While checking up on some of my upcoming trip details, I received an email about Gundam having their pop-up at the San Diego Comic-Con Special Edition. I ended up purchasing a 3-day Comic-Con badge. I thought what the heck, might as well, since I was already going to be down there that weekend. I then booked a one night stay at a hotel near the Downtown area since originally I was only planning to run the race and return home on the same day.
Friday 11/26
Before going out on my usual morning walk, I realized that the Comic-Con Museum was doing a soft often. So I ended up joining as a tier 2 member for $50 which included a one-day ticket. Shortly after returning from my walk, I hopped in the car for that all too familiar drive down to San Diego. It was nice to get today off of work as a holiday.
My first stop was at the Chick-fil-A near Fashion Valley to pick up breakfast. I placed my order on the mobile app and got into the drive-thru lane. I then drove over to the Tesla Supercharger over at Fashion Valley mall to charge the car while I ate my breakfast. It was on the southern side of parking structure E which was just to the east of Bloomingdale's. After I finished my food, I ventured over to the mall and walked around a bit. I used the restroom before heading back to the car.
Tesla Supercharger Fashion Valley
Hash brown scramble bowl
Greek yogurt parfait with granola
Coffee
There were a lot road closures right in front of the San Diego Convention Center. There were cones everywhere. I first drove to the uncovered parking lot just behind the Convention Center along the Embarcadero. The lot was pretty empty. I quickly found out why. I pulled in and asked the parking lot attendant how much it was. He told me it was a flat $50. No thanks. He told me that parking at the Hilton was cheaper. I believe it was $35 to park there. That's still too steep. I eventually made it over to the uncovered parking lot at 7th and Market South. It was a flat $25 to park there. That will have to do for today. I'll look for cheaper options for the next two days.
7th and Market South
After I paid for parking, I headed over to the Convention Center. The walk over wasn't too bad. However, then there were lines everywhere. It would turn out that there were 2 lines, 1 to verify your vaccination status and 1 to get inside if you've already gotten your badge. The vaccination line snaked back and forth without really an indication as to where the end of the line was. After walking back and forth, I finally found the end of the line near Park Blvd. Man, if you love people watching, this is the place to be!
Long ass line for COVID vaccination check
Captain Spider-Man
That's the tent, but the line goes all the way out to Hall E before it loops back
After they checked my vaccination card, I was given a bracelet to wear. If I lose it, I'll have to get checked again. Then it was time to go inside and pick up up my badge. I was also given a bag with a program book, a special edition Comic-Con pin, and a small bottle of hand sanitizer.
COVID vaccination check bracelet
Now to pick up the badge
Comic-Con Badge
Comic-Con bag
Comic-Con exhibit hall map
I have been out of the comic book and anime scene for quite some time, so I really didn't have a plan coming into this convention. The last comic books that I've collected were Spawn, Witchblade, and Tomoe. While looking through the schedule, I was only able to find a few panels that caught my interest. Other than that, I was pretty much here to see what Gundam models they had these days. Also, I was trying my best not to get sucked into collecting Funko. I did a quick walk-through of the convention hall before I got in line for the Gundam pop-up.
Toddland and Bob's Burgers
The Gundam Base
Funko Pop
While waiting in line, I got to see some pretty nice costumes from other attendees. There was one person that was monitoring the line. She had us fill out an online questionnaire in order to get a sticker. When I finally got inside, I looked around and saw a lot of cool, exclusive, and quite expensive Gundam models. I ended up purchasing only the small Hello Kitty Gundam model for my friend as she had a birthday coming up. That purchase qualified me for the GUNPLA 40th anniversary pin.
Kakashi and Obito
Gundam sticker
Hello Kitty Gundam
For today, I only wanted to see the Studio Ghibli movie screening at 6:15 pm, so I thought I'd head over to Balboa Park to check out the new Comic-Con Museum. The shuttles were running every 30 minutes from Harbor Dr near Park Blvd. The ride over took about 15 minutes.
