Race Review: San Dieguito Half Marathon

If you have never run the San Dieguito Half Marathon, you are in for a treat. This race which takes place in Rancho Santa Fe, CA (San Diego), has so many things going for it, you are sure to come back for years to come.

The course itself takes place in a country Santa Barbara-esque setting starting at San Dieguito County Park. The race starts at a civilized 8a.m.

The course is extremely scenic winding through some of the most beautiful communities in San Diego. The rolling hills make this course both interesting and challenging.

The course is well marked, has great support, and is a closed course for the majority of the race.

Some other unique features of the race are an outstanding beer garden, “The queen of England”, Beer stops sponsored by the “Hash House Harriers, and a selection of Chili served at the finish line! Coupled with a $35 race entry fee and a long sleeve technical T-shirt, this race is hard to keep off your winter race schedule.

Tips to make race day more enjoyable:

Parking is tight and can be found on Lomas Sante Fe and side streets if you get to the site early enough. There is a limited amount of parking available in the park at a cost of $3.00, but the lot will fill up fast.

If you have family or friends come and watch the course, the finish line is a small hike from the main entrance to the park. However, there is a great play area for kids at the entrance to the park which is where the post-race party is held.

Miles 11 and 12 will make you feel like you are flying, but be prepared as the last mile has a gentle incline which can catch you off-guard.

Beware mile 14…the hike from the race finish back to the post-race party. It’s a steep, dirt path that will make you feel the burn.

Overall, one of my favorite races in the San Diego area and I will be back in 2011. Feel free to leave your comments about the race below.

Race logo used with permission from Kathy Loper, Kathy Loper Events. This is an independent blog and is not an endorsement of this blog by Kathy Loper Events.

Marathon Lessons From The Best Motivation Clip Ever!

You have to take a look at this motivational video clip. We can learn so many things from this amazing slice of sports history. It is the story of the 1983 New York City Marathon, where Rod Dixon a heavy underdog in the race, defeated the decorated and heavily favored English Runner Geoff Smith in the final seconds of the race. One of the things I love about the clip is the Rod narrates the clip and you get inside the head of a champion. I think anybody can use this clip to improve their athletic performance on a number of levels.

1. Preparation and confidence in preparation- If you want to take your running to the next level, you have to be willing to prepare and put in the work that others will not. This will not only give you a physiological advantage but a mental one also. Rod is at the starting line and he reflects very quickly on his preparation. This allows him to wipe the doubt from his mind. He knows the work has been done, and now is the time to enjoy the fruits of his labor! Prepare and have confidence in yourself. Not preparing will produce the opposite effect.

2. Control our emotions- A marathon can be a very emotional experience. We go through several phases of confidence, doubt, excitement, and nervousness. You have to not only have confidence at the start of the race, but during the race no matter what the distance.

3. Race your race- On race day stick to your plan. Pace groups may start out faster then you would like, novices take off and burn out later. You know your body better then anybody else! Stick to your plan. I love the way that the character is able to use self-control to hold back even though the leaders pull away.

4. Racing is not only a physical contest-but also mental!- At one point during the race, the main character is gaining on the leaders and realizes that even though he is gaining on the leaders, the race isn’t long enough to catch them at his current pace. Watch how he uses his brain to overcome the challenge. The most fit runner does not always win the race.

5. Grit and determination- To be a champion you have to be mentally tough. There will be times where everything is telling your body to slow down. The best athletes can overcome this and run through extreme fatigue. This is a skill that is learned through practice. You have to train yourself to run through pain. The pain I describe in not a pain from injury but rather from exhaustion. If you have an injury, this is not meant to tell you to run through it.

6. Get inside the head of the competition- I hate to spoil this for you, but when the main character passes the race leader, he runs as fast as he can to emotionally devastate him. His plan worked. This can be used on a number of levels.

7. Run to the finish- It’s ok to be human. We may not always hit our goal times and we may fall short. However, never leave anything on the race course. If you don't miss your goals every now and then, you aren't setting your goals high enough.

8. Be gracious and good sportsman- After winning one of the greatest races in history, the main character praises his competitor and stated that he couldn’t have had the spectacular race without him. How classy! If you see somebody ahead of you in your age group, it's ok to give it your all at the finish. It you see a mom with a double stroller and your pride is on the line, maybe you shouldn't push her into a ditch scraping your way to the finish. Just a thought!

Enjoy!