San Dieguito Half Marathon

Who would have known that this one of America’s oldest half marathon? I sure did not.
This race starts and ends at San Dieguito County Park. This is one of Kathy Loper’s event so expect the price to be very reasonable if you register early. You run your race and you eat tons of chili.
I am not a beer drinker but from what I was told, you can drink all the beer you want. What a way to build an appetite running through rolling hills.
To avoid potential traffic problems we were asked to park at the Del Mar Fairgrounds and we were shuttle to the start of the race and you get shuttled back. This worked out well, if you are early enough you can actually drive yourself to San Dieguito and park by the streets. It is highly discouraged due to the limited parking.
What can I say, it was a great experience and I am looking forward next year’s run.

The 2014 race
Delayed start– very bad. Get it together guys.
National Anthem was a joy.
So often you get some local X factor wanabee warbling away trying to be Christina Aguilera and it is usually so so bad.
Don’t know what happened today but they couldn’t get it working or the girl failed to show so the announcer called out for a volunteer at the very last second.
Some random guy rolled up and helped out and the end result was BEST NATIONAL ANTHEM EVER. He was great, solid, straight down the line and it enabled everyone to sing along. Simple works.
and, sorry to end on a negative but the medal was terrible. A wafer thin piece of tin with a sticker on– not good enough.

Logistically, I thought this was best run HM in San Diego.
— Parking was easy (I got there about 1.5 hours before the start) and it was close to the park. I could walk to the bib pick up and then back to my car to relax for a little bit.
— you could pick up your bib that morning (there’s no pointless expo to go to)
— plenty of bathrooms around the park
— plenty of picnic tables to sit at
— Nicely stocked beer garden
— Delicious chili at the end (4 different kinds! I went back for seconds… definitely a lot more satisfying than an energy bar and a banana)
— Priced reasonably… or what a HM should cost
The course was good, I wouldn’t say it was great, mainly because it wasn’t an iconic portion of san diego. Most other races go through some special part of San Diego, this one does not. That said, I enjoyed the hilly race, it’s a lot more challenging than the mundane flatness of something like the Silver Strand HM.
All in all, I would definitely run this again.

Cheapest half marathon in San Diego, and one not to ignore because of that. Rolling hills makes it not easy. There are a lot of trees in Rancho Sante Fe, so much of the course is shady, but there are some sun exposed parts near the beginning/​end. Traditions — Queen Elizabeth around 2.5K, water/​aid station served by men wearing red dresses.

The San Dieguito Half Marathon is by far the cheapest, best bang-​for-​your-​buck half marathon in SD County. I’ve run basically all the other half marathons except for the new SD Half Marathon and the Rock ‘n Roll Half, and I have to say that San Dieguito is my second favorite half marathon, and the only reason that it’s second is because the hills are never-​ending. Everybody complains about the La Jolla Half Marathon, but once you’re done with Torrey Pines, you’re done. San Dieguito is most optimistically described as a rolling course, and believe me, it takes its toll. I guess that a second and somewhat significant con is that the race is very small, so the roads aren’t always as well blocked off to traffic as you would like, so there may be a little bit of SUV-​dodging on your half marathon.
The expo is held at Road Runner and had, like, two booths (one for bib pick-​up and one for shirt pick-​up!), but honestly, how many Spi-​Belts or Halo products do you really need in your life? The parking situation has also improved, as I was able to park at Del Mar Racetrack and take the bus to the start line. The finish line bus service ended a little too early for my liking, as it took me awhile to find the pick-​up location again, but otherwise, San Dieguito runs fairly smoothly.
It’s one of the smaller races in the county, but it offers many of the perks of the bigger races, including mile markers, chip timing, long-​sleeve tech shirt and bitchin’ medal. You also get beer/​sangria (and drunk Hashers to cheer you on!) at miles 2 and 12, and chili (yes, chili… available as regular or spicy) and beer at the finish line. However, since it’s small, don’t expect crowds cheering you on. I actually found the quiet course to be quite pleasant, as I was able to concentrate more fully on the raging lactic acid build-​up in my legs as I ran through the peaceful Rancho Santa Fe course, and the silence let me appreciate the woman who decided to start belting out «It’s My Life» at mile 11 all the more.
In any case, this is unlikely to be a PR course, but it is a hell of a fun course.

Gorgeous course. Challenging, but doable. Worst hills are at Mile 2 and, of course, on your way to the finish line. Biggest complaint: Only one porta-​potty every few miles. I lost 10 minutes on my race time just waiting in line.

