Two races are scheduled for the San Diego area that will take runners over some of the region's most beautiful routes.
Still taking place as of the time of writing, the La Jolla Half Marathon & Shores 5K, which brings in over 5,000 participants annually, is entering its 37th year, and is a challenging race that includes some hilly terrain. The half-marathon begins at the Del Mar Fairgrounds and follows the coastline to Torrey Pines State Park, where runners have a steep climb to the top. The course continues along the top of Torrey Pines Mesa, then drops down to the residential area of La Jolla Shores, finally finishing at La Jolla Cove.
Those who would like a shorter race can enjoy the 5K, which is mostly downhill, and allows runners to enjoy much of the same scenery those running the half-marathon do.
The scenery, particularly in the Torrey Pines State Reserve, is some of the loveliest of any race in the nation, especially where the runners pass steep bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. There they can see breakers below and hang gliders from the nearby Torrey Pines Gliderport.
Runners are warned to stay inside the traffic cones, as they will be sharing some parts of the race with motorists. They also need to watch their footing on steep hills and the top of the bluffs.
The races are set for April 26, from 7:00 am until 11:00 am, but checking the listings is advisable. Banner printing can be used to provide course markers for events like this.
