You can imagine what an experience it was to leave Chicago in the dead of a heartless gut-wrenching winter to travel to Huntington Beach for this wonderful race. The locals may take it for granted, but Surf City is permanently on my list of destination races and I will do it every chance I get. Ran 2014, missed 2015, will be back for the 20th anniversary edition in 2016.

Those surfboard finisher medals are almost worth the price of admission themselves, but they really are the least of it. This is such a well-organized race from start to finish--location, expo, aid stations, course entertainment, swag--what a great way to spend a weekend. Jan and Dean playing at the start line is priceless.

The course itself is relatively straightforward, pretty much an out and back along the Pacific Coast Highway except for a little side trip up into a neighborhood, with a bit of a hill. There's just nothing like running along the ocean. This flatlander can tell you though, especially because conditions forced me to train indoors for this race, that after the turning point at mile 8 the last five miles are almost a continuous uphill--very slight and gradual, but an uphill nonetheless. My quads were not happy coming up to the finish line. But once we got there, that medal!

Huntington Beach itself is a good host town, with enough things to do and see--great just hanging out, really-- that the weekend goes by quickly. Stayed at the wonderful Hyatt resort which was a short walk to the expo and the start and finish lines.

Highly recommended. Love this race.