Overall fun race experience & I would like to run it again…read more. It's along the embarcadero/Seaport Village.. So I personally like the view. But I also used to run here on the reg when I lived close by. It just makes it hard to find parking since it's limited in the area. Loved the vibes before & after the race. They had a fun DJ/MC with dance offs & warm ups. Everyone was dressed up too! And a lot of booths giving away free things like hats you can bling out, water bottles, sunglasses. Coolest medal ever! The guy dances! Not a fan of their white t-shirt though. They had nice gold winners medals! I unfortunately didn't know they gave it to top 3 in age categories so didn't even check the booth to collect mine or wait for the awards ceremony. I've never been able to receive a winners medal so I was so sad when I found out I could've gotten one but missed the opportunity. So I tried to contact the event coordinators via e-mail & facebook to see if I could pick it up at their Long Beach race, but no answer! I'm obviously still bitter about this. Otherwise would've been 5 stars and I would've done their LB race..

This was the first year for the Disco Fever 5K to be run in San Diego. I've never run a race in SD…read moreso I'm can't speak to how it compares to other races in the area. But compared to other races I've run myself, this was on the small side. Packet pick up at Road Runner's Sports was easy; the process took me less than 10 minutes. The t-shirt is nice and there were some nice snacks and goodies in our race pack. The race is set at the Embracadero and run along the running path along the harbor. Despite it starting at 730am (first wave) there are still tourists taking a stroll and other non-race runners out so you gotta watch out for them too. I loved the warm up--even if you weren't participating, it was nice to have the music playing and the emcee keeping things fun and light. There was some runner support with volunteers cheering on the racers at a few different points and the water station half way through. I didn't dress for the theme (sorry!) but I did appreciate the different disco costumes I saw. Kudos to the guy who ran in full disco Elvis attire, including wig! And the sparkly disco dresses were fun and flirty. Every finisher got a medal--yeah! and of course special medals to the top finishers. There were bananas, water, gatorade and other snacks afterward--a lot more than what I've seen at other races. Everyone working the race were friendly and supportive. A really fun atmosphere. Glad I was in town to run the race!

Fun run before Thanksgiving! It was our first time doing the Oceanside Turkey Trot, and the first…read moreafter Covid. It was still packed and lively. We did the 5K just to get some calories burned for our thanksgiving feast. It was nice, flat and you run thru PCH then the beach. The run was fun and close to home and easy to park and get to. There's a finishers medal for the 5K (score!) and at the end there's some apples, bananas and canned fruit. Not to bad! Fun family and friends event.

The O'side Turkey Trot is truly the best 5k! I've been doing it for 8 years ( with the exception of…read morethe year it was cancelled due to Covid) and I'll keep on doing it as long as I can! The sign up is easy and I love that $5 of each sign up fee is donated to the charity of your choice (from their list- which always includes local schools who really benefit)! The process for picking up race day materials is very efficient! Every year they have a new cool shirt and medal design. That's always awesome! The course is easy and amazing! Right on the coast and finishing on the strand. What could be better than running right next to the beautiful ocean! The crowd is always fun and energetic! This is a great way to "Move your feet before you eat" on Thanksgiving!