Shuttle ride over to Balboa Park to check out the Comic-Con Museum
After they scanned my ticket, I was allowed to enter the museum. Just inside, the Comic-Con Toucan statue was there to greet you. The museum was comprised of 3 levels. The main level was pretty all that you needed to see. The main attraction was Gene Roddenberry and all of the various Star Trek items, equipment, and costumes. This alone was worth the visit if you're remotely a Star Trek fan.
Comic-Con Toucan
Museum levels
Gene Roddenberry
The Man Trap
Gorn!
Computer
Live long and prosper
Timeline
If Star Trek isn't your cup of tea, there are also other items on display. The costumes from the Marvel Cinematic Universe was pretty nice to see them up close. They also had costumes from the DC Universe.
Dr Strange
Captain America
Superman
Birdman
The Cardboard Superheroes were pretty impressive. The models were made out of cardboard by two brothers. One is in high school and the other is in 8th grade. They recreated characters from Marvel, DC Comics, Star Wars, Disney, and Pixar. You can see their skills progressed throughout the years.
They also had a corner dedicated to Archie Comics. This was just a tad before my time, so I didn't spend much time in this section of the museum.
Archie
The Pac-Man section was pretty cool! Now this was a big part of my childhood! So much nostalgia! The arcade games were available for people to play. Since we're still in the middle of a pandemic, I wasn't too keen on playing any of the games. Maybe some other time.
Pac-Man
Comic-Con museum info cards
I went upstairs to check out the upper level. They had a Cardboard Superheroes maker lab and a cosplay creator's lab. I only did a quick walk-through, but that looked like it would be fun for kids. Along the hall there were art pieces that I believe belonged to Charles Addams. Then there was a room called, Out of the Darkness: Comic Art in the Times of Covid. Besides the 2 labs, this level of the museum was a little ho-hum for me.
Leaving Home, on loan from the Tee and Charles Addams Foundation
I went downstairs to check out the lower level. They had some nice costumes on display. In the theater they had the Comic-Con Museum character hall of fame induction ceremonies video playing on a continuous loop. I used the restroom before going back up to the main level.
Costuming
I checked out the gift shop before heading out. The selection was pretty sparse with nothing really worth purchasing. I then walked over to shuttle location to catch a ride back to the Convention Center. While waiting for the shuttle, I got a pretty cool picture of someone dressed up as Gwen Stacy Spider-Woman.
Gwen Stacy Spider-Woman
Back at the Convention Center, I got in line for Toddland/Bob's Burgers. They had 2 signs for people to hold while waiting in line. Bob was on the end of the line sign and Linda was on the front of the line sign. While waiting in line, I saw a guy dressed up as the Bat-Joker. The make-up was pretty awesome.
I mainly was in line to get a picture in front of the restaurant. I ended up purchasing 2 kidrobot items: one 3" vinyl figure and one 1.5" vinyl keychain. Both were blind boxes, so I didn't know what I had gotten until I opened them. I got Mike the mailman for the 3" figure and Linda for the keychain. Included with the purchase was a Happy New Year card from the Belchers and a Linda button pin.
Bob back of the line
Linda front of the line
The Bat-Joker
Bob's Burgers items
After that I pretty much walked around just people watching and looking to see if there was anything else for me to purchase. I was pretty tempted to buy a Kuchi Kopi night light, but I was able to resist. Where would I even put it? It was pretty funny to see someone dressed up as the deranged Easter bunny from A Christmas Story. :)
Storm Shadow
Captain America
Majinkaiza
Son Goku
Team 7
Deranged Easter bunny
Thank goodness, I decided to head over a bit early. The line was already wrapped around a few corners! A few of us were concerned that we might not get inside. They had Brent Spiner aka Data in that room prior to this screening so that place must have been packed. My back-up was to go see the Robotech panel. Once that room had cleared out, it was pretty easy to find an open seat. Before they started the 20th anniversary screening of Spirited Away, they were passing out info cards for My Neighbor Totoro. People weren't too interested in those cards. I ended up with 2 cards. That turned out to be lucky for me as one of them had a gold star on it. That meant, I get to pick up a gift at the end of the screening. The anime was dubbed in English. I've only see it subtitled. It was pretty cool to watch it again after all of these years. The gift that I received was a Totoro picture frame. Nice!
