The Holiday Half Marathon, staged at the Pomona Fairplex, remains my favorite holiday-themed race in the Los Angeles area. This year’s start at the In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip was a … MORE
The Holiday Half Marathon, staged at the Pomona Fairplex, remains my favorite holiday-themed race in the Los Angeles area. This year’s start at the In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip was a nice upgrade!
Expo / pick-up:
-Packet pick-up was available on Saturday morning, before the 5k/10k event, as well as an hour before the half marathon race on Sunday morning at the Pomona Fairplex. Coach’s Oats, Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, and other sponsors had tents on display, and you could also get race merch from prior years and related races on deep discount.
Parking:
-The good news: parking was plentiful at the Fairplex’s Gate 15, along Arrow Highway, near the corner of Fairplex Drive. Unlike last year, parking IS valid for two days, as stated on the race website, if you paid for parking on Saturday for the 5k/10k and kept your ticket. The parking lot was much closer to the race area, and didn’t require a long trek past various exhibition halls
Pre-race:
-This year’s race start was set at the In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip, near the most northern section of the Fairplex area. Gear check, registration, solutions, bib pickup, awards tents, and food trucks were located just outside the racetrack bleachers, along with the giant inflatable figures of Santa and Snowmen. There were a few port-a-potties, but the Fairplex’s permanent restrooms were plentiful beneath the bleachers of the racetrack. Right next to the racetrack itself, you could find sponsor tents, tables, the entertainment stage, and inflatable figures of the Nutcracker soldier and a pair of reindeer at the start line. The start corral was separated by pacers and their signs.
Course:
-Miles 1-4: Puffs of “snow” shower down on you as you cross under the starting arch. Very cool! If you ran the 5k or 10k on Saturday, the first section is a very similar route. You head southeast away from the racetrack, through parking lots, past the grandstand, loop around the NHRA Motorsports Museum, then head back north to the racetrack. The good news is that this portion of the race is the flattest. With clear skies, you also get some gorgeous views of the mountains. The downside is that you’re essentially running through parking lots. If you aren’t facing the mountains, then all you’re seeing is just asphalt and orange cones and more asphalt.
-Miles 4-11: The course exits Fairplex and outlines the southern edge of Brackett Airfield, before entering Bonelli Park. The Bonelli Park section is filled with hills, with the biggest ones cropping up around Miles 6, 8, and 9. Hills can hurt, but the main benefit is that you get some pretty views of Puddingstone Reservoir—lots of blues and greens to keep you engaged!
-Miles 11-Finish: Exit Bonelli Park, trace the northern border of the Brackett Airfield, and race your way back to the race track! The final stretch is flat, speedy, and filled with spectators cheering you on! It’s a really great end to the race.
Scenery/Weather/Support:
-The scenery is mostly asphalt and mountains while running the first few miles in the race track and Fairplex parking lots. But the views improve significantly when you get to Bonelli Park and the Puddingstone Reservoir. Students Run LA (SRLA) participants ran alongside the rest of the runners. The commitment and energy of these kids is really inspiring! If they can be out there running on a cold December morning, so can you! Unlike last year’s rain, the weather this year was mostly clear, with temperatures going from around 49 F at the start to the mid-50s by race end—cold, but pretty decent. The amount of water/electrolytes available and volunteer support was good.
My only suggestion to race organizers would be to include some more entertainment/decorations/holiday music/bands throughout the race, maybe even at each aid station. The festive energy is great at the start and finish, but it can get dreary the rest of the race, especially in the asphalt parking lot and the hilly park section.
Post-race:
-Grab a shiny finisher medal from volunteers upon crossing the finish line, as well as refreshments including bottled water, a banana, Snyder’s Mini pretzels, and Welch’s Fruit Snacks. Apparently, there were also Jam Bars, but I somehow missed them! Remember to collect your items if you used gear check. To celebrate, remember to take a picture with the inflatable Santa, Christmas tree, Snowman, Nutcracker soldier, or even better, Santa himself at the Christmas tree tent outside the bleachers!
Swag:
-The Holiday Half Marathon, 5k, and 10k events shared the same official race shirt this year: a red “ugly sweater” style tech shirt with white knit “patterns” and the event logo on the front.
