Orange County Half Marathon (OC HM) Report

First, I really like Orange County. Especially, the Coastal towns and beaches of South County. Yep, I could live there. My only hesitation is - I really like Capitola, Ca. along with San Diego almost equally. I know where my heaven is.

The belated Race Report. Too busy of late. Finally, a few minutes strung together to report. The trip started after AM soccer games on Saturday. Getting out of Vegas went smoother than I thought. Able to hit the road with a two hour cushion before the Expo closed. Drive there nothing significant other than my youngest, and oldest are more and more becoming the worst road-trippers. Also, just past Barstow - the big forget!

I realized my Hammer Endurolyte Capsules were not packed! I needed them. The hope? The Expo should have them or the equivalent being peddled. Or, so I thought?

Disappointing Expo. Not just due to the Electrolyte Pills. Very unorganized as to where to go for bib and packet pickup. Both were located in complete opposite sides of the convention location at the OC Fairgrounds. Got the bib (without pins, they ran out) then finally found out where the T shirt line was to begin the packet pickup. Hmmm...something missing? My T!

You pay for it and check off the size you need with the expectation they order enough - nope! No T. I had to put my name on a list to hopefully get one mailed to me. Reminded me a little of the Seinfeld episode when he rented a car. Then, finally long walk off to the bag and packet pick-up. 

Bag was a large blue South Coast Plaza shopping bag :(. A popular Mall in Costa Mesa (and race sponsor), yet not the most popular idea for a Marathon Expo Goodie Bag! Very generic looking with nothing stating this was for the OC Marathon or Half. Did I mention it was a big bag. Big given the fact the only items given to put in them were 5-6 brochures to other events or sponsors. Hmmm? A small brown lunch bag would suffice. Rock and Roll runs and Disney have this bag thing down. Giving you a very functional bag that is also intended to be your post race clothing/personal item drop off bag. Plus, a bag full of freebies and goodies that says, "we really take pride in this race, this brand and WANT to market it."

In a nutshell, this was my only issue with the race. Not just that I could not get the Pills - more coming on that. There seems to be very little pride in the brand, and in marketing this event. The race has potential. Yet, this event needs some serious marketing to make it what it needs to be. The Expo had no flare or excitement for the event it was promoting. Nothing really for anyone (especially the runners of the race), plus not too mention my T!

Anyway, the Hammer Capsules. Very tired and my wife and oldest were feeling sick. Sick with something I knew I had the previous 3-4 days without telling anyone. Sore throat, little coughing and slight fever. Our family was spent at this point. Luckily, our Residence Inn had a Sport Chalet very near. Although they did not have the product or anything like it - Road Runner did. Sport Chalet staffer Scott (thanks again) mentioned OC had two in the area. Although Vegas does not have Road Runners, I knew they carried Hammer products from my Arizona Rock and Roll trip in Tempe. Heaven for a moment! Found my pills plus a few new Hammer Gel flavors to try out. Yes, I was set.

The rest of the trip was PERFECT!

Went straight to Newport Beach after this. Found parking and walked the beach as the Sun was setting. Beautiful. At this point dinner was decided upon. Ye Ole Spaghetti Factory was picked thinking it was the most kid friendly of the offerings. Although Original Pizza had my name all over it along with Crab Cooker or is it Pot? Anyway, not bad meal and much better than my frightful Arizona Rock and Roll carbo load at Olive Garden. Kids had fun along with Mom.

Back to the Residence Inn. Nice front desk staff and location. Got to bed by 10:00 PM and woke up at 11:30 ready to run! Oops. Well, I did fall back to sleep without issues and my next wake up was the actual wake up call at 4:30 AM.

Drop off at the Fashion Island Mall was very smooth for the most part. A little traffic, but not much. Found my starting wave without problems with a short walk. Found a curb to stretch my ankles and calves on, then sit and massage them as well. Not long after a nice surprising visitor!

