Half-Marathon #27 is a Virtual Harvest in Huntington Beach

After taking a break from just about everything this summer, I kicked off my return to half-marathons in the perfect Southern California setting—Huntington Beach. It feels great to be back on the path.

Thanks to the option to complete the Harvest Half-Marathon as a remote “runner,” I chose a six-and-a-half mile stretch of beach from Huntington Beach’s State Beach to Bolsa Chica.

This was a much gentler return to walking 13.1 miles than a one hour drive at 6am. No need to start in the morning cold and finish in the early afternoon heat. The weather can change significantly between 8 and 11:30am. I chose an afternoon start in a breezy, sun-shining 76 degrees. The tourist season is all but over. Away from the Huntington Beach pier, it was often just myself and a handful of bicyclists or joggers. No crowded spaces along the path. The epitome of Southern California easy living.

While remote races do not count toward my qualifying 100 Half-Marathon Club officially timed events, virtual races are an opportunity to complete the race you wish existed.

Huntington Beach’s largest half-marathon race, Surf City Half Marathon, comes with bands galore, GU gel, cheering spectators and all the post-race bells and whistles a girl expects from a large race. I completed Surf City twice—2016 and 2017. The only downside to Surf City is that it is so huge, you hardly notice that you’re near the water as you tread faithfully up and down Pacific Coast Highway from band to pit stop to band to pit stop and so on.

I’m more interested in checking out new races than becoming a legacy participant of any particular race. It may be years before I complete the Surf City Half-Marathon again.* As for Huntington Beach proper, I’ll be back for a remote race sooner than later.

*Post update 5/2019 - I completed the Surf City Half-Marathon with two friends. It was their first half-marathon. Wonderful experience!

Half-Marathon #23 - Still Learning

On March 11, 2018 I completed the Tustin Hangar Half Marathon for the second time. I didn't pick up my bib the day before. I didn't look up directions to the start location. It was the same place as the year before. I knew where it was and how to get there. What could go wrong?

I neglected to take into the account that last year I drove to the race from a friend's home that approaches the race from the opposite direction. Oops. This time my approach headed directly into the route. It was quite a round-a-bout to get the staging area.

My GPS had me exit early. I trusted. Then, when it suggested heading what seemed much further north than necessary, I got anxious and turned around.

Three blocks into my new ad hoc route, the road is blocked. No worries. I ask the officers and they give me great directions. Great up until the next road closure. No worries, again. The next officers gave me proper directions the rest of the way to the race start.

Lesson learned. Read the road closures every time. I recommend it to others all the time. Knowing what to do is only worth anything when you actually do it.

Tomorrow I participate in the second half of the Los Angeles Marathon, West Hollywood to Santa Monica. Tomorrow, I am approaching the race with childlike wonder as if it is my first race. And padding my arrival with an extra hour's time.

See you on the path.

A Walker's Guide to Choosing The Right Half Marathon

After completing my twentieth half marathon, I've learned how to find the best races for walkers. While the number of half-marathoners choosing to walk their race continues to increase, not every race is “walker-friendly.” Here are the top seven race features to consider when choosing your first or next half-marathon.

Time Limits

Look for races with a minimum four hour time limit. Anyone who can walk 5 or 6 miles without being overly winded or needing to stop can likely complete the half marathon within 4 hours. Those starting a training schedule at least six weeks prior to their race usually finish within this time frame with relative ease given average health.

For your very first half-marathon walk, your best bet is to register for a half-marathon/marathon combination. These will almost always allow half-marathoners the same generous six hour time limit given to full-marathon participants. No matter how well you train, an unexpected hiccup can result in a longer than expected walk to the finish. The extra cushion on your first half-marathon will insulate you from undue worry or concern about finishing, leaving you free to enjoy the race.

Event Size

My first three races were large, well-established and well-run. Each attracted tens of thousands of participants. Large races ensure you're part of a community of hundreds of other walkers. Larger races also have well-supplied aid stations, clearly marked courses, first responders on hand, cheering supporters, plenty of port-o-potties and all the things established races have learned will lead you to smoothly to the finish line.

Smaller races of 500 or fewer participants may have as few as twenty walkers. The smaller events are geared to runners and do not always prepare for walkers, even when they advertise as “walker-friendly” because they offer a four hour time limit. Slower and first-time walkers may miss the celebration at the finish line.

