I left the house at about noon and headed down to Laguna Hills to pick up my race bib for tomorrow's race and to meet up with an old buddy from college. First, I stopped in at In-n-Out Burger to eat lunch. This was one of the larger In-n-Out Burger restaurants and still the place was packed. I ordered the usual, 2 Double Doubles, both with raw onions. The order taker was a bit surprised that I didn't order a drink, so I asked for a cup for water. Then I found a spot to sit down and wait for my order. Once I got my burgers, I searched for an open table. I found a small 2 seater over in the corner.
Double Double x2
Once I was done with my food, I hopped back in the car and drove over to the nearby Road Runner Sports to pick up my race packet. I was hoping to run into my friend and there she was right there at the entrance greeting runners and shoppers. After saying hi, I moved on to the pick-up table in the back of the store. I had to sign a waiver form before being assigned to a bib. I then walked over to the other table near the entrance to pick up my race shirt. Before leaving, I did a lap around the store to check out their merchandise. The only item that I could possibly buy was a new belt that can hold my cellphone and race bib. The one that I'm currently using is a bit worn out. Unfortunately, I did not find a suitable replacement. Before leaving, I dropped off my ticket in the raffle box for a chance to win a $100 gift card. Only those that picked up their bibs early were given a ticket for the drawing.
Andrea
Race shirt
Back of race shirt
I then drove over to the nearby Starbucks to meet up with my old college buddy, Sam. I used to only see him in Seattle when I was up there for the now defunct Rock n' Roll Seattle Marathon. He had moved away from there several years back. Before going in, I ordered a grande white chocolate macadamia cream cold brew on the mobile app. Since I was there a tad early, I found a table inside to wait for him to show up. We caught up a bit and talked about work. He wanted to know what it was like working in data as he was trying to switch careers.
Grande white chocolate macadamia cream cold brew
Monday 5/27
I got ready and left the house at about 4:45 am and arrived at the starting area at just before 5:30 am. I didn't have to show up so earlier since I had already picked up my race packet yesterday. However, I always like to arrive early just in case. Normally I would prefer to park in the Nordstrom Rack lot, but the entrances to that lot were blocked. As a backup, I opted to park in the lot that was closer to BJ's. While parked, I noticed that people that had arrived just shortly after me were beginning to park inside the Nordstrom lot. I was a bit too lazy to move my car as it wasn't that much closer to the start line.
At about 6 am, I exited my car to go use one of the portapotties before it got too busy. I bumped into Andrew just as I was ready to head back to my car. We were both parked in the same area, so we walked back together. Along the way, I bumped into my friend Willie.
Bumped into Willie on the way back to my car
I met up with my friend Albert. After I shed some layers and grabbed my handheld bottle, we headed over to the starting area. He got in one of the long lines for the portapotties. Since I had already gone earlier, I started heading over to the starting corral. Along the way, I bumped into Ward. He was checking in a gear bag. While waiting in the corral, I bumped into Marcia who would be running the 10k. Then with about less than 15 minutes to go before race start, Robert showed up.
Found Ward dropping off a bag at the gear truck
Marcia
About 15 minutes before race start
Robert
I positioned myself just behind the 1:50 pacers as that was around my current level of fitness. Since the first mile was slightly downhill, I got ahead of them. The second mile took us out onto Paseo de Valencia. The third mile had a little bit of climbing before reaching a nice stretch of downhill to the 5k mark as we made a right turn onto Alicia Parkway. The 4th mile was another downhill mile. I eased off on the pace a bit as the next mile had some climbing involved. I was passed by Ward and then the 1:50 pacers. I always make it a habit to check out the race course and/or the profile in the days leading up to the race. However, I failed to notice that this year, we got off of Alicia Parkway a bit earlier as we made a right turn onto Pacific Park Dr before reaching mile 5. This sort of threw me off as I was used to making the turn onto Aliso Creek Rd. It was interesting to run on a section of the course where I had always run it in only the other direction. The turnaround point was at about mile 8. The remaining 5 miles or so would be a very gradual climb all the way back to the Laguna Hills Community Center. I was pretty much running on fumes when I reached that last final short steep climb. There was a little cute dog wearing a plaid vest that was running with me up the little climb. Once I got over that little bump, I tried to muster up a quick dash through the final stretch to the finish line.
Course map
Finish: 1:51:13
Click here for my Garmin data.
This was my 13th time running one of my favorite races! This was where I ran my very first half marathon back in 2005. It was also where I ran my first sub 2 hour half marathon in 2008. The course has changed slightly here and there, but it still remains relatively the same. I was quite pleased with my run today as I was able to set a new personal course record.
2023: 2:15:37
2022: 2:13:06
2019: 1:57:55
2018: 1:57:44
2016: 2:10:15
2015: 1:51:57 former course record
2011: 2:12:38
2010: 1:58:45
2008: 1:57:44 first time finishing a half marathon in under 2 hours
2007: 2:02:57
2006: 2:27:21
2005: 2:20:49 first half marathon
After receiving my beautiful finisher medal and taking a post race selfie with it, I continued down the finisher chute. I grabbed some post race snacks and drinks before making my way over to the usual spot at the top of the last climb to cheer on my fellow runners and to wait for my friends to come through.
Finish line
Finisher medal
Post race goodies
The first friend that I saw run through was Robert. What a beast! I hardly ever finish a race ahead of this guy! I was only able to today because he had run the Nanny Goat 6 hr on Saturday covering 27 miles. He followed that with Running for the Rescues Half Marathon on Sunday. He was still able to run a sub 2 hour race today on a tough hilly half marathon course!
Robert
Richard finished not to far behind the 2 hour pacers
Andrew pacing 2:20
Mitch was another beast just out here running a "recovery" half marathon after having run 75 miles at Nanny Goat! Ultrarunners are just a different breed of runners. Thank goodness, the marathon distance is plenty long for me. I will rarely run a race longer than a marathon. I only have a handful of 50k finishes under my belt. I'm happy to stick to the shallow end! :)
Mitch
Albert
Luis
Amador
Willie
Karen
After my last friend came through, I headed over to use one of the nearby portapotties. I then walked up the hill to catch a bus ride back to my car. Once I got my stuff in order, I drove over to Balvina's Mexican Kitchen to get some breakfast. After I was seated, I ordered coffee and their steak and eggs. I then went to use their restroom before my food came out. I'm always looking for places that serve good steak and eggs. This place certainly fits that bill, so I'll most likely be back. It was a nice quiet spot to enjoy a meal, so I just might have to make this place my go-to post race stop before going home. I only found this place because it was listed on the website for the AAdvantage Dining Program.
Coffee
Steak and eggs
Medium rare
A bee hitching a ride
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