LITTLE
RACES
LITTLE
RACESWe're so lucky here in San Diego to have such a full, year-around racing schedule. Show that schedule to some of your friends from other parts of the country and they'll be amazed. Better yet, if friends visit, take them to one of the big San Diego runs. Be prepared to graciously accept praise for the quality of the San Diego running scene.
But let's face it, when you live here all those big runs at Mission Bay, in Balboa Park, over Coronado Bridge and so forth, get a little stale after a while. To relieve that staleness, I seek out little runs in the outlying districts. The little obscure runs provide special enjoyment. Oh sure, many of them are somewhat amateurish and the courses are probably measured with the odometer of someone's car, but that's part of the charm. Besides, these runs provide a chance to explore on feet many places you otherwise might never visit. The spring schedule always seems to have a concentration of little runs, and this spring was no exception. Here are a few impressions for you to think about should these runs return in the future.
The Orange Glen High School "Dare to be Fit" 10K began and ended at the football field and toured a hilly loop course through the surrounding residential area. The course seemed to be somewhat long, perhaps to make up for last year's somewhat short course, and the refreshments were skimpy. But hey, for a fee of $12 including a quality T-shirt, this one was not only fun but also a good bargain.
The First Annual Bernardo Heights Middle School 5K offered a tour of the campus (including adjacent high school). The event was billed more as a fitness run and got off to a leisurely 20-minute-late start. But it was a nice setting, the people were friendly, refreshments were ample and the cost (including T-shirt) was only seven bucks. Hey, let's get these people to put on more runs!
The Valley Center Western Days "Run for Youth" 10K began and ended at Bates Nut Farm. The course wandered down a forested canyon for 3.1 miles of glorious downhill running. Unfortunately, it was an out-and-back course. Huff and puff time! But no matter, this is a great event at a pleasant setting. Do it!
The Barrio Run 5K was plagued with organizational problems and after a repeatedly postponed start finally got underway an hour late. The flat, somewhat-long course offered a double loop tour through Barrio Logan beginning and ending at Chicano Park. Ample refreshments, busloads of kids, a festive environment and impressively-sized trophies made it all worthwhile. Plus the Chicano Park artwork provided an awesome and interesting backdrop.
Finally, there was the Night Moves 5K at San Diego State. Here's one where you can expect almost anything. Now in about it's tenth year, everything seems highly variable from year to year. It probably depends on which students are in charge and how knowledgeable and enthusiastic they are. One year, the refreshments consisted of Twinkies and beer. And you had to have an ID to receive the beer. I didn't. No ID; no beer. I was nearly 50 at the time. Another year, the sound system volume was set well above the threshold of pain and the announcer either talked constantly or played really obnoxious music. What a relief to get away!
But here's a chance to run with the fraternity boys and sorority girls on a tough, hilly tour of the San Diego State campus. Be prepared for a real fast start. But also expect to see people walking at the one-mile mark and throwing up near the finish. You'll probably have a good finish time; the course is perhaps 200 yards short.
Somehow, the Night Moves 5K is always a lot of fun. It has a certain festive exuberance lacking in most other runs. Plus it's only ten bucks including a T-shirt, so it's a bargain too. This year, Night Moves was canceled because of the Los Angeles riots. Well, that's the Night Moves 5K.
Do you enjoy little runs? Would you like to try a few? Well, if the answer is yes, then seek them out. Most operate to raise funds for one or another worthwhile cause and without adequate participation they won't last. But go mostly to have a good time.
July 1992
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