Lets make this race report as simple as eating a cupcake ok? Ok.... The PROS: *pretty accurate start time for the most part *plenty of porta-poo-tys at the beginning and along the way *6 AM start time *7 billion water stations (or like 25) *a kind civilian with a heart made of pure 24kt gold at mile 24.5 that handed out oranges and strawberries *another kind civilian at mile 10 or so with a garden hose... *The family at mile 22 who stood in the freaking middle of nowhere on the riverbed with smiles, a flute and a guitar and good vibes, (I physically saw spirits of my fellow runners lifted off the ground and back into their body with delight after encountering the efforts of this family (80 something degrees at like 9 in the morning) * A HUGE FREAKIN P.R. The CONS: *the course....the biggest down fall.. about 80% residential or at least it seemed that way.. Running through neighborhood after neighborhood, not my cup of tea, especially when the residents seem irritated that we are running on their normal route to Sunday brunch at Biffy's on the Bluffs. *lack of crowd support for the most part (did I already say that?) *food, was a total pro for cliff gu, and gummy lovers, there were loads of it, me no likey. *(2) mile 18 signs.. (this is a very very very mean "joke"/"mistake)" when my Garmin is accurate, and I fall apart at mile 18.5 (my own bad doing)oh and at(mile 18-#1) and I see mile 18 again I think Iv'e done something very very bad and ran straight to hell. *running on a riverbed just plain sucks, that's just a con to my poor mental strength. I dont want to diss the OCM, I do want to give them credit for making this my PR race thus far, I do want to thank the few civilians that stood out there to support, and I want to thank YOU for reading this... read more

Well.... I did it! I 13.1 miles finished and done. This was my first half marathon and I am happy to have done it here in OC. The course is very pretty and goes through some trails, along the beach, and through some nice neighborhoods. I love that there were plenty of hydration stations and some perks along the way such as Gatorade and energy gels, and even some spray that relieves muscle pain. There was a great turn out and lots of people cheering. I was literally about to give up in the last mile, but kept pushing just because there were so many people watching. The best part of this... free massage! There were about 40-60 masseuses onsite for afterwards. This lasted about 15 minutes, but felt amazing. There is also free beer but I didn't care for this since the line was way too long. There's also plenty goodies/food/gatorade for recovery afterwards. I was in freebie heaven :) read more

This review is for the full OC marathon--my 12th! I've done all three beach cities marathons now (LB, HB, OC) and the OC marathon was my favorite by far. It was a solid local race that I'd recommend to anyone living in the general area. The first half of the course was much nicer than the second half, since it included beautiful ocean views and running through ritzy neighborhoods. But overall I appreciated how we ran through so many different types of neighborhoods around Newport Beach, Irvine, Costa Mesa, etc. The course was pretty flat with only a few relatively slight uphills and downhills, usually due to bridges. None of the hills really registered as challenging at all except for a moderate hill around mile 11 that left me a little breathless. I think the OC full marathon was the perfect number of runners since I never felt jostled or crowded, even at the start line, but there were always plenty of runners around so I was never running alone. There were tons of water stations, especially in the first half where crowd support was more plentiful so it felt like I was being given water every half mile. Generally speaking crowd support was a bit sparse but very generous since I think I was given pretty much a full orange and a few watermelon slices throughout the course. The weather was pretty much perfect throughout the run! It stayed overcast and cool with a great breeze throughout the whole race. Unlike other yelpers, I didn't have really have any problems exiting the fairgrounds--no more than a few minutes wait--but it might be because we were there pretty late waiting for running mates to finish so I probably missed the big wave of people leaving. read more

In 2009, the OC Half Marathon was the first half marathon I ran. I ran it again in 2011 and liked the course change (to protect the back bay and the endangered birds that live there). It is a great local race. The half marathon course is scenic and very residential. It starts at Fashion Island and ends at the fairgrounds. I enjoyed the cheering and encouragement of the residents in the neighborhoods we ran in. There were plenty of water stations and port-a-potties, especially at the start line. I had been worried about the heat but starting at 6:00am helped. It did start feeling warm around mile 11 and then really warm when I started running on the asphalt in the fairgrounds parking lot but at least it was close to the finish. The only issue I have with the race is the parking. I had no problem parking when I got to the fairgrounds in the morning, but leaving was at major pain. With some exits of the faigrounds blocked to let runners in, there weren't many ways to get out of the parking lot. After the race, all I wanted to do was get some breakfast and take a shower. Waiting to get out of the lot was not fun and took some pretty aggressive driving to get out of there. read more

Ran my first full at the 2015 OC Marathon, and I'm glad I got the opportunity to do it here! The course is challenging, but who wants to train for months and months only to have a boring course? There are TONS of people that run this race. Usually a big race will thin out within the first 6ish miles...I was surrounded by people well into the 17-18 mile range. For a half I might have been upset at how many people there were, but for a full it's nice to have other people around you. Water and aid support throughout the race was perfect, although we lucked out because it was overcast until almost 10:30. I think if the sun had been shining, there would have been a lot of hurting/injured people. Spectator support was nice when it was around, but because it is in residential there are just a lot of random people watching from their homes. It is nice because they are clapping for you - but it is also just kind of weird. Whatever, running through residential is fun for me because I just distract myself by looking at all the pretty homes, and the OC doesn't disappoint when it comes to looking at nice houses! I was kind of disappointed by the finish though. Once you go through and get your medal, you can tell that those poor kids handing out drinks and snacks have just been attacked by half-marathoners. Their tables look in sad shape and I was honestly worried the people behind me might not have enough when they get through. ALSO - I just ran stinking 26.29 miles...why are you making me walk so far before giving me any food?! All in all, the race was lovely. I'm so glad I did it and I'm so happy that I was lucky and the weather was cool. I don't think I'll do this marathon again just because I don't want to do it in the heat. read more

