Final Event Instructions

**Event takes place rain or shine**

Hilton San Diego Gaslamp
401 K Street – Second-Floor Outdoor Terrace
San Diego, CA 92101

Parking for the expo is available throughout downtown in paid lots and paid street parking. Visit our Parking and Directions page for more information. 

There is no designated race day parking.

Parking is available throughout downtown in paid lots and street parking. Visit our Parking and Directions page today, and make a race day parking plan. 

See our helpful Event Key Areas map here. 

The pre-race staging area for the half marathon is in the Petco Park Lexus Premier parking lot*. This area will have portable restrooms, water, Mobile Locker gear check, and race day bib pickup. The start line is accessed ONLY from this area via the pedestrian bridge over Harbor Drive. 

The race will be started in five waves. The first wave will start at 6:50 AM, and each wave thereafter will be separated by approximately three to four minutes. Your assigned wave number will be printed on your bib number. Be sure to be in your wave and ready to start the race no later than 6:50 AM.

Please visit the Directions and Parking page and familiarize yourself with the Event Key Areas map before event day. 

*There is currently fenced construction happening around the Lexus Premier lot on both Park Blvd and Imperial Avenue. The Lexus Premier lot is still accessible via the entrance on the west side of the lot, under the pedestrian bridge, and off Imperial and 12th. By race day, the crosswalk at Imperial and Park, may be accessible as well. See the access point map here. 

The 5K start line staging area is at the corner of L Street and 5th Avenue. This area will have portable restrooms, water, and race day bib pickup. The start line is accessed ONLY from 5th Avenue and Harbor Drive. The 5K starts before the half marathon, so the 5K start line corral is the first one immediately behind the start line. 

Please visit the Directions and Parking page and familiarize yourself with the Event Key Areas map before event day. 

The finish line for both races is at the intersection of 5th Avenue & K Street. 

After you finish, you’ll receive your medal, a canned Open Water, your Finish Line Food Bag filled with refueling foods, and a cold carton of Hollandia Dairy Chocolate Milk. Keep moving through the finish line until you have completely exited the fenced-in area, where you can reunite with your family and friends.

See the event area site map here. 

We will have organics, recycling, and trash bins throughout the event site. Please familiarize yourself with which items go in which bin:

Organics – Food waste, food-soiled parchment paper, paper towels, and napkin

Recyclables – Aluminum and steel bottles and cans, aluminum foil and trays, glass bottles and jars, boxes and cardboard, paper, food, and beverage cartons

Trash – Everything else

AT THE EXPO/ PACKET PICKUP EVENT

You are strongly encouraged to attend the expo to pick up your bib number, shirt, cinch bag, and half marathon Legacy perks if applicable. Be prepared to show a photo ID to claim your bib number. Look up your bib number here.

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

Once at the expo, pick up your bib number and follow event signage to your appropriate shirt pickup area. Half marathon Legacy runners, make sure to follow the event signage to your correct shirt and perk pickup area at the back of the Hilton Terrace. 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 visit the expo vendors and shop our line of stylish and affordable race merchandise.

ON RACE DAY

If you purchased the Race Day Bib Number Pickup option during registration, you can pick up your bib number beginning at 5:30 AM from the Bib Pickup tent in your designated staging area:

Half Marathon – in the Petco Park Lexus Premier parking lot

5K – at the corner of L Street & 5th Avenue

See the event area map here.

If you did not pre-pay during registration, you can pay the $20 fee (CASH ONLY) on race day at your appropriate Bib Pickup tent.

Race day shirt and half marathon Legacy perk pickup will open at 6 AM in the Hilton Gaslamp Ballroom, located on the second-floor outdoor terrace of the hotel.

You can pick up your bib, shirt, cinch bag, medal and half marathon Legacy perks if applicable at our Expo/Packet Pickup.

Virtual packets not picked up at the Expo/Packet Pickup will be mailed to the address used during registration within a few weeks following the event. 

All virtual runners are invited to submit their time online, but those completing the SoCal Triple Crown MUST submit their results online by May 31, 2024. To submit virtual results follow the instructions emailed to you directly from Race Roster.

For more information on our virtual event, click here. 

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. 

Click here to see upcoming events and awesome deals in your 2024 San Diego Half Marathon and 5K Virtual Goody Bag!

Due to safety concerns on the course, racing chairs and handcycles are not permitted on the half marathon or 5K course. 

Pacers provided by On Pace will be running a steady pace throughout the race so their pace group can finish in one of the following target times (times are subject to change):

1:20, 1:25, 1:30, 1:35, 1:40, 1:45, 1:50, 1:55, 2:00, 2:10, 2:15, 2:20, 2:30, 2:40, 2:50, 3:00, 3:15 and 3:30

Look for your pacer holding their pace sign in their designated corral at the start line. 

