Imagine echoes created by thousands of footfalls tapping the pavement. A cascade of sound as you huff and puff 13.1 miles to your goal. Pure magic to a marathon first-timer, such as myself. The spell has been cast and now I am hooked. Woke up late, got to the marathon later than planned, still on time. Was unsure of how well I would do; this being my first. As I approached the finish line, saw all the people cheering, bit my lip so I wouldn't cry. (I saved the bawling for later in private.. haha) Beautiful Course. 13.1 miles (if you're doing the half) through scenic ocean and bay view vistas. I did the half; as a practice for the full I'll be doing June 5th for the Rock and Roll Marathon in SD. OC Marathon highlights: ::::Water stations::::: were plentiful. Toward the later to middle miles we started seeing the gatorade and energy gel stations. They were very helpful for fast fuel and taking in carbs to burn during the course. Not too bad on the tastebuds, I got the espresso-flavored energy gel. I liked how it was fast and easy to eat, as opposed to a power bar or power-gummies that require chewing. :::::The port-o-potties::::::::: were not as plentiful as I had imagined, and the lines seemed rather long during the course. During the first two miles, a father and son duo were spotted veering off into the foliage in the median and just flat out pissing right there. You could detect a light murmur comprised of grown-up giggling as we all paced through the sight. I was fortunate enough to be able to hold it in all 13.1 miles. I don't know if I'll be able to for the 26 miler next month. We shall have to see! ::::The course::: Moderate hills, not too hard, but still challenging. Made me realize the beauty of running downhill. :::The medal is gorgeous!:::: ::::::::::Reuniting with friends an family after::::::: PROTIP: organize a reunion plan with your family and friends that wish to meet and greet with you after your run. Make sure they get to the venue 2 or 3 hours in advance, or else they are in for a terrible and traffic-ful surprise. :::::The After-Event:::: Fun and carnival-like in feel. Food booths, music, inflatable slides, photos, goodie bags, kids, families, couples. Everyone so filled with joy, either having completed their marathon goals or celebrating the goals of a loved one. ------------------------- I had a great experience running in this half marathon as a first-timer. A moment that will last a lifetime, a story I can tell my children and grandchildren. A marathon is more than just a run... it offers motivation for a healthy way of life, a change of life, a goal and a success in a horizon for the young or old. read more

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Fairly organized registration process and the terrain is flat. Race was delayed multiple times due to COVID, but I'm excited to experience this November. Close to the beach and starts at Fashion Island - what's better than beaches and malls! read more

Part Two of my quest for that Beach Cities Challenge medal, the OC Half Marathon was one of the more fun races I have run. Yes, just a half, because I'm only half crazy. So far, at least. First off, there was excellent email communication regarding locations and times, bib pick up and shuttles. Clear, simple instructions. The Expo was easy to navigate, and bib pick up was easy. The option to purchase a discounted parking pass for race day was appreciated, as well as the reminder signs near the Expo exits (I would have forgotten without them!) On race day, the (yawn... so early!) shuttle bus service from the Fairgrounds to the start line at Fashion Island was organized with multiple buses being loaded at once so the line wasn't long. At the starting area, corrals were clearly marked and the start was right on time. The weather was perfect for running, overcast but not too cold. There were plenty of ocean views to enjoy on the course and swanky homes to run by and daydream about. The mile markers were nice and big (how far do I still have to go!?), and elevated so they could be seen easily. There were a couple of hills, but a few nice downhill sections too. The aid stations with water and Gatorade were frequent, and the volunteers (thank you!!!) were outstanding. The finish line was a little hectic, but they all are. Once we stop running we don't know what to do with ourselves and just wander aimlessly, collecting free stuff. Chocolate milk has never tasted so good. The post-race entertainment (love you, Flashback Heart Attack!) was fun, and let's face it, eating a Wahoo's fish taco and drinking a beer at 9am is fun too. I look forward to next year! read more

OC Marathon - Ooooh... pretty! - Races & Competitions Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Such a better course than the Hollywood Half Marathon but still some parts of the race were a bit narrow. Getting to the start line was madness, even for the ones getting dropped off. They really need to organize the flow of traffic better. I wasn't trying to PR but it was very frustrating trying to zig zag around the walkers at this narrow part of the race. I think every race will have problems with port-a-potties and in the first six miles they were lacking. My friends and I didn't stay for any of the post-race activities because another friend trying to pick us up was stuck in a lot of traffic again. We ended up just walking to meet him outside at a gas station parking lot. This was my 6th half marathon and I'd probably rank it 4th. I wouldn't mind running it again if they change the narrow section of the course. read more

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Running the OC half made me feel like I was the Baywatch David Hasselhoff not breakdown David. I was running next to hundreds of Pamela Andersons, Yasmin Bleeths, etc... both young and more mature versions and my was it motivating! But the cool pacific ocean blowing on my freshly shaved head and cooling my sweating eyebrows were enough to take me to a happier place rather than the pounding pavement. But OMG the views were spectacular and the homes had me salivating especially this one castle looking spread that I had to reattach my jaw after it hit the ground. You could also tell that this wasn't their first rodeo, because they had everything covered, with plenty of support, water stations, cameras, and hotties (me)! LOL! read more

OC Marathon - Races & Competitions Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This is the first race that I've ever participated in. I had a few problems, I had ordered to have the bib shipped to me with a $25 fee. A day prior to the race, I still have not received it! I was unable to get in touch with anyone, so my last resort was to message them on Facebook and that's when I received a response! So the conclusion of that, I had to pick up my bib the morning of the race, which was a bit hectic! The reason I am giving them 4 stars because of the ocean view of the race! read more

