San Diego Beach & Bay Half Marathon

This was year 3 for me at the San Diego Beach & Bay Half Marathon, and it remains a wonderful tour around San Diego’s Mission Bay area. The course is flat, scenic, and surrounded by pretty views of all kinds of water!

Expo / pick-up:

-Bib pick-up was staged conveniently at Road Runner Sports’ San Diego HQ in Clairemont. Registration, bib pick-up, and merch sales were in tents in the parking lot in front of the store, along with sponsor tents. Shirt and bag pick-up was inside the store. Hold onto that official drawstring bag because it’s the only allowed bag for gear check on race day. The check-in process leads you into the Road Runner Sports store, which is stocked with all the running shoes, shirts, gels, and recovery gear you could want. The clearance tent outside also offered some steep discounts on shoes.

Parking:

-Most driving directions will have you arrive through the I-5 Clairemont Drive / Mission Bay Drive exits, and several parking lots are available up and down East Mission Bay Drive close to Tecolote Shores park and the Mission Bay Resort. There’s additional parking further south at the Sun Runner lot, but whatever parking option you decide, arrive early! The later you get there, the further you’ll have to walk.

Pre-race:

-Gathering at the grassy start area under pink skies, just ahead of sunrise, the buzzy energy and anticipation is palpable. There’s up-tempo music blaring on speakers, and a dude on stilts cheering as thousands of runners warm up. Port-a-potties were plentiful, and in an upgrade this year, portable faucets were set up as well. The start corral was nicely filled by pacers carrying finishing-time signs of 1:30, 1:35, 1:40, 1:45, 1:50, 2:00, 2:10, 2:20, 2:30, 2:45, and 3:00, and runners were released in well-spaced waves.

Course:

-If your friends ask you to describe the race, you can easily answer with 3 emojis: 💧 💦 🌊. You can enjoy waterfront views for nearly 70% of the course, and it was even better this year because the sun was out and glistening across the waters.

-Miles 1 – 3: After bursting south out of Tecolote Shores Park, you’ll turn west onto Sea World Drive, then W Mission Bay Drive. The start line energy keeps you amped as you go past black pavement, gray parking lots, and the perimeter fences of Sea World. There are some helpful supporters around here, but overall, the course here feels less scenic than you might have imagined. What’s going on? Don’t worry, this is the longest you’ll go without watery views. At least the roads are wide open! As you approach Mile 3, you begin to climb a bridge across Mission Bay Channel. It’s the highest climb of an otherwise flat course, but the great news is that now the bay views begin!

-Miles 3 – 6.5: The course circles around Mariner’s Basin, where sailboats are sleepily docked, then curls by South Mission Beach and the Point Medanos jetty. Mission Beach is a wonderful setting because you’ll run past sand, waves, basketball courts, and volleyball nets on your left, and shops, restaurants, and the rides of Belmont Park on the right—are you faster than that roller coaster? A smattering of joggers share the path with you, but even more beach-goers will cheer you on from the sides. Nothing beats an early-morning beach run!

-Miles 6.5 – 9.5: Around Mile 6.5, you turn east away from the Pacific Ocean, and inland towards the mini-bays of Mission Bay like Sail Bay and Fiesta Bay. The aid station at Mile 8.5 in Crown Point Park is a perfect spot for grabbing water and refueling with some race-supplied Huma energy gels. It’s easy to settle into a comfortable pace in this stretch—the course stays flat, and the view are scenic, with bay waters on your right, and cute vacation rentals your left. Take advantage of all those windows here, and check out the reflection of your running form. Look good, feel good, run fast!

-Miles 9.5 – 11: In the northeast corner of Mission Bay, the scenery transitions from blue bays to marshy wildlife preserves, followed by a run through some residential areas, an RV resort, before a small bridge takes you past a tennis club and golf course. De Anza Cove Park arrives around Mile 11. The running path narrows a bit, but it’s a fair tradeoff for getting back green grass and blue waters. Re-load at another aid station here.

-Miles 11 – 13.1: The finals 2 miles of the race are deceptively difficult—not because of any elevation/temperature changes, but because it’s so smooth and relaxing. The course winds around the grassy shoreline of Mission Bay Park, past the excellent bay views around Mission Bay Resort. It’s so easy to get lost in a gentle pace before you realize that the growing crowds of spectators means the end is coming up! You’ll need to make a sharp, awkward left onto the grassy finish in Tecolote Shores Park, and the cheers carry you to the finish line.