My twentieth race included 523 half-marathoners, mostly runners. They ran out of beer before the walkers arrived. The single beer-sponsor went on a beer run to buy a bunch of twelve-packs for the handful of walkers still finishing well within the four hour time limit. At another small race, they had stopped making pancakes as the last walkers crossed the line.

When participating in smaller events, understand that runners, not walkers, may be the primary focus of the race organizers. Be appreciative of what is provided at the finish line and offer suggestions graciously.

The Course

Most races are in one of three formats--out-and-back, point-to-point or a loop course.

Out-and-back are my favorite. As I head back in for the second half of the race, I recognize the places passed on the way out. With each place passed, I know I am closer to the finish and get more excited as I approach the finish line. My mind is clear about what is left.  

Point-to-point are my second favorite. These are more interesting because each step along the course is unique. No matter how well you study the course beforehand, walking it is an unpredictable delight. These are often scenic. The down side to point-to-point is that you are generally taking a shuttle or Uber to the starting line and arriving 30-45 minutes earlier than the race’s start time.

Walking a half-marathon doubles the time you are on a course. That makes loop courses a unique challenge for walkers. After walking for 90 minutes or more, it can be discouraging to realize you still the entire loop ahead of you as you watch runners head toward and then past you toward the finish line. In your first few races, I recommend skipping loop courses unless it promises  great scenery or is large enough to attract a large number of walkers to share the second trip around.

Level of Challenge

The easiest races when you first start walking half-marathons are flat and fast. That’s what course descriptions mean when they say “great opportunity for a personal record (PR).”

Sometimes, it’s worth it to join a larger race or better course to accept a few small hills. Based on my own experiences, I’d avoid tackling courses that choose to tell you in advance that they are “challenging” until you’ve completed a handful of races.

Earlier this year I walked the Valley of the Flowers Half-Marathon in Lompoc, CA. The description said “hilly.” I thought I knew what they meant. I did not. This was a very challenging course. Neither looking at the map nor reading the course description would have alerted me to the elevation changes in the race.

Elevation Changes

The greater the elevation change, the more preparation you'll need for uphill and downhill walking. Many races now include an information graphic of the elevation changes showing the height, number and grade of hills. When the course descriptions do not indicate whether it is flat and fast or challenging and filled with hills, odds are it will be mostly flat with minimal hills.

Time of event

Most half-marathons are held early in the morning to beat the heat of mid-day, regardless of time of year. The most common start times are 7am or 8am. Walking a half-marathon can take up to four hours at an average walking pace. While most runners will finish an 8am race by 10:30am, walkers may still be completing the course at noon. Hourly weather forecasts are a walker's friend. Dress for the finish, not the start. You'll warm up pretty quick once you start walking.

Races on routes that need to minimize the closure of streets, may start as early as 6am, but that is rare. Heat warnings can also move half-marathons earlier. My very first race occurred during a Los Angeles area heat wave and the race time was moved up by an hour. That's highly unusual. Generally the published times hold.

Location

There’s no such thing as a bad location for the avid half-marathoner. “Scenic” is in the eye of the beholder. It’s all about the distance. Some cityscapes can be as intriguing as nature.

A good practice is to do an online map search of the area around the race. Is it far from stores and services or in the middle of nowhere? This is especially important when traveling to half-marathons. Larger races will often offer opportunities to purchase parking passes in advance of the event. Smaller races often have plenty of parking in nearby lots.

As with all things in life, it’s a great idea to arrive early. You’ll have time to stretch, review the course route and hear any last minute route changes and place yourself in the proper corral. If life happens and you arrive later than expected, get to the start line as quickly as possible and shrug off whatever made you late.

Final Note

The half-marathon is as much mental as physical. Expect your mind to whip out a little doubt along the way. It's your ability to keep going that makes the walk across the finish line so sweet. You got this!

Walk that half!

Half-Marathon #17 Overcoming Disappointment at the jetBlue Long Beach Half

Feelings are an inconvenience. I didn't feel like finding parking. I didn't feel like walking. Just not at all in the mood to walk 13.1 miles.

In retrospect, I know when my mood shifted. It was after picking up my bib at the Expo the day before. When you hit your third race in the JetBlue Half Marathon you are bestowed Beach Bum Club membership.