Studio Ghibli Spirited Away 20th Anniversary Screening
My Totoro card had a star on it so I got a free gift
Totoro picture frame
After that it was time to go get dinner and get checked into my hotel out in Poway. I needed to get fueled up and ready for a tough trail half marathon tomorrow! I drove over to the Chick-fil-A in Poway. For my late dinner, I got a bowl of chicken noodle soup, mac & cheese, deluxe grilled chicken sandwich with American cheese, and frosted lemonade. The frosted lemonade was free as I cashed in one of my rewards from the Gilbert Half Marathon. I picked up my order through the drive-thru before heading over to the nearby Ramada. I found a parking spot near the back and was checked into room #108.
Ramada Poway
I quickly got settled into my room and sat down to eat my dinner. I watched some Bob's Burgers while I laid out my flat runner. I took a shower before calling it a night.
Bob's Burgers S04E17: The Equestranauts
Flat runner
Saturday 11/27
I woke up early to catch the Arsenal v. Newcastle match at 4:30 am while I got ready to go run the Black Mountain Turkey Burner Half Marathon which started and ended at the nearby Black Mountain Ranch Community Park. Arsenal would end up winning the match 2-0. I checked out of my room and left just a few minutes after 6 am. The drive over to the park took roughly 15 minutes. It was close enough where I was able to take only surface streets.
Arsenal v. Newcastle
After I parked the car, I got in line to pick up my race packet. There was a bit of a chill in the air, but the day would warm up soon. After I got my bib and nice race t-shirt, I went back to my car to wait and relax a bit before the race.
In line for race packet pick up
Race shirt
Per the usual race routine, I got out of the car to use one of the portapotties at about 30 minutes before the start of the race. I then walked over to the side of the park where the sunlight was hitting. I milled around the park until it was time for the runners to gather at the starting line. After the national anthem was sung, it was time to run this race!
Ready to run!
The race started a couple minutes after 7:30 am. The course had us heading north down the SDG&E service road for the first mile before we turned left onto the Lusardi Creek Loop Trail. Then about a half mile later, near the intersection with the Veridian Circle Trail, we made a left turn. This brought on the first climb of the day. It was a short, but steep enough climb that I decided to walk most of it. Then at the next fork, we made a left to get back onto the Lusardi Creek Loop Trail. Back on that trail, we turned right to head back to the Black Mountain Ranch Park.
Off we go!
The first stretch of climbing
More climbing
Jogging up the hill
At about mile 3.5, we made a left turn onto the Ahwee Trail which took us underneath Carmel Valley Rd. We took that single track trail to connect to the Glider Point Trail at about mile 4.5 where we came up to some steep climbing for the next 4/10th of a mile. Coming to about mile 5, we veered left to head towards Miner's Ridge Loop Trail where we made a right turn. Then we made a right onto the Connector trail which took us to the Nighthawk Trail. We made a right turn which took us to the aid station at Laurentian Dr just before mile 6.
More climbing leads to more awesome views
We made a right turn for about a one mile out and back. That took us up to the Black Mountain Summit and back down to the aid station. It was much nicer to run down from the summit than it was to hike up to the summit. The pictures do no justice for the beautiful views that were seen from near the summit!
Hiking up to the summit
Reached the summit
After getting back to that aid station, we continued on down the trail heading west towards the Aqueduct Tower. At about mile 8.3, we made a right turn onto the SD Aqueduct Service Rd to run about a half mile loop. Then we climbed the same way that we came back up to the aid station. Most of the run back to the park for the finish was downhill which was nice. However, I had to slow down a bit during some of the more technical sections as that would be a terrible section to take a tumble. The leg cramps were starting to creep in after reaching mile 12, so I had to walk a bit during the final stretch.