I ran the 2014 OC 1/2 Marathon today. This is my 4th half marathon, so I'm not an old pro, but not a spring chicken either. I had read the reviews on here from prior years, so I arrived really early. Enjoyed watching the full marathon start. Shuttles were plenty and efficient. Parking was a breeze, in the lot within a few minutes, and parked right away. At the starting line the port-a-potties had long lines. Maybe next year they should add some more. The race: There were signs for the different corrals, but I was not sure of the times and took a guess. Where I was, (end of corral 3), there were no speakers for the PA. Couldn't hear the announcements, or National Anthem. Thought we had heard a horn, so I guess the race started. Just after crossing the start line, you get views of the Pacific Ocean, as you wind down toward the beach. I loved the ocean views running through Corona Del Mar. Not many supporters out along the course that early, but it was nice to see and hear the ones that were. After running by the beach and through the harbor, it was tight running under PCH. The course continued a slight uphill path and along a paved hiking/biking path. The course stayed pretty tight through this area, and many people were stopping to take pictures looking back over the harbor. Even though it was a little more crowded than I would have liked, it wasn't that bad. Running continues along the trail, and eventually through a residential area. Before you know it, you are on your last mile, and can see the finish in sight. I picked up the pace, and finished with a new PR! Finish line area was a mess. Only gave out 1 bottle of water, even though it was hotter than normal out. I couldn't find out where to get my post race food (bananas or whatever). Super crowded and congested. I qualified for the beach cities challenge medal, and they told me to go to a certain hall to pick it up. That hall was locked tight. Found it around the corner, but took a little walking around. I didn't hang around, as it was just too crowded. Leaving the parking lot was quick and easy, I had no problems. I think they have to many participants for this race to run smoothly. The fair grounds can be a huge place, but they have you crammed into such a tight area. Open it up a little. I know it is tough to get volunteers, but I think they need more staff. Figure that out, and it might be a good race. My initial runners high wanted me to sign up for next year's event. Now after a nap, I am not sure. read more

Really beautiful course - am planning to run this again next year. I was super worried about running this because I didn't train well, but there were a lot of other "run/walkers" and the course, as others have said, was pretty flat with short gradual inclines. I also appreciate that the first 5 miles of the race was either shaded by trees or along the coast because it got pretty warm by 7:30 am. Thanks to the family that passed out fruit!!! You know who you are ;) Also the technical fabric shirt + swag is pretty cool. Most half marathons just get you a regular t-shirt. Only con was the parking at the OC Fair!!! OC FAIR A!@#$!@LKAJSDF!!!!! Parking traffic needs to be MORE ORGANIZED. This is not a new race.. so I don't get why you only have ONE EXIT when you are hosting not only the marathon but the swap meet. Walking to the car after running a half marathon was not fun when it was parked another quarter mile away. read more

this review is for the OC marathon 5K race... because unfortunately i am not, nor will i ever be, fit to run an entire marathon of 26.2 miles... i would literally die. but the 5k...3.1 miles.. is much friendlier and do-able, and it doesnt cause any weird thigh chafing. haha. the OC marathon is great. its really well organized and a lot of fun! they have the 5k, half marathon, and full marathon, going on all at the same time, but its really organized so you shouldnt have any trouble finding your start line and there's tons of parking too. the gift bag was pretty neat too, complete with a t-shirt, these cool minty eye drops, and free admission to the marketplace after. whoo hoo! and the d-tag used for keeping track of your time is really neat... i always wondered how they kept track of 1000 runners' times! and at the end they pass out a million bread rolls and bananas, energy drinks, and power bars, so you dont pass out! overall a great race... though i really wish those who want to just walk the race...start at the back.. not at the front where the sprinters are.. or your just asking to get run over by the runners behind you! read more

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Scenic half marathon with moderate inclines most the way. Running through neighborhood and along Corona del Mar is breathtaking! Can't ask for a better view. Lots of water stations along the way. The only complaint was that I didn't start the race until about 7am. The last wave was supposed to be 6:30am but I got there late and the buses were slow about getting runners to the starting line. I also had trouble finding my car in the huge OC fairgrounds lot! I spent half an hour (feeling like an idiot) looking for my car on the wrong side. I should have paid more attention when I parked, half awake, in the dark. I liked the shirts they gave out this year, white with light blue streaks. I would do this race again. It was enjoyable overall. I'll make sure to remember where I parked my car this time. =) read more

What a great race!! I had a lot of fun running the OC Half Marathon! Everyone was super excited and happy. Lots of encouragement from the people watching the race, beautiful views the entire time and flawlessly organized! I was so surprised how easy it was getting to the race and leaving. I would do this race again in a heart beat! The medal and tech shirt are so cute!! The course itself is pretty flat, besides a hill towards the 10 mile mark. Not bad at all! DO IT- You will love it. read more