The Half Marathon finisher medal features a white snowflake and red race logo on a glittery silver background, surrounded by a silver ring. If you ran either the 5k or 10k in addition to the Half, you’ll earn the Golden Snowflake Medal. It is, as you may guess from the name, a golden glittery snowflake with “Golden Snowflake Challenge” centered in red text. This was my third year in a row participating at this event, so I qualified for the Penguin Club medal: a cute penguin with a blue scarf, set amongst a snowfield with blue trees.
Bottom-line:
The Holiday Half Marathon is fun and festive, and probably the best Christmas-themed race in the LA area. Check it out for a jolly good time!
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A Ho Ho Ho Holiday Half!
The Holiday Half Marathon, staged at the Pomona Fairplex, remains my favorite holiday-themed race in the Los Angeles area. This year’s start at the In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip was a … MORE
The Holiday Half Marathon, staged at the Pomona Fairplex, remains my favorite holiday-themed race in the Los Angeles area. This year’s start at the In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip was a nice upgrade!
Expo / pick-up:
-Packet pick-up was available on Saturday morning, before the 5k/10k event, as well as an hour before the half marathon race on Sunday morning at the Pomona Fairplex. Coach’s Oats, Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, and other sponsors had tents on display, and you could also get race merch from prior years and related races on deep discount.
Parking:
-The good news: parking was plentiful at the Fairplex’s Gate 15, along Arrow Highway, near the corner of Fairplex Drive. Unlike last year, parking IS valid for two days, as stated on the race website, if you paid for parking on Saturday for the 5k/10k and kept your ticket. The parking lot was much closer to the race area, and didn’t require a long trek past various exhibition halls
Pre-race:
-This year’s race start was set at the In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip, near the most northern section of the Fairplex area. Gear check, registration, solutions, bib pickup, awards tents, and food trucks were located just outside the racetrack bleachers, along with the giant inflatable figures of Santa and Snowmen. There were a few port-a-potties, but the Fairplex’s permanent restrooms were plentiful beneath the bleachers of the racetrack. Right next to the racetrack itself, you could find sponsor tents, tables, the entertainment stage, and inflatable figures of the Nutcracker soldier and a pair of reindeer at the start line. The start corral was separated by pacers and their signs.
Course:
-Miles 1-4: Puffs of “snow” shower down on you as you cross under the starting arch. Very cool! If you ran the 5k or 10k on Saturday, the first section is a very similar route. You head southeast away from the racetrack, through parking lots, past the grandstand, loop around the NHRA Motorsports Museum, then head back north to the racetrack. The good news is that this portion of the race is the flattest. With clear skies, you also get some gorgeous views of the mountains. The downside is that you’re essentially running through parking lots. If you aren’t facing the mountains, then all you’re seeing is just asphalt and orange cones and more asphalt.
-Miles 4-11: The course exits Fairplex and outlines the southern edge of Brackett Airfield, before entering Bonelli Park. The Bonelli Park section is filled with hills, with the biggest ones cropping up around Miles 6, 8, and 9. Hills can hurt, but the main benefit is that you get some pretty views of Puddingstone Reservoir—lots of blues and greens to keep you engaged!
-Miles 11-Finish: Exit Bonelli Park, trace the northern border of the Brackett Airfield, and race your way back to the race track! The final stretch is flat, speedy, and filled with spectators cheering you on! It’s a really great end to the race.
Scenery/Weather/Support:
-The scenery is mostly asphalt and mountains while running the first few miles in the race track and Fairplex parking lots. But the views improve significantly when you get to Bonelli Park and the Puddingstone Reservoir. Students Run LA (SRLA) participants ran alongside the rest of the runners. The commitment and energy of these kids is really inspiring! If they can be out there running on a cold December morning, so can you! Unlike last year’s rain, the weather this year was mostly clear, with temperatures going from around 49 F at the start to the mid-50s by race end—cold, but pretty decent. The amount of water/electrolytes available and volunteer support was good.
My only suggestion to race organizers would be to include some more entertainment/decorations/holiday music/bands throughout the race, maybe even at each aid station. The festive energy is great at the start and finish, but it can get dreary the rest of the race, especially in the asphalt parking lot and the hilly park section.
Post-race:
-Grab a shiny finisher medal from volunteers upon crossing the finish line, as well as refreshments including bottled water, a banana, Snyder’s Mini pretzels, and Welch’s Fruit Snacks. Apparently, there were also Jam Bars, but I somehow missed them! Remember to collect your items if you used gear check. To celebrate, remember to take a picture with the inflatable Santa, Christmas tree, Snowman, Nutcracker soldier, or even better, Santa himself at the Christmas tree tent outside the bleachers!