Scenery/Weather/Support:

-The San Diego Beach & Bay Half Marathon course is one of the most pleasant and scenic you’ll run. You’ll have steady views of beaches and bays and coves, and the course constantly curves around shores and parks to keep things interesting. To top it all off, the sunshine this year really made a difference after consecutive years of overcast race-day weather. Temperatures this year started around 49 F and ended around 54 F for me, which I think are excellent conditions. Aid stations with water and/or electrolytes were spaced out at 1 to 1.5 mile intervals. In prior years, there were volunteers handing out wet towels at the Mile 8.5 station, but I didn’t spot any this year, despite it being slightly warmer this year. It was a nice little perk that I’d love to see again! Special shout-out to the pacers from On Pace, whose signs displayed both their expected course time as well as their mile pace. I appreciate not having to do marathon math while I’m trying to run and enjoy the views!

Post-race:

-Once you cross the finish line, flash a winning smile for the photographers, and grab your shiny new medal. Snacks at the post-race tables included bananas, bottled water, cups of electrolytes, mango Jam Bars, and several flavors of Celsius energy drinks. Celebrate with friends and family in the beer garden (sponsored by Raising Caine’s this year), line up for photos at the official photo op backdrops, and check out the tents of vendors for other goodies. If you’ve run the race for 3+ consecutive years, don’t forget to pick up a Loyalty medal. The Loyalty Club tent this year was located on the far west side of the vendor tents, right around the finish line. It took me a while to find, and I wish the race had a map on-site detailing locations within the post-race festivities.

Swag:

-The official half marathon shirt this year was an absolute upgrade over the plain white shirt of last year. The shirt came in an eye-catching red-orange-yellow sunset gradient, with the San Diego Beach & Bay Half Marathon logo centered in white, and palm trees and surf scenes at the bottom. Fantastic! The race’s finisher medals have traditionally been styled to mimic California license plates, and this year was no different. The medal matched the shirt’s sunset theme, with the red-orange-yellow gradient, a setting sun centered, and black background silhouettes of palm trees, seabirds, an umbrella, and a surfboard on the sides. The race title is centered top-to-bottom, while “APR” and “2024” are in the top corners of the license plate, where your car’s registration decals would normally go. All this is looped in a nice navy blue ribbon white yellow-orange text.

The Bottom Line:

-The San Diego Beach & Bay Half Marathon is the perfect race if you enjoy running by water. The flat and scenic course if perfect for first-timers, for anyone chasing a PR, and for those needing a bounce-back race after running a March marathon. I’ve done this race multiple years now, and I can’t wait to come back!

Intro:
This was my second year running the San Diego Beach & Bay Half Marathon, and it was a nice, flat, scenic stroll by water, water, and more water!

Expo / pick-up:
-Bib pick-up was convenient at Road Runner Sports’ San Diego HQ in Clairemont. Registration, bib pick-up, and merch sales were at various tents in the parking lot. Shirt pick-up was inside the store, where you could browse through all the running gear you could ever want. There were very few sponsor tents, though, compared to what you might normally expect at running expos—they were all strangely saved for the post-race festival.

Parking:
-Off the I-5 Clairemont Drive / Mission Bay Drive exit, I parked outside of Tecolote Shores park, though there were plenty of other parking options listed on the website. Regardless of what you choose, be sure to get there early! Lots were filling up an hour before the start.

Pre-race:
-At the start area, the race-day energy is really great— up-tempo music, lots of runners! Port-a-potties were plentiful, but quick tip: bring hand sanitizer, as there weren’t any temporary faucets that I could see. The starting chute was nicely divided by anticipated finish time, and runners were released in waves.

Course:
-This race course with emoji, it’d be all water emojis: 💧 💦 🌊. You’ll enjoy great waterfront views for almost 70% of the course. The only thing that would’ve been better would be a tiny bit of sunshine, but alas, it was all overcast all morning.

-Miles 1-3: Blasting out of Tecolote Shores Park, you run west on Sea World Drive and then W Mission Bay Drive. The start line energy sustains you for a few minutes as you go past gray pavement, parking lots, and the perimeter fences of Sea World. If it feels less scenic than advertised, don’t worry, this is the longest bit of the course with no waterfront views. At least the road is wide, and the best is yet to come! Just before Mile 3, you begin climbing a bridge across Mission Bay Channel (the highest climb on a very flat course), and the bay views begin!

