As my last 2 half marathons were so close together (one on Monday, followed by the next on Sunday) hopefully I can convey just how distinct they were!

Laguna Hills Half 2011

Squeezing my New Year’s Resolution to run a half marathon once a month into the last bit of May turned out to be a really good idea… the Laguna Hills half was great! Initially I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do it, so I didn’t sign up ahead of time. On the Sunday before, I figured “sure, why not?” So I made sure to get a good night’s rest and set my alarm for zero dark-thirty (as we say in the military.)

Driving the hour up to Laguna Hills gave me time to hydrate and eat a small granola bar ahead of time. I hadn’t realized I was running late, so when I parked at the Laguna Hills Shopping Center I had a mere 20 minutes to register!! Racing to the registration table, filling out bubble sheets, getting a blank bib, and pinning on #1776 as I’m finding the proper corral took almost exactly 20 minutes :)

It was a smaller race but the course went through some scenic parts of the local residential area, then into a few local parks. The views were constantly changing, the elevation was variable but not too strenuous, and the vibe of the whole thing was really upbeat! I would most definitely do it again and recommend it to anyone. There were a few challenging hills for beginners but complex enough for someone with a bit more experience.

My time was 2:04:48, which gives me an average pace of 9:32. Better than my last, and the next was better still!!

Me and my medal!

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