the La Jolla Kiwanis Club, so it isn't going to be as top notch as an Elite Racing event, but I was still pretty impressed with their organizational efforts. This was their 28th year doing the event. I recommend this race, just don't plan on having a PR and know going into it that it is a challenging course with most of it including hills. At the same time, know that anything you put your mind to, and any goal you can set, can be accomplished! ENJOY!! read more

This is the 2nd of 3 half marathons that one can run to earn the Triple Crown, in addition to Carlsbad (January) and AFC (August). Not going to lie - I'm doing it this year so that I can earn the same athletic designation as a horse. LIKES: 1. Awesome views - The views are beautiful and help you forget the amount of pain you're in when you're trucking up the steep hills. 2. Challenging - You feel like a total badass when you (hopefully) finish because you just ran 13.1 miles on a stupidly hilly course, when running is considered every other sport's punishment. And got up at 4 AM to do so. There are leg murdering hills at mile 6 and 12, with some other little "teaser hills" interspersed. Perfect for your inner masochistic athlete. (I'm being dead serious, too...) 3. Beer garden at the end - A perfect excuse for 10 AM drinking when it's not Bay to Breakers or tailgating for your favorite sports! 4. Adequate water stops - I felt like they had a decent number of them, at the right place, too. 5. Finisher medals are pretty! GRIPES: 1. Packet pickup - just a logistical nightmare. We spent 40 minutes stuck in traffic getting from Hwy 5 to Prospect St. in downtown La Jolla - a trip that should have only taken 10 minutes max. If you didn't bring your post card with your bib number, you were hosed - you'd have to wait in a long line. The lines were Disneyland-esque...minus the fun ride at the end. If I hadn't brought my post card, I think I would have been (more) pissed about the (further) waiting. 2. Expo - it was a bit underwhelming. We spent more time trying to find parking (which was also pretty terrible) than walking around at the tables, or lack thereof. I would have bought some Gu brand goo, but alas, I did not see a vendor. At Carlsbad, they also had vendors selling KT tape (kinesio tape for your joints) and all kinds of nutrition. Not so much here... 3. T-shirts - For the 60-some dollars I paid to run this race, it would have been nice to get a tech t-shirt instead of the cotton ones they gave out. The pattern on the back turned out to be pretty flowery and flamboyant, to the point that my buddy questioned whether he should use it as a sleep t-shirt or a bike rag. I think at this price, the race organizers could have come up with something a little nicer. 4. Bathrooms - good thing I'm like a camel and haven't had to pee during the course of a half yet (or maybe bad thing because it indicates I'm super dehydrated...), but I don't remember seeing a ton of port-o-potties along the course. If the start time is 7:30 AM again, be prepared to stand in a long line for the port-o-potties after 6:40 AM. 5. No pace groups - I know this is a luxury, but it would have been nice to have some pace groups to help you meet your goal time. They were certainly super helpful at the Carlsbad Half. 6. No goo or nutritional supplements along the way - This is actually the first half I've run, aside from a trail half that costs $35, where they didn't serve some kind of goo or energy pack. 7. Pictures - Usually they give you a lot of race pictures at the end, and the photographers will get somewhere around 10 shots. I got 1 proof back. ONE. Sure, I probably look super attractive when I'm drenched in a pool of my own sweat with my mouth hanging wide open gasping for air with agony on my face, but I at least wanted a fair chance to laugh at myself. Bottom line: Course: 4 stars. It's beautiful, but expect hills. They'll still be hard as hell, but at least you saw it coming. (That's what she said.) Organization: 2 stars for the aforementioned gripes. Pro tip: You can - (1) park at the finish line and bus to the start, or (2) park at the start and bus back to the start when you're done. I opted for 1, and I think that was the right choice. The advantage of choice 2 is that you can sleep in an extra hour because you have to get to the buses at 5 AM, but I sleep so poorly the night before because my adrenaline is up, so I don't think the extra hour of sleep would have helped me much. But aside from that, I could just hop in my car and drive home after the race, and not wait around for buses to bring me back to my car far up north. I also live closer to the finish line, so that was also another bonus - not having to use as much gas. All things to consider though when you're confronting a Rebecca Black-esque task of choosing where to park. Would I run it again? Yes...maybe when my toe nails grow back... read more

