Sunning and Running at the OC Marathon Weekend

Photo credit: David Klukken

Looking for a destination race or planning a vacation based on outdoorsy adventure? Put the OC Marathon Weekend on your list! Last weekend, I had the great luxury to serve as race announcer along with “The Voice of America’s Marathons”, Rudy Novotny. Our job was to provide information to those in the crowd, launch each race and welcome every runner home. For a girl who loves to gush, it was a gift to be able to publicly love all over the folks who completed the kids races, 5k, half marathon and marathon. One of the reasons I loved this weekend race event was that it offered something for everyone. Tiny distances (one mile) to major distances (26.2 miles) were offered and I literally saw babies in strollers cross finish lines next to elite runners, and men and women in their 80s. Inspiration was everywhere. The sunny skies, warm temperatures and palm tree-lined cliffs didn’t hurt much either.

Rudy Novotny, Fitz Koehler and Joe Taricani
Fitzness.com

Why choose this race weekend over others? Well that’s easy. The courses are beautiful and the lengthier routes bring you along the ocean and down the Pacific Coast Highway. The runners raved about the views. This event has all the fun of a super big race without the burdens of a mega race. Runners easily made it in to corrals, the roads weren’t over-crowded and the finish line party was a blast. I didn’t actually get to go to that party, but I heard it was ridiculously fun. Was I jealous? Kinda.

Most importantly, the finisher medals were quite fantastic. I’m only partially joking when I call this the “most important” factor, because if you’re like me … you run for the bling. Don’t judge. Races with crummy medals … just aren’t as popular. PLUS!!! If you conquer the Beach Cities Challenge by completing, in consecutive order, any combo of full or half marathons at the Surf City Marathon, the OC Marathon and the Long Beach International City Bank Marathon … you get an EXTRA medal for doing so, which is also pretty fabulous.

If spending time in a gorgeous beach town in Southern California sounds like a good idea and you’re up for an athletic adventure, register the whole family to take part in these races in 2015.

See who won, here!