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I return to Southern California to run the OC Marathon back in early May 2010, to visit a dear friend of mine, who lived in Riverside at the time, and family in Irvine. It was a perfect opportunity to do a 2 for 1 thing on this trip. While I have California already when I ran San Francisco back in 2009, it was a great opportunity to run in Southern California and take in all that So Cal had to offer while on a miniature vacation. The vacation was short, but I enjoyed my time at the OC Marathon. Although I will not return to this race for a while - I had a good time racing and hung out with my marathoner friends at the start and hope to maybe return in the near future. The expo and packet pick up was held at the OC Fair grounds in Costa Mesa, California in a large building that looked like a converted warehouse of some sort. Many vendors were here selling their runner assorted gear and food here and I bought some energy gels before picking up my race packet. I must've spent a couple hours here before heading back to Irvine. Race morning was Sunday morning, like most races are. The start time was about 5:30am at the Fashion Island Mall in Newport Beach, California. I was fortunate to have family get up before the crack of dawn and drive me to the start line. I would estimate that the larger race, the half marathon ballooned to 12,000 participants, whereas the full marathon crested jut 3,500 participants. It was a small enough race to see pretty much everyone - unless you are in the back of the pack - like me. The OC Marathon started 26.2 miles at the entrance of Fashion Island Shopping Mall and made its way around southern California along the Pacific Coast Highway. The early going was fun and the scenery was breathtaking. We weaved around the areas where the ocean vistas were visible and that was pretty scenic it was good. In the middle of the race, we loop back into Costa Mesa and into suburbs of Santa Ana. We even got pretty close to the John Wayne County Airport. Everything seemed to be going ok before we hit the dreaded Santa Ana River Trail at mile 16, which was basically a dry concrete drainage ditch that stretched on for a good 4-5 miles. It was a bore just running on that stretch and not really seeing much of any civilization for a while. The aid stations were about 1.5 miles apart at a time, so that was encouraging. The sun was out at close to mid day already and I just wanted to get out of there and finish the darn thing before I started to get major sunburn to the max. After the Santa Ana River Trail, there was a park trail we weaved into, and I thought I was lost. Thankfully, I followed someone who led me to the other side and I saw signage, which took me to mile 22 and the final stretch of the marathon course. Weaving through the western edge of Santa Ana, we ran back into Costa Mesa and finished at the OC Fair Grounds. It was great to have seen my family there to witness me finish the marathon. My Riverside friend sent me best wishes the day before and that helped set the tone for race day. The course itself was not as hilly as I thought, but there was some significant inclines that made the marathon experience a bit interesting. The finisher's medal was basically a big tidal wave with the OC Marathon lettering on it. It wasn't much of a finisher's medal, but it is a tangible record of what I had accomplished here in sunny Southern California. The only thing that I really disliked was the Santa Ana River Trail, which basically seemed endless and made the entire marathon a drag. The post race food was so so. Since I was at the back of the pack, everything was sitting out in the sun and just was a bit too warm. At least there was something for the rest of us though. Overall, I recommend this marathon for those of you who do live in Southern California and would like to run this one for a post Los Angeles Marathon PR. There are pacing groups for this marathon, so do use them if you are serious about wanting to get to your desired time goals. The OC Marathon 2010 was my 16th marathon lifetime & 5th of 2010. B- #Yelp Marathons read more

I was invited to run this marathon by my buddy who lives in OC and despite being out of shape it was a lot of fun. The course wasn't too difficult as far as terrain goes. Plus the scenery in this area is really amazing especially to someone like me who hasn't explored it that much over the years. Some parts were better than others, but as a whole it was an enjoyable run. Pretty much everyone who organized this event was really friendly too and a lot of people were making sure there was plenty of water going around so nobody got dehydrated. As other have mentioned the parking was terrible, but we managed to find a spot just down the street so it worked out well for us. If you're a veteran marathon runner I can't really suggest this race because it's more on the casual side. Excellent for beginners looking for a fun route though. read more

I have ran the 1/2 Marathon several times and this year (2018), I finally tackled the full marathon and they are both fantastic. The course is beautiful with the beach views and the course support is top notch. There were water stations every mile especially when you really need it in those high miles. I would recommend having your bib mailed to you to avoid the expo that wasn't very impressive and parking was $8.00. The race is mostly flat with minimal inclines that you are in a good position to achieve that PR. read more

The popularity of running a marathon and half marathons have grown in the past few years. And this year you can tell the difference. With the influx of more people doing marathons, issues arose during the 2013 OC Marathon The UPS bag pick-up was just a mess in retrieving the personal items. They only had 5 or 6 UPS trucks for about 20,000 runners. So it took several minutes to retrieve bags with people getting really frustrated and started cutting the lines. There was a similar issue when exiting the OC Fair grounds. It took me about 45 minutes to finally get out of the parking lot. Cars were not moving. I even took a 15 minute nap in the car, just hoping that it would change within those 15 minutes. When I woke up, it was still a mess with no cars moving. But other than the UPS truck and parking lot issue, the OC marathon itself was great. Due to the recent incident at Boston, you can tell they made some significant changes with regards to security as compared to last year. They had more police presence, bomb sniffing dogs, and people had to use the clear bags for their gear. The course remained the same, so nothing really spectacular stood out, maybe just a few landmarks here and there and some scenic views, but it's mostly residential as you run the course. At least the course has an overall net downhill slope. I'm glad they all had the 26 mile markers along the course so it made pacing a lot easier along the way. The weather was ideal for 2013 and they started on time (well almost) so we didn't have to worry about any heat issues as the day progressed. And they had plenty of nourishment along the way so there weren't any issues there. And after the race, there were plenty of goodies for the runners including a beer garden. Hopefully they can work out the traffic and UPS bag check issues on future races. Note to self: 3:36:31 in 2013 read more

Wonderful route support and volunteers! However, the last thoughts you are left with is trying to get out of the f%@#ing parking lot! What moron plans a marathon, and does not allow cars to leave when you are done?! WTF? How many bloody years have they been doing this now? Maybe its their first year...OK then, rookie mistake (Yeah right). So frustrating. Tempted to leave a 2 star review, but that would not be fair the the hundreds of volunteers, fans, and great runners that made the first 2 hours (half marathon) so enjoyable. Thank you route supporters and cheerleaders! read more

SHOW ME THE BLING!!! This is my second time completing the beach cities challenge. OC Half is my favorite run out of the three races. Love the scenery and the weather is nice. I also like the fact that the start and finish line are in different location s. I truly love the little inclines that sneak up at you during the run as well. I like the free beer and massage after the race. The reason why I didn't give 5 stars because of the f&_#en traffic to get out of the oc fairgrounds. They need to open up more exits to get out after the run. Overall I'll be back! read more

I ran this race in May 2012. This is a very well-organized race. From the expo to the start to the finish to the shuttles, everything ran very smoothly. There were over 10,000 finishers including the full, half, and 5k, but the entire event was so well-organized that you didn't notice how big the event really was. The marathon course was very nice for the first half, but the last half was considerably less scenic. This full marathon is really a half with another 13.1 added to the end as an afterthought. I think at some point we were running around a high school parking lot...??? There were very gentle rolling hills throughout the course, but not bad at all, and MUCH flatter than LA. I was able to score a BQ in this race after missing it by five minutes at LA. T-shirts and medals were awesome; I love how they both distinguished between the races. My only really big complaint is the $5 parking for the expo. Really guys...I understand that expo was co-located with the Taste Fest there at the OC Fair, but if I'm only there to pick up my race bib, I shouldn't have to pay $5 to park. Overall great race, though. I would definitely do it again! read more

