I've only run this fantastic well-organized race 2 other times, 2016 and 2019. With my plan to cut back on racing, I hope to be able to run this local race every year going forward.
Packet pick-up was scheduled to start at 6:30 am, so I left the house to make it down to the race around that time. I arrived at the State College Blvd and Birch St corner where there was a barricade there blocking Southbound traffic. However it was somewhat ambiguous as to if it was also meant to be blocking Westbound traffic on Birch. I decided to slip right through as the final race instructions had stated that the Brea Marketplace was one of the parking options. This wasn't an issue in prior years as you could get into the parking lot from State College Blvd. Unfortunately that entrance was closed as there was a lot construction in progress.
I parked the car in the lot just to the West of Pei Wei. I then crossed the street and picked up my race packet inside the parking structure that was directly across the street. I addition to the race bib and shirt, I also got a tote bag, a packet of Coach's Oats instant oatmeal, and a few useful coupons for a couple of nearby restaurants.
Bib
Race shirt
Tote bag
Race packet
Free food at McDonald's and Rubios
Before heading back to my car, I used one of the portapotties at the Southwest corner of State College Blvd and Birch St. The race was scheduled to start at 8 am, so I ended up walking around the Brea Marketplace to check out some of the restaurants and the nearby construction. All this time, I didn't realize that there was a 24 Hour Fitness tucked behind Jersey Mike's Subs. Most of the construction that I saw were for a parking structure in the back.
Start line
Having run this race a couple of times before, I knew what to expect. I tried my best to make sure that I had enough to make it up to Lambert Rd without taking any walk breaks. Not only did I fail on that part, but I also ended up taking 2 walk breaks while heading East on Birch St prior to making the turn on Associated Rd. For some reason I felt as if I was overheating. It could be because of the high humidity or that I had run yesterday. Once I made it up to the right turn on Lambert, it was a very slight gradual climb over to Kraemer Blvd. Once I hit that right turn on Kraemer, it was time to get on my horse and make up some time as it was pretty much all downhill to the finish line back at the Brea Mall.
Finish line
Finish: 39:31
Click here for my Garmin data.
After getting my finisher medal, I headed over to the famed food court. It served me well to remember to bring with me a plastic bag to carry stuff as they were giving out a lot of samples. I bumped into my friends in the food court. We traded race stories while we started looking at the food that was available. The two of them were sure that I had beaten them, but I knew that I had not which I confirmed when I got home. This was my slowest time in the 3 years that I've run this race. I'm just glad that I had finished in under 40 minutes.
Finisher medal
Food court
Pictures are worth a thousand words and they speak to just how amazing the food spread was that awaited the finishers. I believe I had visited all of the booths. It's possible that I could have missed 1 or 2. The ones I had visited were Mother's Market & Kitchen, Cinnaholic, McDonald's, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Rita's Italian Ice, T2, Jimmy John's, Red Robin, Mendocino Farms, BJ's, The Cookie Element, and Starbucks.
Post race goodies
Mother's Market & Kitchen
Cinnaholic Cold Brew Coffee
Nothing Bundt Cakes
Rita's Italian Ice
Jimmy John's Italian Sub
Red Robin
Mendocino Farms
BJ's
The Cookie Element
Starbucks
The food court was quite crowded when I started heading out. When I got back to my car and was ready to leave, there was a group of runners in the lot celebrating and taking millions of photos. I waited patiently in my car for them to disperse, but I finally got tired of waiting. I fired up the car and slowly backed out. They noticed my car and gave me space to pull out.
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