I have run this race every year since it's inaugural race in 2012. This race really values its "legacy" runners (those runners that have run the race more than once) with special swag. You get stars on your bib representing how many times you've run the race, you get a special shirt at 3 years, a half-zip long sleeved-shirt at 4 years and a jacket at 5 years. It's really cool.

The race begins outside of Petco Park, the baseball stadium in downtown San Diego. The 2016 race course featured a new start, right in front of the Convention Center rather than adjacent to the stadium. This wasn't anything difficult to figure out. In fact, I would say the new start area was less crowded than previous years, which is always a plus in my book.

The course is really beautiful. We start in downtown, run out of the downtown area along the harbor, heading towards the airport. That is really the only part of the course I don't care for: we have to run through a parking lot by the airport. But it's not for very long. After the harbor, we run through a little of Point Loma, Liberty Station and surrounding areas. We see a lot of this section of San Diego that only a handful of other races run through, which is nice.

There is one hilly section between miles 8-10, with the biggest hill between miles 9 and 10. It isn't a full mile, more like 0.5-0.75 mile. This is the "famous" Washington Street hill. It's not the most awful hill I've run but it is long and annoying :) But once you're at the top, you know there is only a 5K left and it's through downtown San Diego's fun neighborhoods and eventually Balboa Park. There is a great downhill through Balboa Park and you get really pumped up because you know you're finishing soon. It's a great finish in the Gaslamp District of downtown. The finish area has gotten really great with the food and stuff for runners.

All the aid stations are wonderful and the volunteers are great too. I have enjoyed running this race for the past 5 years! Will definitely keep running it for as many years as possible!