-Miles 3-6.5: Here, the course traces Mariner’s Basin, where a number of sailboats are docked, before curling up South Mission Beach. Running along Mission Beach is fun because you’ve got sand, waves, and volleyball nets on your left, and shops, inns, and the rides of Belmont Park on your right (roller coaster!). Some early morning beach-goers share the path here, but many more are also cheering you on, and probably thinking “Who are these maniacs running this early in the morning?!”

-Miles 6.5-9.5: At around Mile 6.5, you cut eastward from the beach back towards the various mini-bays of Mission Bay like Sail Bay and Fiesta Bay. Grab some water at Mile 8.5 in Crown Point Park along with energy gels (Huma gels this year). This stretch of the course remains flat and scenic, delivering bay waters on your right, and lots of vacation rentals on your left. One benefit of running past all the waterfront housing is the window reflections— take the opportunity to check your running form so you look good and run even better!

-Miles 9.5-11: The course scenery shifts as you run past some marshy wildlife preserves, then through some residential areas, including an RV resort, and past a golf course. Mile 11 takes you to De Anza Cove Park where the path narrows, but green grass and blue waters make a welcome return. The support station here offers cold, wet towels, and it’s a nice relief.

-Miles 11-13.1: The final stretch of the race is rather relaxing. It’s not intense or full of momentum, but instead winds back and forth a bit, hugging the shoreline as you run past Mission Bay Park and the Mission Bay Resort, with bay views all around you again. It’s a perfect end to the race, and that low-key feeling carries you through to the grassy finish line at Tecolote Shores.

Scenery/Weather/Support:
-This is one of the most pleasant and scenic courses I’ve ever raced, with views of beaches and bays constantly giving you something new to marvel at. It’s hard to believe there’d be room for improvement, but with just a little more sunshine, I think it would have been even better. Race-day temperatures were perfect, and started at around 55F and ended around 57F for me, though completely overcast with no blue skies. The aid stations were adequate, with just enough water and electrolytes. I thought the cold towels at Mile 8.5 were a refreshing touch. I also want to give a shout-out to the pacers, whose signs listed both their mile pace, as well as the course pace. Marathon math brain is a real thing, and it’s nice to not have to do any calculations when your brain is starved of oxygen!

Post-race:
-Cross the finish line, flash a smile for photographers, and grab your medal. Post-race goodies included the classic banana, bottled water, and JamBars. Here I’ll register a nitpick: the post-race chute either needed to be longer, or else the snack tables needed to be better-stocked. The tables were excessively crowded, and it felt disorienting going from full-pace at the finish line, to wading into a wall of immovable humanity. The beer garden and tents of vendors were a sharp contrast to the minimal expo setup. I gotta say Dunkin’ Donuts was probably the most popular tent out there!

Swag:
-The half marathon race shirt was disappointing. First, a running shirt in plain white? Thumbs-down. Second, it came with “Beach & Bay” and a large “23” in turquoise dominating most of the front, with palm tree silhouettes in the numbers. It’s an uninspiring design. The rest of the shirt text was printed in bright, cursive orange, on a white background, which is low-contrast and difficult to read from a distance. The finisher medals were styled like California license plates, with “Beach & Bay” as the primary text. The background graphic featured blue skies and waters, sandy beaches, and a red convertible and surf board, while the ribbon was dark blue. It’s a unique medal design, which I definitely appreciate!

The Bottom Line:
-If you love running by water (and this course features the most water I’ve ever run by in a half marathon), you’ll definitely enjoy running San Diego Beach & Bay. Thumbs-up!

This was my first time running the San Diego Beach & Bay Half Marathon, and it was a blast. If you like running by the beach, by the bay, by bodies of water, then this is a fantastic race for you!

Expo / pick-up:
-Bib pick-up was easy and convenient at Road Runner Sports’ San Diego HQ. Registration, bib pick-up, and merch sales were at various tents in the parking lot. Shirt pick-up was inside the store, where you could browse through all the running gear you could ever want.

Parking:
-Off the I-5 Sea World Drive exit, I tried parking at the Sun Runner Parking Lot (closest to the start area), but despite arriving over an hour before the 6:30 start, the lot was either full or closed. We were redirected to the South Shores Parking Lot, closer to Sea World. The lot was large, but the walk to the start area was far—almost 1.5 miles—and a bit dark since it was so early in the morning. I kept checking Google Maps’ walking direction to make sure I was heading in the right direction towards the Tecolote Shores Park start area. I think a couple more lights and/or signs would’ve been helpful along the path.

