The rain! It keeps me in the house these days (last 5!). In the house with all my kiddos. Two of whom have been sick, with one much better. The other - well - getting there. The fever is finally broken for good. Love being a stay at home parent. The blessings of being home with the kids - UNMATCHED!
Today, I have been thinking about year end lists. As you know I am a list-a-holic. In fact, I am thinking about doing all posts in list form for a month. Just to see? See if I can organize thoughts into one line after another in list form, but also - one line - one complete thought. No further explanations.
Anyway, the list of races from least favorite to best for 2010:
9. Tuscon Marathon - I learned a lot from this one. This was the only positive. Mainly two things 1) If I am having noticeable health issues going into a Full Marathon - cancel or switch to the Half. 2) I will only do Rock and Roll Full Marathons, Major City/Event Fulls. I guess by a certain mile - say - 17 miles I want to be served! Not running out of water (or, handed used water bottles). Leaving aid/water stations unattended. Not guaranteeing the post race transportation to my parked rental as stated/promised! Crazy me, but if I pay and run 26.2 miles - I want to be treated as if I am doing something pretty amazing. I want the race organizers to treat me with this respect. I don't think I am asking too much on that one? Eh? EMZ though (and her family) - Rockstar!
8. San Diego Rock and Roll Half Marathon. Odd, how after Tucson - I can't remember why SD RR HM was so bad. Oh, I remember. Silly me. The sloped hard concrete freeway which blew out my ankle for the SF HM in July. Post race transportation back to Qualcom was also a logistics failing. Yet, at least THEY provided transportation for it till every runner was off the course. However, long it took. The great thing about this one - San Diego! Love that city!
7. Hoover Dam Half Marathon. A local race put on by Calico Racing. I am trying to support them and another local running organization here in Vegas. Yet, I am not sure I do this particular race again. I have done two races now on basically the same route/trails. You really don't get much of a view of the Dam and trails are just okay. Not something worth paying to do again. Although it will be fun to volunteer for this one next time. I look forward to doing other Calico races in the upcoming year. They are better organized than the Tuscon Marathon, with volunteers who WANT to be there. Plus, are all fellow runners. A race put on by ALL runners for runners! The post race spread was more than I expected for such a small event. Very nice. Plus, I met new local running friends. Always a plus!
6. Las Vegas Rock and Roll Half Marathon. Second time around for this one. The only negative - which is kind of big one - $145.00 to run a Half! Yet, it is a Rock and Roll event. Very well organized, supported, logistics all thought out an administrated well. Great weather for it this year compared to last year. You can PR this course as well - fast. Well, that's if your ankle is healthy. It is fun to see all the tourist in town for it. Tourist who happen to be runners - even better. It is also only 15 minutes from my house.
5. Arizona PF Chang Rock and Roll Half Marathon.
It's in Phoenix. Very flat except for a bump or two near the end. Course is not very interesting for 80% of the course. Kinda liked the Memorial Park it begins, then it quickly goes through some neighborhoods most visiting Phoenix would not drive through unless they had too. However, the pluses out way the minuses with this one. Again, really well organized and supported. Big HM event and field of runners. I like the finish area a lot on the ASU campus near Sun Devil Stadium and running across the bridge into Tempe just prior. It was a fun weekend for our family overall. I was pleasantly surprised by the area around the ASU campus (of course if you know me - always a sucker for a college town, except Tucson). We also found a just the right size Zoo to see post race for the kiddo's. Here is the big one - transportation to the Start from the designated parking area (at the finish) - THIS RACE has THIS one DOWN! Perfectly executed transportation logistics. Good time of year to visit the Valley of the Sun.
4. O.C. Half Marathon. Small event really. Yet, organized and well supported. Kind of a - not too big, not too small Goldilocks thing. Love the Corona Del Mar and Newport Beach hoods you run through. Love the OC in general. My wife grew up there. Great time of the year to be there as well. Back Bay trail was very nice. Start and finish well done. I have registered for it again in 2011.
3. Long Beach Half Marathon. Who would have thought there was a reason to visit Long Beach? Organized and well done. Weather was not the best - very humid and foggy which was unexpected. However, the other unexpected part was having the Hotel we stayed at on the course! My wife and kiddo's walked out to the parking lot and cheered me on! Fun moment! Also fun to see Meg (The Best) and Glenn (everyone's next best friend) at this one. It made for a fun event. Maybe the best post race spread and finish area of all the races I have done. Lots for our family to do before and after the race just right near the event. Nice one, like it! Will do it again - just not sure when? Flat for the most part, and 60% of the course on the beach (walking/bike path).
