This was my 18th Half Marathon… and would NOT ever think of doing it again!
Pre-Race: Expo was fine but it was a bit confusing to find the building considering I’ve never been here before. There were all the typical vendors you would expect to see. Shuttles were on time and parking was easy (but I did get there pretty early).
Course: I’m sorry but I have to disagree with most people on here. This course SUCKED! I barely saw the ocean for a mile or two and mostly saw houses as a “tour of the OC” as I’d like to call it. To have THOUSANDS of people shoved on to a bike path was ridiculous. I’ve never been hit so many times when people were navigating around me and me around them. It was ridiculous. And having to wait till mile 8 to find an open bathroom and not wait 5 minutes was terrible.
It was an easy enough course, but just boring as all heck. Honestly the other two races in the series – Long Beach and Surf City half – really are much better for a scenic 13 mile run.
Post race: This was a joke. Too many people in too small of a place (I could barely get out of the area) not to mention trying to get out for parking was a joke. I’ve never experienced anything so horrible in 18 races. To finish running a half marathon/marathon and then having to put up with the crowds and chaos was a bit much for me.
Overall: I would NOT run this race again. The course wasn’t that great and it was horribly planned.