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Half Marathon Review Three stars just because the route was scenic and I had an insane PR. ( Shaved 20 minutes off my best time). Also, the volunteers and spectators were awesome. Everything else was a mess....it was so disorganized! The Expo was a clusterfuck on Saturday morning. You can forget about picking up your bib and leaving promptly. The exit was where the vendors were, so you are forced to go through, and it was extremely crowded and chaotic. Good luck trying to find the exit! Once you are out, you are blocked from going to the parking lot because of some kid fun run event . At this point, you really feel like there is no way out. :/ Race day.....we got to shuttle pick up one HOUR before the race was to start. By 5:10 we're in the longest line ever, and to top it off, the busses that were shuttling back and forth were late to pick us up.....so we were late in starting. (Here's a genius idea, how about getting MORE shuttles to accommodate all us runners???) The start line looked like ghost town by the time we got there. It was so weird, all you saw were sweatshirts and trash that were left behind. The only positive thing was that it wasn't so congested. Like I said, the route was great...not too hard, not too easy...really enjoyed it. It was actually one of the most enjoyable runs I've ever done. Had tons of energy and felt really strong. There were enough water stations and Cliff Bar was at Mile 10. The mocha caffeine goo got me through the last two miles. During the race, there were parts that got very very crowded. I have never had to weave in and out so much....you really need pass alot of walkers who don't get the idea that you have to move to the side....etiquette, people. Once we finished, we were HUNGRY, so I was looking forward to bagels and bananas.....but nope, all we got was gatorade, an orange and two Fig Newtons and a bottle of water. My friend asked for another bottle of water and was denied......REALLY??? We just ran 13.1 miles! We left at exactly 9 AM and it took one HOUR to exit the parking lot! Another clusterfuck, and by this time we are just annoyed and still hungry. These organizers need to get it together. I'm glad I did this race, but I won't do it again. I'm going for the Beach Cities Challenge, and this is one of the three you must complete. I had a PR and I hit a sub 2 hour half marathon....so I did better than I thought. I'm super excited about that. Had good friends that pushed me during this half. Rreally grateful for that! Overall : 1797 out of 9980 Women: 608 out of 5992 Official Time: 1:56:26 read more

OC Marathon - We kicked some asphalt! - Races & Competitions Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

OC Half Marathon - May 5, 2013 (2.5 stars) This was my 19th half marathon in 3 years. I hesitate to give this 3 stars, but there are no half stars from my 2.5. Here are the highlights: -online registration was quick -home delivery of bib was convenient ($25) -email messages very helpful -website full of valuable information -race day event was chaotic with friend dropping us off -start line there were no port-a-potties -course was BEAUTIFUL -water support was adequate -finish line a DISASTER -shuttle service back to the start OMG WTF!!! Despite the injuries I've endured the past 2 months, I'm happy with my 2:14 finish (no PB this time). At the end we waited 20 minutes for the shuttle bus to arrive, then another 30 minutes sitting in the bus to exit the parking lot, and another 20 minutes to drive back to the start. I'm loving the medal and shirt at the finish. Would I do this again? NO. read more

OC Marathon - OC Half Marathon 2013 - Races & Competitions Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Pros: affordable ($90 for me), great views of million dollar homes, pretty beaches, easy shuttle, didn't pay for any parking (not sure how I did that) Cons: a little sunny, plenty of hills (my poor knees), early (615am start time), narrow paths so it's hard to pass people, parking takes a while, didn't seem very organized, and IM OUT OF SHAPE Prob not the best experience for beginners but it gets you out there. If you are deciding between this and another marathon, you prob should pick the latter. read more

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Love the OC Marathon!! Love the expo. Love the post race concert. Love the finish at the OC Fairground. Love the post race massage. Love the HOKA lounge. Love the medal. Love the VIP area at the finish. Love the 5k race. And of course, the free beer of course!!! I will sign up again this year!! read more

I've run this half marathon the past three years 2011, 2012 and this May. I love it (with the exception of this year)! The course is gorgeous! The first mile or so, you get a view of the Pacific Ocean, then you run in these neighborhoods with multi-million dollar homes right by Inspiration Point. There are other parts of this course that are beautiful, but the ones I mentioned are my faves! The race this year was a disappointment with respect to the expo, the logistics the morning of the race and once again, getting out of the OC Fairgrounds afterwards. The expo was not very good this year. I felt like we were given nothing in our swag bags except for our t-shirt and race number. I also was told I was a legacy member. But it wasn't until I got back home to Chicago that I found out I was supposed to get some extras because of my status. I contacted the OC race folks a month ago and still no response. Totally disappointed. The morning of the race, everyone was lined up to get on the buses and all of us at the front of the line were stiffed because the buses decided to let everyone behind us get on to their bus. All of us were so upset because we had been patiently waiting for at least an hour. On top of that, the race had already begun and when we all got to the start line, it was like a ghost town. Lastly, for the 3rd year in a row, getting out of the OC Fairgrounds was a cluster. It took me over an hour fifteen to get out of there. It was funny to see all of the upset Facebook comments that were rolling in like crazy on the OC Marathon page. Some folks had been waiting in the lot for at least 2 hours! You would think that after so many years of doing this race and many runners consistently complaining about this, that they would have done something about it this year. Not the case. I really hope that they do something to fix this for next year. read more

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Ran the half marathon and it was completely done w/out any training. Zilch, nothing. First 8 miles were fine - felt good, but started cramping after mile 10. :) Can't believe I finished all 13.1 miles on a Sunday morning in rain and hail, without having done any training. Woohoo! Beautiful scenery, wonderful volunteers, and great running path (barely any hills). Found free parking on Saturday to pick up bib from expo, and found free parking again on race morning. Took the free shuttle from finish line to the starting line. Score! read more

Just ran this half marathon for the first time. I was hoping to be surrounded by more beach & city areas rather than quiet, residential neighborhoods. Don't get me wrong- these homes are beautiful and fun to look at but I almost felt guilty that they couldn't leave their homes until the race was over. The hills were a bit challenging but overall the trail was satisfactory. I felt like I definitely got my workout. I agree with other yelpers that this was very organized and put together- but also off putting that you have to pay $8 at OC fairgrounds to pick up your bib and shirt the day before. On race day, they shuttle you back&forth from the start line to the finish line depending on where you park. Pretty self explanatory and quick to get to the start line but make sure you have enough time so you don't miss your corral! Overall I'd recommend this race if you're thinking about it. Lots of great energy from everyone and there are so many participants... it'll keep your mind off of how many more miles you've gotta go! read more

I have run the OC 1/2 3 times now and it gets better every year! it isn't just the race itself; the whole weekend is like a big party! The swag is great, logistics easy, and there is MORE than enough parking. The course is well spread out so it never gets too crowded, plenty of aid stations, and plenty of beautiful views to keep you happy. Highly recommend! read more

OC Marathon is an amazing race! It is very near and dear to my heart for a couple reasons. First I met my wife at OC Marathon and secondly it is an extremely well organized race with a fantastic course. I have run both the full and the half. I would say the 5k the day before is a don't misser with great music and atmosphere after. The course has great views along the water and there is a lot of crowd support. Running through some of the areas brings the local people out to cheer you along and often offer snacks/hydration. Since the race is point to point, OC Marathon has made it seamless to catch a bus from the finish line to the starting area. Also can't say enough about the VIP experience! Holy smokes it is absolutely first class from the starting line waiting area to the amazing finish line VIP tent. Best upgrade EVER at a race. read more