Swag:
-The Holiday Half Marathon, 5k, and 10k events shared the same official race shirt this year: a red “ugly sweater” style tech shirt with white knit “patterns” and the event logo on the front.
The Half Marathon finisher medal features a white snowflake and red race logo on a glittery silver background, surrounded by a silver ring. If you ran either the 5k or 10k in addition to the Half, you’ll earn the Golden Snowflake Medal. It is, as you may guess from the name, a golden glittery snowflake with “Golden Snowflake Challenge” centered in red text. This was my third year in a row participating at this event, so I qualified for the Penguin Club medal: a cute penguin with a blue scarf, set amongst a snowfield with blue trees.
Bottom-line:
The Holiday Half Marathon is fun and festive, and probably the best Christmas-themed race in the LA area. Check it out for a jolly good time!
Run the Dragstrip!
I was gifted a free entry and was excited to add another race to my calendar. The pre-race communication was great and bib pick-up the morning of was quick and … MORE
I was gifted a free entry and was excited to add another race to my calendar. The pre-race communication was great and bib pick-up the morning of was quick and easy. Parking was expensive (possible deterrent from running again). The majority of the course is just around the parking lot, so not super exciting, but you do get to start and finish on the dragstrip (dad used to race there so for me that was super fun). Nice medal (I know some of you run for the bling!) and holiday themed shirt. They had a band playing and some vendors at the end – lots of holiday decorations. The 10k was run on Saturday (Half on Sunday).
Run through the park
Overall, it's a good race, and on the smaller side. I think about a 1,000 plus another 3,000 from the SRLA group. Starting and ending on the drag strip is … MORE
Overall, it’s a good race, and on the smaller side. I think about a 1,000 plus another 3,000 from the SRLA group. Starting and ending on the drag strip is great! I would like to see an earlier start, like 7am instead of 7:30am. It’s not the easiest course, as it has some rollers, but running around Bonelli Park is nice. Volunteers were great! My only two nits are the lack of restrooms(porta potties) and organization of the awards tables. There were long lines at both. Why didn’t they have more porta potties? That was anxiety I didn’t need. They seemed to be well short of what would be recommended. It was fantastic running with the Students Run LA (SRLA). I would do the race again, but hit the porta potty much earlier.
Jolly good fun—even in the rain!
This was my second year running the Holiday Half Marathon, but the first time running this version of the course—last year’s race was staged at Bonelli Park—and it was still … MORE
This was my second year running the Holiday Half Marathon, but the first time running this version of the course—last year’s race was staged at Bonelli Park—and it was still great fun despite the pouring rain!
Expo / pick-up:
-Packet pick-up was available on both Saturday morning, at the 5k/10k, and an hour before the race on Sunday morning at the Pomona Fairplex grounds. Sponsors like the Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center had tents on display, and race merch from prior years was available at steep discounts.
Parking:
-The good news: parking was plentiful at Blue Gate 9 of the Pomona Fairplex. The bad news: parking is NOT valid for two days, as stated on the race website. If you paid for parking on Saturday for the 5k/10k and kept your ticket, Fairplex attendants will still charge you for Sunday parking. I wish the race officials corrected this outdated info on the official website.
Pre-race:
-The start area is directly southwest of the Fairplex Grandstand, along with the rest of the race expo. However, due to heavy rains on raceday morning, runners were all directed to Hall 6 for shelter as race officials monitored the weather. Restrooms and Gear Check were available in Hall 6. I remember there was a holiday costume contest last year, but I think it was cancelled this year on account of rain. Everyone was covered in jackets and the free plastic ponchos provided by the race, so it’d be hard to appreciate costumes anyway. The start time was eventually pushed back more than an hour, at which point the rain had downgraded into a light drizzle. It felt great to finally be able to race! The rain probably contributed to a smaller field of runners, but it meant the start corral wasn’t too crowded, even with everyone in puffy raincoats and plastic ponchos.
Course:
-Miles 1-3: If you ran the 5k on Saturday, this is essentially the same route. You head southeast away from the Grandstand, loop around the NHRA Motorsports Museum, then head north through a parking lot, and finally onto the Auto Club Raceway. The parking lot is the flattest part of the entire race, but full of puddles from the rain. Running on the Raceway dragstrip is pretty cool. It’s straight, flat, and speedy, and I can’t say I’ve ever run on a race track before!