First marathon. Beautiful course. Easy course! Some baby hills but nothing to get your panties in a bunch over. TONS of water stations. Plenty of porta potties. No complaints about any of that. Hot weather already at 5:30 a.m. which meant it was only going to get hotter but it was not killer at all. What I was so sad about was after running 26.62 miles (YES the course was a tad longer than it should have been), there was NO proper fuel being handed out. I couldn't believe it. All the Gatorade was gone and I came in under 4 hours so I was just blown away at that. No bagels? No bread? No...nothing? Oh wait! Keep walking and YAY A BANANA. That was it!!!!!!!!!! HORRIBLE in my opinion. And hello at that point you don't want another protein bar or chew. You want FOOD! I expected so much more in the food department. Esp because other runs I have done have had so much support and sponsors and tons of food, so much that I could not even carry all of it. I loved the wind breaker we got at the end. I cannot wait to wear it. I love the tech shirt we got and the aqua green color it is, is so pretty. Another thing I was really disappointed in was the Expo. It was so small. Hardly any vendors and the ones there did not have many samples for you to try at all. Again comparing to other runs I have done, I was just surprised at how this race seemed to not have any support from the running community. Maybe someone dropped the ball and just didn't go full out and get more support., IDK. And I was sad that they couldn't afford (?) to give us a real backpack like all the other races I have done had. I guess for my first MARATHON, I had high expectations with the freebies? Esp since I have gotten so much more from just half marathons. We got a plastic bag that our shirt came in. I was thinking DA FUQ IS THIS! I did love the course and for my first marathon I thought it was perfect. The support from the crowds was outstanding. SO MANY people in the residential areas had food for you (MORE THAN THE RACE ITSELF); candy, fruit, beer, coffee, pretzels, etc. I should have taken more advantage of that had I known! read more

I've run this half marathon several times. Actually, it was my first half marathon in 2006 and I loved it! Flat and fast in beautiful weather is the name of the game. Well organized from expo to finish line. Do it! read more

This is a review for the 5k. I'm not as awesome as a lot of people leaving reviews who ran the longer distances, but I just had a few comments on how the race was run, not the race track itself. First, parking is absolutely horrendous. We paid for pre-parking and could not get a spot in the parking lot. I was then forced to pay $5 more to get put in the preferred parking lot. Obviously, if you charge me and give me a ticket for a parking spot, I expect to have a space to park in. If anyone does this race in the future, I would recommend NOT purchasing pre-parking passes unless you are going to be there way early. For anyone who gets there 6:30am or later, buy parking day of so you don't get charged twice for parking like I did. Second, this is a comment against the admin people in charge of the race. They misplaced bibs for 1/3 of the 5k runners who at the Friday Expo. It took them an hour to find the bibs but none of the d-tag's match up with the bib numbers. Not only that, the d-tags had other people's names on them. They told us to take the bib anyway, even though the d-tag had someone else's name on it! Horrendous! As a result, my friend, for the life of her, cannot find out her time. The time is not listed under her name, as they promised it would be, nor is it listed under the name that was on the d-tag. Third, no one working at the expo as a volunteer knows anything. I would ask questions, very general questions, and every single person would tell me "oh, I don't know." Ok- thanks. No effort to find out the answer or at least point at someone who might know the answer to my question. I was actually thinking of running the half marathon next year, but this race is so disorganized and poorly run that I'll just pass. read more

The course was mostly nice. Some areas weren't scenic and there were some narrow areas making it difficult to pas the slower runners. Walkers didn't realize that etiquette calls for them to move to the right especially on those very narrow paths so it was a little sketchy trying to get around them. There were a few hills but nothing too challenging if you train on hills. There were plenty of downhill spots where you could recuperate from the uphill portions. Great view of the ocean at times. I knocked stars off because of the parking. You have to pay to park in order to pick up your bib and pay again on race day. I've run many races and this is the first I've had to pay for bib pickup. Some other big races waive the fee for that day at the least. No porta potties in the finish area which was annoying. There was one that we found but the line was long so we had to make our way out of the fair grounds and into the parking lot to hunt one down which, after running so many miles isn't a very appealing idea. Bag check was easy and so was the pick up. Getting out of the parking lot after the race was a nightmare. It took us well over an hour and most of that time was sitting in one spot. It was horrible it really makes me not even consider running this race again in the future. read more

Of the three races in the Beach Cities Challenge (Surf City, OC, Long Beach), I would have to say that OC is my favorite. In my opinion, it's not particularly scenic, but I like that there are twists and turns and elevation changes, while the other two are pretty much an out and back along the beach. This year the weather was CRAZY and it actually poured and HAILED while we were waiting for the race to start. I (and everyone else) was soaking wet when the race started. Fortunately, the rain let up pretty quickly and there was sunshine at the finish line. The race is well organized, well staffed and parking was a breeze. You can park at the start line for free and shuttle back or you can park at the finish ($8-10) and shuttle to the start. I figured I would be feeling lazy at the end to shuttle back, so I just ended up paying the $8 to park at the fairground. It is slightly annoying that you also have to pay for parking at packet pickup, so you're looking at around $20 for the two days. They should just let you have one pass for both days, it only takes a few minutes to pick up the packets! My other gripe was with the shirt sizes. This year the (women's) shirts ran TINY. I requested a medium, but switched to a large and even that was tight. Last year's mediums were so big! Ugh... pretty sure I didn't gain weight! Well two down, one to go in the Beach Cities Challenge! read more

Beautiful course! Well managed course! Charging $8 parking to run into the expo and grab a bib and shirt was off-putting. This year, unfortunately, the race shirts were also completely disappointing, whereas they have historically been truly cute! I'll be back but don't charge for expo parking and improve the race swag please! read more

