OC Half Marathon Race Recap

9 May

OC Half Marathon Race Recap

This yr’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 robotically makes it one in all my favourite races. So, I’d hate to provide it a destructive evaluate, however there have been a number of issues about this yr’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 –> observe @RunEatRepeat for that and extra

After the race expo I ran a number of errands. The most effective half about operating a half marathon (versus the total distance) is you are able to do no matter you often do the day earlier than and after the race. Or no less than that’s the case for me.

I awoke earlier than my alarm and determined to only stand up.

What I wore to the OC Half Marathon

I laid out my #FlatRunner the night time earlier than. This is among the greatest race day hacks. I’ll hyperlink to every part I wore to the race under the pic.

What I wore to the OC Half Marathon (Clockwise from high 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 should you parked there BEFORE the race. And there are shuttles to the Begin from the End Line AFTER the race.

I’ve at all times parked in the beginning and brought a shuttle again after the race. There are numerous massive 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 avenue that was runner drop off solely (no parking). There weren’t indicators that stated “Runner Drop Off” alongside the best way 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 route to go. In truth, I noticed ZERO indicators that stated “Race Parking”. I’m certain they existed, but when anybody occurred to observe the site visitors to the drop-off space on accident (like myself), there was NO technique to know get to the parking space. There was some information within the race packet – however I can’t learn a newspaper and drive safely so it was unimaginable for me to reference.

Ultimately, I adopted a number of 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 one of the best. *s I’m penning this I really feel the muscular tissues 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 numerous runners driving into constructions that stated “No Occasion Parking” – I noticed a number of and began to observe them, however received scared by the signal and circled.

b.) Many instances whereas going to a race you’ve the instructions, however finally find yourself following indicators and police directing site visitors – which is what I believed I used to be doing.

c.) There ought to have been loads of BIG, LIT indicators indicating Runner Drop-Off and Race Parking in the beginning 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.)

It is 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 areas. The race begins in Newport Seaside, close to Style Island (a flowery buying middle) and ends in Costa Mesa new the Orange County Truthful grounds (might be thought-about an un-fancy buying place?).

Virtually 14,000 runners had been anticipated to run the half or full marathon Sunday, so it’s a pleasant sized race. Because it took me so lengthy to search out parking I used to be nonetheless in line for the porta potties when the race began. No massive, it occurs.

However, that did affect my race as a result of I bumped into a number of mates earlier than mile 1 and so they 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 always. I used to be eager about attempting to catch my good friend 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 pleased to see them – I made a decision to run with them. Sandy needed to miss the final race we had been each operating attributable to a household emergency, so I used to be further pleased to see her. At that time I knew I wouldn’t have the ability to catch Elise anyhow. We ran at a great, 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 simple 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 massive 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 operating for time on this one. After the race Elise discovered me within the gear verify line and we shuttled again to the beginning collectively.

Total ideas on the OC Half Marathon…

What I Beloved in regards to the OC Half Marathon

The race expo is properly organized, straightforward to search out and navigate. There are numerous distributors.
The race tee is nice materials and has a modern design. It’s one thing runners would truly put on to run.
There have been numerous porta potties in the beginning. The strains had 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 straightforward to search out and fast.

What I did NOT LOVE in regards to 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 folks to park close to the beginning they shouldn’t provide shuttles again to this space.)
Not sufficient electrolytes on target. I solely noticed 3 support stations with electrolytes. The opposite ones solely appeared to have water. *I might be unsuitable about this and will have ran previous stations that had electrolytes, however weren’t saying it. I ran previous a number of support stations that appeared like there was solely water within the cups AND the volunteers had 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 had 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 feel my palms would possibly’ve been too chilly?! However perhaps they only don’t work whereas I’m operating.) The purpose is I wanted extra electrolytes to complement stable gasoline.

Ultimate Ideas:

I’m pleased that I received to run with mates. I miss that. Recently, once I’m at a race {that a} good friend is operating too, I’d relatively run at no matter tempo my buddy desires so we will chat. It makes the miles go by quick and it makes the race extra enjoyable. However, which may not be one of the best ways to get sooner once more.

So, I feel I have to plan extra lengthy runs with mates so I get that interplay in coaching and might think about rising my effort throughout races. (This doesn’t embody Disney races, that are 1000% for enjoyable and friendship at all times 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 will need to have regardless of the craving is or I’ll really feel hungry for days. At present I wanted a HUGE pile of onion rings. We went to a kind of hole-in-the-wall hamburger locations close to my dad and mom’ home and after this I felt like all was proper on the earth. The top.