EDITED 4/30/13: Great half marathon if you're looking for a beautiful, challenging course. I wouldn't necessarily recommend this for your first half-marathon; something like Carlsbad is maybe better suited for that, seeing as how it's relatively flat. But if you're up to the challenge, go for it. For 2013, InMotion took over race management, and they did a superb job as usual. These folks know how to run an event. Bib pickup was a parking pain, seeing as it was located at RoadRunner Sports in a crowded business park. 2013 t-shirts are nice and fit well. Wave start, copious water stations, great atmosphere, all make for a great race experience. Only downside is lack of spectators. The course doesn't lend itself to much of that, and even through the streets of Del Mar and La Jolla, spectators are sparse. I'm guessing most residents are a bit disturbed by the inconvenience of street closures and keep away on principle. The finish area is CROWDED into a very tiny space, so if you plan on meeting someone after the race, make very definite and specific plans about where, or you'll wander around forever. About Torrey Pines Hill: don't be fooled. That isn't the toughest hill in the race despite its reputation, seeing as how it comes just before the midpoint. The toughest hill is the one you'll encounter around mile eleven, and its a doozy because most folks don't expect it. Save a little gas in the tank for that one. You can fly down to the finish when you're over it. Overall, a terrific half-marathon! read more

Several months ago I awoke from a night of debauchery in a strange woman's bed. I gathered my meager belongings and snuck out of her apartment into the salty air of downtown San Diego, hailed a cab and made it out of there with no regrets . . . or so I thought. Three days later I checked my e-mail account only to discover that while in a drug induced state I had signed up for the La Jolla Half Marathon. It probably seemed like a good idea at the time. Like most things in my life I tried to weasel my way out. I called the good people at Kiwanis International, explained what happened and politely asked for my money back. I was greeted by the laughter of an 87-year-old man who explained how he had fought in the Pacific and would not be issuing any refunds. "100% of the money is going to help children. You wanna help children don't ya." I thought about what he said and realized that I did want to help, as those kids would be paying for my social security benefits soon. Remembering what the old-timer said about not running onto a beach without a plan I decided to prepare for the traffic, hills, dehydration and pre-race discharge. The event was a thousand times more enjoyable because of the preparation. While sitting comfortably in my car at the Del Mar Fairgrounds I laughed at the line of cars attempting to exit 5 North. I smiled while running past the walkers on Broken Hill in Torrey Pines and sipped lemon-lime Gatorade from my utility belt between miles 8 and 10. I even got to see a middle aged man wet himself at mile 9 when he could not find a port-o-potty. If you can complete the 13.1 miles, then you can count yourself among the few who has the physical and mental toughness to do what the vast majority are incapable of. The key to this event is to be prepared. Arrive early, bring a supply of water, do your business before the race and train with the understanding that this is the second most difficult half marathon in San Diego County. Even though the genesis of my participation was the result of hallucinogenic drugs I regret nothing. read more