Great race, especially for any first-time runners such as myself. Ran the half-marathon, and while waking up at the buttcrack of dawn on a Sunday is hardly my idea of fun, this was enjoyable and dare I say it, "worth while". The race begins at Fashion Island and carries on through Corona Del Mar's upscale neighborhood. Unforgettable how neighbors will greet you and cheer you on with a coffee mug and newspaper in hand, and bathrobe tied around their rounded waistlines. It sort of makes you want to hug and smack them at the same time: so friendly, yet so smug. Moving on, the race continues through Back Bay and over PCH. Never again will I wait in line for a port-o-potty (disgusting). But this was my first time running, and I carb-loaded like any naive, adrenaline-rushed idealist the night before. Epic fail. The terrain becomes tricky at mile 9 and 10. Not only is it nearing the end, but there's a killer hill. That, and you begin thinking to yourself, why aren't half-marathons 10 miles instead of 13.1? Easily, your brain confuses desperation with logic. As in, "maybe I should just rest, lie down, catch a second wind and be carried by that 55 yr-old man who is running faster than me..." The end is great for obvious reasons. Seems like the entire city of Costa Mesa at the OC Fairgrounds is cheering you on. Water stations are plentiful too. At some point, after I hit the finish line, someone threw bananas and croissants at me, and I gobbled them shamelessly. It was like manna and quail from heaven. I think I cried, I was so happy and hungry. I do recommend an excellent playlist. The crescendo in my ipod was listening to Eminem's "Lose Yourself" and "Eye of the Tiger". I'll be there next year. read more

This was my 16th half marathon and my first time running the OC Half Marathon. I picked up my packet on Friday afternoon. Although there was a long line when the expo first opened, it moved really quickly and I had no trouble picking up my bib, tech shirt, clear plastic gear check bag, and free Wahoo's taco coupon. The tech shirt was a short sleeved and was a nice design. I actually wore it on race day and it was very comfortable and fit great. I wish the race would provide a shirt sizing chart at the time of registration so runners could order the correct size, as the race wasn't allowing any size changes at any time (fortunately, my shirt fit great). The vendor area in the expo had quite a few vendors, but it was crammed into a small expo hall at the OC Fairgrounds. It was packed with people and very difficult to talk with the vendors with the noise level and cramped conditions. I also bought the $5.00 prepaid parking pass for race day at the expo. On race day, I arrived at the OC Fairgrounds to park around 4AM. My shuttle time wasn't until 4:45AM. I had no problem entering the parking lot at that time and quickly finding a parking spot. Boarding the busses was no problem. There were at least a dozen busses waiting for runners to board. The ride over to Fashion Island took about 20 minutes and I arrived with plenty of time before the race started at 6:15AM. It was a little windy and chilly, so I used the UPS gear check and only waited about 5 minutes to check my gear at the appropriate truck. There were start corrals and runners started in waves, which was nice. The corrals should have been larger though. I was in my corral about 15 minutes before the race started, which I was glad because by the time the race started, there were many runners trying to squeeze themselves into the corral and it was absolutely packed. The half marathon started about 5 minutes late. It would have been great if they would have started on time. The course was very packed for the first mile, after that, I never experienced too much crowding and running around slower runners. Mile markers were clearly posted and I liked that each one had an inspirational quote. I didn't like how the first couple of water/gatorade stations were about 2 miles apart. I felt there should have been more earlier on in the race (every 1-1.5 miles). There were plenty of stations in the second half of the race and there were Clif Shot gels given out around mile 10. Traffic control on the race course was great. Lots of volunteers and police personnel directing traffic and cheering runners on. At the finish line, there were plenty of spectators. The medals were very nice. I got my Beach Cities Challenge medal and wow that thing is huge! That is where the good experience stops. There were small yellow bags given to runners with only an orange, a Clif bar, and a Fig Newton bar. Also, bottled water and gatorade were given. After running a half marathon, I was looking for more food that just those items. The family reunion area was a mess. Thousands of people everywhere, and it was very difficult to walk anywhere. The Beach Cities Challenge table was hidden between two buildings and wasn't marked until you got to the actual table. The gear bag pick up wasn't even on the map. The lady at the information booth in the family reunion area wasn't answering questions, she was yelling where the gear check was located, which people couldn't understand. I waited in line for nearly AN HOUR to get my gear bag. I've used UPS gear check at half marathons numerous times in the past and have never waited more than 10 minutes. So, I don't know what happened here. Finally, I walked back to my car and waitied another 30 minutes to leave the parking lot. I was VERY frustrated with the whole finish line and post race parking situation. I'm really not sure if I'll be back next year due to these issues. read more

Out of all the three Beach City marathons, this one is by far, my favorite. Course: Changes slightly from year to year, but mile markers are pretty consistent. What makes the route better than other marathons is that it doesn't loop, which means you don't have to beat the mental game of passing by others who are running their 24th mile in the opposite direction, while you are just passing your 15th. For me, time went by pretty fast until mile 14. Once I entered Santa Ana, it got quiet (more about that below). Audience: The most supportive crowd I have seen. It's 6 a.m. people, go back to bed! But nope! They are out there cheering their butts off in the fog for random strangers who paid to run 26.2 miles. What's even more heartfelt is that many of these supporters go out of their ways to lug chest fulls of useful snacks to places that are difficult for spectators to get to, and they pass out goodies. My most desired replenishment is ice. After Newport, it gets less exciting. The route takes you to neighborhoods of people who are upset about the road closures and based on my experience, the very same residents often refuse to even look at the runners. Shame on you! It's probably not until the last mile when supporters are seen again, so prepare yourself for 10 miles of self-made distraction. Refueling Stations: Plenty of water and sports drink to go around. Somewhere around the 15th mile, gels and chews were provided at several marks. I grabbed as many as I could and passed them off to others along the way. First-Aid Stations: There were several stations along the route, as well as one big one at the finish line. My understanding is that 90% the medical team are volunteers and they are heaven-sent angels with smiles on their faces who are ready to bandage and ice you up. Thank you! Pre-Race Bib Pick-up: Got to the Fairground on a Saturday morning and stood in a very long line of people waiting for the expo to start. The line moved pretty quickly as soon as the door opened and the event volunteers were efficient with handing out bibs and t-shirts. I live around the corner, so I walked to the Expo and am unfamiliar with parking and traffic. Finish Line: Plenty of photo-op by event photographers, even before reaching the Finisher's backdrop. Gatorade, TruMoo chocolate milk, bananas, pretzel packs, and Kind energy bars were provided. The Kind station was stingy though: "One bar per person" -- ok, but you don't seem to be short when compared to the generosity of Gatorade and TruMoo. I didn't feel like begging for another bar, but for goodness sake, I just ran over 26 miles. Can I PLEASE have another bar so I can walk out of the Fairground alive? read more