2. Surf City Half Marathon (Huntington Beach, Ca.) LOVED this course. Loved this race. Weather was PERFECT! This is my wife's beach as she calls it. She grew up about 2 miles or so, away. My Sister and two of her running Son's (all grown up with families of their own) ran the Full while I did the Half. Fun family event for all of us. Plus, I got to run the Half with two of my wife's co-worker friends. We all had a great Dinner the night before together. We visit the OC 5-6 times a year. We just added one other reason to visit. This was also the first time three of my four kiddo's ran a race as well. The one mile kids run. Again WE LOVED this RACE. It will be a annual event for us.
1. Disneyland Half Marathon. A near tie with Surf City. Yet, with my wife running her first ever race (the 5K) with the three Surf City runners, plus our annual Disneyland trip thrown in - NUMBER ONE! This was my first 13.1 in 13 years from last year. Second time doing this one, and there will be many more. Another annual race for us. Flat course, and this year more of it was actually in the Park from the previous year. Anaheim, okay not too crazy about running the streets there. Yet, it is all broken up by a fun run inside Angels Stadium. A BLAST running the warning track with infield seats filled with people/kids cheering you on. Just something special about this run for me. Not only just due to incredible organization from Expo to finish by Disney. This race just holds a ton of sentimental value to me. LOVE IT!
Upcoming year? 2011?
Stay Tuned!
Cheers!
9. Tuscon Marathon - I learned a lot from this one. This was the only positive. Mainly two things 1) If I am having noticeable health issues going into a Full Marathon - cancel or switch to the Half. 2) I will only do Rock and Roll Full Marathons, Major City/Event Fulls. I guess by a certain mile - say - 17 miles I want to be served! Not running out of water (or, handed used water bottles). Leaving aid/water stations unattended. Not guaranteeing the post race transportation to my parked rental as stated/promised! Crazy me, but if I pay and run 26.2 miles - I want to be treated as if I am doing something pretty amazing. I want the race organizers to treat me with this respect. I don't think I am asking too much on that one? Eh? EMZ though (and her family) - Rockstar!
8. San Diego Rock and Roll Half Marathon. Odd, how after Tucson - I can't remember why SD RR HM was so bad. Oh, I remember. Silly me. The sloped hard concrete freeway which blew out my ankle for the SF HM in July. Post race transportation back to Qualcom was also a logistics failing. Yet, at least THEY provided transportation for it till every runner was off the course. However, long it took. The great thing about this one - San Diego! Love that city!
7. Hoover Dam Half Marathon. A local race put on by Calico Racing. I am trying to support them and another local running organization here in Vegas. Yet, I am not sure I do this particular race again. I have done two races now on basically the same route/trails. You really don't get much of a view of the Dam and trails are just okay. Not something worth paying to do again. Although it will be fun to volunteer for this one next time. I look forward to doing other Calico races in the upcoming year. They are better organized than the Tuscon Marathon, with volunteers who WANT to be there. Plus, are all fellow runners. A race put on by ALL runners for runners! The post race spread was more than I expected for such a small event. Very nice. Plus, I met new local running friends. Always a plus!
6. Las Vegas Rock and Roll Half Marathon. Second time around for this one. The only negative - which is kind of big one - $145.00 to run a Half! Yet, it is a Rock and Roll event. Very well organized, supported, logistics all thought out an administrated well. Great weather for it this year compared to last year. You can PR this course as well - fast. Well, that's if your ankle is healthy. It is fun to see all the tourist in town for it. Tourist who happen to be runners - even better. It is also only 15 minutes from my house.