Upon registration I was informed I was special, eligible for Beach Bum Club membership. I love being special. What would I get for my prestigious inclusion? I fantasized getting a special greeting area with fanciful samples of something or other. Certainly, a special post-race space with sanctified water, banana pieces dipped in chocolate and fruit slices in the shape of flowers or simple animals. Membership has its privileges.

As I fast-walk through the Expo in search of the special door, I can't find it. I ask one of the lovely and helpful volunteers. "Over there. In the back corner." I see it and make a B-line straight over.

Just as I would expect, there are only a few people there. Funny, though. All I see are a few tables with a couple volunteers engaged in quiet conversation. There are no mimosas in sight. Another wonderful volunteer asks for my bib number and confirms that I belong.  She directs me to two chatting young ladies.

"Ah, what size are you? We are kinda out of some sizes." 

"What size do you have?"

Turns out the largest size they have is medium. I require a large and take the thin medium no-frills Caribbean blue t-shirt. I walk over to a slightly older volunteer sitting by herself near the entrance to the fenced in Beach Bum Club area.

"Are there any other perks besides the t-shirt."

"No." She adds a note of shouldn't you be grateful to, "You get a free t-shirt."

I walked off thinking, "Not even a negotiated $1 off a post-race beer?" I expected something special. Joining the Beach Bum Club had zero to do with my third registration. I wasn't looking for it until I told was a member.

The loss of something I didn't expect or care about, something I built up from a mountain of self-glorifying expectation, created a disappointed that carried over until the following morning. I even arrived late to the race.

By mile 12 I got over it. The JetBlue Long Beach Half Marathon was my very first half. In three short years it is seventeenth overall half. Smiles all around. The only feeling I have at the end of the race is satisfaction.

Half-Marathon #16: Arrogance and Integrity at Valley of the Flowers Half Marathon

With 15 half-marathons behind me, all I do is watch out for the "challenging" races. My attitude for everything else: "How hard can it be?" Arrogance was the only extra training I brought to the Valley of the Flowers race.

The paragraph long description of the race included the sentence: "The course is hilly and very scenic with majestic views of the Lompoc Valley and the La Purisma Mission." It didn't say "mountainous." It didn't say "challenging climbs." It said "hilly." Sure, this picture was included on the information page. I assumed it was to show the location's beautiful backdrop.

That aqua area is actually a steady 175 foot climb up a "hill" in just over 4 miles and a descent back down in about a half-mile. When I arrived at the base of the aqua loop, I was ecstatic. My first climb, even if unanticipated. It was beautiful. I even pulled out my phone to capture a Facebook Live moment of me twirling atop. "This is a great course!" I said to the pair of encouraging volunteers I passed at the hill's bottom. "You're the most enthusiastic person out here," one of the volunteers replied.

As I walked off to complete the last 5 something miles of the race, I wondered why. It only took a few hundred feet to find out. A volunteer who's job it was to make sure racers crossed at the straight pink line at the bottom of the route map said, "Just one big ol' hill and you're done."

Boy was I irritated as I found myself on the same lap I'd taken twice earlier. She'd made me anxious for no good reason. As I assured myself she was just pulling my chain, another part of my brain started doing math. Finishing the same lap around the basin would leave me a couple miles short. There had to be a turn somewhere. I gladly reasoned it was probably out into some hitherto unseen valley. I didn't bother paying attention to the route in advance. How hard could it be? 

It wasn't until mile nine that I encountered the turn up a hill. The trail wound about. Two hours in, it was hotter at 10am than it was when the race started. It was at the turn a bit into mile 10 that the steep final ascent toward the water towers became clear. Or so I thought. There's one last leg directly up to the water tower. The steepest part of the race.

My integrity was given a good run approaching mile 10 all the way to the top. That big ol' hill included a steep 23 story climb in just over a mile. The last of the runners would pass me as they headed down the mountain. Each time one of the last of the runners passed me with a variation of "That was hard!" on their tired faces, I would say to myself, "If she went all the way to the top, I can." "If he can, I can." "If she did, I will." Oh, arrogant pride.

It intensified my sense of integrity. Let me be fully frank about it:  I heard a small voice suggest turning around when I was alone on a long stretches of the path with no one in sight. "Who would know?" I would know.

My commitment to arrogance is incompatible with cheating, quitting or cutting a corner.

Winning might be hard on the body, but stopping short of personal victory is even harder on the soul.

This elevation map courtesy of halfmarathons.net.