Review Part 1 of 2. I'm only going to write about the logistics portion of this event, because I feel that everyone beats the course to death on the scenery. Don't get me wrong, it is mind-blowingly beautiful as you've read--even with overcast. The title of this review will be: Things I wish I Knew About the LJHM. ---///Overall I think the logistics for this event was planned by a small amount of people. It seems like some parts of the event ran excellently... some others not so much. It's an expensive run for the quality provided. But it's a run for charitable organizations of San Diego. These guys raise literally tens-of-thousands of dollars (hundreds of thousands) from this single-event for community programs. Look at their website to understand the scope. Now... that may not matter much for some people. But it did for me. And I will be back next year. And the next. And so on. So while I run a hard and heavy race, I do it with light-feet and a free heart--knowing that regardless of how-well-I-do-- it was money well spent. So with that in mind... while some potions of this review may be negative--I mean it with good intentions, I mean it as a devoted fan, and I mean it in hopes that you will have a better experience with this race, so you will come back next year. This is truly one of the most challenging halves I have ever done (not just for my bladder). With all the twists, turns, down hills, climbs, and what have you. But it is also one of the most breathtakingly beautiful. My goal is to make sure runners know what they're getting into before the race, during, and after. Hopefully this review helps you figure out your plans come race-day. ---///Runner's Expo: Pre-Race Day A little anti-climactic. Had about 8 vendors total. No one was giving out free stuff =[. I got there at 10:00am, and it took about 15 minutes driving to (from UTC). 5 to find parking (I got lucky and found a spot righhht next to the expo). Easy-peasy. Shirts were nice enough. One of those thin breathable "athletic-tech t-shirts." Driving back was a different story--I saw bumper-to-bumper traffic lines stretching nightmarishly over 2 miles down. Two-lane roads. Yikes! They should really stagger the times people come in. So until they do. Get to the expo, get there early. They also have a carbo-load dinner night which--needless to say, I dodged. Mass-produced food of a foreign source the night before your 13.1 miles? Nah. ---///Race-Day Transportation Since LJHM is a start/end event. For Pick-Up/Drop-Off, LJHM provides these two really cool options for transporting runners. Option 1: You can either park at La Jolla shores before 5:30am (to be guaranteed a shuttle), and get driven to start line by shuttle, run the half-marathon, and then drive straight home. Option 2: Or, you can park at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, run the race, and then get shuttled back to your car (must be in line before 12:00pm to be guaranteed a shuttle). ---I opted for option 2 for a variety of reasons (and was very glad I did). The race doesn't start until 7:30am--TWO HOURS LATER. It only takes about 30 minutes to get there at 5:30 am. So you'd be sitting around in the cold for over an hour and a half. Traffic on the freeway was a breeze at 6:00am... right until I got to the exit. It took half an hour to get from the freeway off-ramp to the actual fairgrounds. I was a little scared that I wouldn't be able to make it the start in time. (The free-way exit line stretched a quarter mile from where the exit actually was) Parking and traffic workers at the fairgrounds exit were very well-organized. Even though it was really early in the morning, they had adjusted all the stop lights, had multiple workers posted at every corner, and everything went very smoothly. Chilled in my car until 6:45am and started walking to the start line. So if you're google-mapping it, I think you should add about 30-45 minutes to your commute just for the exit. I think people coming from north of the finish will choose Option 1, and people living south of the finish will choose option 2. Once you're at the fairgrounds, the pre-race environment is barren. There's no signage anywhere which indicates where anything is. You just kinda have to wander around asking miscellaneous people until you figure out what's what. ---///Starting Line Bag Drop-Off: LJHM has another really cool option of bag-drop-off. Where you can stuff your warm-up gear inside a bag, and they will ship it to the finish line for you to pick up. This is an excellent option--for warm-up clothes obviously-- but also for people who parked at the Fairgrounds, because they can send some supplies/keys/money to the finish line and have it once they finish and not have to carry it. This process was run really efficiently, and it took all of 5 minutes to grab a bag, write my number on it, drop off my stuff, and 5 minutes at the end to pick up. Located right next to the start line. read more

IMO the toughest race in the Triple Crown, but the most satisfying. Yeah, there's a big hill at Mile 7, but honestly, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Honestly, going through it with thousands of other people who are just as miserable as you breeds camaraderie. The worse hill, to me, is at mile 11. Everyone talks about Torrey Pines. NO ONE talks about the hill at mile 11. That one sucks because you don't expect it, and it's at the end when you really just want to be done. Packet pick-up is a fiasco, but logistics on race day are superb. Find yourself a supportive spouse (thanks, babe!) to drop you off at Del Mar and meet you at the finish. DO NOT be late for the drop off because traffic stacks up quickly. I say this race is the most satisfying precisely because it's the toughest. I had a real sense of accomplishment after LJ that eclipsed how I felt after Carlsbad and AFC. The course is scenic and well-supported, and as bad as that hill is, once you conquer it, you'll be patting yourself on the back forever. And when you have friends coming to visit from out of town, you can point to that hill and say, "yeah, I did that." read more