It was an inaugural race geared towards runners that love a good craft beer. The race was heavily…read moreadvertised with the finish line being right at the Green Flash Brewery on Mira Mesa. Expo: It was located at the Road Runner Sports in San Diego on Copley Dr. Parking was a bit hairy with people coming and going, but there was ample parking spaces. I'm not sure if it was wise to take up part of the parking lot for the bib pickup. It was just an awkward venue for an expo. After picking up the bib and race shirt, we were given a pint glass and a pair of sunglasses. It was nice to actually get some decent swag at a race. We were also given a discount coupon for merchandise inside the store. The store was busy, so they definitely got some boosted traffic and sales. Pre race: Parking was at Green Flash Brewery. There was a huge parking lot just north of Green Flash and it was really convenient. From there, we headed east on Top Gun St to catch one of the nice luxury shuttles to the start line. It's always nice to ride in those instead of the school buses designed for elementary school kids. The shuttle dropped us off at Camino del Sur, just south of the 56 freeway. Just around the corner and up the Torrey Santa Fe Rd was a small table for gear check, more tables for water, and a bunch of portapotties. As to be expected for an inaugural race, there was almost a 10 minute delay before the start of the race. It was pretty much a no frills start. There was no singing of the national anthem. There wasn't even a starting gun, horn, or anything. Course: It was a decent and challenging course. The first half of the course was pretty nice and easy, just running on the 56 bike trail until we reached the 5 freeway. We then head down El Camino Real and Vista Sorrento Parkway before turning east on Sorrento Valley Blvd which would soon end up being about a one mile steady uphill climb. We finally got a longer stretch of downhill as we turned onto Camino Santa Fe. However there was another half mile or so climb up to Top Gun St for the final stretch to the finish line. Make sure you do your hill training to be ready for this course! Post race: They had small cups out for water and Nuun water. They also had Larabars, bananas, and other snacks. The finishing chute was a bit chaotic. The volunteers were having a hard time keeping up with the distribution of the finisher medals. The medals were individually bagged and they were spending a lot of time getting them out. There was so much traffic as people were all getting in line to trade in their drink vouchers for tickets. That really made no sense to me, as they weren't using that process to control the flow of people. There were 4 tents dispensing beers among other vendor booths, but the lines were all very long. Overall, it was a pretty well organized race for its first year with a few minor hiccups here and there. I'm pretty certain that they will improve the race if they continue to hold the event every year.

With this run, I'm conflicted…read more It's not that I won't run it again. I probably will...although somewhat begrudgingly, I'm sure. Simply put, there's an aspect of this event that aggravates me. No, it's not the course, although I could have done without the mile 11-13 beat down (almost entirely uphill.) That's just San Diego for you: continuously rolling hills. Also, no, it's not the race's theme. "Going on a Beer Run" shirts; beer keg signposts (very clever, by the way) propped up throughout the course, pushing everyone to do their best; and the beer gardens finish line itself: all made for a fun and entertaining run. I loved it! And certainly, no, it wasn't that I didn't like the beer tap medals. They are awesome, and I mean that! And after running the San Diego Holiday Half, I am really looking forward to snagging my Route 56 challenge medal. But... A mandatory Expo for bib pickups, especially for out-of-towners? C'mon, Road Runner Sports, that is a huge hassle. (Anyone who's had to drive down to San Diego from Orange County knows that a stop-and-go, there-and-back, 4-hour chunk of your day is going to be lost.) Extra fees for mailing bibs are fine, I guess, but why not just allow participants to collect bibs on race morning? Everyone gets that you want to draw runners into your SD location and push sales, but it's so inconvenient. Since I know I'm doing a turn-around the next morning, by the time I finally get to the Expo, all I want to do is go home. The booth that was set up for bib pickup could have just as easily been set up on race morning. If only I could visit one of two Road Runner Sports closer to me--Laguna Hills and Costa Mesa--and by way of some brilliant breakthroughs in technology, I could have picked my bib up there (and maybe even spent some money)... Wishful thinking, I guess.

For $20, this race was pretty fun and interesting. My first 5k, only it's not really a 5k. From…read morewhat I heard, it's actually closer to 2.7 miles, which was a little saddening. With the entry fee, I got a free boxing class, a day pass to a rockclimbing gym, and a free t-shirt. They also provided bananas, mandarin oranges, bagels, water, and coffee prior to the race. As a UCSD student, I thought it'd be a nice idea to actually run at least one of the races the school actually offers. The race goes through the Eucalyptus grove and so the terrain is a bit different from what I'm used to. It felt more like trail running. It was a small race, but I'm fine with that. The atmosphere is still pretty fun and it's a race that's suitable for families. Consider this a fun run and not really a race meant for timing. There is a gun time though.

Really a fun theme and event. Great vendors but could have more! Very well organized from…read moreregistration to the finish line! Going to participate in another mermaid run soon!