-Miles 3-11: The course exits Fairplex and outlines the northern edge of the Brackett Airfield, before entering Bonelli Park. There are some nice views of the Puddingstone Reservoir, but the course is a constant hilly slog, with elevation changes every few miles to keep things interesting. The views in the park are great on a non-rainy day, but alas, there was just lots of gray and green interrupted only by all the runners’ colorful ponchos.
-Miles 11-Finish: Re-trace your steps from the first part of the race, past the airfield and into the Raceway. Finish along the Fairplex Grandstand!
Scenery/Weather/Support:
-Rainy and cold! It made it hard to appreciate what are normally lovely views of Puddingstone Reservoir and Bonelli Park. This year’s race featured many participants from Students Run LA (SRLA), and they added a really fun energy to the race! It’s always great seeing programs that encourage running, even from an early age. Temperatures hovered around the 50s, with occasional gusts of wind to make the rain dance sideways. The amount of water/gels available and volunteer support was good—shout-out to all the volunteers braving the rain for us, they did a commendable job!
Post-race:
-You’ll be awarded a shiny finisher medal from volunteers upon crossing the finish line, as well as an aluminum foil blanket courtesy of Pomona Valley Medical Center. Goodies at the refreshment tent include bottled Kirkland Signature water, a Kirkland Soft & Chewy granola bar, Snyder’s Mini pretzels, and Welch’s Fruit Snacks. If you used Gear Check, remember to collect your stuff. Photo ops are available too at a Christmas tree tent, and also with the inflatable Santa, Tree, or Snowman.
Swag:
-The Holiday Half Marathon, 5k, and 10k events all shared the same official race shirt: a red “ugly sweater” style tech shirt with white knit “patterns” and the event logo on the front. It’s simple, and certainly a more festive upgrade from last year’s gray race shirt. The Half Marathon finisher medal features a white snowflake and red race logo on a translucent background, surrounded by a silver ring. If you ran either the 5k or 10k in addition to the Half, you’ll earn the Golden Snowflake Medal. It looks almost exactly like the Half Medal, just 5% bigger so the snowflake points poke through the outer ring, which is gold instead of silver. I wish the medal didn’t look so similar to the individual event medals, and that the “Gold” was a little more emphasized.
Bottom-line:
The Holiday Half Marathon is fun and festive, even when dampened by rain! Check it out if you are looking for a jolly good run during the holidays.
Great Fun 10K
This was my first 10K and found it to be fun with a lot of holiday cheer. The 10K (twice the 5K loop) stays within the Pomona Fairplex and overall … MORE
This was my first 10K and found it to be fun with a lot of holiday cheer. The 10K (twice the 5K loop) stays within the Pomona Fairplex and overall there’s not a lot of elevation or hills.
A scenic, challenging holiday run
The Half Marathon at the San Dimas Holiday Running Festival is a wonderfully jolly run, with a course that’s more challenging than it seems Expo / pick-up: -Race-day bib & … MORE
The Half Marathon at the San Dimas Holiday Running Festival is a wonderfully jolly run, with a course that’s more challenging than it seems
Expo / pick-up:
-Race-day bib & shirt pick-up on Sunday morning was encouraged by the organizers. There were multiple tents set up for info, registration, etc. but I found the pick-up process to be very smooth. Remember to have the QR code they email you a few days before the race. I think you could probably also get your bib early if you also participated in one of the Saturday 5k or 10k races?
Parking:
-This was my first time at this race, and I wish I had gotten there a little earlier because parking at Bonelli Park (a hefty $12!) filled up quickly. I ended up parking along the southeast shore of Puddingstone Lake/Reservoir, and having to trek over half a mile to the start line near the southwest shore. You’d think a runner wouldn’t complain about an extra half mile, but it makes a difference on a super cold morning! The irony is that I avoided hitting the road early because it was so cold, but then I ended up having to spend even more time walking in the cold… 🙁
Pre-race:
-The start/finish area was very organized. There were multiple tents for late registration, information, merch sales, running clubs, vendors, sponsors, bib pick-up, and a stage for music/announcements flanked by a giant blow-up snowman and nutcracker. Port-a-potties were plentiful. Gear check was also convenient. I wish the race website or emails had mentioned the availability of gear check because I mistakenly assumed this was a smaller race that didn’t offer it, but it turned out to be a nice surprise! If you’re in the holiday spirit—and why wouldn’t you be?— you can participate in the costume contest about 30 minutes before the race. The start corral was not chaotic due to a smaller field of racers, and it was really fun being surrounded by so much green and red Christmas cheer. My favorite part of the corral was the start archway that sprinkled snow on runners as we crossed the start line. I’d seen pictures of snow on the race website but thought it was a Photoshop effect. I assure you it’s not, the snowfall is real! It’s a lovely little holiday touch to the race. I wish it stayed “snowing” at the finish line too, but it’s probably easier to prep it one time at the start for all racers, instead of having it blast again and again for several hours at the finish.
