Actually I confess: I haven't run this race before but am planning to soon. I just know it's a family favorite and multiple generations of runners in my familial circle rave about it. What I have to say about it so far is that KS has a strong running community and a good variety of well managed, well supported races year round, so if you're considering this one - good on ya, give it a chance. Looking forward to trying it myself next week. Perhaps will post an update if apropos. After this half, I am Lake Placid and then hopefully-maybe-possibly Boston bound? A lady can dream.

You can't beat the Pacific Coast Highway as a race course. This race is surprisingly easy given its several steep hills and semi out-n-back pathway. You spend plenty of time with ocean views, plenty of time on quaint village streets, and overall the event is well managed. A word of caution: if you are planning to run this race, definitely incorporate plenty of hill work into your training so you aren't caught ill prepared. But if you do your homework, you'll find it to be a very accessible, enriching race.

Love this race, ran it twice. PR'ed my first time, bonked the second, mostly due to mediocre training, an aggro crowd in the early stages that I ran too fast early on to try to avoid, plus a deep doldrums over the course pathway from mile 12-17. They re-route this course often, though, so I wouldn't necessarily worry about that too much. Overall, a totally quality marathon experience and you can never go wrong racing in San Diego.