Finish line
Finish: 2:33:18
Click here for my Garmin data.
After I crossed the finish line, I got my hard earned medal. That was a lot of work for an almost half marathon. Well, the course was short by about half a mile. I later reviewed the course that was posted on their website where I noticed that an out-and-back section was left out. Not cool! I don't run a whole lot of trail races, but from what I've seen, trail races don't really care about the precise measurement of their course.
At the post race table, I grabbed a can of Wave Soda and a Rice Krispies treat. Per the usual, my stomach wasn't yet up for anything more substantial. I ended up talking to a local runner named, Les Shibata. I always see him in the front at the AFC Half Marathon. I finally introduced myself to him and asked if he has seen our mutual friend, Charlie. He told me that Charlie has been dealing with an injury. In all of the years that I've known Charlie, I've never heard of him having an injury. I guess Father Time eventually gets us all. Before heading out, I stopped by the Blast Radius Coffee table. They were giving out samples of their coffee which is supposed to have a ton of caffeine. I did try a shot, but I definitely wouldn't want to drink that on a regular basis! I used one of the portapotties before heading back to my car. I changed into some clean clothes and swap out my trail shoes for my normal kick around shoes.
I then drove over to the Chick-fil-A near Fashion Valley to pick up lunch. Once again, I placed my order on the mobile app before getting into the drive-thru lane. I ordered a Chick-fil-A sandwich, a cup of mac & cheese, and a frosted lemonade. My entire meal was free as I cashed in a bunch of my reward points. That frosted lemonade is definitely my favorite treat after running a race. I then drove over to Balboa Park where I was able to find a parking spot near Presidents Way and Park Blvd. That was close enough for me to take the free shuttle from the Comic-Con Museum over to the Convention Center. I first finished my lunch before heading over to the shuttle pick-up spot. This was a much better plan than paying $25 each day for parking!
Frosted lemonade
Chick-fil-A sandwich
Mac & cheese
The Comic-Con volunteer that sat next to me on the shuttle struck up a conversation with me. She made a remark that either I grew up in the States or was a singer/musician since I did not speak English with an accent. I told her it was the former. She also told me about the blood drive at the Comic-Con and how it got started. She told me that they were giving out t-shirts to those that gave blood. Am I that hard up for another t-shirt?
I arrived at the Convention Center at about 12:15 pm. Besides a few panels starting at 2 pm, I really didn't have anything planned for today. I got in line to take a picture with Totoro. Then I went back to Toddland to buy 2 more of those Bob's Burgers 1.5" vinyl keychains. I ended up with Gene and Louise. I spent most of the time leading up to those panels by walking around the exhibit hall and getting pictures of some awesome cosplayers by the backgrounds that were near the Funko area.
となりのトトロ
No Face
More Bob's Burgers merchandise
Scout Trooper
Harley Quinn
Carnage, Spider-man, and Venom
Samurai Trooper and a couple of Mandalorians
A couple of Mandalorians, Samurai Trooper, and Emperor Palpatine
Birdman and Birdgirl
On my way to room 29AB for the first panel, I went outside to the center terrace to check out the south side of the convention center. I got a picture of a pretty decent cosplay of Shang Chi with Morris. I also got a nice view of of the Rady Shell. I hope to catch a performance there one of these days.
Shang Chi and Morris
The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park
I guess I was pretty dang tired from the race in the morning, lazy, or both as I ended up staying in the same room for 3 successive panels.
- 2 pm: Roddenberry and The Comic-Con Museum panel
Son of Gene Roddenberry told us stories of how life was like growing up with his father. They also promoted the Comic-Con Museum. - 3 pm: Antagonists, Villains, and Monsters, Oh My!
This was unplanned, but turned out to be quite good. The best villains are the ones that don't see themselves as the villain. An example was Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame. He saw himself as the hero. - 4 pm: Shang Chi: Cultural Impact and Celebration of Fight Choreography
It was cool to hear their story on how they were hired for the movie. It's nice to finally see some Asian representation in a big film such as one in the Marvel Cinematic Universe!