Pre-race:
-After the dark, lonely walk from the parking lot, once you arrive in the start area, the race-day energy is really great— up-tempo music, lots of runners, and even a dude walking around on stilts! It’s very refreshing. Port-a-potties were plentiful, but here’s a tip: don’t line up for the first bunch near the playground. Instead, keep walking north past the start line, past the crowds, and there are way more facilities with shorter lines. The starting chute was nicely divided by anticipated finish time, and runners were released in waves.

Course:
-If I could summarize the race course with emoji, it’d be any one of the water emojis: 💧 💦 🌊. You’ll enjoy great aquatic views for almost 70% of the course.

-Miles 1-3: You burst out of Tecolote Shores Park, running west on Sea World Drive and then W Mission Bay Drive. The adrenaline sustains you for a few minutes before you realize you’re not seeing any water—just pavement, parking lots, and the perimeter fences of Sea World. What’s going on? Was the course overhyped? False advertisement? Don’t worry, this is the longest bit of the course with no waterfront views. Just settle into your rhythm, the best is yet to come. At around Mile 2.5, you start climbing a bridge across Mission Bay Channel (one of the few uphills on a very flat course), and the nearly endless views begin!

-Miles 3-6.5: Here, the course traces Mariner’s Basin, where a number of sailboats are docked, before curling up South Mission Beach. Running along Mission Beach is fun because you’ve got sand and waves on your left, and shops, inns, and the rides (roller coaster!) of Belmont Park on your right. You’ll have to dodge some early morning beach-goers here, but many are also cheering you on or watching in awe at the mileage you’re crushing!

-Miles 6.5-9.5: At around Mile 6.5, you cut eastward from the beach back towards the various mini-bays of Mission Bay like Sail Bay and Fiesta Bay. Grab some water and energy gels at Mile 8.5. This stretch of the course stays flat and scenic, delivering bay waters on your right, and lots of houses and vacation rentals on your left. One big benefit of running past all the waterfront housing is the endless window reflections— it’s a great chance to check your running form so you keep looking good!

-Miles 9.5-11: The course scenery shifts a bit as you run past some marshy wildlife preserves, then through some residential areas. Mile 11 turns into De Anza Cove Park where the colors in sightlines go from gray, to green, then blue waters once again. The support station here offers cold, wet towels, and it’s a welcome relief.

-Miles 11-13.1: There’s something very relaxing about the final stretch of the race. It’s not intense or full of momentum, but it is a perfect fit for this race. You get to run past Mission Bay Park and the Mission Bay Resort, with the bay views all around you again. It’s a great feeling that carries you through to the grassy finish line at Tecolote Shores.

Scenery/Weather/Support:
-This is one of the loveliest, and most scenic courses I’ve ever raced. It’s so pleasant, with varying views of the beaches and bays constantly giving you something new to marvel at. The best part is that the views could have been even better! The weather did not cooperate at all—no blue skies, just blue waters, as it was a cool, overcast day. Race-day temperatures started at around 61F and ended around 63F for me, with light breezes here and there. The aid stations were fully adequate, with enough water and electrolytes. I thought the cold towels at Mile 8.5 were a really nice touch. I also want to give a shout-out to the pace runners from Beast Pacing. Their bright neon yellow shirts were easily visible, and the pacers I came across were very vocal in calling out paces, and encouraged us when we were slightly ahead or behind target paces. Kudos!

Post-race:
-Cross the finish line, smile for photographers, and grab your medal. Post-race goodies included just the customary banana and bottle of water, though it would’ve been nice to throw in a granola bar or something more carb-y and chewy as well. If you want liquid carbs, I suppose that’s what the beer festival was for, and there were plenty of vendors and food trucks in the post-race park area. In contrast to the early-morning pre-race trek, the long walk back to the South Shores parking lot felt much less intimidating in the sunlight, especially when you’re celebrating with food, water, and your medal. The path to the parking lot unfortunately did intersect with the finale of the 10k and 5k course, so that was a bit tricky to navigate.

Swag:
-The half marathon race shirt came in dark blue, with white outlines of the Belmont Park roller coaster, palm trees, and beaches. It’s simple and nice. The finisher medal draped around your neck looks like a stylized California license plate. It’s got a purple/pink/orange/teal sunset background, a roller coaster and bay graphic, looped with a blue ribbon. The colors definitely stand out in my medal collection!

The Bottom Line:
-I really enjoyed this race! I love running by water, and this is the most water I’ve ever run by. I’m really looking forward to running again next year, because with just a tiny bit more sunlight, I think this race is gonna be even more spectacular.