2 of 12 in 2016 - DONE!!!…read more Who runs 2 1/2 marathons in 6 days... I DO!!! I earned my "Concrete" Mermaid Athlete status. My friends always call me a mermaid because I love the waters. I thought the Mermaid Series 1/2 Marathon and the pink mermaid medal was fitting for my wall of medals. I had originally signed up for the 10k 6 miles because 6 days prior to this race I just ran the Run Surf City 1/2 Marathon and in 3 weeks will be running the San Diego 1/2 Marathon. Never ran a race back to back but said there's a first for everything so less than 12hrs before start I had asked to switch to a 1/2 marathon (since my body fully recovered quickly) - why not!!! THE EXPO. There really wasn't one. Just a bib pick up at Sports Authority. THE COURSE. The race is on a Saturday morning. After a long week and having to wake up early in the M was a brutal awakening. No PRs just #sexypace. Started out cold and foggy. But appreciate the cold because by mile 5 the sun will be beaming. It was around mission beach park. Parking was hideous. Think about it, the start line and finish line are a mile away from each other and you can either park at the finish line and walk an extra mile back to your car OR you can park near the finish line and walk a mile before running 13.1 miles. There's no shuttle service!!! Choose wisely. The path ways were basically the park paths and side walks. Expect some crowding, especially when you catch up to pacer groups and they block the pathway and you can't get around them. The course is relatively flat with itty bitty unnoticeable inclines around mile 2-4. Mile 5-7 goes by quickly. Mile 8 was a clustered path and you are using mile 10s water station as mile 8s water station - not a good idea because you have to cross the course and get into the ways of mile 10 runners to get a cup of water. Mile 8-9 probably the hardest miles of this course. And the worst part, the hammer head gel espresso flavor on the tables were the nastiest gels I ever had. I had the squirts the rest of the day.... terrible!!! The rest of the way to the finish line you are running on a side walk and by then many locals are entering the park so your sharing a side walk with a lot of others runners and park visitors. And at the end they are having the kid dash on the same path as the finish so as you are running the last 100 yards there's kids and people dashing towards you (that was kind of weird and very disorganized). But overall I'm happy I ran the 1/2. San Diego people are so friendly... A lot of people smiled at me on the course, had conversation with me, etc. cracking up when homegirl and I ran past a volunteer that looked grumpy and didn't want to be there and she said "smile girl" and the volunteer still just stared at us. Hilarious! Anyhow this was a fun run with great people. THE AFTERMATH. Several tents set up for small snacks and drinks and a lot of merchandise on sale. They were serving green bananas. You know how important potassium is after running 13.1 miles and they serve GREEN BANANAS, yuck. But I received my medal and my mermaid necklace... I finished my 1/2 marathon and beat my time from 6 days ago by 5 minutes with no injury. Next race in 3 weeks :)

My experiences with this wonderful event was just amazing and it's my hometown of Encinitas! I…read morecouldn't ask for anything better because I love running and doing for my home town! This is a great feeling to support my hometown, I can't wait for 2019 Encinitas Half Marathon! All my Best! Elisa Randle Legacy Runner from Encinitas Half Marathon

The inaugural Encinitas Half Marathon was held March 26, 2017 in the lovely seaside city of…read moreEncinitas, CA in northern San Diego County. The Start/Finish line was at Moonlight Beach, with the majority of the course heading being on The 101, complete with 7 miles of oceanside running. This was my first time running a course of this design where you head out one way, then backtrack and come back to the start line area before heading out the opposite direction only to return again to the finish line. There are several steep downhills, which then become steep uphills on your way back. Oh, and the starting line is on a hill going up, so you'll start the race going up a hill. Once turning left after crossing the starting line, you will immediately encounter a very steep downhill only to enjoy a longer but not as steep uphill climb just around the next corner. I personally found this race to be a little boring, but the citizens of Encinitas sprinkled throughout the course were fantastic. I'm sure the excitement will only increase as the race continues and crowd support grows. The finish line festival was great and offered many vendor booths. The only critiques that I would offer is to provide aid station locations for water, electrolytes,and gels on the course map to allow for runner planning, and a more accurate elevation chart. Also, final instructions and bib number information could be emailed to the runners. Perhaps they did send, but I received no correspondence other than my registration confirmation. Nor,did I receive the tech shirt when I picked up my bib on race day morning. All in all, it was a very nice race with plenty of aid stations, port-a-johns, and a large and colorful finishers medal at the end. Shout out to the organizers and volunteers on doing a great job. I totally recommend.

