From the chilling air settling amidst Carlsbad’s famous coastline, to the rush of adrenaline pumping through the veins of thousands of dedicated athletes, the 2024 Carlsbad Marathon, Half-Marathon and 5k Race offered an invigorating start to the new year.
Martin Luther King Day weekend was kicked off with a BANG including a fun and lively expo event, happening on the Friday and Saturday before race day. The expo, which was located at the Carlsbad Holiday Inn, gave runners the opportunity to pick up their bib numbers and complementary swag, including a long-sleeved shirt with the vibrant Carlsbad Marathon logo and a stylish ocean blue ¼ zip-up pullover. Additionally, attendees were given the opportunity to buy previous and current race merchandise and were able to support many local businesses with their own booths present at the event. A photo booth was even set up to allow runners of all distances to celebrate their impending achievement of crossing the finish line on race day. The uplifting environment of the expo boosted the morale of both experienced and beginner runners alike.
On the morning of January 14th, 5k runners, half marathon runners, “Double Down” challenge runners, and full marathon runners were all thoroughly represented at the race. The start of the 3.1 mile-long course began at the back side of the Shoppes of Carlsbad along Marron Road, near the border of the coastal California cities: Carlsbad and Oceanside.
The scenic course led the 5k runners along Jefferson Street, beginning with the sights of Buena Vista Lagoon and into the neighborhoods surrounding Carlsbad Village before turning around after the intersection of Jefferson Street and Laguna Drive. The remaining 1.55 miles of the course repeated the same route and finished at the north-end of Monroe Street, where the bustling environment of the finish line was located.
Soon enough, the race began excitedly with the live singing of the national anthem, and at 6:45 am, the starter gun was fired. I, along with many others, quickly established their spots in the mass crowd of 1100 runners, and the cheers of the spectators became more and more distant as we approached the first intersection of Marron Road and Jefferson Street.
Shortly after, the runners were surprised with the bold appearance of the rapper, Joe Dreamz, wearing a neon-green outfit and high-fiving each runner as he encouraged passers by with his uplifting spirit. After completing the first ¼ mile, the rolling fog resting above the perfectly still lagoon water appeared and continued for the first mile of the course. The picturesque sight of the lagoon offered tranquility for many runners, searching for the strength within themselves to continue pushing their hardest through the next 2 miles.
Preceding the halfway point of the course, runners were happily surprised to see many members of the Carlsbad community with cheerful attitudes, motivational posters, and hydrating cups of water that gave myself and others the strength to persevere through the next half of the race.
As I crossed the 2 mile mark, it became increasingly more difficult to maintain the pace that I had created during the first mile, however my desire to complete the race and feel the
accomplishment of trying something new outweighed my tiredness. Through keeping my goals in mind, I ran faster in the second half of the race than I had in the first, attaining a negative split.
Approaching the last ½ mile of the race was the most mentally challenging point of the whole experience. The physical strain of the distance became increasingly apparent, and many runners began to lose their pace. Nevertheless, I knew that the finish line was near, so I continued to stay focused and stay persistent.
With the finish line in sight, myself along with other runners were greeted with a small, yet motivating band with a drummer, guitarist and vocalist. The cheering spectators became louder and louder as the overwhelming rush of euphoria provided confirmation for the existence of “runner’s high”. Crossing the finish line, the physical fatigue I once felt quickly vanished as if it was never there to begin with. Each finisher was personally acknowledged by name, and were welcomed back with a colorful medal along with nutritious post-run snacks.
As I continued to bask in the crisp morning air of 7:15 am, my memory became filled with the highlights of the race and its indisputably positive environment. Seeing the wide-eyed smiles on each runner’s face engulfed by their deep sense of accomplishment, the only thought that swarmed my mind was when I would have the opportunity to do this again for the next time.
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