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California > La Jolla Half Marathon & La Jolla Shores 5K
La Jolla, CA

Date

Sunday, April 25, 2010


 
Event Details

More than 6,500 runners came out to compete in the spring 2009 running of the La Jolla Half Marathon & La Jolla Shores 5K -- and more than 5,400 of which ran in the half-marathon alone -- marking its 28th annual running along this Southern California city's scenic parks, coastline and city streets. Hilly and challenging (the course has "several major hills," race organizers report), the La Jolla Half features some of the state's most scenic views anywhere along its coast, including Torrey Pines Golf Course, the site of the 2008 United States Open golf tournament.

Starting at 5:00 AM, runners are shuttled from the pickup point at La Jolla Cove to the starting line north of the city at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, with the last groups of runners arriving by 7:00 AM. From the start, the point-to-point race course follows paved city streets from Del Mar to La Jolla, taking runners first on a counter-clockwise circle around Jimmy Durante Boulevard and Viva de la Valle to Camino del Mar, passing by the Jimmy Scripps Bluff Preserve along the way. The course follows through the city of Del Mar for the next couple of miles, along Coast Boulevard, Ocean Avenue and Stratford Court before rejoining Camino del Mar and heading closer to the coast.

The race's next few miles, as the course follows along North Torrey Pines Road and heads into the Torrey Pines State Reserve, are some of the most scenic of any road race in America. Runners will pass by gorgeous, steep and rocky bluffs that peer over into the waves of the Pacific Ocean crashing below, as the sails of hang gliders and ultralite flyers pass through the sky in the distance. The course takes runners on a long straightaway through the park and past the famed golf course, and rejoins North Torrey Pines Road as it exits the park.

After heading through the reserve, runners follow the course for the next couple of miles along city streets closer to La Jolla, along La Jolla Shores Drive and El Paso Grande before heading back close along the coastline again near Kellogg Park and around the Spindrift Golf Course, a nine-hole par-3 course that's situated within a tight circle of land just outside the city. From there, it's just another mile or so in toward the finish line at Ellen Browning Scripps Park, which overlooks the beautiful views of La Jolla Cove.

Runners are cautioned to always remain within the clearly marked traffic cones and marker lines along the road throughout the race, as portions of it will remain open to traffic during the event. Participants are even encouraged to call out runners who run outside the cones along the course, as it's a genuine safety hazard. Organizers also caution that footing can be difficult on some of the course's major hills, so runners should exercise caution when running up and down these hills. The race starts at 7:30 AM, and runners are expected to keep at most a 14-minute-per-mile pace.


Race Weather & Climate

Situated along the Southern California coast just a few miles north of nearby San Diego and south of Torrey Pines State Park, the city of La Jolla tends to enjoy mild to moderately warm conditions virtually year-round, with mostly dry and sunny weather in the spring and summer. In April, average monthly temperatures range between 69°F and 56°F, while rainfall amounts average about three quarters of an inch for the month.


Fees

$55 for the half marathon, if registered by February 5, 2010
$65 between Feb. 6 - April 10 (online only)
$75 at the Saturday race expo


Registration

To reserve your spot in the spring 2010 running of the La Jolla Half Marathon, register online at Active.com.


Website

www.lajollahalfmarathon.com



Course Map





Share Your Race Story

Ever run in La Jolla's annual Half Marathon or 5K race? Share your impressions and read fellow runners' stories and tips for the event.

Post your comments in Runner Reviews for the La Jolla Half Marathon


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