Paced my cousin for her first full marathon. The first half of the route is scenic and really highlights some of the prettiest places that Newport and CDM have to offer. The second half of the route after mile 12 gets ugly and you really have to remind yourself why you are running in the first place; it's really boring and doesn't motivate. Running by South Coast Plaza is not fun if you can't stop in and shop! Towards the end when you are running on the Santa Ana River Trail (yawn), it can get a little sketchy. During the 2011 run, there was a seemingly disturbed man who walked around changing the arrow signs that directed runners towards the correct path for the marathon. I saw some runners take the path they thought was correct because the arrows pointed in that direction, but it turns out they were going down the wrong dirt path. This was around mile 23 and when you are that close to finishing, the last thing you want to do is go down the wrong path and be cut short of your full 26.2 miles! More security and just volunteers along the route would make me feel safer. The aid stations are abundant, but again, mostly during the first half of the marathon. It seems like they really don't care much for people who run the full. If you're going to do this race, stick with the half distance and you'll be glad. read more

OC...we run this town. I just did the half marathon and it is 13.1 miles of beautiful scenery. You run along the coast of Newport Beach and Corona Del Mar. Very beautiful. You even get to run in the residential neighborhood, which is nice. Not many houses for sale. Cannot afford it anyway. Haha. The locals are very supportive and come out and cheer you on. One house had a hose and was providing water along the route. This is a very easy half. Not too hilly and the weather is just right. Very cool and breezy. However, after awhile, I felt bored because everything started to look the same. I also felt that the organization that runs this marathon is not that organized. To pick up my bid was annoying and very unorganized. I had no idea where I was supposed to go and there were no directions or signs to let me know where to go. The health expo was in a small building in the OC Fair grounds. It was super crowded and not enough space to walk around. There were few sponsor booths during the expo, which somewhat bummed me out. I love learning and seeing new running gear, food, snacks, drinks, etc. Maybe the other organizations (Rock n Roll series & Disney) have spoiled me in regards to health expos and half marathons, so my expectations were a bit high for this marathon. I would recommend people to run this though, especially newbies! read more

I ran my first half marathon and it was an awesome experience. I get to scratch this off my bucket list. The only negative part is when I picked up my race bib, they ran out shirts. I was bummed. But I did get a medal. read more

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This was my first time running the OC Marathon and I have to agree that it is pretty well organized except for one thing: getting into and out of the parking lot at the OC Fairgrounds took forever! Other than that, everything else went smoothly, from the bus shuttles, port a potties, water stations, etc. The course was pretty flat except for a few small inclines. Great course too, leading you through Newport Beach, Corona Del Mar, and back to Costa Mesa. You couldn't have asked for better weather. It was overcast the entire time!! Great Cinco De Mayo run :) read more

OC Marathon - Races & Competitions Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This is a review for the 2014 OC Half Marathon. Definitely the best half marathon I've ever finished. Although that's not saying much because I've only completed two half marathons (the other being the Surf City Half Marathon in Huntington Beach), but still! My first experience with the OC Marathon was a volunteer in 2010 (I think), and it just kept raining nonstop. It was impressive to see people still run the full marathon, but then again it'd be a huge waste of money if chose not to run it cause of the rain. Luckily though, the weather was great for the 2014 marathon! Here's how it went. EXPO It was easy to get my bib, although my sisters had some trouble because they're twins and have similar names and the same birthday. The staff was extremely helpful in assisting my sisters with getting the correct bib number. As for the expo, even though it was pretty large and had many vendors, there weren't many freebies. Still, I was able to buy an awesome "Spibelt" (http://www.spibelt.com/) to hold my personal items when I run. However, I think I paid almost full price and tax for the item and there wasn't even a discount =\ We were also able to buy parking passes at the expo at a discounted price so that we didn't have to worry about parking the day of the marathon. COURSE The course is more hilly than other half marathons and had elevation gains of 250ft, but, thanks to frequently hiking, I barely noticed these hills. Luckily, the course had outstanding views of Newport Beach and various hotspots including Fashion Island, Upper Newport Bay and the OC fairgrounds. Throughout the whole half marathon, I did not feel compelled to listen to music since there were plenty of beach views to keep me interested. Also, the residents in Newport Beach were extremely supportive and cheered often for the runners. Coincidentally, it was Star Wars Day (May the 4th aka "May the Force") and one hilarious sign said, "May the course be with you!" The ocean winds kept the weather moderate for most of the half marathon, but around mile 10 the heat did start picking up. Unfortunately I did see some runners sitting with paramedics near the end of the race. But nothing too serious. SHIRT / MEDAL The shirt and medal were great for a half marathon too! The women's shirt was a seagreen/pale yellow combination, and they ingeniously colored the armpit area yellow so it can disguise your sweat. Also, since it was the OC marathon's 10th anniversary, they had an amazing medal design that incorporated glitter and multiple colors. It was even decently sized for a half marathon medal too. My boyfriend ran the OC full marathon in 2011 and the 2014 half marathon medal was actually larger! If you're looking for a marathon/half marathon with a beautiful view, then OC marathon is the way to go! And if you have the time and money, try going for the Beach Cities challenge http://www.runsurfcity.com/Beach-Cities-Challenge-s/79.htm read more

OC Marathon - 2014 OC Half Marathon medal - Races & Competitions Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I love the OC Marathon! I ran the full in 2016 and the half in 2017. This year's race was crazy due to the unexpected rain, hail, and a bunch of puddles. The first 8 miles were really difficult due to the weather, but once it got sunny, everything was perfect. The race is very scenic as you start from Newport Beach and make your way to the OC Fair. This is probably the most challenging of the 3 beach city races since there is a good number of hills. There is always a bunch of support and cheering from the crowds, even in the rain. The race is well equipped with porta-potties and water stations, so that's always a plus. I like that it starts at Newport Beach and ends at OC Fair. The shuttle system is always very well organized. I think that it's great to be able to park at OC Fair then be shuttled to the starting line at Fashion Island. It makes morning race day traffic so much less stressful! My only issue with this race is that the second half of the full marathon is pretty boring. The first 15-16 miles were really great (scenery wise) but the last 1/3 of it was pretty uneventful, but maybe it's because I was so tired that everything seemed miserable! Ha! This is definitely one of my favorite races and I will be sure to make this one of my yearly events :-) read more

It was my first time running this Half Marathon. I was pleasantly surprised how easy it was to get into the parking lot early without a terrible time finding the best route to get to the parking lot. Also very happy to see that there were rows of buses to take all the runners to the starting line. The race was very organized. But I'm giving it a 4 1/2 stars because I expected a more beach scenic route during the race. I didn't enjoy staring at million dollar homes for most of the race. I earned my Beach Cities medal at this race so I'm pretty content only running it once. read more