5. Arizona PF Chang Rock and Roll Half Marathon.
It's in Phoenix. Very flat except for a bump or two near the end. Course is not very interesting for 80% of the course. Kinda liked the Memorial Park it begins, then it quickly goes through some neighborhoods most visiting Phoenix would not drive through unless they had too. However, the pluses out way the minuses with this one. Again, really well organized and supported. Big HM event and field of runners. I like the finish area a lot on the ASU campus near Sun Devil Stadium and running across the bridge into Tempe just prior. It was a fun weekend for our family overall. I was pleasantly surprised by the area around the ASU campus (of course if you know me - always a sucker for a college town, except Tucson). We also found a just the right size Zoo to see post race for the kiddo's. Here is the big one - transportation to the Start from the designated parking area (at the finish) - THIS RACE has THIS one DOWN! Perfectly executed transportation logistics. Good time of year to visit the Valley of the Sun.
4. O.C. Half Marathon. Small event really. Yet, organized and well supported. Kind of a - not too big, not too small Goldilocks thing. Love the Corona Del Mar and Newport Beach hoods you run through. Love the OC in general. My wife grew up there. Great time of the year to be there as well. Back Bay trail was very nice. Start and finish well done. I have registered for it again in 2011.
3. Long Beach Half Marathon. Who would have thought there was a reason to visit Long Beach? Organized and well done. Weather was not the best - very humid and foggy which was unexpected. However, the other unexpected part was having the Hotel we stayed at on the course! My wife and kiddo's walked out to the parking lot and cheered me on! Fun moment! Also fun to see Meg (The Best) and Glenn (everyone's next best friend) at this one. It made for a fun event. Maybe the best post race spread and finish area of all the races I have done. Lots for our family to do before and after the race just right near the event. Nice one, like it! Will do it again - just not sure when? Flat for the most part, and 60% of the course on the beach (walking/bike path).
2. Surf City Half Marathon (Huntington Beach, Ca.) LOVED this course. Loved this race. Weather was PERFECT! This is my wife's beach as she calls it. She grew up about 2 miles or so, away. My Sister and two of her running Son's (all grown up with families of their own) ran the Full while I did the Half. Fun family event for all of us. Plus, I got to run the Half with two of my wife's co-worker friends. We all had a great Dinner the night before together. We visit the OC 5-6 times a year. We just added one other reason to visit. This was also the first time three of my four kiddo's ran a race as well. The one mile kids run. Again WE LOVED this RACE. It will be a annual event for us.
1. Disneyland Half Marathon. A near tie with Surf City. Yet, with my wife running her first ever race (the 5K) with the three Surf City runners, plus our annual Disneyland trip thrown in - NUMBER ONE! This was my first 13.1 in 13 years from last year. Second time doing this one, and there will be many more. Another annual race for us. Flat course, and this year more of it was actually in the Park from the previous year. Anaheim, okay not too crazy about running the streets there. Yet, it is all broken up by a fun run inside Angels Stadium. A BLAST running the warning track with infield seats filled with people/kids cheering you on. Just something special about this run for me. Not only just due to incredible organization from Expo to finish by Disney. This race just holds a ton of sentimental value to me. LOVE IT!
Upcoming year? 2011?
Stay Tuned!
Cheers!
9 comments:
Nice year-end recap!
Fun recap, I think I had more fun seeing you in LB than you had running it! BEST RUNNER STALKING EVERY!! Insert *cow bell* here.
Hope you're staying dry, 3 hours, no rain! It's a miracle!
Who would have thought there was a reason to visit Long Beach?
Ouch.
Great write up Slomo - you had a full year and are still up for Daddio of the Year by our standards!!
FYI - American Discovery Trail Marathon on Labor Day. Best views, great support, plus course visits from HT - most likely, sans cow bell ;-) http://www.adtmarathon.com/
There's something to be said for those cheap, middle of nowhere, no-frills marathons. But of course the keyword here is cheap. They better be.
I agree with you, if I'm paying 100$ to go for a run, I want some service.
Triathlons are even worse.
Great post - it is so true that the organizer can really make or break the event. I'm very spoiled with a great race management team that coordinates about 80% of my local races.
Hope your kiddos are all feeling better soon. Merry Christmas!!
Hi Slomo,
You have done so many well known races this year. I am a little jealous of a few of them:) Maybe next year I will be able to do the Vegas R&R. Fingers crossed!
Your Christmas card arrived! I love it:) My daughter was looking at the picture and commented on how lovely your family is. Tell your #1 runner dude that she thinks he probably has tons of girls who have crushes on him:)
Merry Christmas Slomo!
Merry Christmas! P.S. I love lists, too!
I love lists too but don't feel motivated yet for year end type lists.
Merry Christmas!
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