Oh La Jolla. In 2015 I knew I would be taking a trip out to SoCal for work and was looking for a race in the area. The La Jolla Half was the day after I arrived in San Diego, so it seemed perfect. Plus, the hotel I was checking into on Sunday (after the race) just so happened to be where the race finished. I stayed with a college friend who lived in Escondido the night before, and had tried to convince her to sign up for the race too, so we could run it together. Her response was that the course was very hilly so she didn't want to. Being slightly arrogant, I said that hills were no big deal. She replied, "You don't know what kind of hills we have in San Diego." She was right.

Packet pickup was at a running store in the greater San Diego area. I think it bills itself as the largest running store in the US. Very crowded, but it moved very quickly. We got a bag, our bib, and the race shirt. I'll be honest, the race shirt is probably one of my top three favorites that I've ever gotten.

On to the race. In the email runners get before the race, you are given two parking options (since it's point to point) park at the start or at the finish. It mentions to give yourself time if parking at the starting line. Give yourself time if parking at the starting line! The Del Mar fairgrounds are huge, and cars fill it up. It's actually packed!! Luckily, my friend and host dropped me off at the start and drove to get me at the finish.

The race starts in a wave start, since there are about 6,000 runners heading off to run the point to point along the coast. You start by making an outside loop around the fairgrounds before diving in for some neighborhood running. The first hill comes around mile 4, and it's about a 200 foot climb. But at that stage in the race, it doesn't feel too rough. There's an aid station around the hill as well. Then runners descend on a long hill along the coast. Beautiful views! There's an aid station at the bottom of this hill before you begin your journey into Torrey Pines (aka up the huge hill).

This hill is an absolute beast. About a 440 foot climb that goes on forever. According to my watch I ran up this hill about a minute slower (in per mile time) than my previous five. It's a killer. Once you emerge at the top, assuming you are still functioning, you'll get some rolling hill action for a while until you begin your descent. Going down from Torrey Pines is a welcome relief and you get some more scenic views of the coast.

From here, you'll run along beaches and some neighborhoods before beginning your final ascent around mile 12. This is another 200 foot beast that seems harder than the others since...you know...you just ran 12 miles. The trick with this one is that when it looks like you're at the top, you're wrong. The road turns and you keep going up. Your reward? A downhill finish into the chute on one of the beaches in La Jolla.

The finish line has all the things including food, water, and pictures. There might have been other things, but I didn't stay too long after the race.

I'll be headed back to La Jolla for the 2017 edition of the race, and this time, I hope I'm at least a little more prepared for that beast of a hill.