My first time at this race. Not my first half marathon though (This race was #8 for me) I'm going for my Beach Cities medal this year and this was just the 2nd stop to getting that gorgeous half pound medal. :D Expo was fast and easy, though a bit weird to walk through 2-3 buildings for it all. lol. kinda threw me off but it's ok. Course was great, very scenic (It reminded me why I should take advantage of living in Orange County, honestly, I don't take advantage of this beautiful county) and very cool (fortunately it was a very cloudy & overcast day, the sun tried to peek through a few times but failed miserably. :) ). The hills for this race are by no means, bad. for first timers, they could be a little bothersome, but for seasoned and super-runners, they're not that big a deal. I really appreciate the citizens of Corona Del Mar embracing the runners that go through their streets that early on a Sunday morning, they are a great support system. The OC Marathon itself has very little entertainment and/or support from local schools (cheerleaders or whatnot), I think there was maybe one school's cheer squad present, and no local bands or anything along the course, but that's ok cuz there would have been no real place to put them anyhow. As for the horror stories out there, I fortunately did not experience any of them. I never check my gear using their gear check stuff (like flying, I never check luggage) all my crap goes with me or not at all (aka, in my car), but I heard plenty of negative experiences with UPS and their unorganized system. Also the parking lot to leave once you're done.. this is my take: you walk to your car, you see the massive amounts of people trying to leave and waiting in line, some with their cars just turned off at this point, you get to your car, you do: a) sit and wait it out, take a nap, massage your legs for a bit, and rest. or b) get in your car, start your car, go wait in line with the car on, wasting gas and complain about it on here or racegrader.com. Yeah, sounds ridiculous when you read it here, right? but it was the EXACT THING THAT ALMOST EVERYONE DID. I saw it, and I chose with option A. I took a quick 15 min nap, and when I woke up, everyone was gone and exiting was a breeze, and it felt great to get that short nap in. Oh as for PR/time, I was 1 minute longer than my previous PR, I shouldn't have stopped to take so many pictures, LOL. read more

Fun run with fantastic scenery, but the traffic getting out negated the good parts. We got to the car around 9:30 and didn't start moving until maybe 10:45 and were still in the parking lot at 11:15. Poor planning in this regard but everything else was fine. read more

Favorite half marathon in the OC series. Well organized and run. Course has some hills but overall it is net downhill. Expect a fast first 6 miles but don't use up all your energy as it warms up and you do get more hills on back half of the course. Very scenic - Fashion Island, Corona Del Mar, Balboa and the Back Bay. read more

** Full Marathon review** Marathon #6 for me, and my first time doing OC. - Nice course for the first 12 miles, then pretty much snooze city for the last 14 miles. Running through the industrial park and random neighborhoods and along the Santa Ana river made for some pretty boring and uninspiring miles. I'm thankful, however, for the spectators camped out in front of their houses with words of encouragement in those critical last few miles... as well as whoever set up the awesome aliens next outside that one tunnel (strangely the most interesting thing I saw in the last 6 or so miles!). - There were some hills in the first half, none formidable for anyone accustomed to hill running. The back half of the race is flat monotony with the exception of one freeway overpass around mile 14 or so. - Decent pricing for a marathon; only $10 more than the half marathon for an extra 13.1 miles of running. Thank you half marathoners for subsidizing my race! I signed up at the LA Marathon expo in February for something like $100 or $110 (can't recall), no processing fee. - Lacks somewhat in the communication and organization aspects. My race weekend instruction email wasn't received until the afternoon the first day of the expo (Friday), which seemed late to me. The signage driving to the start line at Fashion Island was a little sparse at 4:45 am as we were circling around a little lost trying to figure out which lot to park in (my spectator was parking just to see me off at the start). - As mentioned by basically everyone here in the past two days, leaving the OC Fairgrounds around, I don't know, 10 am, is an absolute clusterf***. My husband parked in Lot H, but judging from the long lines to get out, the only way out up until 10:55 am was the main gate. We ate lunch at our car instead of getting in the ridiculous line (and watched a Subaru we walked past 30 min earlier only make it a few cars further around a corner). Around 10:30 we spotted a truck and volunteers start picking up cones at the half marathon course through Gate 10, so we took it as a sign that they were going to open up that gate soon. Instead of letting cars out Gate 10, however, they started letting cars IN only for the next 20 min. After a lot of complaints and negotiating from runners stuck in the parking lot, we were among the first cars let out of Gate 10 at 10:55 am, after which we quickly and easily were able to get on the freeway. So not bad for us, but only with some strategy and luck. I really feel for everyone else stuck waiting. Next time, I'd recommend parking far away outside the fairgrounds. Can someone verify if taking a shuttle back to the start line would have been quicker? - Only about 2000 people participated in the marathon. It was a nice sized field and never felt congested. I loved that most about this event! I was assigned to Corral 1 for heavens knows why (I am not fast...), but just randomly placed myself in the middle of Corral 2 instead next to the pacers. There were so few runners though that I'm not sure how much it really mattered when I crossed the start line. - At least two of the pacer groups were too fast, and they knew it. For pace groups to be spaced five minutes apart, I'd kinda demand a little more accuracy. When a certain pacers passed me in the last few miles, they were saying to each other that they were "still going too fast." Well, yeah, because you passed me and I still finished the race two minutes under your time. They were walking in the final mile. - Would not do the marathon again; would only really recommend possibly the half marathon based on the course. read more

