This 12 months’s Orange County Half Marathon Race Recap (the race is formally the OC Marathon). I’ve run the Full Marathon and Half Marathon a number of instances, so I do know the course and pre-race logistics fairly properly. It’s additionally my marathon PR race (3:36:25). Which mechanically makes it one in all my favourite races. So, I’d hate to present it a unfavourable overview, however there have been just a few issues about this 12 months’s run that I’ll share within the type of constructive suggestions.
First, I shared a humorous fail I had at a earlier race expo on Instagram –> follow @RunEatRepeat for that and more
After the race expo I ran just a few errands. The most effective half about working a half marathon (versus the total distance) is you are able to do no matter you normally do the day earlier than and after the race. Or at the very least that’s the case for me.
I wakened earlier than my alarm and determined to only rise up.
What I wore to the OC Half Marathon
I laid out my #FlatRunner the evening earlier than. This is without doubt one of the finest race day hacks. I’ll hyperlink to the whole lot I wore to the race beneath the pic.
What I wore to the OC Half Marathon (Clockwise from prime center):
Okay… again to the race!
The OC Half Marathon is a degree to level course. Runners can both park on the End Line, which is on the Orange County Truthful grounds – or – park on the Begin Line, which is close to Style Island. There are shuttles from the End Line to the Begin in the event you parked there BEFORE the race. And there are shuttles to the Begin from the End Line AFTER the race.
I’ve all the time parked firstly and brought a shuttle again after the race. There are a variety of large workplace buildings across the begin space and I’ve simply discovered parking in one of many tons yearly – EXCEPT THIS YEAR.
I used to be following the vehicles going in direction of the race and ended up on a road that was runner drop off solely (no parking). There weren’t indicators that stated “Runner Drop Off” alongside the way in which main as much as this space. So, by the point I noticed a small, cardboard “Runner Drop Off” signal – I used to be already caught. After that it simply pushed me out away from the beginning line.
There have been NOT sufficient indicators and arrows that stated “Race Parking” and indicated which path to go. Honestly, I noticed ZERO indicators that stated “Race Parking”. I’m positive they existed, but when anybody occurred to comply with the site visitors to the drop-off space on accident (like myself), there was NO strategy to know how one can get to the parking space. There was some data within the race packet – however I can’t learn a newspaper and drive safely so it was unattainable for me to reference.
Finally, I adopted just a few different misplaced souls right into a parking construction. It wasn’t the official race parking, however I noticed a bunch of different runners doing this and didn’t know what else to do… so I went for it and prayed for the most effective. *s I’m scripting this I really feel the muscle mass on left shoulder aching as a result of I’m reliving how STRESSED I felt.*
This might’ve been 1000% my mistake, however:
a.) There have been a variety of runners driving into buildings that stated “No Occasion Parking” – I noticed just a few and began to comply with them, however obtained scared by the signal and circled.
b.) Many instances whereas going to a race you may have the instructions, however finally find yourself following indicators and police directing site visitors – which is what I assumed I used to be doing.
c.) There ought to have been loads of BIG, LIT indicators indicating Runner Drop-Off and Race Parking firstly of this medium sized marathon. Some runners are driving by themselves and shouldn’t be their telephones or papers to determine the place to go in heavy site visitors.
(Yeah, I’m saying it wasn’t my mistake.)
This can be a pic of the instructions within the race data journal. Once more, I didn’t see any parking indicators or attendants.
Okay… again to the race!
The OC Marathon and Half Marathon are a degree to level course. This implies the beginning and the end are at totally different places. The race begins in Newport Seaside, close to Style Island (a elaborate purchasing heart) and ends in Costa Mesa new the Orange County Truthful grounds (may very well be thought-about an un-fancy purchasing place?).
Virtually 14,000 runners have been anticipated to run the half or full marathon Sunday, so it’s a pleasant sized race. Because it took me so lengthy to seek out parking I used to be nonetheless in line for the porta potties when the race began. No large, it occurs.
However, that did influence my race as a result of I bumped into just a few mates earlier than mile 1 they usually do Run/Stroll intervals. So, I made a decision to speak with them for a couple of minutes since I don’t get to see them that usually. I used to be eager about attempting to catch my buddy Elise who began forward of me so I stated my goodbyes to the group.
Then, I bumped into Diana and Sandy and I used to be so joyful to see them – I made a decision to run with them. Sandy needed to miss the final race we have been each working as a consequence of a household emergency, so I used to be additional joyful to see her. At that time I knew I wouldn’t be capable to catch Elise in any case. We ran at a superb, however conversational tempo for half the race till Diana needed to make a pit cease and we misplaced one another round mile 7 or 8. Principally, I ran the primary half of the race at a straightforward tempo after which determined to try to decide it up a bit within the second half since I didn’t have anybody to speak to.
The course has two pretty large hills. The primary was no problemo, however the second was tough.
OC Half Marathon 2023 End Time: 1:57:30 (8:58 tempo)
Not nice, however I wasn’t working for time on this one. After the race Elise discovered me within the gear examine line and we shuttled again to the beginning collectively.
General ideas on the OC Half Marathon…
What I Beloved concerning the OC Half Marathon
- The race expo is properly organized, simple to seek out and navigate. There are a variety of distributors.
- The race tee is nice materials and has a modern design. It’s one thing runners would really put on to run.
- There have been a variety of porta potties firstly. The traces have been RIDIC, however that’s simply because there have been so many runners doing the half distance.
- The shuttles from the End Line again to the beginning are simple to seek out and fast.
What I did NOT LOVE concerning the OC Half Marathon
- The Beginning Line parking was chaos. There ought to have been extra indicators and folks directing site visitors. (In the event that they don’t need individuals to park close to the beginning they shouldn’t provide shuttles again to this space.)
- Not sufficient electrolytes on the right track. I solely noticed 3 help stations with electrolytes. The opposite ones solely appeared to have water. *I may very well be fallacious about this and will have ran previous stations that had electrolytes, however weren’t saying it. I ran previous just a few help stations that appeared like there was solely water within the cups AND the volunteers have been saying “Water!”. I didn’t carry any gasoline to the race and was simply going to make use of what was on the course. There was 1 place the place they have been giving out Chargel packets, however I skipped it as a result of the final time that they had these at a race – I couldn’t open it. (I believe my arms would possibly’ve been too chilly?! However perhaps they only don’t work whereas I’m working.) The purpose is I wanted extra electrolytes to complement strong gasoline.
Closing Ideas:
I’m joyful that I obtained to run with mates. I miss that. Recently, once I’m at a race {that a} buddy is working too, I’d reasonably run at no matter tempo my buddy needs so we are able to chat. It makes the miles go by quick and it makes the race extra enjoyable. However, that may not be the easiest way to get sooner once more.
So, I believe I must plan extra lengthy runs with mates so I get that interplay in coaching and might consider rising my effort throughout races. (This doesn’t embody Disney races, that are 1000% for enjoyable and friendship all the time and eternally.)
I can’t plan what I’m going to eat after a race as a result of I don’t know what I’ll be craving. All I do know is – I should have regardless of the craving is or I’ll really feel hungry for days. Immediately I wanted a HUGE pile of onion rings. We went to a type of hole-in-the-wall hamburger locations close to my mother and father’ home and after this I felt like all was proper on the earth. The tip.
Did you run a race this weekend? Do a future?? Sleep for a very long time??? No matter you probably did – I hope you crushed it!
Subsequent… Follow @RunEatRepeat on Instagram for extra