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Orange County Marathon - thank you so much for being my first exposure to half-marathons. I had a great time running with the masses and simply enjoying the ocean side outdoors in the early morning. A few gripes about this marathon: 1. At Mile 5: The bottleneck bridge area where everyone went into a mandatory walk in order to get under the bridge. For me, it was okay because I needed the rest on my legs, but I know for a lot of runners going for a PR, those seconds wasted become very precious and important seconds. 2. There were long stretches of the road where there were horse droppings that were not cleaned up prior to the race. I figured, if we paid for the roads to be closed, wouldn't the city try to provide us a good and clean running environment? 3. The Backbay route rounding the 'marsh' got a little unappetizing at times as there were random spurts of sulfur smells. I'm trying to run and enjoy the fresh air - this was a bummer. 4. The 'goodie bag' was pretty weak sauce. But being that I had nothing to compare against, per what other marathon runners have said, they provided nothing useful, only useless information and pointless 'freebies'. 5. I have to pay $5 for parking my car? Didn't you take enough money from me for participating in the race in the first place? 6. There was only water along the course. I thought they may provide snacks or energy drink or anything other than water along the course. But alas, only water. Being my first time, this was fine, but hearing what others have seen/said/experienced - I now feel kind of jipped. All in all, I was still very happy with this event. It was my first and will not be my last. In fact, I'm signed up for the San Francisco Half-Marathon on July 25th - hopefully that one will be awesome sauce :) Being my first, I sure did shamelessly wear my medal. Good stuff, but could have been so much better. read more

Having just finished the first Marathon I've ever done, and for at least the next couple months the last one I will ever do, I am bruised, hobbling, limping, sore and chafing in areas I never thought possible. I finished all 26.2 (the .2 makes a DIFFERENCE) miles with some great guys, Will Wei, Nich Young, and Tim Gee and have been eating non stop. Now no longer crusted in my own body salt, which in my delirium I was tempted to taste because I think if I was baked at 350 degrees for 10 minutes I would have been pretty tasty, and one burger, two beers, crepes, boba, ice cream and some pineapple fried rice later not as hungry anymore, I want to give some much deserved shout outs. First of all to Mark Lem and Thomas Lin, for coming out early to take pictures of me, cheering me on at the finish line and giving me that extra dose of much needed energy to finish strong. I have never in my life been so happy to hear two guys shout my name. To all the amazingly nice people who sat outside their houses, giving water and pretzels, cheering and high fiving us as we ran by tossing thousands of water cups on the ground in front of them. Especially to the pretzel lady, who I think saved my life somewhere around mile 18. To the girl holding the sign that said "Keep going, don't stop. That's what she said." It made me laugh at mile 13. To the old lady who power-walked the entire marathon, and power-walked faster than I could hobble-run at mile 21. I watched you helplessly lurch ahead of me and take my pride with you. Finally, to the small lady with the gray camelbak who passed me around mile 19. Whom, as she ran BACK for some reason around mile 21, showed me her blatant pregnancy. And who dealt the last blow to whatever ragged remnant of pride I may have had left as she passed me AGAIN around mile 23. You are amazing and I think you should name your future child Batman. It was such a crazy experience, physically and mentally and through the focused joy of running miles 1 - 12, then the knee breakdown and determination at mile 15, the looming hatred and despair of the never ending miles 17 - 19, the spark of hope at mile 20 that disappeared in 30 seconds to be replaced by more despair, and finally the half limp, hobble-run for the last 3 miles of anger, disappointment, bargains, joy, temptation and a mind numbing forward motion, I came out completely humbled with no pride or dignity whatsoever and just an overwhelming joy for life, food, babies and Christmas and sitting. Thanks for all the support guys, and the encouragement despite the time frame...and the ankle! ;) read more

This is my second in the series for the Beach Cities Challenge (I did HB in February). My first time in this race, I found the route to be very scenic and enjoyable and I want to give props to all of the volunteers who helped to set up the event and assist the runners along the way. The pre-race event for bib pick up was smooth and well organized, but relatively crowded. I would advise not to wait until the last minute. Last minute race registration was available at an electronic station set up with laptops. So why the two stars, as opposed to three or four or five? Let me count the reasons! 1. Its a point to point race (as opposed to a loop that starts and finishes at the same location) so a shuttle was required to get to the starting line from the OC Fairgrounds (end point). I didn't have an issue with the shuttle, however I was scheduled to leave on it 90 minutes prior to half marathon race time at 4:45 am. It seemed like thousands of people were lingering, as there were more half marathon runners than there were marathon runners. 2. The streets were scheduled to be closed until 11:00 am by the fairgounds. At about 10:15, street sweepers were already in the vicinity of the fairgrounds which I felt was disruptive to those of us who where still on the course. 3. This is a good one! They ran out of half marathon medals! They had plenty of marathon medals available which they offered as a replacement (uummm, why would I want a marathon medal when I did not run it? how cheesy) or the other option was that they took down your bib number and mailed it out later. My guess is that since there was last minute registration up to the day before, they obviously did not prepare for the number of folks who wanted to do the 13.1 miles versus the 26.2 race. I felt kind of cheated because I pre-registered for this at least one month prior, and yet they ran out of power bars on the race course and there was no medal available. 4. The traffic leaving the race was awful. Drivers were directed to leave only out of two entrances, and initially there were no traffic officers posted to help get the mad rush of hundreds of vehicles out of this concentrated area It took 45 minutes to leave the parking lot. I'm sure that many runners will continue to return for next year's race and so on. I just hope that the race director makes some significant changes to alleviate these problems if they are going to expect future turnouts to increase in number. I also understand that some participants did not even get their medal in the mail as promised, until they made several calls to the organization to follow up. Shameful! read more

Today I participated in The OC Half Marathon. Funny thing, last year I participated in the OC Marathon 5k event. That was my first running event. One year later, I'm doing their Half Marathon and it's my second Half within a year too. Things I loved about the OC Half Marathon: *Flat and fast course (only one significant hill at mile 8 and 9). I did feel like I was about to die at mile 10 though--maybe it's my body telling me I should train more. The feeling was so strong, I had an urge to ask one of the friendly residents at a house we were passing if I could rest on their couch. But, darn that 60 year old women who's been following me the whole race is now going to pass me. Hell no! *Well organized and fun! I love being able to run 13.1 miles without having to think where to go, turn, or watch for cars. The course is just that easy to follow *Volunteers and participants were so fun to run around or by. Who knew that the rich and ritzy people of Orange County can actually be friendly! I was also High Fived at least 3 times in 13.1 miles. I want encouragement like that ALL the time! *Beautiful course. Goes through Newport Beach, Corona Del Mar and the Back Bay. Most of the course overlooks the ocean or the Back Bay. The last 1.1 miles of the Half course is a tad boring, but the rest of the course makes up for it! *Plenty of porta potties through out the course. I did have to stop at one en route to pee. I think I only wasted about 2 minutes going in and out. *Medals are freakin' AWESOME! That's the only reason why I did this Half. I'm kidding. Sort of. Well, not really. They're really just that awesome and the bragging rights are amazing! All in all, good race. I'd consider doing it again next year. Happy running everyone! read more

