2015 Celebration Run Half Marathon

November 1

CelebrationRunSunrise

2nd Annual Celebration Run Half Marathon. I had heard about this run last year, but due to my recovering Achilles injury I didn't sign up for any new races for 2014. There are plenty of runs around Mission Bay, but this was unique because the course did not go around Fiesta Island, and started on the west side of Mission Bay. I always like to try out local Half Marathon so that I can compare with other races. There had been some promotion at the local Expos, but I never committed to the race until early September, just after Disneyland Half Marathon (I think they were at the Expo there, too).

CelebrationRunSunrise

I had strained my lower back earlier in the week, so it was questionable if I could even participate, but the pain was much better this morning. Daylight saving ended this morning, so the extra hour of rest was welcome. The race registration (yes, you could register race morning) opened at 5:30am, so I figured that would be a good time to arrive. Sunrise at around 6 am, so it just getting light when I arrived. There were several parking lots available, but due to the coned off course, I ended up parking next to the start line. Since the medal contained a lifeguard tower, it seemed appropriate to race dressed as a lifeguard. Although there was a gear check, my car was just across the street, so it seemed more convenient to leave my stuff there. I actually had to use a long sleeve shirt to keep warm, as the morning temps were in the mid 50s. Porta-potty lines not very long, so I was able to use it just before the race start.

A small group of 1000 runners, 685 (Half), 364 (10K) assembled into to corral area organized by race pace. I choose the 9 min/mile group, but there were that many in the faster groups. As we pushed forward to the start line, and I wasn't to far from the front. The horn goes off, and we head out on the main road. I wasn't sure about the road surface, but only knew that later in the course along the bike path that it would be rough because I had ridden my bicycle there many times. Spilts 12:42, 13:46, 13:34, 13:30, 13:12, 12:34, 14:08, 15:08, 16:02, 14:20, 17:26, 13:14, 12:40.

In general, there was a mix of surface conditions at the beginning, but not too bad. The out and back section allowed others to see me as I ran close to the right edge. A few people recognized me as Barefoot Elvis. The course took me by the model boat pond, which I haven't visited in decades. I saw some public restroom, but did need to stop. At mile 6.5 where the course goes on the bike path, the smoother surface ends. The surface wasn't that bad, but due to the unimproved side, loose rocks were everywhere. Mile 8, for a ½ mile was on the main road on a rough asphalt surface, where there was lots of debris, including glass. Running on the painted line helped, but not much, the shade also made seeing objects more difficult. I had to slow down to lighten my landings, and some more runners passed me. Just after mile 10, back on the bike path but on the side where there was more dried vegetation, I saw some dirt that looked more comfortable that the rough asphalt. I took one step with my left foot, then ouch, WTF, thorns. I stopped to pick out the 5 or so thorns stuck to my sole, then later realized they were not just in the dirt, but on the path as well. For a half mile, I was stopped a few times to pick out thorns, since I could not see them to avoid them. I had to slow way down to lighten my steps even more, note the slow 17:26 split. As we approached the turn on the bike path back out to the street, there was some green grass that was a welcome relief for my feet. Just a few more miles to the finish, but there were only a few scattered runners. At least the road was much smoother than the bike path. The course was well marked, so even if there was no one in sight, I knew I was not lost. The aid stations were mostly cleaning up, but they did still have water. I picked off runners (the very few that were still on the course) as I increased my pace. For the first time this year, I would complete a Half Marathon without needing to make a potty stop on the course.

As I turned off the main street into the parking lot, about a ½ mile from the finish, I could see the top of the finish line. I spotted a group of kids and their parents with some Celebration Run organizers giving instructions to the group. OK, seem there's a kids run about to begin. I heard the announcer stating the 3 hour mark passed, as I turned on a smooth concrete path (an ideal barefoot surface). Soon, I was passed by a whole bunch of kids, oh well, at least I wouldn't finish alone. At last year's inaugural race, the finish was on the soft sand. This year, they put a carpet over the sand, which make for a smoother finish. I was actually looking forward to running in the sand, but I expected many complained, so the organizers changed it this year. Official time 3:03:20 (13.59.7 min/mile). Overall 648/685, Male 272/279, division 24/25. No DFL in any group, and given the course conditions, felt proud.

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