A few things: 1. Expo and packet pick-up-- there were NO FREEBEIES you just go and pick up a shirt and your bid. Parking-- I'm local, so I parked up the street and walked a block--however to someone that is not familiar with the area, I can see how it can be a disaster waiting to happen. I would prefer to pay extra to have my bid and t-shirt mailed directly to me. I did however, pick up these cool shoelaces that for $20, but other than that, most things are severely overpriced (think, $80 running tights, $100 sports bras). I did like the quality of the t-shrit, not some cheapo cotton one, and I did like how the packet was very small and compact, with the race course and info directly printed on the bid itself. 2. Race day pre-start: they start is at Jimmy Durante Drive- the natural thing would be to drop people right now. There was no real drop off area. In addition, the cops were being VERY anal Andy about those that pulled over to drop people off and were giving out tickets-- I don't blame them, but having a section for people to be safely dropped off would have been nice (for those that came from La Jolla via PCH to avoid the freeway traffic). Lines to the toilets were long as well, it took me about 15 minutes to get to use it. 3. Lack of start corrals: This was highly disorganized. I felt like sheep. also, i was unaware how everyone was standing...i wanted to go in the second wave so the faster runners could go first, but i ended up somehow being pushed up along with the first wave runners. This lack of corrals ended up messing everyone up and even caused cluttering at mile 8! 4. Course logistics: there was lack of restrooms-- lack of number of port-o-potties, and they seemed to be few and far between on the race. I am lucky enough to not have had to go to the bathroom. I think that they had a fair amount of water stations-- having them every other mile is not that worth it. There were NO pacers..but people holding up signs and shouting the times (which may or may not be accurate depending on what wave you started in) I was disappointed with the lack of pacers-- I was told that they would have some riding bikes. 5. The course itself: Hands down, one of the more challenging one that I have done (I've done OC and Las Vegas Rock and Roll). None of the hard training could have prepared me for the gruesome run up Torrey pines state reserve (I manged to do it with no walking! yay!) . The course was beautiful though, and it was great to see the city in that way..running along the coast along your fellow runners. i'm local, so i'm very familiar with the route, but experiencing in that way was something I loved. Watch out for the potholes--the city of San Diego is full of them! 6. End race: The post-race area is too small. They need to expand it out a little bit. It was a lot more cluttered than other races. Like the food that they gave out though, raspberry puffs, and cinnamon coffee cake..yum. (I started to become starting at mile 10) With a little bit more organization and planning, this race could be a great one. I know that there is a lack of sponsorship, which makes it difficult to get more services,such as toilets. To inexperienced runners: I felt like there were a lot more first-timers-- if you want to stop. PLEASE run off to the side and do that--DO NOT Stop in the middle of the course in the middle of everyone. this is not only dangerous but bad running etiquette. overall great race, challenging and beautiful course. read more

This course kicked my ass. Then, laughed and kicked me, again. I didn't expect to see so many hills. It's not like I didn't prep. I did check out the 440' climb at Torrey Pines beforehand. I even watched the course route on YouTube. But, the little hills between the start and finish? I really did underestimate. Then, there's the hill at mile 11. I usually drive that route. I didn't realize how long the climb would be. It wasn't as bad as TP, but it was still pretty long. You'd think that the final descent would be a piece of cake after that. It wasn't. The cobble stones at the final stretch wrecked my toes. My poor little toes. Yeah, there's a lot of whining going on. But, I did survive it; even if I was more than a ittle beat up. I'm just happy that I finished and got my medal. Would I do this, again? Probably not. I like running for fun (and bling!) and am not big on taking up running "challenges" that will push my limit. So, if you have masochistic running tendencies, this race is definitely for you. Go on with your bad selves. read more

The half I have been dreading about ever run ever since I heard about it. I knew I eventually was going to run it, but those hills have a way of making you really lazy to sign up for it. 2012 Triple Crown was calling my name, so La Jolla Half here I come... The worst part of the run? Getting to the expo. You will be stuck in traffic unless you get there super early, so....get their early. While the running expo while small, was kind of cool in that they fed you pasta and bread if you were there towards the end of it. I did buy some GU just to make sure I had that extra bit of caffeine ready in my pocket in case I didn't get any while running the course the next day. So how was it? Everyone knows about the Torrey Pines 2 mile hill section, so if you don't prepare doing some hill workouts you are probably going to walk it up. I thought it wasn't that bad, but considering I was in cruise control the whole way through, I didn't really push myself for a sub two hour total half-marathon time. Of the three (Carlsbad, La Jolla and AFC) this one has the most changes in elevation. Besides the Torrey Pines hill, there is a small hill right before the end of the race, and I was mentally ready for it. I read from others that it is really bad, but I didn't think it was as bad as people made it out to seem. Easy peasy... Luckily my sister met us in La Jolla to cheer for my brother and I at the finish line, so we didn't have to wait for any buses back to the start line. Big plus if you can have someone pick you up and avoid the long ass bus lines. The best part of running a half? Eating whatever you want (Bacon Burger and fries right after) and not feeling an ounce of guilt. Part of the San Diego Triple Crown series of races...beautiful, albeit tough course if you are going for a PR. I ran a "slow" 2:08:36, and I was good with that. Get off your butt and run! read more

