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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
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Marathon or 5K race?
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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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