Hmm. Well, I'm writing this review two days after running the full OC Marathon. I think I'm still processing the whole thing, but I'll just cut to the chase and say that right now my opinion of the whole experience (i.e., the race expo, the marathon course, the awesome volunteers, the post-race festivities, the technical shirt included in the 'swag bag,' and the 10th Anniversary medal) was that overall it wasn't bad. But while I was running the race and found myself encountering more than a few hills/inclines, I thought, "Hey, wait a minute! I thought the OC Marathon website said this was a flat/fast course!" I wish they would have been more accurate in their description of the full marathon course. There were more hills/inclines than I expected throughout the race. This was my 6th marathon overall, but my first time running the OC Marathon. It wasn't one of my better efforts, but I think it's because the heat was a factor, my lack of sleep the night before (and even the week before) the marathon probably played a role, and I'm wondering if my age played a factor, too. I haven't run a marathon since 2008, so maybe I just need to get back into the swing of things. But that's all stuff that's beyond the control of the OC Marathon. I just had to deal with it and move on. Further, I liked the fact that the OC Marathon website had a list of recommended hotels in the area that provided shuttle service on the morning of the race. I checked in the night before the marathon at the Ramada Inn Costa Mesa/Newport Beach and I really enjoyed the experience. The Ramada Inn provided a shuttle on the morning of the race that took us runners from the hotel to the start line at Fashion Island. This helped to calm my nerves because I knew I wouldn't have to deal with traffic concerns, road closures, or parking issues. The Ramada Inn is conveniently located a short drive from the marathon expo at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, and a relatively short drive to the start line at Fashion Island in Newport Beach. The rooms are great. They provided all race participants a little brown bag filled with Gummi Bears, granola bars, a banana, and a bottle of water. The staff was very friendly and helpful. There are more than a few places within walking distance that runners or their supporters might find appealing: Trader Joe's is right around the corner, there's a little produce market right next door, Del Taco is a short walk away, and if you or your support crew want to get in a last-minute workout before the race, there's a UFC Gym right next door. Not to mention, there are many other places just a short drive away that you might enjoy. I'll end on a positive note about this race and say that it had a small town feel to it, there were beautiful views (e.g., the ocean, the marina, the homes), the medal was great (heavy, too!), and the volunteers at every stop - and even the neighbors whose streets we ran through who cheered for us from their front lawns - were amazing. Even the other runners around me toward the end of the race were great, offering encouragement and making me laugh. Would I run the OC Marathon again? Hmm. I might. read more

I have participated in half marathons and marathons around the country; however, yesterday was the first time I participated in the OC Half Marathon. The course was scenic, well-supported, and safe and secure. Everything was great -until I crossed the finish line. At the end of the race, runners were not given space blankets. Initially, this was not a concern. However, when I had to wait for over an hour for my gear (a sweatshirt and pants) at the UPS trucks -that's a problem. Gear pick up was unorganized from finding the trucks, to the line-up (that ended up being a mob scene), and then to actually getting the gear from the truck. Runners were cold and shivering. This was a very frustrating experience! While I recognize that the OC Marathon (as do all races) depend upon volunteers, this was clearly a race organizer issue. The volunteers did everything they could, but it was clear they needed more support -more volunteers, more trucks, and direction to lay out the checked-in gear in a secure location. Runners are tired at the end of the race; having organized gear check out needs to be MUCH better managed. After being so cold, I could not wait to get into my car and go home. I guess one needs to careful about what one wishes, as that was another completely disorganized mess. The parking lot was poorly marked, hundreds of cars were at a standstill, and traffic support was standing around. It took 1.5 hours to get out of the parking lot. OC Marathon could be a great race, but the race directors need to get a handle on the disorganization. With the cost of running a race becoming expensive, runners should and will spend their money at better runner-centered races! read more

One star because I finished by 9:30 a.m. and sat in the parking lot for 2 hours before I could physically leave. Huge back log of cars and no type of organization to get so many people out of one area. I could have finished most of another half in that time! read more

I was skeptical about running this race because I read a lot of horror stories, but I found it to be better than I thought. Just a few minor issues. Cons- They ran out of t-shirts at the expo. Supposedly they will mail one to me. I have so many race shirts anyway that most of the time I don't wear them, but for some it might be a big deal. - Paid 25 dollars to have the bib and timing chip mailed to me, but for the money, I think they could've mailed me the t -shirt and gear check bag. I had to end up going to the expo anyway just to get a bag. Pros- Stayed at the Marriot Costa Mesa. Got on my shuttle and it left right at 5:05. It made 2 stops, so by the 3rd hotel there were 2 ladies that couldn't get on bc it was full so I guess that is a con for them. It arrived in plenty of time. Gear check was fast. I waited less than 5 minutes to drop off my bag with a UPS truck Course was mostly flat but did have a couple hills. My Garmin came in at 13.22 miles, so I must've been weaving around some of the slower marathoners at some point, but being in Corral one it never bottlenecked to a point where it caused me to slow down. I was really nervous about getting out of there because I read it took people hours to leave the finish line area. I guess finishing 75 out of 9069 people I didn't really have to deal with a lot of traffic. I finished, grabbed some fruit and Gatorade, warmed down and was able to pick up my gear check and be on the shuttle all very fast. Shuttle left at 8:30 and I was back at my hotel before 9 am . I PR'd by exactly one minute 1:30:06, but a little disappointed I couldn't break that 1:30 mark, oh well there will be plenty more opportunities. Oh and the start corral one wasn't crowded at all, I got there at 6:10 and found there to be plenty of space. That was my experience with it. read more

This is one of the worst organized large races. The face that the start and finish lines are in different places makes it even more difficult. I've done this race 2 years in a row now and it has not gotten any better. It takes over an hour just to get out of the race parking lot. If it wasn't for the sand dollar, I wouldn't be doing this race. read more