Ran my first half marathon yesterday. Despite everything hurting today, I have to say that the overall race experience was much better than I expected. I was probably most worried about the massive number of people that would be at the race. Yes, there were a ton of people, but I thought things were managed pretty efficiently. Parking sucked, but they had race shuttles and runner drop off locations to smooth out traffic. I got dropped off and walked about 5 min. to get to the race start. Waited in one of the porta-potty lines for about 15-20 min., and then I was ready to go. Start of the race wasn't as bad as I thought it would be either. It took me about 15 min. after the official race start to cross the start line, and I was in corral 3. Communication regarding the race was great. They sent out several email reminders telling us where/when to pick up bibs, and the bib/t-shirt pickup was very efficiently organized. Even though for some reason they weren't able to find my bib, I was quickly assigned a new number. I was surprised they let you choose your t-shirt size during the pickup expo, though. So you technically didn't have to select the size that you indicated when you signed up. I know several people complained that certain sizes had run out. The course itself was lovely. Besides the big hill at mile 11 and another hill at I think mile 7.5 ish, the course was very flat, with beautiful scenery. Certain parts of the course did get pretty narrow (almost single-file status), but they quickly widened up again. There were porta-potties set up throughout the course, which I was so thankful for (I had some severe mid-race digestion issues). The volunteers were great about handing out water and gatorade every mile or two. There were lots of spectators, and especially towards the end of the race, it was really nice to see people high-fiving and cheering us on. Got really lucky with the weather yesterday as well. It was slightly chilly and overcast--perfect running weather. The medals this year were very pretty! The t-shirts were nice too. You get a lot of free stuff at the end of the race. They make sure you're hydrated (chocolate milk, water, gatorade, beer) and they provide snacks and massages too! Not sure if I'd do another half marathon, but I'm happy the OC was my first. read more

The OC Marathon signified my first 26.2 and I couldn't have dreamed about a more perfect experience. The packet pickup on Saturday at the OC Fairgrounds went incredibly smoothly. I had my race bib and tech tee in no time flat. I even ran into a couple of friends there and then I was on my way. I lined up at the start at about 4:30am and walked around and warmed up before getting into my corral. There were plenty of porta potties and the lines didn't get too long until closer to 5am. The corral was nice and wide and there was plenty of room for people to stretch out. We weren't elbowing each other and every runner had plenty of room while we were funneled through the shoot. I would also like to add that the runners were lined up APPROPRIATELY to their pace. I didn't have to weave through a sea of walkers which was very nice. The Fashion Island start and the subsequent miles through Corona del Mar were absolutely beautiful. I didn't even turn on my ipod until after mile 3. I was so surprised at the amount of spectators out that early. The crowd support throughout the course was so wonderful and I really took in all the cheers from the spectators. The water and Gatorade stations were plentiful as were the filled cups and friendly volunteers. The volunteers were cheering us all on and I thanked each and every one that I grabbed a cup or gel from. The police were clapping and cheering for us too which I thought was awesome. I'm not sure what part of the course I enjoyed the most...the first half or the last half since it was all so beautiful and there were very few boring areas. Every block had someone cheering! I couldn't have asked for more perfect weather either. It was in the low 60's and overcast through mile 22. I was touched when two soldiers who were running with backpacks came upon the Vietnam soldier statue in Castaway Park and stopped to pay their respects. Another male runner removed his hat to pay his respects. Awesome. The OC Performing Arts complex that we ran through at mile 16 was really pretty. I appreciated all of the diversity that the course had to offer and then crossing a short bridge to get to South Coast Plaza where I knew my husband would be cheering for me sped me up again! One of the cheer areas that I really got a kick out of was along the Santa Ana River Trail at mile 21 with the Area 21 aliens. It really put a smile on my face and gave me some more spring in my step. The community really came out and gave us each something to look forward to when the race became mind over body. I want to especially thank the multitude of familes who were out there with orange slices, watermelon, pretzels and Powerade. They didn't just hand things out, they were cheering and smiling! There were even a couple of chefs outside of their business with a speaker saying things like "looking great!" or "your pace is great, keep it going!". Keep in mind, these people were out early on a Sunday morning! There were even a couple of small children in their driveway with squirt bottles misting runners as they went by, it was great! I high-fived lots of folks along the journey but really wanna say thanks to the guy who already finished his marathon and was walking along Fairview Rd and giving out high-fives. THANK YOU whoever you are!! And thanks to the girl who at around mile 23 had a sign pinned to her back with a quote I've stared at on my desk for months: "There will be days when you don't think you can run a marathon. There will be a lifetime of knowing you have".-Unknown This marathon was a wonderful experience for me and I have so many memories that I will share for days to come. I can't wait for Long Beach and Surf City so I can earn that Beach Cities medal! Tag Time: 4:33:53 read more

OC Marathon - Races & Competitions Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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When I started reading the reviews about traffic and parking, questioned entering this race. When I found out the expo was on Friday from 4-8 and needed someone to get my bib for me Saturday, I was irritated. Getting the email saying my assigned bus time was 4:35a, I was ready to eat my entry fees and sleep in. Then something happened.... I got my ass out of bed at 2:30a, drove to the OC Faigrounds, got on a bus and had a blast! I loved the course, loved how it stayed overcast, loved the pacing of the corrals (I was in 1), thought it was great they handed out bags post-race that we got to overstuff with drinks/snacks and loved most of all how I was back on the 405 less than 20 minutes after getting in my car at the end of the race. Sure there were issues - how do you not have size L men's shirts? How do you not have water tables on both sides of the street to elevate congestion? Why is the narrowest part of the course the 400 meters before the finish line? But I'll deal with those in exchange for everything else that was so good about this race. This was my final leg of the Beach Cities Challenge for my clamshell medal but seeing I hate the LB Half and Surf City is the week before the LA Marathon in 2016, will make this a solo repeat next year! read more