At age 52 and only running for not a full year, this was my first half marathon. I had run the course to prepare for it and really liked that part of it. Very pretty. Overall I would do it again if some changes were made. Heard alot of grumbling on these issues listed below.
Pros:
Alot of uphill which is a good test for you and your legs. Chip timing and mile markers. The volunteers at water stops were fantastic! Very friendly and supportive. The technical shirts are very nice. I dont drink beer and really chilli isnt a good thing for me after running BUT it was nice to see others enjoying this.
Cons:
1. The girls YELLING out your times at the beginning! OMG! It sounded like they were competing with each other to see who could yell the loudest! These girls were laughing and screaming so loud. Very annoying. Just tell us not yell it at us. The others along the way were simply telling us our times, they were great. We could hear them but they were yelling at us.
2. At the bathroom stops I saw 4 – 6 people waiting inline to use these but there was only ONE porta potty at each stop, far and few between. Not that I had to go, but these poor souls had to wait and wait… maybe add another stop or 2 porta’s per stop??? We did afterall pay $ 60 plus for this event and that price got higher ending at $ 85! Pretty steep price for a smaller race.
3. The finishing metals I thought were nice even though I heard they were the same ones used over and over… HOWEVER, it would be nice to have the date on our metals… just saying.
4. Maybe this race could start a bit earlier??? Say 7 or 7:30… I think 8 is a bit too late. I heard this complaint ALOT while waiting for the start.
5. The people driving their BIG vehicles thru the course! OMG! What happened to the road being closed? Maybe if it started earlier they would still be asleep!
6. My last con for this race is this: why did some people cheat themselves and cut the course? At the turn around we saw a few just turn around WAY before the cone and then we also saw a few girls turn on to the trail by the porta potty and head back cutting thru the trail and cut the entire corner as well! Yes they are only cheating themselves but to see this was a real sad thing. Dampened our spirits some.

Have run all the other ½ marathons in San Diego except this one; until yesterday.
It’s a challenging course. I didn’t PR it but was only 1 minute off my previous PR. The rolling hills take their toll on you. I parked at the park for $ 3 since the main lot was full
Pros:
Scenic route, friendly volunteers, chip timing, mile markers w/​volunteers that call out gun time! Tasty chili afterwards and other freebie drinks/​bars.
Con:
1. It’s a tough course (maybe that’s a positive?)
2. One «land yacht» piloted by a woman in an Infiniti QX56 was on the course around mile 8 or 9. It was kind of annoying. I’m not sure how she got on the course or just ignored signs that the road was closed. I just ran around her but one runner got really pissed and smacked the vehicle while yelling at her to «get the f$#k off the course!». I think he went a little overboard.
I’d run this one again for sure.

Nice scenic run through rolling hills around Rancho Santa Fe. I’d do this one again. It’s refreshing to do a small local run that isn’t highly ‘produced’ like some of the bigger events.

Judging from previous comments the race organizers improved on things this year… there were mile markers, chip timers and I didn’t see any congestion on Lomas Santa Fe. The aid stations didn’t have any beer but there was still yummy chili to be had at the finish.

San Dieguito Half-​Marathon also includes a 5k. I did the 5k, which was my first race ever!
The course is paved, and flows throughout the Rancho Santa Fe neighborhood. I’d say it’s completely downhill until you turn around to head back, and it’s all uphill. It’s pretty, but not the best scenery I’ve seen while running.
There are buses that will take you from the Del Mar race-​tracks to the park. I wish I would have just parked at the race without messing around with the buses.
After the race, there’s free beer and chili! You also get a free t-​shirt, which is very high-​quality material! What more could you ask for?!?

San Dieguito is always my favorite half marathon, though never my fastest.
The course one is tough and hilly mf’r, but it’s beautiful — especially for a run on pavement — as it winds through Rancho Santa Fe.
Favorite run and fastest run are not always compatible terms here. Helping me derail any chance of a PR are the magnificent Hash House Harriers (may piece be unto them), our mighty and unstoppable course sponsors, who this year were handing out Stone Pale Ale at miles ~1 and ~12, and sangria around mile 4.
Three cheers for the beer garden afterward. While many other runs make you wait in line to get a warm can of MGD-​64, our HHH friends were pouring creations from Stone and Lost Abbey until the last keg went dry, with chili to go with all that.
They instituted chip timing this year but the price (about $ 40?) still remains about half what the other local half marathons charge, and about a third of what the Borg — er, the Competitor Group — charges for halfs in the Rock-​n-​Roll series.
Parking was easier this year, with more parking made available within San Dieguito park, and a shuttle service to the Del Mar Fairgrounds to alleviate congestion.
The only downside, which I particularly encountered this year, are the stretchy-​faced oxycontin-​addled RSF ladies who feel the need to pilot their land-​yachts through the course and runners. Perhaps in RSF, signs saying «Road Closed» don’t apply. Fortunately, so far, I haven’t heard of anyone leaving the course with a Benz or Escalade emblem stamped on their backside.