The views you get along this race course might be unparalleled, but the organization very much leaves something to be desired.The race organizers always hold the race expo in downtown La Jolla, which is seriously the worst possible location to hold an event where 6000+ people are trying to get in and out of an area that only has single lane traffic leading into it. Be prepared to spend a minimum of two hours just trying to get your race packet. Out of all the races in San Diego I've run, the La Jolla Half Marathon is probably my least favorite for the sole reason that they've apparently never figured out how to make it work logistically. They also only offer cotton t-shirts for a $60-70 race, if this is something that matters to you. The race course itself is actually pretty decent, although one of the things I remember is the poor organization of the water stations and bathrooms. I might be the only Negative Nancy writing a review on this race, but the only reason I've run this race is to complete the Triple Crown series. The Carlsbad Half Marathon is just as scenic and it isn't a complete logistical nightmare. I find it hard to believe that they couldn't find another location to hold the race expo - I know it's the La Jolla Half, but even just holding it outside of downtown La Jolla, perhaps in UTC (not as scenic, granted, but who has time to enjoy the scenery when you're trapped in a line of cars stretching from Prospect Street to halfway up Torrey Pines Rd) would greatly improve the expo. read more

One and done. Despite the fact that I missed Carlsbad due to pneumonia (AGAIN!!), I was already signed up for La Jolla so I went ahead and did it. I must say I was not overly impressed with this race. First, let's start with the expo for 2014 at RoadRunner Sports. Really? Look, I understand that the expo is all about selling products, but how about having it somewhere other than a store? And especially not RoadRunner. As for what was available at the expo itself, such as it was, was very limited. If there was a men's La Jolla Half shirt I couldn't find it. As for the race itself it has its pros and cons. I did like the start area at Del Mar. Parking is plentiful, real bathrooms were available in the race track, and there was plenty of space to get warmed up. Bonus points all around. The start area was a bit tight, but not overly so. But that leads us to the course, which is unfortunately where the race really falls flat. Yes, the scenery is gorgeous. Yes, you do get to do many miles along the water. But the hills are unnecessarily brutal. The downhill into the park for the finish is ridiculous - you're not running, you're just trying to control yourself from going top over teakettle. And much of the course is extremely narrow; if you're stuck behind a couple of slower runners you could be there for quite a while. There was even one part of the course that's through an alley. Really? I will give them points for the finish area. Some of the earlier complaints that others mentioned - water and medals - seem to have been resolved. Post-run food was handed out in bags, which I like - grab and go. The people handling the medals were very friendly. But the finish area itself is very difficult to work with. No parking, getting out is a pain. I'm glad I did it once. But I won't be doing it again, even if it means I won't get my Triple Crown medal. I'm OK with that. read more

La Jolla was my 27th half marathon ... it's been on my "to do" list for awhile now and needed to do it to complete the Triple Crown series. Truth be told, I've wanted to run this one regardless of the Triple Crown so ... 2016 was the year! By now, you've probably hear that this race has some hills. Yep. It sure does! Miles 1 -4 are fairly uneventful -- you run out of the Del Mar racetrack and thru some neighborhoods (nice support) and around mile 5, you'll emerge on Torrey Pines Rd with a beautiful sweeping view of the shore with a nice flat-to-downhill stretch for a mile or so. Use it to your advantage and enjoy the coast cause once you round the bend up into Torrey Pines Park Rd ... it's all up hill from there. Really. About 2 miles of nothing but up. It's not so much the elevation (0 - 400' in less than a mile), it's the grade. There is also no water /fuel support in the Park so ... bring your own! (luckily, I did) I put my head down, pumped my arms and dug deep! At one point, I looked around about 80% of people were walking. Personally, I didn't come to La Jolla to walk these hills so ... I didn't care how slow I was running ... I was running up this damn hill! Right when you think the steep is finished, it flattens out a bit ... then mile 7 takes you up some more. Usually what goes up must come down? Oh, it does. But you have to wait until MILE 10 to get to experience the relief of this course. Mile 10 - 11.5 are blazing fast. Then, some sadistic turd decides to put another hill at mile 12.5 and while that hill itself isn't all that tough, at this point in the race, it's really the last thing you want to see. The final stretch to the final line is a quick jaunt down Prospect to the finish line! If you want a challenge, run this beast of a half. I've run San Francisco, Rocky Mountain, Mammoth at 9,000' and they have nothing on La Jolla if you want a challenging course. I wouldn't recommend it for a first half, though. Not if you ever want to run another one! Or, on second though ... if you do this as your first one, they will all seem easier after this. Guarantee it. Very beautiful course, though for sure! read more

