The start and finish was in the Vacation Isle in Mission Bay park along the water. There were plenty of port-a-potties and they actually had park restrooms, which I opted to use. The race was staged by how fast runners anticipated they would be, which was nice. I opted for the “fit 8-9/min mile” group and after a couple waves we were off to the races! We wrapped underneath a bridge and made our first climb up the bridge, which was one of only a few inclines on the course. Most of the race was relatively flat and followed the inlet bay, winding through some neighborhoods and a few different parks. Crowd support was mostly concentrated at the start/finish line, including the final push up the bridge at mile 12.

After crossing the finish line, I received my medal and some light recovery snacks and drinks. There was a classic rock cover band performing, which I loved! If I had more time, I would have definitely stayed around for a bit to listen to them, but I had a long drive back to Vegas ahead of me. The bay was a beautiful backdrop for the start/finish line and provided a wonderful photo-opt for the important finish line and medal pics. If you are a serious competitor (which I am not!) this race also provides prize money to the top finishers, a nice extra incentive! My prize for the race was the half marathon medal, which is hefty and has a beautiful design. While the prize money and medals are wonderful, perhaps the best part of this specific race is the fact that it benefits Make-A-Wish San Diego while also promoting an active, healthy lifestyle.

If you are looking for a quick and flat course that gives back to the community in Southern California, this is your race!