Surf City, Here We Run!

The 16^th annual Surf City USA Marathon drew 20,000 runners to Huntington Beach. The Surf City USA Marathon, also called the California’s Classic Oceanfront Marathon, is conducted on Super Bowl Sunday which was Feb. 5 this year. The race featured a full marathon, which saw 3,000 participants, and a half marathon, which saw 17,000.

All races started on Pacific Coast Highway at Huntington Street in front of the Waterfront Beach Resort. Huntington Beach stretches for miles with wide, uninterrupted golden beachfront as far as the eye can see, perfect for barefoot strolls and California sunsets. Runners wind through the legendary surfing beaches of Southern California. Many retro surf bands entertained along the course and also at the Finish Line Festival (Beer Garden Beach Party) at the end of the race.

All finishers received a unique surfboard medal. This is called the Signature Surfboard Medal Series and many runners travel from all over the world to run for the famous Surfboard Finisher Medallions, which is an "original" surfboard style medal for this particular marathon.

Every element in this marathon is “SoCal (Southern California) style.”

As I was watching the runners pass by, I noticed such a variety of runners. Runners who are dressed in all sorts of costumes such as a tuxedos, rabbit-suit, and cheer-leader uniforms. There were also some participants who were holding the U.S. flag, runners wearing the exact same run-wear as their friends running together, and runners running with their dog, etc. Watching the colorful crowd, you would also recognize that some runner runs for different motivations.

Alongside the course was filled with people who have come to support and cheer the runners, as well as the volunteers. The supporters were families of runners, friends, and people who did not even know any single runner running this marathon. They were all cheering the runners in their own way. The whole event was filled with a sense of unity.

Running right beside the ocean and the dynamic waves, listening to the cheers and music performed, running under the blue sky and bright sun, running with the wind. The runners definitely looked good running through the exclusive oceanfront course. Marathon is surely a tough recreation/sport, yet makes the runners look so good, fresh, and excited. The expressions on the supporter’s faces cheering for the runners were amazing as well.

Pacific Coast Highway never looked so good!

The Surf City USA Marathon is owned and operated by Pacific Shoreline Marathon, LLC. The organization is committed to creating unique experiences to inspire active lifestyles for participants from all over the world, and for years to come. There is another big event associated with the Surf City USA Marathon.

The Beach Cities Challenge is a race series that includes three Southern California marathons – the Surf City Marathon in Huntington Beach, the Orange County Marathon, and the Long Beach International City Bank Marathon. Runners who complete any combination of half or full marathons in all three events consecutively will receive a special Beach Cities Challenge Medal.

Coming next is The OC Marathon on May 6, 2012.