Okay, I did it. My second half marathon (Carlsbad was first). I have to agree with previous posters...the organization was horrendous! I'm glad I experienced Carlsbad's first because if I had to judge all other races with this one, I would probably think twice about entering. You would think, with this being one of the requirements for the Triple Crown, they would put more effort into making it a more positive experience. Pre-race: Honestly, La Jolla Cove Recreation Center? I realize most of the profit went to the Kiwanis Club, but could you spare a little something for those that contributed? A cotton tee? And couldn't they have held it at Del Mar? There would have been tons of room for more vendors. After 30 years, do you think those folks who put on this race have just about lost any imagination? "Yeah, we'll have it again this year. Folks will sign up for it - the hype about it will bring them in. If you stage it, they will come. Afterall, we've been doing it for 30 years. What do we need to do? Not much. Easy money. Next year, we'll do it again." And, this crazy will have his entry fee in early. Ah well. The Run: What can I say? The Beast lived up to its name. I didn't notice the uphill along Via de la Valle, but then again, I didn't train on that road. I did train on the rest of the course, however, and did well in the training, but the actual run really took its toll on me. I can't explain it...the Torrey Beast was a killer. I had run up its grade 4 times previous without stopping, but on race day, it grabbed ahold of me and pulled me down. Even at the top, I didn't feel the exhileration I thought I'd feel. I guess I began to consider that hill at mile 12. Even running DOWN La Jolla Shores Drive seemed difficult. Scenery? Well, I guess it was beautiful. I was concentrating on the 6 feet directly in front of me most of the time. The Finish Line: The race ending at La Jolla Cove is absolutely crazy, but maybe wouldn't be so bad if they opened more of the cove grounds to the race finishers. There was much more room than then they cordoned off. There was zero control at the finish line, too. Just thousands of exhausted human beings milling around trying to get their bearings. And the after-race bash they promised? Was more of a fizzle. I couldn't find the entrance to the beer garden and it was so crowded, it wouldn't have been much fun. Not even a live band at the end. Couldn't they even find one group that would agree to play? Quite pathetic. So, that's my nickle's worth. Organization = F. The race = C. But, as I mentioned before, I'll be back next year. You definitely run this race for yourself as a challenge and not because its a good time before or after. So sad. read more

Let me me first catch my breath!! Ok, this was one tough half!! You're either running up or down a hill!! There's no flats on this one if there was it did not feel like it! This is my second half ever so I can only compare it to my previous one (Carlsbad). Although I did PR by almost a minute!! The best thing about this race it's the scenery, you got the waves crashing on one side as you run. I recommend parking at the finish line and taking the shuttle to the starting line, you'll thank me later! Gear check was awesome no lines! The only downside of this event is the package pick up @ the road runner sports of Clairemont Mesa. Go early or you'll never find a parking space plus traffic is horrible! Overall this is a challenging race but well worth the experience!!! Finishing time 1:42:57 Pace: 7:52 read more

There are no finisher medals for the La Jolla Shores 5K!!! Ugh. They should make that CLEAR when people are signing up, as I wouldn't have signed up for this race if I wasn't going to get a finisher's medal. What's the purpose of running a 5K RACE if there's no RACE MEDAL!?!? That being said, I'm sure it's no accident they waited until sending race instructions--the weekend of the race--to state, "finisher medals are only for the half marathon!" Yeah, thanks... If I'm not going to get a medal, I can run 3.1 miles--FOR $FREE$-- at the beach / harbor / any SD path. Anyway, they get 1 star (instead of zero stars) because the shirt is nice and we were given a jawstring bag. This was my first time trying the LJ Half Marathon / 5K and it'll definitely be my last. I'll stick to the SD Half Marathon / 5K. read more

