I am an inaugural Legacy Runner for the HHM and plan to continue. Maybe I am easy to please, and I also finish in the middle of the pack, so I do not experience what some other runners might as far as logistics go. From reading the other reviews, here are my comments:
Parking: The race director attempted to provide a shuttle service. I recommend he not in the future and make it your problem to get to the starting line, just like every other race (anyone seen the crowd at Surf City in Huntington Beach)? Ever heard of Metro? I parked at the Universal City Red Line Station. Took the train 1 stop to the starting line. After the race, took the red line 2 stops back to my car. $3 total. Take this to the expo also and save on parking.
Expo: I went on Thursday night (thanks for 2 days of expo) and breezed through the room, got a few goodies along with my bib. It was a little odd to have to leave the expo area to get the shirt, though. I did not have to wait long for anything.
Race Day: LEAVE EARLY!!! If you have ever done a race, you know it is difficult to get to the starting line due to the number of people, cars and road closures. Plan ahead (see Parking, above). There could have been a few more porta-potties for us to use, as the lines got really long. Also, in the back corrals, it was hard to hear the announcements and the national anthem. More speakers, please.
Race Course: As mentioned, I was in the middle of the pack (1:56 finish time) so there was plenty of water, gatorade, and Clif Shots. The hills were tough, but being in the middle of the course (miles 5-7), one had plenty of time to recover. The biggest problem was that the 5K and 10K runners started with the Half Marathoners, causing walkers at mile 1 and having to dodge other runners cutting over for the turn-arounds. Please separate the races in the future.
Finish Area: I got water, a banana, and a bagel. I opted not to wait in line for the powerbar and juices. I thought I read that there was supposed to be stuff to buy (shirts, race gear, etc) at the finish line, but I did not see that. The area needs to be bigger, though, since there was not enough room for all of the participants to wait, and to meet friends after crossing the finish line. Better crowd control is needed.
Overall, this was a fun race and a lot of the bad reviews I have been reading are due to poor planning by the participant (unless they are a Rookie, it is unforgivable). I am already registered for next year and will continue to run this race every year. Lastly, the Race Director is receptive to comments and feedback, so instead of just complaining, offer some suggestions. This race was much improved over last year’s and I expect it to get better and better.