Roddenberry and The Comic-Con Museum panel
Antagonists, Villains, and Monsters, Oh My!
Shang Chi: Cultural Impact and Celebration of Fight Choreography
After the panel was concluded, I headed over to the Sails Pavilion to check out where Andy Le would be signing autographs. There was a sign at his table with the prices. Autographs were $65 and a selfie was $25. The dude is big time now and he's cashing in! I talked to the people at the table for a little bit, but there was no way that I was going to pay those prices.
Originally I was planning to attend the Kamen Rider 50th Anniversary panel at 5:30 pm which was followed by the screening of Kamen Rider Zero-One: REALxTIME. I was just too pooped to try and stay. I got in line and waited for a shuttle ride back to Balboa Park. During the ride over, the people on the bus was treated to a funny phone conversation by a fellow rider. The guy was sharing a lot of personal details so loudly that pretty much everyone could hear. The conversation was quite sexual in nature.
After I got back to my car, I drove down to the Howard Johnson in National City. I got checked in and was assigned room #122. I found the room to be clean and everything to be in working condition. It looked as if the rooms had been updated fairly recently.
For dinner, I decided to go get some Jollibee. I placed my order on the mobile app before driving over to pick up my food. I ordered the usual palabok fiesta with 2 pcs Chickenjoy, pineapple juice, and an aloha yumburger. I finished my meal back at my room before calling it a night.
Nighty night!
Sunday 11/28
I packed up my stuff and checked out of my room at about 8:15 am. While dropping off my key at the front desk, I grabbed one those Svenhard's cheese horns for breakfast. Once again, I decided to drive over to Balboa Park to park the car. I got there and was parked at about 8:30 am. Unfortunately, the first shuttle didn't depart from the museum until 11 am, so I decided to hoof it down to the Convention Center. Along the way, I checked out the Christmas tree in front of The Old Globe.
I took most of today to check out all of the merchandise at all of the booths. There were a lot of cool items left even on the third day of the convention. At the end of the day, I think we all tend to gravitate back to our first love. Stuff that interested me were mostly older stuff. An example would be Old Master Q (老夫子). I still remember looking at those comics as a little kid.
Kind of wanted the Meeseeks box
Kokies Squid Game
Does not look like him
Old Master Q
Cardboard Hulkbuster
Bruce Lee
Hellboy
Sentinel
I went upstairs early to make sure that I got a decent seat for the panel called, The 501st Legion: Star Wars Villainous Costuming, in room 5AB which was scheduled to start at 11:30 am. These people are really into their hobby, pouring thousands of dollars into their costumes in order to be signed off into the club as movie accurate. If you wish to join them, here's their website.
Boba Fett before the Tuskens fattened him up
I had originally planned to attend a panel called, We Are Groot: Award-Winning Large Cosplay on a Budget, at 4pm, but I tapped out at about 1 pm. I'm getting too old for this stuff! I went and got in line to wait for a shuttle ride over to Balboa Park.
Once I got back to my car, it was time to head home. I didn't have enough charge to make it all the way home, so I plotted a route to the Paseo Del Norte Supercharger in Carlsbad. Once I pulled into the parking lot, it was jammed. I've never been to this location so I didn't know what was going on up ahead. At the first availability, I made a u-turn and got out of there. I hopped back on the freeway and headed up to San Clemente as there were 2 locations in that area. The one just off of the 5 freeway was at the outlets. However, on the map, it looked busy and costs more, so I opted for option 2 on Avenida Vista Hermosa. I'm guessing it's cheaper and not as busy as you had to drive a bit in from off the freeway.
While waiting for the car to finish charging, I walked over to Target to pick up some snacks. I ended up buying a box of crackers and a bag of my favorite beef jerky. I finished the jerky before the car was done charging.
My favorite beef jerky
Waiting for self checkout
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