Course:
-The Half Marathon course is an out-and-back, with the first 5 miles along running paths in Bonelli Park. This portion of the course is full of rolling hills that are trickier than you’d expect because it’s so scenic. Running in the park, you get great views from multiple vantage points of Puddingstone Lake/Reservoir, and all the birds and early morning sun distract a bit from the hills. Miles 5-8 flatten out and trace the airport and raceway outside the park. The dip in elevation is nice, but the long, straight sightlines here felt like more of a mental slog, especially since gray concrete was replacing the park’s greenery. It’s also here where the out-and-back portions overlap more, and as a result the course grew narrower. Miles 8-12 are the return trip back into Bonelli Park, with many familiar sights. My one nitpick with the course was at around Mile 12.5. You cross a small bridge, and come to a hill—at the top of which you can hear lots of Christmas music blasting at the finish line. Your heart skips a beat and you wonder, wait, is my GPS watch wrong, am I already at the finish? Nope! The course immediately swerves right. You actually have another half mile loop to go, and begin climbing the far edge of the hill that eventually takes you to the finish line. This false sense of hope near the end is a bit demoralizing to an otherwise great course. FYI, they announced that the course is returning to the Pomona Fairplex next year. I’m not sure how much that will differ from this year’s course, but I hope they keep as much of the Bonelli Park portions as possible.
Scenery/Weather/Support:
-As mentioned before, the scenery around the park, especially the views of Puddingstone Lake, can be very soothing. I would normally quibble with an 8 am start, but the unusually chilly morning had me feeling grateful that the race started later than I’d prefer. I counted 3 water stations—each of which you hit twice on an out-and-back course—and it felt like just enough. Maybe one more would’ve been nice. Since the race primarily took place in a park, crowd support was smaller than it would be in a street race, but I was still feeling the love.
Post-race/Swag:
-Cross the finish line, and you’re awarded a nice round medal with a white snow globe design, and a red Christmas tree truck in the middle. The race shirt featured the same Christmas tree truck design, but on a gray cotton shirt—some sort of moisture-wicking tech material would’ve been nicer. Finish-line goodies included a banana, water, chocolate milk, pretzels, and a foil blanket. Nice! If you ran the 5k or 10k the previous day, you also get a Golden Snowflake medal— something I want to grab next year!
Bottom-line:
-I had a great time at this half marathon. It was a lovely and somewhat demanding course, and the overall event had the feel of a local race but the polish of something a little more special. I look forward to doing it again, and taking a shot at the Golden Snowflake Challenge next year!
A holiday tradition - 2021 covid year
2021 race moved the start /from the Fairplex to Bonelli park. The course had most of the previous race course, converted to a spiral out and back course. The course … MORE
2021 race moved the start /from the Fairplex to Bonelli park. The course had most of the previous race course, converted to a spiral out and back course.
The course markings were bad in the last two miles of the race, and there was some confusion among the slower runners.
Parking was poor, compared to the normal parking at the Fairplex, and the parking cost is still $12 (each day.)
The race does have extra gifts and rewards for participants who run 3+ consecutive years. (The Penguin club).
Some people complained that the course is more hilly than past years, which is true, but the hills are relatively short and very manageable. (And nicer scenery).
The shirt was also a change this year. The shirt fabric was a very nice relaxed cotton with a very soft feel (previously tech material), but was no longer their traditional Christmas sweater designs. Hopefully that will return.
Nice little SoCal holiday run
Start/Finish at the Fairplex in Pomona Ca. Run goes around Bonelli Park and Puddingstone Lake. 5k and 10k races on Saturday combine with half on Sunday for the Golden Snowflake … MORE
Start/Finish at the Fairplex in Pomona Ca. Run goes around Bonelli Park and Puddingstone Lake.