Nice run. Three big hills but doable. The chili and the beer garden at the end were terrific. Also you get a very nice shirt.

i really really enjoyed this run. mostly because there was a lot of shade along the way! the sun is not my friend. it mentally breaks me down; but during this run, that was not a problem at all.
there are a lot of uphills, and a lot of downhills; although i’d have to say i felt that the downhills stretched for a longer distance, which is very very good. there is also a stretch with a tiny orchard of lemons, or were the oranges? anyway, it smelled very nice!
it’s a very nice, scenic run. you run through rancho santa fe, which is where all the rich people of sd live. ha. and its nice to admire the huge mansions/​homes during a few miles of the run. and day-​dream about your own mansion to pass the time.
the shirts were also very nice this year! dry-​fit. definitely a plus! especially because this is the cheapest half marathon in san diego county! $ 35. and for a long-​sleeve, dry-​fit shirt like the one they gave us? totally worth it.
grace l. is right about all the cons (just to recap):
Parking. stinks.
No. Chip. timing.
Walking UPHILL after the race to the beer garden.
the 1.5 mile walk back to the car.
Starting the race 5 minutes after everyone else.
no mile markers at every mile.
Waiting on the freeway exit for 30 minutes trying to get off on Loma Santa Fe.
but to me, the beautiful 13-​mile course itself was enough to make up for all those cons. and you got to remember, it was only $ 35! i too grabbed a beer at mile 12. and boy it was the best thing i ever did. the most refreshed i ever felt. this was a really fun run.

For the most part, I liked this race. It’s a really beautiful, serene and challenging course. A lot of rolling hills, which I wasn’t prepared for (but will be next year!)
It had a «local community» feeling to it, which was both good and bad. Good, because it didn’t have that hyper excitement of the giant races – it was more like a bunch of people waking up one morning and deciding to go for a long run together. With that relaxed atmosphere came some cons – no chip timing being one. The other was a quasi con – high school kids yelling out split times. It was pretty funny to go by a couple of mile markers staffed with kids who yelled… nothing. Suppose I’ll just have to guess my time on that mile! :-)
I liked the idea of the beer stop at miles one and twelve, but I have to say the smell of beer all over the ground at mile twelve made me feel a little nauseated.
Though I didn’t partake in this beer garden, I always love a race that has one! The homemade chili being served up smelled delicious, though I didn’t eat any. Chili isn’t my first choice for a post race snack.
Overall, a good race!

I am a supportive active friend. A good friend of mine who happens to be a stay at home mom wanted to do this race. We had quasi trained for and ran the Carlsbad Half marathon three weeks earlier and she had decided that the weather was good enough to try this race. There were signups at Roadrunner the day before the race.
The sign-​ups were from 1 – 4 and I show up around 3:00 and my friend calls and tells me to run in because there were only 5 spots left. Of course this increases my sense of urgency and I dont even have time to try and talk myself out of it! oh CRAP! no preparation and a birthday party the night before. Some how I made it without dying. Unfortunately, I will continue to push the envelope to see what I can get away with!
This race is actually not a bad race but there are several areas for improvement. Lets start off with the good. It is sponsored by the Hash House Harriers! they describe themselves as ‘alcoholics with a running problem’. There is beer on the course, at mile one which is too early, but I had some at mile 12 just because I could. The scenery is nice, it did not feel like I was in San Diego rather in the country. And it is hilly but I like the rolling hills. Beer garden at the end!!! I had Stone IPA, but I saw Ballast point and Green flash.
Most people in this race were runners and were friendly to talk to.
Negatives: Parking. stinks.
No. Chip. timing.
Walking UPHILL after the race to the beer garden.
the 1.5 mile walk back to my car.
Starting the race 5 minutes after everyone else.
no mile markers at every mile.
Waiting on the freeway exit for 30 minutes trying to get off on Loma Santa Fe.
They gave out the same medal from 2 previous years.