Please note: besides the clock at the finish line, there are no additional clocks or timers on the course.

Cyclists, skaters, unofficial pacers, and unregistered runners/walkers are not allowed anywhere on the course. These rules are in place for safety and will be enforced by the San Diego Police Department and course officials. 

Paid gear check will be available through Mobile Locker. If you didn’t purchase a locker during registration and would like to purchase one before event day, you can do so online here through Wednesday, March 20 or on event morning. 

The Mobile Locker truck will be in the half marathon staging area in the Petco Park Lexus Premier lot for pre-race drop-off. After the race, gear will be available for pickup from the Mobile Locker truck near the intersection of 4th Avenue & K Street until 10:30 AM.

See our Event Key Areas map here for gear check drop-off location and to plan your morning accordingly. 

5K participants – you can use the paid half marathon gear check, but note that drop off is in the half marathon staging area and gear will not be available for pick up at the Finish Line Festival until approximately 7:30 AM. 

Half Marathon
There is a strict 3 1/2-hour time limit to complete the race. All participants must maintain a 16:02-minute-per-mile pace or faster throughout the event to meet the time limit. Those unable to maintain the required pace may be asked to use a shuttle to advance on the course or become pedestrians. Please see the specific time cutoffs below:

– Participants who do not reach Liberator Way and Harbor Island Drive by 8:15 AM, will not be permitted to do the Harbor Island section of the course and will instead be directed to continue on the route to the finish line.

– Participants who do not reach San Diego Avenue & Washington Street by 9:35 AM, may be asked to take a shuttle up Washington Street. They may then rejoin the course and proceed to the finish line.

– Participants who have not reached 6th Avenue & Upas Street by 10:00 AM, will become pedestrians and use the sidewalk on 6th Ave from Upas Street to E Street. From there they may rejoin the course and proceed to the finish line.

5K
There is a 1-hour time limit to complete the 5K. All participants must maintain a 19:21-minute-mile pace or faster throughout the event to meet the time limit.

5K
– Water and restrooms will be available at the 5K support station, which is located near mile 2 of the course.  

Half Marathon
– Water and restrooms will be available at all support stations, located at approximate miles 2.5, 4.8, 6.2, 8.2, 9.4, 10.7, and 11.9.
– Lemon-Lime Gatorade will be available at the support stations located at approximate miles 2.5, 6.2, 8.2, 9.4, and 10.7.
– GU Energy Original Sports Nutrition Energy Gel in Tri-Berry will be available at the support station located near mile 6.2

Course support will remain in place based on a 3.5-hour finish pace for the half marathon and a 1-hour finish pace for the 5K.

See the course map showing support stations here.

Most of the course shares the road with vehicular traffic. Be aware of your surroundings and always remain inside the designated runner lanes.  Additionally, some sections are narrow or on sidewalks. Please be mindful of other runners and make room for those who may need to pass.

The course crosses the trolley tracks at the following locations:

5K – Kettner Boulvevard and G Street

Half Marathon – 6th Avenue and C Street 

DO NOT CROSS THE TROLLEY TRACKS IF THE GATES ARE DOWN OR IF INSTRUCTED TO STOP BY EVENT PERSONNEL. 

Times are not adjusted for trolley stops. 

A medical tent will be located on the half marathon course at University Avenue & Hawk Street, in the finish line, and in the Finish Line Festival. If you experience a medical issue on the course, go to the nearest water station for assistance, or for emergencies, call 911. Race Guards will be throughout the course, flag them down if you need help. If you cannot finish the race, transportation to the finish line can be called for you from all water stations.

New this year! All half marathon Legacy runners are invited to stop by the Legacy Zone in the Finish Line Festival, where we’ll have some extra goodies for all Legacy runners and a special photo op and medal for our NEW Legacy Club members (10-stars and up!) To enter the Legacy Zone, you’ll need to present your bib number featuring your Legacy stars.

After your race, take advantage of these awesome deals at local San Diego Gaslamp restaurants just by displaying your race bib number. 

The back of your bib number will have a white strip, which is 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.

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

MarathonFoto will have photographers on the course and at the finish line taking official photos. Participant photos will be available here within a few days of the event. 

If you did not pre-purchase your race photo package during registration, you can do so here through Wednesday, March 20.

The GOVX San Diego Half Marathon & 5K does not guarantee that every participant will be photographed.

There will not be an awards ceremony. Awards will be available for pickup from the Information Tent in the Finish Line Festival, at the following times:

5K – 7:45 AM to 10:30 AM
Half Marathon – 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM
Half Marathon Team of 10 – 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM

Winners who do not pick up their award on race day will be emailed instructions for pick up from our office in San Marcos or have it mailed for a fee. Awards not claimed within two weeks of the event will no longer be available. 

For more information about the age group award categories, click here. 

Check out our spectator guide here!

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