Final Event Instructions

Expo/Packet Pickup
Saturday, August 19, 2023 – 9 AM to 4 PM
Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina Eventide, 1380 Harbor Island Drive, San Diego, CA 92101

Event Day
Sunday, August 20, 2023
5K Start – 6:10 AM
Half Marathon Start – 6:15 AM

AT THE EXPO/ PACKET PICKUP EVENT

You must attend the Expo to pick up your bib number, shirt and reusable grocery bag. Be prepared to show a photo ID to claim your bib number. Look up your bib number here.

If you cannot pick up your bib number, and someone is picking it up for you, they must present a photocopy or electronic copy of your photo ID.

Free parking will be located in the dirt lot just before the hotel entrance on the west side of Harbor Drive. Please factor in a 5 to 10-minute walk from the parking lot to Eventide. Paid parking will be available in the hotel’s main parking lot.

Once at the expo, pick up your bib number and present it to claim your shirt and grocery bag. Please note that while we will do all we can to ensure you receive the shirt size you requested, we cannot make any guarantees.

At the expo, be sure to shop our line of stylish and affordable America’s Finest City Half Marathon and SoCal Triple Crown souvenirs. There will be other vendors offering great deals on products and services you’ll appreciate.

ON RACE DAY

If you’re unable to pick up your bib from the Expo, and didn’t select the “Race Day Bib Number Pickup Convenience” option during registration, you can pay the $20 fee (cash only) and pick up your bib in Balboa Park inside the Finish Line Festival starting at 4 a.m. 

Your exclusive, one-day pass to the Columbia Employee Store will be provided to you when you pick up your bib number. The pass will allow you access to their Carlsbad company employee store. Enjoy special Employee pricing; up to 50% off retail prices on products from Columbia, SOREL, Mountain Hardwear, and prAna, including the latest outerwear, sportswear, footwear, sleeping bags, and tents for the whole family. See pass for more details. 

FROM BALBOA PARK

You must take a race-provided bus to the race start line at the Cabrillo National Monument. To board a bus you must display your America’s Finest City Half Marathon bib number. Plan accordingly and allow at least 30 minutes for parking and bus boarding. Buses will run from 4 to 5:15 a.m. SHARP from two locations in Balboa Park: Park Boulevard at Presidents Way OR Park Boulevard at Zoo Place. See the Finish Line Map here.

The buses are the only way to get to the start line. There is no participant drop-off near the start line nor are vehicles, pedestrians, or bicycles allowed past the military security gate at the entrance to Fort Rosecrans/Cabrillo National Park. The restrooms will not be available for use on the buses.

FROM THE SHERATON SAN DIEGO HOTEL & MARINA GUESTS

Registered guests staying at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina are provided bus transportation directly from the hotel to the start line at the Cabrillo National Monument and return transportation from the finish line in Balboa Park to the hotel after the race until 10:45 a.m. Hotel buses pick up near the hotel entrance on Harbor Drive from 4:30 to 5:30 a.m for the Half Marathon and at 5:10 for 5K participants and spectators. You must show your room key to board the shuttle. Additional information about the Sheraton buses can be found here.

Half Marathon
You’ll remain in the main parking lot until instructed to enter the start line staging area. When staging, look for your appropriate pace sign and line up accordingly.

As guests of the National Park Service, please:
– Only use sidewalks and please stay off all planted areas.
– Only use the race-provided portable restrooms – not the bushes!

Park rangers may issue citations to anyone found not in compliance with these requests. We appreciate your assistance as we’re guests of the National Park Service and continued use of the area for the race is dependent upon your cooperation.

5K
The race is a loop course that starts and finishes in front of the Comic-Con Museum at Pan American Plaza and Presidents Way. The course winds through beautiful Balboa Park, passing by the Museum of US, and crossing over the Cabrillo Bridge. There will be one water station on the route and accessible from 3/4-mile and approximately 2.5 miles. Slower runners, jogging strollers, and ALL WALKERS must line up at the rear of the start line staging area. 

Pace groups will be offered compliments of On Pace for the following target finish times: 1:30, 1:35, 1:40, 1:45, 1:50, 1:55, 2:00, 2:05, 2:10, 2:15, 2:20, 2:30, 2:40, 2:50, and 3:00. Look for your pace group leader holding up a sign with your target pace sign in the staging area.

