This race is literally a mile from my house, and it supports good causes (CARE Project, The Center in Long Beach, and The Aids Food Store) so I had to … MORE
This race is literally a mile from my house, and it supports good causes (CARE Project, The Center in Long Beach, and The Aids Food Store) so I had to do it. There was a 5K and 10K along overlapping courses. Both races started at 8:00 am while the famous Long Beach Pride parade started at 10:00 am. So I could do either race and still have time to recover for the parade.
The race starts at a park overlooking the Ocean. There was music, there was a dropbag location and lots of rainbow tutus. The first quarter mile is downhill to the beach parking lot so of course everyone starts too fast. At the bottom of the hill the 10K runners go to the right, but I was a 5K runner and we went to the left. The next mile and a half is an almost completely flat section of paved pedestrian path along the beach. It was not crowded so it was easy to pass people. There is only a slight incline as you pass the Long Beach pier just past the 1 mile mark. At the halfway point you turn around and retrace your path. Right past mile 2 you see the one hill leading back up to where you started, and you realize you are going to have to run back up that thing. It is not long but it is in a bad location. The finish line is just past the top.
The final hill might seem a bit cruel but it was a really good challenge. You can start the hill as part of a pack but everyone will be spread out by the time you get to the top. It was a great finish and definitely one you will remember (the hill gets steeper every time I tell the story).
As I said the 10K courses goes to the right at the bottom of the hill for a 1.5 mile out and back before doing the 5K section. They have to climb the final hill also.
The shirt and medal were both great. The post race and awards events were very good. There was a free photographer and free finish line photos were available. Everything was well organized.
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Great race with a tough finish
This race is literally a mile from my house, and it supports good causes (CARE Project, The Center in Long Beach, and The Aids Food Store) so I had to … MORE
This race is literally a mile from my house, and it supports good causes (CARE Project, The Center in Long Beach, and The Aids Food Store) so I had to do it. There was a 5K and 10K along overlapping courses. Both races started at 8:00 am while the famous Long Beach Pride parade started at 10:00 am. So I could do either race and still have time to recover for the parade.
The race starts at a park overlooking the Ocean. There was music, there was a dropbag location and lots of rainbow tutus. The first quarter mile is downhill to the beach parking lot so of course everyone starts too fast. At the bottom of the hill the 10K runners go to the right, but I was a 5K runner and we went to the left. The next mile and a half is an almost completely flat section of paved pedestrian path along the beach. It was not crowded so it was easy to pass people. There is only a slight incline as you pass the Long Beach pier just past the 1 mile mark. At the halfway point you turn around and retrace your path. Right past mile 2 you see the one hill leading back up to where you started, and you realize you are going to have to run back up that thing. It is not long but it is in a bad location. The finish line is just past the top.
The final hill might seem a bit cruel but it was a really good challenge. You can start the hill as part of a pack but everyone will be spread out by the time you get to the top. It was a great finish and definitely one you will remember (the hill gets steeper every time I tell the story).
As I said the 10K courses goes to the right at the bottom of the hill for a 1.5 mile out and back before doing the 5K section. They have to climb the final hill also.
The shirt and medal were both great. The post race and awards events were very good. There was a free photographer and free finish line photos were available. Everything was well organized.