5k and 10k races on Saturday combine with half on Sunday for the Golden Snowflake challenge.
Many running clubs are represented at the event.
Extra awards for 3+ year running streak at race.
Costume contest both days before the events.
Fee for parking, but one fee covers packet pickup and both race days.
Nice Holiday Run
I may not enjoy the 5K that goes with this series, but I do like the Half Marathon. It goes through Bonelli Park, which is a beautiful area. The course … MORE
I may not enjoy the 5K that goes with this series, but I do like the Half Marathon. It goes through Bonelli Park, which is a beautiful area. The course is a bit challenging with rolling hills, but still provides the chance to PR. Nice, local race for holiday time.
Golden Snowflake Challenge (part 2)
2018 marked my 4th year running the Holiday Half Marathon. Packet pick-up was available after the 5K on Saturday from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm. Free race morning packet pickup … MORE
2018 marked my 4th year running the Holiday Half Marathon.
Packet pick-up was available after the 5K on Saturday from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm. Free race morning packet pickup was available on Sunday starting at 6:00 am. New this year — bib numbers were not pre-assigned. On Friday, participants were e-mailed a QR code to print out or show on their phone. At packet pickup, volunteers scanned the QR code and then scanned the bib being assigned.
Parking was at the Pomona Fairplex, Blue Gate 9. There was signage guiding traffic to the proper gate, which I appreciated as my GPS wanted to send me in a different direction. The cost to park was $12, cash or card. If you attend both days, you only have to pay for parking once as long as you save your receipt. I normally aim to arrive to this race approximately 1.5 hours before the start. Since I picked up my bib on Saturday, I decided to “sleep in” on Sunday and arrive only 1 hour before the race. I later regretted that decision. After waiting in a long line of cars to get into the Fairplex, 7 lanes of traffic were forced to merge down into two lanes. There was no one directing traffic and it was a mess. The two lanes then had to merge into a single lane. This part shouldn’t have been difficult, but apparently zipper merging is a lost art. After this point, there were volunteers directing people to available parking spaces. I noticed several people ignored them and proceeded to park where they pleased. I will arrive earlier next year to avoid this frustration. Thank goodness the buses transporting many of the Students Run LA participants were in a separate lane, thus did not add to the traffic congestion.
One of the luxuries of the Holiday Half is that you are able to use the restrooms at the Fairplex before/after the race. No portapotties!!!!!
There was a costume contest at approximately 7:40 am and the race started at 8:00 am. Students Run LA have a separate start at 8:30 am. While it is cooler in December, this feels like a rather late start. I wish the race would consider starting half an hour to an hour earlier.
The Holiday Half is one of my absolute favorite local half marathon courses. It runs through the Pomona Fairplex and on the speedway. We then cross over to Frank Bonelli Park to run around Puddingstone Reservoir before returning to the Fairplex. This year, the tops of the distant mountains were dusted with snow from the recent storm. It was beautiful. There are hills throughout the course, making it moderately challenging. Do not expect to PR. The aid stations were set-up approximately 1 – 1.5 miles starting at mile 2. All were stocked with water, several were also stocked with Nuun and one provided Honey Singer Gels (my favorite!).
Finish line refreshments included bananas, Terra Blues chips (yum!), Skinny Pop popcorn, Kind bars (yum!) and bottles of Bai antioxidant water with optional Nuun tablets to drop in.
The finisher medal featured a Christmas wreath (see my attached photo). In years past, the medal has been a snowflake with the exact design changing each year. Some participants were disappointed that the race broke away from this tradition. The participant shirt was a red “ugly sweater” inspired dri-fit short sleeve shirt. There were a variety of vendors selling running related items and offering product samples.
If you run the 5K on Saturday and Half Marathon on Sunday, you can receive the Golden Snowflake Challenge medal. If you run the Half Marathon for 3 consecutive years, you become a member of the Penguin March Club and receive the Lil’ Blue Penguin medal. There is a different penguin pin for each following year. After 6 consecutive years, you receive a hooded sweatshirt. At 10 consecutive years, you will be named “Emperor Penguin” and will receive what the website describes as “the ultimate Penguin March Club memorabilia.”
All participants over the age of 21 received a free Michelob Ultra beer. Penguin March Club members also receive a Michelob Ultra Pure Gold, Michelob Ultra Lime Cactus or a Bon & Viv Spiked Seltzer.
