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First Timer's Guide
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California > Walnut Creek International Half Marathon & 5K
Walnut Creek, CA • Saturday, December 14, 2013 • Course Map
Known for its wealth of parks and open green space, this East Bay city located just across the bay from San Francisco and within a short drive of nearby Oakland plays host to the inaugural running of the Walnut Creek Half Marathon & 5K, which will also mark the final race in a series of half marathons that take place throughout the year, named the California Half Marathon Series.
Lying in the shadow of nearby Mount Diablo State Park, the 20,000-acre park whose double pyramid mountains are a familiar sight to locals and residents from around Northern California, Walnut Creek is home to a number of parks large and small, from the Walnut Creek Open Space near the race starting line to the city's Civic Park (where the race finish line lies), as well as the Lime Ridge Regional Open Space, whose more than 1,200 acres are home to 25 miles of trails through its abundant oak woodlands and grasslands, and lies near the turnaround point for the race.
Runners start the half marathon with the 5K at Walnut Creek's Civic Park, at the scheduled starting time of 7:00 AM. From there, runners follow a clockwise loop route along Oak Road, Treat Boulevard and Cowell Road to the the northern end of the Lime Ridge Open Space before turning right onto Ygnacio Valley Road, which they'll follow as it heads southwest all the way into Heather Farm Park.
The half marathon's most challenging stretch lies in the middle miles of the race, as runners are making their way northeast along Cowell Road up into the Lime Ridge Regional Open Space area. The course rises more than 350 feet in elevation between the 4th and 7th mile markers, at the area known as Ygnacio Hill, and runners will climb this hill for roughly the next mile and a half until they reach the crest and start heading downhill through Diablo Shadows and Ygnacio Valley.
Just over 1,900 runners crossed the finish line in both races combined in 2012 (which included a half marathon and 5K) -- nearly 1,300 of those finishers were in the half marathon alone.
Race Weather & Climate
Nestled among the hills of California's East Bay, roughly 25 miles east of San Francisco, Walnut Creek typically sees quite cool and occasionally cold weather in the late fall and early winter season.
In December, temperatures range between 39°F and 55°F -- on the day of the race (Dec. 14), the average low is 38°F and the average high is 55°F -- while rainfall totals average just under 2.8 inches for the month.
Course Map
View the race route maps for the Walnut Creek Half Marathon
Starting Time
7:00 AM - half marathon
7:30 AM - 5K
Fees
See race website
Registration
To reserve your spot in the late fall/early winter 2013 running of the Walnut Creek International Half Marathon or 5K race, register online here.
Official Race Website
www.runwalnutcreek.com
Leave a Comment
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