It was none other than Fat Guy Running himself with bike in tow - Glenn Jones. Great to finally meet him and the first time I have actually met a fellow blogger. Very nice. He was able to give me some needed info on the course since he runs the Back Bay portion weekly. By the way, Glenn, you need to change the name of your Blog. Fat Guy Running? Not you at all. Thanks for the meet up and waking up early to chat!

The race. I liked it. The course was challenging at times. It had hills. Most not long, but some were steep at times. Corona Del Mar was fun. One of those beach communities I would love to live. Supportive with some spectators either in drive ways or balconies. It was very nice of them to let us runners invade their wonderful neighborhood. Nice views of the beach and coast here as well. 

Bayside Drive was nice to run down. The flowers were all in bloom. Lots of Reds, Oranges, Pinks and Purples. I love seeing the flowers in the OC. Over the Newport Bay Bridge with a nice view of sailboats, yachts and water. Then off to the Back Bay Trail which is the majority of 13.1 Miles. Very nice and flat for the first miles. A little tight at times running past a campground, but the flowers in the fence line kept me going. I even picked a few and held them to the finish to give to my daughter at the end.

Nice and scenic ecological reserve to run through on the trail. Enjoyed seeing the birds and taking in the views. Then the hills. Especially the last one before you hit street again. Short, but straight up. Most walked it, but not me. Then some downhill on the street and back on more trail. I think it was called the San Diego River Trail here (?) and this portion had lots of rollers and hills. You hit street before mile 11 and from here to Fairgrounds - all incline and very steady. Then once in the OC Fairgrounds flat parking lot running to the finish.

My finish? I was happy with it. I went into this race very under-trained (10 pounds heavier than my last race in February), with no feeling how I would do. Plus my first since my ankle injury. I also was a little sick - sore throat and all. I also knew nothing about the course. I had no game plan for it until I spoke with Glenn Jones briefly before the race. It turned out to be a challenge at times. Yet, whatever hit me, I seemed to have something in the fuel tank to get me over it. NO walls. No burn outs. Just a very steady pace from the beginning to the end. Plus, the whole course and race had a nice flow to it. It went by fast.

NO post race hydration problems. Nothing. Everything went very smooth. Hammer Pills every 30 minutes, except I did take one near 11 miles that was only 15 minutes after the previous. Water in Camelbak went well. I had two Hammer Gels - 5 miles and another near mile 9. In fact, I let my body and mind tell me when I needed these. As soon as the feeling to take one came - I did. Listening to your body works folks. Legs felt great throughout, and NO ankle issues.
Post race, usual happy aches and stiffness. Today, two days removed - ready to run again (well with some stiffness).

I liked this race/event. Nice finisher medals as well. Yet, the expo and overall organization not the best. The runners were not the most friendly. I always find someone to chat with along the way. I tried, but everyone seemed occupied with one foot in front of the other, or their Ipods. The course made up for all that. Glenn what a treasure you have in your own backyard to run weekly.

Will I run this one again? Well, I have liked every race I have run except my Turkey Trott in November. I seem to be picking some good ones or lucky in doing so. Yet, I am not sure I do this one again. Or, at least make it a priority. It was a near perfect weekend overall. Kids had a great time at the beach post run and I soaked my legs in the water at Balboa Island Beach. Still, after doing quite a few of the races now within a 4 hour drive of where we live - I think this one goes on the waiting list for the future. Maybe again, but not next year.

Anyway, we had a great time as a family. It was a nice weekend to get out of town. Nice weather. The OC looks great right now. Great meeting the Fat Guy Running. Big thing I take away from this race - my legs and ankles are back in better shape again. Also, listening to your body is a must and follow your feelings. "Use the Force Luke."

Hope everyone else had a great weekend running. Now, I can get caught up on all your postings as well! Thanks for all your support and kind comments fellow running bloggers.

Next up: San Diego Rock and Roll HM in June. Can't wait!

Cheers!