I really enjoy the energy of this race provides. The incentive of the Penguin March Club pins ensures that I keep coming back for more. Not to mention, my picture is on the main page of the race website. How can I not run it?!
Not the most exciting 5K
I have run this in the past because it is very close to me, but I'll be honest, it isn't a great 5K. The entire course is through the Fairplex … MORE
I have run this in the past because it is very close to me, but I’ll be honest, it isn’t a great 5K. The entire course is through the Fairplex parking lot and it is pretty boring. Don’t get me wrong, Holiday does well with what they have and the production is good, but I don’t like the course. The medals are nice and the shirt is cute.
6th Year Running
This race has a loyalty program. After 3 years you become a member of the Penguin Club and received extra goodies each additional year. They also offer a Golden Snowflake … MORE
This race has a loyalty program. After 3 years you become a member of the Penguin Club and received extra goodies each additional year.
They also offer a Golden Snowflake Challenge if you run the 5K on Saturday before the 1/2. If you do this be sure to SAVE your parking pass. You can use it both days.
Race morning packet pick up is available for free. I really enjoy this race and hope to keep my legacy streak going all the way to year 10.
The course is a bit challenging and there are a few rolling hills in the middle and end. Really pretty course.
Golden Snowflake Challenge (part 1)
The Ugly Sweater 5K was on Saturday and the Holiday Half Marathon was on Sunday (to be reviewed in a separate post). If you register for the challenge and run … MORE
The Ugly Sweater 5K was on Saturday and the Holiday Half Marathon was on Sunday (to be reviewed in a separate post). If you register for the challenge and run both races, you can receive the Golden Snowflake Challenge medal after finishing the Half Marathon on Sunday.
Parking was at the Pomona Fairplex, Blue Gate 9. There was signage guiding traffic to the proper gate, which I appreciated as my GPS wanted to send me in a different direction. The cost to park was $12, cash or card. If you attend both days, save your receipt so you only have to pay for parking once.
Packet pick-up for the 5K was only available on Saturday morning starting at 7 am. New this year — bib numbers were not pre-assigned. On Friday, participants were e-mailed a QR code to print out or show on their phone. At packet pickup on Saturday morning, volunteers scanned the QR code and then scanned the bib being assigned. The lines to pick-up bibs were rather long, but moved at a semi-reasonable pace.
There was a costume contest at 8 am and the race started at 8:30 am. The course is a simple loop through the Fairplex. Other than one hill, it was mostly flat. There was one aid station, which served water and Nuun. The course highlights included running through some of the art installations for the Chinese Lantern Festival and running on the speedway.
Finish line refreshments included Terra Blues chips (yum!), Skinny Pop popcorn, Kind bars (yum!) and bottles of Bai antioxidant water.
The finisher medal featured a Christmas wreath (see my attached photo). In years past, the medal has been a snowflake with the exact design changing each year. Some participants were disappointed that the race broke away from this tradition. The participant shirt was a red “ugly sweater” inspired dri-fit short sleeve shirt. The shirt was the same for both the 5K and Half Marathon. There were a variety of vendors selling running related items and offering product samples.
The 5K is fun, but the primary reason I run it is to earn the Golden Snowflake Challenge medal. If it weren’t for the challenge medal, I would just run the half.
Great holiday fun!
Relatively fast course with a few hills thrown in. I enjoyed the run through the park and the aid stations were well staffed. I will definitely put this on my … MORE
Relatively fast course with a few hills thrown in. I enjoyed the run through the park and the aid stations were well staffed. I will definitely put this on my repeat list for 2018.
Fun, festive half marathon & 5k
Start or continue this great Holiday tradition, run the Snowflake Challenge - a flat 5k on Saturday and a challenging, but beautiful Half Marathon on Sunday. The race is well … MORE
Start or continue this great Holiday tradition, run the Snowflake Challenge – a flat 5k on Saturday and a challenging, but beautiful Half Marathon on Sunday. The race is well put together and has a fun and festive atmosphere. There are lots of costumes and opportunities to take pictures with giant inflatables. There is a pre-race “warm-up” and a costume contest on both days with lots of prizes for the different categories. The “Most Inappropriate” raised some eyebrows!!!!!
“Snow” at the start line gets everyone in the Holiday Spirit on both days. The race is run in a beautiful park with views of the local mountains and a lake side route. It’s a tough course, but there is plenty of support along the way and a lot of local running groups come out to cheer their friends.