5 for FUN, but there were some kinks along the way…read more Packet pickup was avail at 2 locations on 2 different days. I opted to go during my lunch to RoadRunner. A tad disorganized - the person behind the table didn't know what to do when I presented with my number, no safety pins were offered and the people giving out the shirts used a verbal system in giving the shirts away vs. reviewing bibs. Nonetheless, since I went early, I was done within 10 mins. Pros: -Course was relatively flat (YAY.) -We actually got real medals. -Loved how everyone dressed up in 80s attire!!! -The band for the after-party was BAD ASS!!! Cons: -Traffic was horrible!!! If you're coming down on the 5, get off at Mission Bay Drive vs. Sea World Drive and park. Trust me, you'll be grateful... -When you leave, there is only 1 way out (if you parked north of Sea World Drive). -I was late to the start, so I got stuck with all the walkers and strollers. It was hard to bypass some groups since they took up the entire walkway. HELLOOOO!!! -Weather was very crisp and cool. When you round the bend on Fiesta, you get a lot of headwind, which also contributed to an even worse sore throat. -Line to take pics with the Dolorian was waaaay too long. The photographer took several shots per group, which resulted in a very long wait time. -There were mini cups of water and orange slices for post-race. That's it?! It was unfortunate that (1) I hadn't trained due to my surgery and (2) I woke up sick. This course is definitely PR-able, but it was mostly all about having fun. This is a great 5k for beginners or for those wanting a PR.

I took on the 10K for this run series. It was pleasant, easy, and hassle-free, but seemed more…read morelow-key than it should have been. To understand what I mean, the course was spectacular - it was flat and very scenic along the Mission Bay Drive stretch. Some people were also dressed up (as was encouraged) and mostly for Back to the Future since October, 21, 2015 ("the future") had just passed. Two guys were outfitted in a cardboard Delorean and were dressed as Marty McFly and the Doctor. They also had an actual Delorean on-site which everyone queued up for to take pictures. I can say it was quite wonderful to see the man in the short shorts, mustache, and aviators running past me. ;) But, other than that, I still feel like it was dead. I mean they did abruptly change the original day of the event 10 days prior and because of this, I believe many participants had cancelled along with vendors as there was definitely a general lack of enthusiasm and activity all around. The MC was OK - he attempted to liven up the crowd pre-race, but either everyone was out of spirits from waking up at the butt crack of dawn, or there was just a serious lack of numbers to illicit any type of response. Therefore the start of the race was very non-ceremonial - everyone lined up in a small cluster after which the MC said it was time for the 10K racers to begin. Yay. Finished the race in good time and was welcomed to the finish line by the MC again. Shortly after, they were already cleaning up! Very sad... They also lacked any real swag along with the registration fee, but I guess the finisher's medal more than made up for it! Probably the biggest and heaviest medal I own! Only wished that it distinguished between the 10K course finish versus the 5K. Regardless, I'll definitely register for next year's race again.

What better way to start my day than with a 5k? corny much?…read more But seriously, I'm an amateur 5k'er so this run was perfect; the course was extremely easy. Something about it seemed unorganized, though. Not gonna lie, I'm partly at fault... I parked on 5th expecting the check-in booths to be just before the bridge (like almost every other run I've been to at Balboa Park) come to find out, check-in was at the organ pavilion so by the time I walked my ass against traffic alllllll the way to check in, I had already walked like 2 miles. Anywho, I guess we'll look past that, just means I can have more mac & cheese later... Running the course was good, lots of families, and LOTS of dogs... The only marker I recall seeing was the 2 mile marker and I would have liked to see each mile...There was water at the 2 mile and at the end. It was a good little run... but for $35 registration, I'll have to read up on the politics of it all before I decide whether I should keep it in the rotation or not.

Just do it. Give back before you gorge yourself with a meal on this day. There are so many who…read moredon't have a hot meal (or any meal to speak of) in front of them. This is a great way to give back to your community and give thanks on a day when many have little. Your donation is tax deductible if that helps you make a decision to give. I hope you do. Good for your health and good for the community.