You may participate in the 5K using your half marathon bib. You don’t need to do anything to switch, just be at the 5K start line at 6:10 in Balboa Park in front of the Comic-Con Museum.  

Gear Check will be available through Mobile Locker ONLY. Locker rentals give you a secure, convenient storage option for your gear. Mobile Locker will be stationed at the start line at Cabrillo National Monument and will move to the Finish Line Festival in Balboa Park for pickup. If you would like to pre-purchase a locker before event day, you can do so here. There will not be gear check for the 5K.

Half Marathon
There’s a strict 3.25-hour time limit (based on chip time) to complete the race (14:53-minute-per-mile pace). Participants who do not reach North Harbor Drive and Harbor Island Drive (6.3 miles) by 90 minutes after the race starts, will not be permitted to do the Harbor Island section of the course (approximately 2 miles) and will instead be directed to continue on the route to the finish line. The time limit is for the safety of participants as public roadways must open to normal traffic at specified times. Participants exceeding the time limit pace may be asked by race staff or SDPD personnel to take a shuttle van to the finish. 

5K
There is a 1-hour time limit for finishing the 5K. Participants must be able to maintain a 19:21-minute-mile pace or faster.

Half Marathon 
Support stations providing water will be located along the course starting at mile three. Lemon-Lime Gatorade will also be served at the stations at approximately miles 4, 8, 10, and 12. Triberry GU will be available while supplies last at mile 5.5. Portable toilets will be available near every water station.

5K
There will be one water station on the route and accessible from 3/4-mile and approximately 2.5 miles.

Please help us keep the course clean and ensure this event continues for years to come by using the provided trash boxes near the support stations and along the course. All mile references are approximate.

The course crosses the trolley tracks at Broadway and Kettner (11 miles) and India and ‘C’ Streets. Later runners may have to wait for 20 to 30 seconds to allow the trolley to pass. DO NOT CROSS THE TROLLEY TRACKS IF THE GATES ARE DOWN – you’ll be disqualified. Times are not adjusted for trolley stops. 

There will be a medical tent at the finish line and another one along with self-serve ice in the Finish Line Festival. If you experience a medical problem on the course, call 911 if necessary or go to the nearest course water station where a medical representative will be called to assist you. If you’re unable to finish the race, transportation to the finish can be called for you from every on-course support station. Race Guards trained in CPR and first aid will also be out on the course.

HELP US KEEP OUR CITY CLEAN! DO NOT DROP CUPS ON THE GROUND! THROW AWAY ALL TRASH AND RECYCLING IN THE DESIGNATED TRASH BINS NEAR THE AID STATIONS. If you must discard any clothing items along the route, do so only in available trash cans or at a course water station for collection and donation to a local shelter. 

Dunkin’ will be offering coffee and donuts for sale before and after your race. Just look for them in the Finish Line Festival. They will be onsite at the Finish Line Festival at 4:30 AM. 

Results will be available at the Results Tent in the Finish Line Festival near the beer garden and also online after the race here. 

The back of your bib number will have plastic strips which are your timing device and should not be removed. We offer live tracking so friends and family can follow your race. On race day, look for the live tracking link here.

Once you cross the finish line you’ll receive water, your finisher’s medal, your post-event food, and chocolate milk in this order. Keep moving through the finish line until you have completely exited the fenced-in area. You may not wait in the finish line chute for other participants to finish. Once you’ve exited, walk the short distance to the Finish Line Festival and celebrate!

Registered participants age 21 and older and displaying their bib number and proper ID receive a complimentary beverage (limited to one per person while supplies last) in the beer garden between 6:45 to 10:30 a.m.

2023 SoCal Triple Crown champions will receive their series medals from the SoCal Triple Crown booth located in the Finish Line Festival area. While there, pick up your complimentary Dunkin’ donut, Suja shot and enjoy a massage.  

FinisherPix photographers will be stationed on the course to take your picture. You will be able to view your pictures here after the race. The race does not guarantee that each and every participant will be photographed.

There will not be award ceremonies. 5K age group awards will be available for pick up from the Information Booth after 8:00 AM and Half Marathon age group awards after 9:00 AM. Award winners who do not pick up their award on race day will be emailed instructions for picking up from our office in San Marcos or having it mailed for a fee. Awards not claimed within 30 days will no longer be available. 

Call (760) 692-2900, email info@inmotionevents.com, or visit the information booth at the AFC Expo/Packet Pickup.