2018 will be the 10th running of this race and there are several legacy runners. The snowflake medals are large and full of sparkle and this year there was a tee shirt and a beanie – both in the Ugly Sweater theme.
This is a fun race and should definitely find it’s way onto your calendar if you can be in southern California on the second weekend of December.
See you next year runners!
My Favorite Half-Marathon!
It started 4 years ago on a whim...oooh a special challenge with a BIG MEDAL, ya don't say? I had my eldest daughter with me while I picked up my … MORE
It started 4 years ago on a whim…oooh a special challenge with a BIG MEDAL, ya don’t say? I had my eldest daughter with me while I picked up my packet for the Long Beach Half Marathon and she wanted to do another 5k and that’s where it all began. I signed up for the Golden Snowflake Challenge and she signed up for the 5k. The rest is history!
The course is a tough one. Lots of hills in and around Bonelli Park. But the scenery is pretty on the run through the park and areas surrounding the small airport. It’s fun to run on the drag strip at the Pomona Fairplex as well. There is a lot of shade while running through the park.
I have to say that this is one of the most well put together races that I run and that is why I keep coming back every year. It is always well organized, starts on time, the course support doesn’t disappear half way through the race (like several other halfs that I have run), and it is a ton of fun! They even open up one of the fairplex buildings on race morning since it tends to be a little chilly. They also have most of the bathrooms open on the grounds, so you don’t have a line 20 people deep at porta-potties 15 min before race time. Parking is really easy too. You pay $10 flat fee for the whole weekend, even if you come on Saturday and Sunday you just have to keep your parking ticket.
The medals and swag are awesome! I get 3 medals every year since I do the Golden Snowflake Challenge, and they are beautiful. I am also a Penguin March Club member so I got a special medal at year 3 and a pin every year after that. This year besides their “ugly sweater” looking tech shirts, they also had super warm beanies and ornaments that you could put your race picture in!
The only thing that you should be aware of is that it is a “Students Run LA” race. So there are over 1,000 kids running along side you. Some of their groups have taught their kids course etiquette, however some have not. You have to watch for them randomly stopping to tie their shoes or stretch in the middle of the course. But that is an SRLA thing, NOT anything at all to do with the racing company. In fact they do their best to not have the SRLA runners interfere with the general runners by setting up a separate start time for SRLA.
Fun course, nice views, unexpected hills
I was originally signed up for the Santa to the Sea up in Oxnard, but that was (rightfully) canceled due to the fires in the area. An opportunity came up … MORE
I was originally signed up for the Santa to the Sea up in Oxnard, but that was (rightfully) canceled due to the fires in the area. An opportunity came up where I was able to sign up for the Holiday Half at the last minute, so I hopped on board.
Race had a surprising amount of climb (~650 total feet) that I wasn’t expecting. Yes, they do mention this on the website, but given my last-minute sign up, I didn’t realize that. Despite this, I had a good time. The crowd was pleasant and not too large. You run around a lake and Raging Waters, so you have plenty of nice views. Worth doing again next year depending on whether or not I actually get to do the Santa to the Sea.
Golden Snowflake Challenge
This race offers two races for a weekend challenge. 5k on Saturday and 1/2 on Sunday. BE SURE TO KEEP YOUR PARKING TICKET if you keep your parking ticket you … MORE
This race offers two races for a weekend challenge. 5k on Saturday and 1/2 on Sunday. BE SURE TO KEEP YOUR PARKING TICKET if you keep your parking ticket you can use it for both days and only have to pay for parking once!
I find this course challenging but super fun. 2017 was my 5th year running it. If you run 3 years in a row you become a member of the Penguin Club and every year after that you get a new pin with a different penguin on it. Will be back for 2018!
Fun Friendly Well Run Race
Loved the rolling hills and lovely scenery for most of race. Volunteers were great, aid stations were well stocked, easy parking and great post race band and party! MORE
Loved the rolling hills and lovely scenery for most of race. Volunteers were great, aid stations were well stocked, easy parking and great post race band and party!
Hilly course
Great family atmosphere. If you like hills this is the race for you. Lots of friendly support from volunteers throughout the course. I loved Santa, the beanie, the shirt and … MORE
Great family atmosphere. If you like hills this is the race for you. Lots of friendly support from volunteers throughout the course. I loved Santa, the beanie, the shirt and the BLING. I’m looking forward to next years Snowflake Challenge.