I had heard so many things about this race: it sells out early, the hill is killer, etc etc. And silly me, I planned a trip to Europe right before this marathon (heh heh). I came home on the Friday night after 10 days spent abroad and braced myself for Sunday. Turns out, I beat my previous half marathon time (wahooooooo!). I suggest getting dropped off at the Fairgrounds and picked up in La Jolla, which is what my crew did (thanks to one of their lovely sisters!). Luckily I work at the Fairgrounds so I knew where all the hidden bathrooms with were (no lines! yay!). There were a couple of hills: the one going up Via de la Valle...(so early in the race! haha), the Torrey Pines Hill (many thanks to my boyfriend for holding my hand as we ran up together...otherwise I would've walked the whole thing), and another hill near La Jolla Shores (going downhill -- man, that was a pounder!). Plenty of water stations & cheerers along the way. The course is beautiful and a definite must for all you runners out there! read more

I run the Surf City Half Marathon every year (formerly "The Pacific Shoreline Half Marathon" and does going on 6 years count for "every year?" I think so. Go with it.) and I'm really glad that SC was renamed away from Pacific Shoreline because THIS is the Pacific Shoreline. Seriously, anyone who tries to tell me that they wouldn't live in So Cal because of bad air quality and overpopulation needs to just get themselves in passable shape to do this race and they'll fall in love with the area. It'd be impossible not to. The course is absolutely beautiful. As much as I was muttering obscenities under my breath going up the giant hill, I'd forgotten about it immediately after it was over because it was perfect outside. Partly cloudy, breezy and just beautiful. Packet pickup was fast and efficient, though parking at Road Runner was a little chaotic. I'm not one for wandering expos so I liked that it was quick to grab your bib, your shirt and get the heck out of there (funny typo on the shirt though, it says "33nd Annual." Oopsies!). Race day was also pretty easy for us as we stayed at a hotel right across the street from the racetrack and just walked right to the start. The course was well supported and not too crowded. Two of the water stops had run out of cups by the time I came by (I do admit though, I'm slow) but luckily it wasn't hot enough to be a major issue. I was surprised that there weren't any Gu's or energy blocks on the course (I usually see them around mile 10 at other races), but I think most people who rely on them tend to carry their own anyways so no big deal. Now, the reasons for the -1 star is that while it was quick to get on the shuttle, the ride back to the start took a good 40 minutes. Was it better than waking up two hours early to drive to the finish and hop a shuttle to the start? OF COURSE because I love sleeping, but just in general the logistics of a point to point course always annoy me. The other minor irritation was the hill at mile 12. SERIOUSLY? We've already traveled so far, including up and down Torrey Pines and all we want is to be done already but noooo, here's another hill for you. La Jolla, it's good you're attractive because I wouldn't put up with you otherwise. read more

For the second time, I've decided to go through the grueling process of doing the San Diego Triple Crown of Half Marathons. As anyone that's tried it knows, La Jolla is the worst of the 3. I would do the Triple Crown more often if not for La Jolla. It is no fun running up from sea level to the top of Torrey Pines at mile 5 of a half marathon. It is particularly no fun when you're trying to shave off 10 minutes from your time the year before. There is no debating that the route is beautiful. The descent down into La Jolla from UCSD is a fantastic view. It's particularly captivating when you can see the finish line across the cove from where you are which gives you a little extra motivation to push through the last legs of the race. There is also no debating that running up Torrey Pines has the potential of killing your legs and ruining your chances at hitting your target time if you're not careful or didn't train on the hill enough. We had had bad experiences with this race's transportation last year. The bus from La Jolla back to Del Mar after the race took over an hour due to boneheaded routing through traffic. They improved that routing this year and the ride was relatively zippy. The beer garden at the finish line is a great touch, and if you're so inclined, it's pretty much all you can drink. I hit my target time, broke 1:55, and am on my way to another Triple Crown. I keep debating whether this is the last time I'll do this race. I'm undecided, but will most likely take a few years off. The feeling of making the turn onto La Jolla Shores Blvd. and heading downhill towards the finish is a great feeling that I may soon yearn for. read more