I've done a few half-marathons (by no means a 'veteran' but I've seen enough now to have an opinion). I wanted to start by saying, since most of the uber-positive reviews are from first-timers who have no other base of reference, let's just be clear ... this race is NOT organized. First time half'ers who think this race is organized need to experience a marathon/half marathon that is TRULY organized. Just wanted to make that clear. Ok, moving on ....... PROS: * Scenic course, check! If the organizers could just get the details together, this race would be stellar. The course itself deserves better ...... it's a nice course; some slight hills, nice neighbors and houses, ocean and back bay views. * Volunteers - I always have to give a shout-out to the volunteers who get up so early and do it for charity and out of the goodness of their hearts. Thanks, volunteers, for keeping us hydrated and fueled! * Tech shirt - I love this shirt! First time I've worn a race shirt on race day. Cute, tasteful, short sleeve, nice design. Thumb's up. * Post-race atmosphere, though crowded YES, was spirited and fun. Enjoyed the big stage, 80s band, Wahoo's tacos and beer. * Last but not least, security -- in the wake of Boston, I appreciated the extra effort that was made with police highly visible but not intrusive. CONS: * Expo - was SO MUCH bigger/better last year (I didn't run it last year but I was there). I love all the freebie samples. Left this one empty-handed. =( I hate all the "sign up for a free trip"-timeshare pushing-type of vendors. Just seemed like there were way too many of these and not enough of what we really want. * Corrals -- what corrals? These need to be timed out better. * Chute -- so, you thought the start corrals were a mess? They got nothin' on the finish line chute. I'm a middle of the pack'er finishing with the masses. They really need to do a better job with the bottleneck. This area is too small! * Water -- after 13.1 miles I do NOT want to be searching for water. Seriously?? I want a bottle of water and a baggie of ...... * FOOD!!! -- yes, water and food. Let's make sure runners don't have to go looking for them. This would be a huge improvement. Disappointing to only get an orange, a fig newton and a granola bar. Again, really? * Gear check - OMG, I didn't check my gear (my friend did) but WOW! This was a nightmare. There was no organization, people were literally standing there with their bib in the air and people in the trucks were just calling out numbers randomly. If it wasn't true, it would be funny. * LINES -- lines, lines, everywhere .... lines! Example, great, you get a free Dos Equis post-race. Once you FIND out where the supposed 'beer garden' is ... you have to get a ticket for your beer and then walk ALL THE WAY back about 100 yards away to where you actually redeem the ticket. Same goes for the Wahoo's taco. How does this make sense? Suggestion: if you're wearing a medal and a race bib, give them people their beer and taco! I don't get needing to get a ticket to redeem the freebie. Other races don't do this. * Parking -- making your participants pay for parking TWICE -- Expo and race day -- is just wrong. * Shuttles -- I didn't do the shuttle but from what I understand, it's also a huge wait as well as getting out of the parking lot. I was given the following advice and glad I took it. ADVICE for anyone wanting to do this race: buddy up with a friend, park one car at the Fairgrounds and take another car to the start line. We did this and it worked out perfectly. We didn't wait at all. For those wanting to do their first half marathon, I wouldn't suggest OC. Go for Long Beach ... it's fast/flat, out 'n back course that is just as scenic as OC but much more organized (Long Beach, I love you!!) If you're going for the Beach Cities medal, you gotta do this one at least once but otherwise ....... If OC Marathon can get itself organized, I'd give the 4 stars. read more

I run this race, mostly because its in OC, and I live here. The race starts at the fairgrounds, so nothing too fancy about the 5k course. if you run half marathon, it starts at the fashion island, so its pretty nice scene. 25$ for 5k, 70$ for half if you register early. it goes up if you wait and get close to the race. the race medals are nice. its pretty well organized. things i liked: 1. nice finisher medal. 2. free beer 3. good quality tech tee. 4. close to home convenience. Things I didnt like: 1. no race day pickup which means you have to make a trip and get your packets the day before at the fairground. they charge about 10$ for parking. and there is no where else to park, so on top of the expensive registration fee, you pay 10$ parking on the day to pickup the packet, and then again on the race day. it all adds up. carpool to save money. in some way its such an unprofessional thing to do to charge money to park , at the same place where the event is happening that you already paid for. oh well. if you are out of towner, dont bother this race, but if you live in OC, do it! read more

13.1 done and done. I started my running journey in early 2014 and thought signing up for a half marathon was a good idea. If you are considering running the OC Half Marathon I highly recommend it. I started at corral four and was off and running by 6:30am. The course gets a little hilly through miles 7-9 but then is an easy finish. Towards the end of the half marathon just when you think you cannot go another mile you will get the cheers and ongoing support from the crowds. My friends and family were at mile 11 to help me get through the race. You get a pretty sweet medal and a jersey to prove to the world and yourself that you are now a half marathoner/marathoner. Running the OC Half Marathon was comes with such a sense of accomplishment and an amazing runners high that will last you for about a week (not kidding). Throw your running shoes on, hydrate, carb load and get yourself out on that course! #NotRunningSucks read more

If you are a slow runner, this is not the marathon for you. Sure, it's flat and even downhill in some parts, but you will feel a second-class runner. Had I run just the half marathon, this review would get 4, maybe even 5, stars. But I ran the full, and after the first half, it was all (figuratively) downhill after that. First, the course is billed as scenic. This is not true. The first half is scenic and lovely, but the second half is terrible. Business areas, a deserted high school, an empty South Coast Plaza, and a dried up canal are not scenic. I enjoyed running the first half, but the second half was demoralizing. My longest training run was 21 miles, which I completed rather easily, but I hit 'The Wall' early at mile 14. I would have at least liked something interesting to look at, and there was little support and very few spectators from miles 12 to 18 (not necessarily the fault of the race planners, but perhaps a function of where the course was located. For example, the high school was inaccessible to traffic.). Sure, there were entertainment stations, but at a 13 minute pace, by the time I reached some of them, there was no entertainment to be had. Second, miles 20 to 22 took place on a run/bike trail along a canal, and it was not closed off to bikes. At such a vulnerable point in the race when runners are fatigued, now we had to dodge cyclists. Third, during the last few miles, the roads opened up along the race course, forcing some runners to yield to traffic. This was unacceptable. At this point in the race, we had to keep moving, no matter how slowly so that we did not cramp up. Fourth, parking was a clusterfuck. I purchased a pre-paid parking permit at the expo. My partner met me at mile 20 and then drove to the fairgrounds to meet me at the finish line. Traffic was predictably heavy, but there was no signage directing it, nor were traffic cones or law enforcement knowledgeable or useful. The spectator guide directs drivers to Gate 3, but when my partner arrived there around 10:30, the entrance was closed. Why direct people to a gate that's impossible to access? He spent 35 minutes navigating traffic surrounding the fairgrounds before finally parking in a nearby neighborhood. As you can imagine, after running 26.2 miles, I was delighted to learn I would now have to walk another half mile to the car. This was my first full marathon, and I felt as though I was a second-class runner simply because I am slow. Even though the course is open for 7 hours, the experiences of slow runners are not taken into consideration. After all, those who finish in 6:59 pay the same fees as those finishing in 2:30. As a slow runner, I felt abandoned on the course, and my morale changed significantly after the first half. I've run other races before, and none were as poorly organized or supported as this one. It was definitely not the first time marathon experience that I'd hoped for. I cannot recommend nor participate in the marathon in the future unless significant changes are made. read more

