Please go run this race! This was my second year running Surf City, my first being in February, 2013. I came back this year since I'm living on the West Coast and have been wanting to do it again. The race is so well run and so much fun, especially if you're looking for a race to get away to

Expo: Friday afternoon 1p-7p and Saturday 9p-5p. It's held under huge tents and has bib look up computers available. Don't forget to sign a release and hand it to them. The bib and shirt pick up is right as you walk in. I went pretty early on Friday and there was a line for Medium Women's shirts. FYI, you're getting the shirt you ordered, switches are only race day if available. This is a pretty decent size expo with plenty of California races to sign up for. I signed up for Surf City 2018 and their 10 miler in October (early bird pricing!). Plenty of vendors and things to do. There's also the beer garden that's open both days. Street and parking lot parking available and within walking distance to places to eat. If you run the Half Marathon 3 years straight, or the Full Marathon 3 years straight, call yourself a legacy runner and get extra shirts (and maybe bling?). If you live in California/LA area do a series of 3 races and get some more bling as well.

Hotels: The Host Hotel is the Hilton Waterfront Beach resort which is right at the start/finish and where I crash the bathrooms. I personally stayed at the DoubleTree Club Orange County Airport, another local hotel. The Double Tree has shuttles to/from the race, carb dinners the Saturday before, warm cookies and a welcoming committee of staff members when you return (best hotel ever!).

Getting to/from the race: parking's limited, roads are shut down. Either carpool or take a shuttle in. I stayed at the DoubleTree (see above) and took the shuttle too and from since I hate driving in California to begin with. Didn't have to pay for parking either! There were shuttles from some of the beaches and the high school as well, so I'd recommend finding something that doesn't involve you driving to the start/finish.

Start Time: the Marathon starts at 6:30 AM and the Half Marathon starts at 7:45 AM

The Course: some hills mixed in with flatness. You start out along Pacific Coast Highway for just over 2-3 miles and turn into a residential area. Enjoy yourselves some hills and circle around the neighborhood through mile 5 before heading back onto the Pacific Coast Highway. Keep running until past mile 7 and pull a hairpin turn and run back towards town for the last 5.5 miles and change. Keep in mind, miles 10-13 (ish) have some gradual uphills and when the sun happens to be around, it can get hot. It was cloudy and breezy this year, which was a change from 2013. Good crowd support mixed in with areas of quietness. You do go out in waves every 3 minutes, but things were a bit congested the first 3 miles. Still run into people who don't get over to the side when they're walking, which is difficult. You do run portions with the marathon and they do split, however, well marked as to what side of the road you should be on for the split from the marathon and half marathon with plenty of people there to direct you.

Aid Stations: every 1-1.5 miles and well spaced. Huge groups of volunteers handing out water and Vitalife (never heard of it). Some stations had gels, some had cliffbars, some had bananas.

Post Race: You finish in the chute and are streamlined to medals. Be prepared for something with a surfboard on it, which changes every year. Plenty of fruit, drinks, heat sheets, etc. The only thing I wish they had were bags. I had too much crap to carry. Bonus points for the unlimited chocolate milk. They also have a beer garden and 2 free drinks. Line was long by the time I finished and I don't drink beer so I skipped it. Enjoy time on the beach as well!

Overall, really well run race. This was year 21 and I thought it went off without a hitch. I wish they would use the D Tag attached to the bib as opposed to the B Tag attached to the shoe. I'm always worried something's going to happen to my tag! Please go do this race, it's worse the stressful driving from LAX to Huntington Beach!