I should've gotten an earlier start for the drive down to San Diego to pick up my race packet, but I didn't leave until I was done watching the English Premier League football matches. I finally left the house at about 10 am and it took me a long 2.5 hrs to arrive at Road Runner Sports. As always the packet pick-up process was simple and quick. My goodie bag was stuffed with a lot of Hyland's leg cramp caplet samples. Perhaps they knew that I'm quite prone to leg cramps! :) Before heading out, I used their restroom as my bladder was quite full from the long car ride.
Race shirt
No cramps!
I then drove over to a Chick-fil-A that was located off of Mission Center Rd. I came here because it was close to the Fashion Valley mall where I was planning to watch a movie afterwards. The dining area was pretty tiny at this particular Chick-fil-A. Fortunately for me, a small table was available when my food was ready.
Lunch
After I was done with my food, I drove over to the AMC Fashion Valley 18 to watch Last Christmas. There was a lot of traffic getting into the parking lot, but I was able to find a spot in parking structure E. I supposed that I could've parked closer to the movie theater, but I didn't mind walking. I love cheesy movies and this one was pretty cheesy. I saw the reveal coming a mile away, but I thought it was still pretty cool to watch the build-up. Overall it's a nice feel good movie. You should see this one if you're a huge George Michael fan as they used a lot of his songs in the movie including the title song.
After the movie, I drove over to the Days Inn near the Sports Arena. I picked this location mainly because it was cheap. The guy at the front desk was nice and friendly during the check-in process. The room was decently clean. However the room was missing towels, so back to the front desk I go to get some towels. Unfortunately the towels that he gave me had some really nasty looking stains. They looked like they had been used while working on the car and eating pizza or menstruating. I'm not a fussy person, but it was gross enough that I decided to skip the shower.
Days Inn
I guess they have a drug problem at this location
Thermostat
I also picked this motel because it was located within walking distance from a Chick-fil-A and that's where I went for dinner. It was located in the Sports Arena parking lot. I found a booth and placed my order using their mobile app. I ordered a Chick-fil-A sandwich meal. Lately I've been eating at Chick-fil-A restaurants more often to avoid the grief that I get from eating my traditional pre-race meal from McDonald's. Their food is pricier than McDonald's, but I do love their chicken sandwiches. I got a refill of my iced tea before walking back to my room.
Chick-fil-A
Back at my room, I laid out my flat runner before calling it a night.
Flat runner
Sunday 11/10
I was awoken at about 2 am from the folks in the next room having sex. Sure they had their TV on, but the walls were paper thin, so it was as if I was in the same room while they go at it. I was able to get a couple more hours of sleep after they were done.
I got ready and left the motel at about 5:15 am. As I was walking to my car, I came across a security guard. I guess the area wasn't all that great. I drove across the Coronado Bridge on my way to parking my car at Coronado City Hall. Last year, I parked near the finish line at Imperial Beach Pier. I had paid for a shuttle ride to the start from Reama Park. This year, I thought I'd try the free parking at the City Hall which was on first come availability. This was my first time parking at this location, so I wasn't sure how early I needed to arrive. It would turn out that I was pretty much the first car there. I waited a while in my car before making the walk over to the start area at Sunset Park. Along the way, I talked to a Kansas City Chiefs fan who was out for his morning walk. I also came across my friend, Eric, who was adding in some extra miles before the start of the race.
Beach
Once I got there, I used one of the many available portapotties. This race is one of the few where you don't have to wait in a long line to use one. Once I was done with my pre-race business, I headed over to the start line area where I bumped into the usual suspects. We got the usual pre-race photo.
Taking care of business
Half Fanatics
Start line
The half marathon started at 7:20 am. The course pretty much remained the same as last year's where it starts from Sunset Park and ends at the Imperial Beach Pier. The one thing they changed was that the course no longer runs past the finish line for a couple of miles before returning for the finish. The 3 miles or so were made up in the Silver Strand State Beach area between miles 5.5 and 8.5. Although my right foot arch was feeling much better and I was able to run well through about 8 miles, my lack of fitness caught up to me. There was a progressive slow down in the last 5 miles. I definitely sputtered to the finish line, but was happy to have finished in under 2 hrs.
Finish line
Finish: 1:57:18
Click here for my Garmin data.
After crossing the finish line and getting my finisher medal, I also got some post-race snacks and drinks. I also bumped into my friends. We got a pic before we headed our separate ways. I used a portapotty near the gear bag pick-up location before catching a bus back to my car. The bus first stopped at the Silver Strand Beach parking lots before heading to City Hall. I believe the final stop was at Sunset Park for those that parked at the start.
Karen at the finish line
Finisher medal and post race goodies
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