Reading reviews about this race, I was hesitant to run it. I have run the Long Beach and Surf City races two years in a row but never signed up for this one because I just didn't feel the need to and was quite nervous because of the reviews. But I ultimately decided to sign up for the 2016 half marathon and get my Beach Cities Challenge medal (finally) and I'm very happy I did! The expo was pretty large and easy enough to navigate. It's at the OC Fairgrounds in the large enclosed building. It wasn't crowded when I went but I was there early on Saturday morning when the kids 1 mile race was going on. Aside from the crowds there for the kids' race, it was easy to move freely. I picked up my packet, purchased my pre-paid parking for the next morning and was on my way! If you decide to park near the finish line at the OC Fairgrounds, you'll take a shuttle to the start line in the morning. They will assign you a shuttle time based on your predicted finish time and wave placement in an email. I got corral 1 and was assigned a shuttle time of 5:05, although they don't check anything when you're boarding the shuttles so if you're running a little late, don't sweat it. They assign you a shuttle to keep the crowds even. The ride from the Fairgrounds to Fashion Island wasn't bad at all. It took maybe 10-15 minutes and then there was a short walk to the start line. Everything was pretty easy when I got there. I checked my bag in with the UPS people and headed to my corral. They don't have any barriers or anything separating the corrals other than signs and it's basically the honor system so please honor it. Nothing is more annoying than trying to run and being surrounded by people who are supposed to be near the back of the pack. Weaving around, especially if you're trying to PR, is not fun at all. The course was beautiful. Out of the three beach cities races, this one is definitely my favorite. You start out running toward the beach and throughout the course, you're running through beautiful neighborhoods, overlooking the ocean, running past trendy streets with plenty of shops and people cheering you on while they eat their breakfast and drink their coffee. It was really wonderful and the water stations were spaced out pretty perfectly. The only thing that I noticed was that there was no gel station. There was a snack station around mile 10 but it was just little "vitamin C" gummies, as I heard the volunteer yelling out. I've never run a race where they aren't passing out gels so that was a surprise, but I brought my own with me as I do for every race so I was okay on that front. The medal is really nice but it's not as big as I thought it would be. Maybe that's because I was looking at it next to my huge Beach Cities Challenge medal! Really, it's huge. They also were passing out water, bananas, gatorade, chocolate milk, kind bars and pretzels at the finish like most races do. While I had a great time at the race, there are some downfalls. The parking is one. You have to pay for parking for both the expo and race day, even though it's the same lot. I had to pay $8 on the day of the expo and I purchased the pre-paid parking for race day while I was there which is $8 rather than $10 if you purchase it on the day-of when you're entering the lot. And besides having to pay for parking both days, getting out of the lot on race day is not the greatest. Thankfully I finished relatively early and got out of there as soon as I could. Even then, I was waiting for about 10-15 minutes to get out of the lot. There's only one exit so everyone is forced to wait forever to get out of there and I've heard nightmare stories of people waiting hours to get out of the lot. I saw some people hopping on a shuttle to go back to their car which was parked at Fashion Island, and at first I wondered why they would do that. Now I get it... It's so they don't have to wait hours to get out of the lot. If you expect to finish in over 2:30, it might be a good idea to park at Fashion Island and take the shuttle back to your car. It'll probably save you some time. Aside from the parking situation, I loved this race and may return again next year! The course is so beautiful and is the best one of the three beach cities races! read more

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This review is for the FULL marathon: This is my second year running the full marathon and although I really had a horrible experience my first year, I decided to give it another shot to try to complete the Beach Cities Challenge. For the most part, I agree with the other reviews regarding the half marathon. The stretches along Ocean Blvd. and Upper Newport Bay are gorgeous and are good representations of coastal Orange County. The route was flat and generous with the downhills. If I only ran the half marathon, I would easily give this race 4-5 stars. My dissatisfaction stems from the second half of the race, which goes through Irvine, Santa Ana, and ends at the OC Fair in Costa Mesa. Once the paths for the marathoners and half-marathoners separate, that's when it gets ugly - a complete Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde moment. Forget the beautiful scenery. Forget the crowd support. Heck, forget a flat route. After the runners diverged, I found myself running up an incline on Red Hill Ave, which is nothing but manufacturing and corporate buildings. After a tedious stretch on Red Hill Ave., I was rewarded with a ridiculous 45 degree incline on the 405 overpass. I then reached South Coast Plaza, or should I say the parking lot of South Coast Plaza. I ran past a few disinterested shoppers who hadn't had their Gucci fix and seemed annoyed that sweaty people were running in their stomping grounds. From there, I continued onto Bear St. which must have had at least a 20% incline the entire way and then Segerstrom Dr. felt worse, which was probably at a 30% incline. Therefore, for 7 miles (from mile 13 to mile 20), the whole thing was on an incline and was incredibly boring to run through. However, miles 20-23 along the Santa Ana River were the absolute worst. How could anybody think that running along a dried up concrete structure is a good idea? The most entertaining thing along this route were the parallel power lines. Coming out of this sh*thole known as the Santa Ana River, there was a 40 degree incline waiting for me. This area is where I noticed a slew of runners with hands on knees or puking.The last 0.2 miles of the race was probably the best with the crowd cheering me on as I hobbled towards the finish line. In summary, the logistics of the marathon were easy and painless. My main gripe is with the course and how unbalanced it was to have the better part of the second half on such steep inclines with no scenery whatsoever. If you're reading this review and thinking I'm just complaining because it was hard, this is my sixth marathon in the past 14 months. With this one, it just seemed the organizers didn't even try on this one and decided to go with whatever streets were the cheapest to close with no regard for elevation or scenery. I know there's better stuff in the OC than Red Hill Ave and the Santa Ana River which would have been more representative of what the OC is about. If you're thinking about doing the OC Marathon, don't do it. There are much better ones out there. If you do not heed my warning, you will be thinking about this review around mile 16!! =P EDIT: 5/26/11 This is from the participant survey: "We recognize already that the mile markers were not accurately placed from 17-22 and this will not happen again. We also know that there were problems parking at the OC Fair & Event Center as well as getting on the shuttles and to the start in a timely fashion. We apologize for these items and will strive to make the parking and shuttle to the start, easy for everyone. " Conclusion: OC Marathon is organized by a bunch of amateurs. read more

