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Submitted by
August 22, 2013
Review
I have run this race since its inagural race in 2011. Every year it has gotten better. The first year there was a weird ran out so we had to do a modified loop. Plus, it started INSIDE the park (well, at the enterance) and that was ok, but the parking situation after was a NIGHTMARE!! They fixed that the second year by starting at the mall, and that was a big improvement. They also changed the course and we had a MONSTER hill at mile 6/7 to go along with the one at mile 10.5. It was a great race but we needed more bathrooms at the start and along the course. This past year they added more bathrooms, we are still at the mall, and the finish was better organized than the previous year. The big bonus is that you get to decide on the shirt design, medal design, and ribbon design on facebook. This race is top notch!!! Oh, and this year we didnt have to get the timerchips to put around our shoes (which is a pain) so that was great too. I love this race and will run it every year!!
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Submitted by Nephthys76
May 5, 2013
Review
Safari Park is my favorite half marathon, if I had to choose only 1 half to do each year, this is the one I would choose.
To start off, the profit from the race goes directly toward a cause, i.e. new habitat for the Tigers or the Rhinos.
Also, a fun factor of this race: the organizers allow you to vote on the T-shirt design AND the medal design. The choices are always so well-designed. Good swag always makes a race more desirable.
The course is challenging, but only moderately so. There are 2 HARD hills, but the rest of the course is comfortably rolling. The scenery throughout the entire race is beautiful, and the support and entertainment is pretty good. From milking cows out for petting, to a camel photo op, to fun stomp-like drummers, to a very high energy MC Hammer look-a-like.
I highly recommend this race, but the hills are not for sissies!
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Submitted by susanecho
May 12, 2012
Review
The 2nd Safari Park Half was definitely one of my favorites! I was a bit nervous of how the race one be reading reviews of the inaugural last year, but I have very little to say against the event, overall. It might have been more helpful to have more port-a-potties throughout the race (I think there might have been a couple at mile 8 or 9), and to have more spectators, but the volunteers and residents did a pretty great job of encouraging racers along the way. The course itself was beautifullllllll, although there was a random section of running through a gated community that seemed a little out of place. I personally loved the challenge of the hills- the inclines definitely made the race more interesting. =)
Packet pickup was a breeze, and though there weren’t too many freebies as part of the goody bag, the awesome shirt, medal, and entrance to the safari park made it worth it. =)
Parking was well organized, shuttle-service back was pretty quick, and if I had to choose to do a race over again, this would definitely be one to consider.
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Submitted by Cyndi Williams Hitsman
May 9, 2012
Review
This was my 11th Half and it was tied for first in my book. The pre-race was excellent – so many of the large theme park races give no discount to attend the park. Not only did my whole family and I get admission to the park the day before for half price, the day of the race my admission was free and theirs was again half price. The information provided was terrific – clear maps with parking info, fees, race course, water, bathroom and nutrition stops. The technical shirt was nice – well made and it was great not to get just a cotton shirt. The race itself was RIGHT ON TIME (believe it or not?), an easy, no drama start. The course was full of funny signs, animals (with their handlers) waiving and inspiring us. My only complaint were the two large hills, but some people enjoy those. There were plenty of water stops, restrooms and nutrition stops. Lastly, the finish was fun and well organized. Shuttles were aplenty and quick. The medal was above and beyond! They also were kind enough to send an official certificate email with my time, my splits, etc. The race made for a memorable weekend for my whole family. Would have been my best ever if I hadn’t missed my PR by one minute! ONE MINUTE! Only runners get that! 🙂 As an aside, when I returned to the parking area 5 hours after the start, the entire area was cleaned up and there was no sign we had even been there…. Nice job, Safari!
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Submitted by tif.ortega
May 7, 2012
Review
I really enjoyed this race- they had a very organized start to the race in the mall parking lot and then it looped around the wineries– very beautiful. There were 2 hills that were a little tough but along the route they had some jokes and inspirational signs to help make it easier up the hills. There were water stations very few miles and mile markers at very mile.
I would highly recommend this race and I look forward to it next year.
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Submitted by cherylames
May 6, 2012
Review
A big improvement over last year’s inaugural event! This year the race organizers moved the start line to the Westfield North County shopping center and provided shuttles for spectators and athletes to get back after finishing the race. Great organization at the start line area. They had many volunteers directing traffic in the parking lot. There were plenty of porta-potties and gear check was quick and easy.
The course was also different this year. Instead of starting at the park and looping around they made it a point-to-point course starting at the mall and ending inside the park. There were plenty of support/aid stations along the way and great volunteers with positive attitudes. However, anyone who ran this race will tell you that mile six was brutal! It was steep and long on a loose dirt path! One thing I would have recommended was for them to have put a water/aid station at the very top of the hill at mile 7. The course had another large hill at mile 11 but you were rewarded with a long downhill at mile 12 all the way to the finish line. Along the course you saw some elephants and a camel. They also had some motivational posters set up along the tougher part of the course. My favorite was the sign at the bottom of mile six that said “What hill?”
Post-race was also very organized. Last year’s post-race area was packed with spectators and racers trying to manuever their way through the crowds. This year they did a better job of keeping the finish line chute open to runners so they could get their medals and their refreshments. They had lots of refreshments and snacks and I appreciated that. Picking up your gear at gear check was quick and painless. To exit the park, you made your way towards the front entrance and got in line for the shuttles to take you back to your car. Very organized and little wait time for a shuttle.
Overall, this is a big improvement for the Safari Park Half. They did a wonderful job correcting the mistakes from last year and making this an event to be proud of.
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Submitted by Derek Abbey
February 8, 2012
Review
I was impressed with all of the communication leading up to this race. Though it was really cool that once you registered you could vote on the medal and shirt they would be handing out. Like all San Diego races of this size, there was an issue with traffic. Several folks were hung up trying to get into parking and had to start late. There was a change of the course prior to the race because of a storm. The route would have been better without the change, but that was mother nature. Trying to find my way back to the parking lot was an issue when I finished, but not too bad. It sucked having to wait an hour in my car to escape after though. This was the first time this race was run so they should be making some adjustments. I’d give them the benefit of the doubt and run it again. They were putting a lot of effort into it prerace, so I expect the same efforts went into the post race adjustments.
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