I started running seriously in the summer of 2009, with the objective of running a half-marathon three months later. What had started as additional mid-week exercise to get me in better shape for my regular Sunday morning soccer games had now taken priority. And I could not have picked a better place for my first race (it really was my first race, not even a 5K before that, the only previous race was an egg-and-spoon race at school….)
Monterey is a wonderful destination, known for its beautiful coastline, its aquarium, its past as a fishing port and processing center (Cannery Row) and its link with the writer John Steinbeck.
6am in the morning, runners started to emerge from their hotel rooms, starting as a trickle, and converging into a human wave as they advanced towards the start line. That morning was cold, many runners sporting hats, gloves and additional layers. The sun rose to reveal beautiful clear skies, the vista on section of the race run along the coast were truly magnificent.
The course is an out-and-back starting in downtown Monterey, passing along Cannery Row and in front of the aquarium, then along the Pacific Grove coast past Point Pinos until the Spanish Bay Golf course. Mainly on asphalt, with a few short hills but not long enough to hurt, and with a few incursions on well-kept trails towards the end.
Unbeatable venue, with great organization, but the entry fee is a little on the steep side. With a $95 to $130 price tag, how can we maintain that running is a sport accessible to everybody. That’s a week’s grocery bill for some…..
I cannot comment as to how safe it would be to run the course when it is open to traffic. Be careful, advance prudently, but definitely worth a try
runnerstravelguide 