It doesn't rain too often in Southern California so I would like to first say that the Surf City 2019 race was an anomaly. The first time I ran it a few years ago, it was bright and warm and not dreary like this year's race was. That being said, the energy levels were still rather high at the expo as well as at the race itself. The race announcer was extremely upbeat and was able to get me excited despite the overcast and the possibility of rain. Luckily for us, it only sprinkled very briefly and stayed dry for most of the race.

The expo - It's held outside every year at the Huntington Beach parking lot. I fortunately found free street parking and was able to mosey around for a few hours talking to vendors and other runners. The announcer there was also really upbeat and I almost forgot about the rain pounding down on the tent for a bit. LOL The expo itself is maybe midsize. Nowhere near as big as a runDisney or a Rock N Roll expo, but also not small.

Race organization - I super appreciated all the emails the race organizers sent out. Due to the rain, they assured us that the race was going to happen rain or shine. They also sent out maps of the parking situation so we would know where to park and shuttle over. There is also a lot of free parking, which I was super happy about. The last thing I want to do on race day is pay for parking.

Course - The course is primarily an out and back along the beach. If you're a local, this is not super impressive, but if you're not from a beach city, I'd highly recommend doing this. Just bring a visor or sunglasses as the sun (if it's out) will hurt your eyes. The course has slight rolling hills so do be prepared for that. It's mostly flat, but it's not Chicago flat.

Course support - Aid stations were plenty so you're never left without hydration.

Swag - Their medal is unique in that it's shaped like a surf board. You also get a nice technical long sleeve tee. I don't keep that many race shirts, but I really do like theirs. I've even kept the one from a few years ago too. :)