This past weekend, I ran my first half marathon in the OC. 13.1 miles within the cities of Newport Beach, Corona Del Mar, bits of Irvine, and concluding at the OC Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa - it was a great and beautiful course. This has been one of the hardest tasks that I've forced myself to do and what helped the most was the volunteers and spectators- they are cheering you on and motivating you to finish, screaming your name or bib number. I remember there was a point in the race where I said out loud that I felt like a turtle, and the volunteer looked at me and said "Do you see the people behind you? You are not last, you are doing great. Keep it up!" I agreed with her and thanked her for words of encouragement. That's how most of my race played out; people encouraging me, and pushing me. Also, I had numerous messages from friends & family encouraging me on my race...it was really heartwarming to have a great support group. I had nothing but drive and determination to finish this race. My cousin, Elio, and girlfriend, Arminda, also ran with me, and I couldn't have done it without the both of them as well. The Good: 1. The volunteers and specatators - they were very helpful and wonderful in everything that they did: Cheering, providing water, screaming your name, picking up your trash, and helping out with the event. 2. Beautiful course - it's the OC baby! 3. Kool N Fit Spray - that stuff did wonders for my soreness and fatigue at mile 8 or 9 4. Awesome jersey shirts that we got. The Bad: 1. Nutrilite not available till mile 11...they posted it would be at other mile markers...but this was the only location. And it was highly watered down. 2. The goo packs, and snacks trash everywhere in the marsh and on the back bay, shame on you racers. There were volunteers everywhere holding bags of trash. 3. Port-a-potties placement in the beginning of the course was horrible. Around mile 1, mile 2 and mile 4 - they were all in bad locations. Please fix this for next year. The Ugly: 1. Parking fee for picking up a bib, Health Expo was free, but we were able to avoid the fee when we parked at the Administration lot. 2. Drop-off for runners in the beginning was chaotic - if there was someone directing traffic, it would have helped streamlined traffic congestion. 3. Bring your own snacks, goo, chomps, because you'll need it for that extra boost at the very end. read more

Poorly managed event. Parking gridlock. Exiting the fair grounds took OVER AN HOUR with zero staff helping to direct cars. It is easier getting out of Dodger Stadium. Awful! read more

OC Marathon - Parking gridlock. All cars stopped. Over an hour to exit. - Races & Competitions Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

The traffic is horrible. I think I was in the wrong corral. I don't weigh much, and I was only in corral 2. The crowding NEVER thinned and I got shoved twice. I got there early but was stuck in the porta potty line FOR LIKE HALF AN HOUR! and I didn't know how to get into the end of the first corral. This is the worst crowding EVER! AWFUL! The whales set the pace. The parking and traffic is awful. Next year, they should sign up half the people of this year for the half marathon. The other races thin out. Not this one. Screw this race. read more

Yesterday's event made this my 3rd half marathon. I was hoping to PR here since I came in with an injury/had laryngitis in my last two halfs at Surf City and Pasadena while I didn't come in with any injuries this time. Needless to say, I swallowed my words and tripped/fell down at the 1st mile, therefore scraping my elbow/knee. I finally went to the first aid AFTER almost 3 hours and they did bandage it up; unfortunately the bandage held on for a good 1 hour. I got the support of runners to finish. Someone even gave me an alcohol pad too! Anyway, the Backbay route sounds appealing, but it got boring after awhile. There was hardly any Nutrilite drinks (only 1 stand had it from what I remember and I was scouting them out like an eagle!). Unfortunately, Arrowhead was their Sponsor, and of course, we got Arrowhead to drink. Ugh, water would have been more appealing if I didn't see the Arrowhead logo (it's nasty in my opinion). Because most of the route was in the Backbay, there were very few spectators. I guess I saw the Pasadena one as more spectator-friendly and the running environment not as monotonous. I don't like the idea of point-to-point,$5 for the Packet-pick up parking and then another $5 for the day of the race parking, "goody bag" with just ads for additional races/only 2 samples (clear shaving cream + eye drops for dry eyes), and no mylar blankets at the end (I had to sit in the sun for my post-run heat so I was glad that the sun was up!). I was waiting for my brother to finish and by the time they finished, they ran out of bananas! I think they should have been better prepared as that was one of the 3 energy sources left at the end (Snickers marathon energy bar and croissants). I also got a free hat with registration, but it took the "solutions" desk to help me get that free hat. For us half marathoners, we only had one point in which they were able to capture our time/pace (the 5th mile). I was a bit disappointed since I've had at least 2-3 checkpoints at the other half marathons (and I don't want to wear those watches that help me calculate my pace)! All in all, first and last time here, thanks for the experience! read more

The course itself had nice views of the beach and gorgeous houses. Lots of inclines/hills (not sure how other courses are since this is my first half marathon). Very dedicated runners trying not to stop despite the heat and supporters with funny signs to bring smiles "blisters are braille for awesome" "your feet hurt cause you're kicking ass" "run faster, my arms are hurting" were my favorite signs. The lines were long for everything: bathrooms before the race, somewhat during the race, leaving the race from the parking lot (i didn't have this problem since I was picked up away from the race but people were ranting on the fb page and finding my ride was difficult because roads were closed) and trying to get back to my hotel (since everyone was leaving at the same time and my hotel was near the marathon course so runners had priority over traffic). PICK UP ADVICE- would be to get picked up away from the race: it gives you time to cool down, your driver doesn't have to pay $7 for parking pre pay or $10 day of the event, and you won't be stuck in the parking lot after being picked up for 1-2 hours (according to other runners). Plan ahead by seeing where there are road closures. The finish line is at the oc fair and event. I got picked up somewhere on Newport and Ithink other street was devino? It's near jack in the box, arco, subway, Starbucks and a store with a k (but it's not a 'k mart' ). BEFORE RACE- Eat carbs 2-3 days before race. Buy gu/energy gels or drinks with electrolytes (race expo sells powdered packets you can put into your water that claim to be better than gatorade). Drink lots of water! There were runners passing out due to dehydration. Wear shoes that are big rather than fitting just right (ur thumb nail's width from biggest toe to tip of shoe). If your feet swell during the run, the extra space helps). DURING RACE- Running on the side or on sidewalks help a lot since it gets very crowded in the middle. Slow down or stop and stretch if you need to. It's better to get a slower time than to injure yourself or faint especially if you don't have medical insurance. Don't run faster just because it seems like everyone else is. Remember that your time is based on when you crossed the line in the beginning and when you finish. Everyone starts at different times based on which wave/corral you were placed in so some people got a head start while others are sprinting because they took a break by walking it out. Enjoy it :) AFTER RACE- Obviously rehydrate and eat. Enjoy free beer, music, and whatever else they provide Apply pain relief cream if needed, massage sore areas, take a hot bath, and or stretch. I walked to get picked up to cool down, stretched while waiting, and put my feet up on the dashboard when I got in the car to relieve pain in the legs. Thank your driver and your support team. Be proud of yourself for finishing! Have another running/fitness goal! read more