The Silver Strands Half and 5K race was held on Coronado Island, which is next to San Diego, on November 15.

The half is open to runners, walkers, roller bladers, and relay runners.  It’s a capped entry of 3500 total, and the event did sell out.  So next year, register early.  The race started at 7:30am at a park on Coronado Island and ended in Imperial Beach.

PARKING AND BUSES

The majority of the parking was free beach parking at mile 5 which meant you had to take a shuttle to the start and from the finish.  It is a point-to-point course so the start and finish are about 10 miles apart.  I thought the shuttle system was pretty efficient; I didn’t have to wait very long either time.  I was on a charter-type bus going to the start which was lovely because it had a bathroom.  And we all know how runners have to use the toilets pre-race….

I got to the race pretty early (6am) and I finished the race pretty quickly (1:40:55) which is probably why I didn’t have to wait a long time for a shuttle ride.  Had I shown up around 6:45 and finished the race a little slower, like 2:15 or whatever the most popular time is, I probably would have had to wait a lot longer.

THE COURSE

Honestly, the course wasn’t as great as I thought it would be.  We started on time (yes!) and basically ran for 8.5 miles on a busy highway (which is where the 75 on the logo comes from).  I love Coronado, but we were out of the town in less than a mile and it got a little boring.

We did run near the ocean but alot of times you couldn’t even see it.  So after the 8 highway miles you ran a couple miles out and back in this fenced-in naval base area.  All in all, it was a slightly disappointing course.  I had a lot higher expectations for the area, BUT it is flat and fast.

COURSE SUPPORT

They handed out water and energy drinks every couple of miles or so.  It was warm out and I drank at least 2 cups at every station and could have drank more.  Because of the weather, I think there probably should have been a few more stations.

They gave out Hammer gels at mile 10 which were amazing.  I’d never had one before and now HG and I have a full blown love affair.

As far as people support, there was very little.  It’s a smaller race with few spectators.

THE RACE “FEEL”

Don’t quote me on this, or necessarily even believe me, but I think the race benefitted the Challenged Athletes Foundation.  There were quite a few disabled children biking or hand-pedaling with an adult, and it was really touching to see a dad pushing his disabled daughter 13 miles on her bike.  It was pretty neat, and I’m obviously on the rag.

There were some roller bladers, not too many, and surprisingly I wasn’t annoyed with them at all.  Sometimes you get the wheels vs runner drama with bikers and bladers and all that, but there wasn’t any of that.  peaceful sweetness.

THE SWAG

Everyone who signed up got a super standard, big, cotton t-shirt.  We also received some Hammer Gel samples which I’m super stoked on.  I love to try new stuff out, although orange flavor sounds pretty nast…

The finisher medals were a fantabulous turquoise color:

I didn’t even walk through the finisher’s expo area because I wanted to get on the bus without having to wait in line.  From my super sleuthing glances, it looked pretty standard: bagels, bananas, water, energy drinks… along with these sweet looking water bottles:

Kinda different, kinda nifty.

THE POSITIVES

*If you register early, before May 1, the race entry fee is only $42.  Not bad for a half.  If you register the weekend of, it’s $75.  Pretty ridiculous for a race of this caliber.

*Free parking and plenty of it, at least if you arrive on time.

*There weren’t time corrals as the race wasn’t big enough to warrant them, but they did have pacers in 15 min increments (1:30, 1:45, 2 hrs ) which was nice; I haven’t seen that very many times in smaller races.

THE NEGATIVES

*THE LONGEST LINE FOR PORTA POTTIES I HAVE EVER SEEN!!!

photo credit

This times a hundred gajillion million billion hundred.  I waited in line for nearly 30 mins, and it got way longer after I joined the congo line.  There just weren’t enough potties for everyone.  Simple as that.

*Slightly boring course, not many spectators, just kinda “blah” event.

TIPS AND ADVICE

*Wear sunglasses and dress in layers!!!  It was chilly when I arrived at 6am.  Probably high 40’s.  So wear something that you can throw away and not cry over if you don’t get it back.  BUT, wear a tank top and sunglasses because it will get WARM as the sun rises.  It was surprisingly warm, and I wished I would have worn a tank instead of short sleeve.

*Arrive early.  Avoid the headache of showing up last minute because you are going to have to wait for a bus (and a toilet).  Or even better, have someone drop you off at the start and pick you up at the finish.  That would be ideal.  Really ideal would be if your personal chauffeur showed up in an Aston Martin.

*Run with a water bottle.  It was toasty and the aid stations didn’t really suffice.  I was thirsty the entire race and should have brought my own bottle.  of water.  get your head out of the liquor store.

Overall I’d rate this race a 6.743 out of 10.  It’s cheap if you buy in early; it’s a pretty area, but the bus thing kinda sucks honestly.  I love a race where you walk to the start and finish and not deal with all the transportation issues.

I’m going to run so I leave you with the running quote of the day:

Running, if it were any easier it’d be called football.