I am doing the Beach Cities Challenge and this is the first of the series for me. This is my second half marathon and it was a lovely run. I went to the expo on Friday and it was at the OC Fairgrounds. The bib/shirt pickup was pretty seamless but to get out, you have to go through the maze of vendors. I spent $10 for parking on expo day and spent another $5 for parking on race day (lame). On race day, I was able to make it to a shuttle at 5am. I heard a lot of people got stuck because there weren't enough shuttles. It was a little chilly at the start line, and I had to wait about an hour so before the half marathon start. The lines were ridiculous for the porta-potties. The race itself was nice. Mile 2 was downhill, which was pretty fun. Right around mile 10 was a hill that I powered through (woohoo!). Ocean views and good looking homes made for a pleasant run. It was overcast for the most part, and was great weather for this race. There were a lot of water stations and Gu around mile 10. One small complaint at the finish line, there were no bananas or bagles, only a plastic bag with an orange, Clif bar, and a granola bar. The worst part was the 1 hour wait to get out of the parking lot after the race. I've gotten out of baseball stadium parking lots way faster with more people than this race. Please fix this! read more

Whew! I finished OC Half marathon and the Beach Cities Challenge with a new PR of 1:56:57 (Hey, what do you expect I'm a hobby jogger). The weather was perfect for running. The course was awesome (except for the beach path). Post-race (finishers village?) was cool lots of free stuff like water, Gatorade, Chocolate milk, Kind Bars, pretzels, Finishers jacket (instead of those aluminum foil blanket things), Non-alcoholic beer (plus the real stuff if you wanted it), snap peas, etc. The shirt and medal were top notch as well. Now for the negatives. From mile 7 (I think) to mile 9 or 10 the course is on a much too narrow path. I was constantly getting stuck behind people who seemly were out for a nice Sunday stroll instead of racing. Plus It was way too crowded I lost count of how many times people with hairy arms bumped into me! The scenery, although nice grew monotonous (though not as bad as Surf City). I mean how many million dollar homes can you look at? How does this race compare to Long Beach and Surf City? The course OC, LB, SC Post Race OC, LB, SC Medal LB, SC, OC Shirt OC, SC, LB Scenery LB, OC, SC Would I run the OC Half Marathon again? yes, but not next year cause I'm doing the Beach Cities Challenge again but the Full marathons. read more

OC Marathon - Beach Cities Challenge done! - Races & Competitions Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Expo is a fail.....especially compared to Surf City. No Cliff.....No Gu. You'd think these guys would be a no brainer at every race, so you have to think either they're over-charging for booth space, or being squeezed out by Power Bar. Anyways, to make the drive down there and pay for parking just to basically pick up bib and shirt will make me want to pay extra for mailed bib instead. Parts of the Half course are way too narrow for such a big race. Bobbing and weaving is bad enough on a wide highway. I think I lost .2 miles during the course. Overall, Surf City is a better operated race with way more staff and wide open course. read more

I'm writing this review for the OC half marathon. I came to California specifically to run this race (okay, and to soak up some rays on the beach and visit family/friends), and I was FLOORED by how amazing it was. Seriously. Amazing. I'll start with packet pickup: it was at the OC Fair & Event Center, and although paying $5 for parking sucked, the pickup itself was a breeze. There were tons of vendors there, and I was able to pick up a last minute Clif bar that I forgot to pack. The race itself? Awesome. The half marathoners started right on time at 6:15am. There were 4 corrals (A,B,C, and D), and I feel like I was placed in the right corral; I spent very little time running around walkers and slower runners, which was a plus. The course was breathtakingly beautiful. I adored all of the palm trees on the course (hey, cut me some slack -- we don't have those in Missouri!), and running so close to the beach was fantastic. The miles went by SO quickly because I was just taking in all of the scenery. Race support was great; there were plenty of water stops, and even one Gu stop if I remember correctly. Post-race support was also top notch. Little goody bags with fruit, water, and granola bars were given to each finisher; there were also larger bottles of water and gatorade up for grabs. And of course, the medal. What a beautiful thing! I adore it. I would most definitely run this race again. The course was a little hillier than I expected, but the gorgeous scenery more than made up for it. read more

Good thing I was running this just for fun -- They have absolutely NO results for my race :( Everything shows up as a zero, making it look like I never even showed up at the start line. Not cool :( I've run plenty of races, so I know about timers and crossing the designated spots, so at first I thought my timing chip was to blame. When I asked about it, I was told my bib number was never registered because it was never picked up. Funny, because I was wearing the bib I picked up at the expo the whole time I was running ... The half marathon is my favorite distance, and the OC marathon offered a great half course this year. Some people might dislike the occasional hills, but I enjoy mixing it up when I'm only running 13 miles. The course was beautiful and the spectators were great (some of them at mile 12 had really funny signs and tons of energy!), but I'm weary about returning to this race. Definitely NOT recommended if you're trying to qualify for Boston due to the bottlenecks on the course and the lack of organization. Areas that could be improved: - Wave starts could really help relieve the bottlenecks and overcrowded areas. - Better organization at the finish line! There is a terrible bottleneck at the finish line, leaving you to stand hopelessly in place right after running your race. No room to walk around, no room to stretch. This is NOT a good feeling for tired legs. - Clocks on the course would be appreciated by those aiming for a particular time. - Parking is terrible! They encourage you to park at the finish line and get a shuttle to the start line. That works out great. But then when you want to leave after the race ... Might as well stay at the OC Fairgrounds all day. There was also a swap meet going on at the location, and people were sitting in their cars not moving at all. We finally turned the car off and took an hour-long nap because we couldn't leave. After standing in place at the finish line, sitting in a parking lot for over an hour made it seem like there was absolutely no post-race organization. - There was GU for halfers at one point along the route, but the GU was on one side of the street and the water table was directly across the street. You're supposed to take water with GU, so that leaves you dashing from one side of the street to the other and dodging running traffic. The pros: - Nice scenery - Plenty of water stations - Friendly volunteers - Very informative website Nice race, but the lack of organization and failing time chip/lost record of my bib number make me not interested in returning next year. read more