Lance Null's Staging Area

Encinitas Turkey trot had its 10th edition in 2023.
A record crowd came out for this running.
Packet pickup was available on Tuesday and Wednesday for locals, and on race day (Thursday) for those of us coming in from out of town who couldn’t make the earlier pickup.
The race offered shirts in 3 different colors this year, but by race morning the choices were down to two colors, and only in sizes small or medium. A medium would never make it over my shoulders.
The race is now big enough to consider wave start – or continue to suffer weaving through strollers, walkers, and up to 6 wide groups for the first half of the race.
The race course is a beautiful out and back (5k) or looped course (10k) on the South Coast Hwy (101).
I think there were post race refreshments, but I couldn’t find them before I left to return to Thanksgiving festivities.
There are several good places to park for this event – if you don’t wait until the last moment to arrive.
I would still recommend this event, among several good race choices in Southern California on Thanksgiving.

If you have not done any trail hill training, this course will eat you alive. I speak from experience.
It is almost 14 miles, and very little flat. You’re either going up or down.
The course support is about as good as you can get, considering the remoteness of parts of the course. There is a 5 mile section where you will be glad you accepted the bottle of water at the last aid station.
The volunteers are wonderful, and the aid stations are well stocked.
The race crew is fantastic, and they make sure everyone gets back to the medals, food, and drink waiting at the finish.
Photographers along the course snap pictures, which the race gives you for free!
Probably the toughest race short of an Ultra in my life, and I’m looking forward to doing it again. (Hopefully my thighs will be on speaking terms with me in a few days.)

The Hell of a Half Marathon in Exeter, CA (near Visalia) is part of the Run the Valley Series.
This race lives up to its name. August in the valley is regularly 80+ degrees. This year we were lucky with a start in the mid 60’s, getting up to low 80s at the finish.
The course is a loop course with two big hills, each about 1 mile uphill (but returning back down). See profile picture attached.
The course support is fantastic. There are 11 aid stations on the course. They know it’s hot, so at many of the aid stations you can get a sponge full of ice water squeezed on you to help cool down. It feels sooooo good!
Post race is good. There is plenty of shade in the park, and breakfast burritos are available in addition to water and electrolyte drinks, and a beer garden.
Medals are fantastic, and the race offers free results stickers for the back of the medal to record your finish time.
I recommend this smaller race!

Fun finale to the 2023 Springtime Surprise at Disney World. The race begins at EPCOT, running around the world, then heading along the water way to Hollywood Studios. The race then returns via the main roads back to EPCOT for a run thru the park, before finishing.
Early morning start helps with the temperatures, and still allows for many of the signature photo stops in Disney races.
Great course support for fluids (water and electrolyte drink), cheering cast members, and many photo ops.
Post race water, sports drink, and food boxes are provided.
High quality themed medal for the race, and for the challenge.
Very fun time, and will run again.

This is the first race of the 3 race springtime surprise challenge.
The 5k was an “untimed” event. The 2023 theme was Cars.
As usual, if you’re staying on property, you have to catch a bus by 4 am for the 5 am start.
Buy it is Disney!! If you’re running for time, you’re running for the wrong reasons. There are several opportunities to get photos with characters along the route, as will as a lot of creative costumes worn by the runners.
There are a few choke points along the course, but running through EPCOT is enjoyable and there are many photo ops.
Have a great time, and don’t take it too seriously!

Failed at entering through the lottery several years, so I finally got in with Runbuk (travel).
The history, sights, and support on this race are fantastic. Running around the Cutty Sark, over Tower Bridge, past Big Ben and past Buckingham Palace make this race unforgettable. Amazing crowd support, even for the later waves. Public transportation in London, and free rides on race day make it easy to get around to the expo, and to/from the race. Generous time limits make it friendly for slower runners / walkers. Also good for spectators to find you in several areas along the course.

Course was an 8 loop course of just under 1 mile from point to point. Half on pavement, half on trail, including a bridge. A 20 foot hill adds a little challenge to each lap.
As usual, the aid station support is fantastic, and there is always some hot food at the aid station in addition to various drinks and snacks.
race medal is in the shape of New Hampshire, with nice details, and is part of the series chain of medals.
Part of the appeal of Mainly Marathons is the people you run with, and become friends with after repeated days together on the course.
So for a fun, yet challenging way to complete your states, sign up for a multi-day series!

Course was an 6 loop course of just over 1 mile from point to point. (2+ mi / loop). The Course was in the Ashley Watershed and the scenery was beautiful. The course was mostly packed dirt.
As usual, the aid station support is fantastic, and there is always some hot food at the aid station in addition to various drinks and snacks.
race medal is in the shape of Massachusetts, with nice details, and is part of the series chain of medals.
Nearby attractions include the Dr. Seuss Museum, The Basketball Hall of Fame, and the Volleyball Hall of Fame.
Part of the appeal of Mainly Marathons is the people you run with, and become friends with after repeated days together on the course.
So for a fun, yet challenging way to complete your states, sign up for a multi-day series!

Normally this race is one of the high points of my calendar, but somehow they managed an epic blunder in 2022. The leaders took a wrong turn, executing the loop in the course backwards, resulting in the runners having to cross each other at the 0.4 mi / 1.7 mi point.
The 5k, 10k and half marathon all start together and separate along the way. After the initial problem, things seemed to return to their organized normal.
There is plenty of race day parking at the Laguna Hills Mall (where the race starts), and shuttles are provided post race. If you don’t want to wait for the shuttle, the start is about 1.5 miles from the finish – a nice little post race walk.
The post race “expo” returned in 2022 with booths, contests for the kids, and photo ops with the US Marines and their vehicles.
Packet pickup is available before the race, or the 2 prior days at the nearby Roadrunner Sports.
The finishers medal is nice, and there is a multi-year challenge available.

The Clovis Memorial Run is a great little 5k to start off Memorial Day Weekend. It supports the Senior Center, and honors veterans and service members. There are also a kids run and seniors run.
Timing is effectively gun timed since all times start at the gun, not when you cross the start, but results are traced via bib chip.
The entry fee is very reasonable, and veterans run for free. There is a post race pancake breakfast included, and a post race raffle (1 free ticket with race, others can be purchased.)
The course starts and ends at the senior activities center and runs along the bike trail. There is one street crossing, which is controlled by police.
The post race breakfast includes pancakes, sausage, fruit and juice.
Some support the race and enjoy the fun of a smaller race.

A nice little tour of San Diego. The race starts and ends downtown in the Gaslamp district, near Petco Park. It is a loop course that starts along the water, goes around the airport, through Liberty Station, past MCRD, uphill to Hilcrest and Balboa Park, and back downhill to Gaslamp.
Nice medals, and shirts, although the shirt design was almost identical to last year’s shirt. Some finishers received the 2021 medal at the end of the race.
Nice post race refreshments. Also a free Dunkin Donut post race for runners. You are also in the Gaslamp district with many restaurant choices after the race.
Packet pickup at the Hilton Gaslamp, with convenient low price parking on packet pickup day.