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California > Valley of the Flowers Half Marathon
Lompoc, CA
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Date
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Event
Details
Just over 120 runners and walkers crossed the finish line at the early
fall running of Southern California's Valley of the Flowers Half
Marathon, the eighth annual running of a race that takes runners on a
winding course made up of three loops through La Purisima Mission State
Historic Park, whose origins date back the late 1700s as one of the
first 21 Spanish missions established in Alta California, which of
course was later to become the state of California.
From the park's visitor center, just off Purisima Road, the race takes
runners on a course that's hilly and mostly off-road, and which
overlooks the flat farmlands and vineyards of the Lompoc Valley in the
distance, as well as the tree-covered hills and mountains nearby.
The
course consists of three loops through the park, the first of which
takes the field on an out-and-back two-and-a-half mile stretch,
followed by a second loop around most of the route just covered in the
first few miles, with another three miles around the La Purisima
Mission Historical Monument area, filled with fully restored buildings
including the church, some shops and living quarters, restored to what
they were like back when the area was a working mission.
The race's final loop again covers much of the same terrain as the
first loop, but also tacks on an additional two and a half miles up
into the park's hills, which includes the steepest hill of the race
around the mile 10 marker, where runners make the turn and then head
back downhill for the last few miles back into the finish line at the
park visitor center.
Race
Weather & Climate
Located in Southern California, just southeast of Vandenberg Air Force
Base and roughly 150 miles northwest of Los Angeles, the city of Lompoc
typically experiences its warmest weather of the year during the month
the race is held, as well as very dry conditions all sumemr and into
the early fall. In September, the city's average monthly temperatures
range between 78°F and 54°F, while rainfall amounts
average just under a quarter of an inch for the month.
Fees
N/A
Registration
Registration for the early fall 2009 running of Lompoc's Valley of the
Flowers Half Marathon is now closed, as the event has completed. Please
check back for updated information on how to sign up for the 2010
running of the race.
Website
members.impulse.net/~lvdc
Course Map
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Your Race Story
Ever run in California's annual Valley of the Flowers Half Marathon?
Share
your impressions and read fellow runners' stories
and tips for the event.
Post your comments in Runner Reviews for the Valley of the Flowers
Half Marathon
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