City to the Sea Half Marathon on October 11, 2015
Get out your running shoes and prepare for the 19th annual City to the Sea point-to-point half marathon starting in San Luis Obispo and ending in the beautiful coastal town, Pismo Beach. Since 1995, the City to the Sea half-marathon race has been organized to raise funds for the Cuesta College track and field and cross-country teams. Race registration proceeds help ensure that the athletes can continue training and racing in one of the California junior college system’s best programs. The City to the Sea event is family-friendly offering 13.1 mile half-marathon, a 5k race (3.1 miles) that takes place in Pismo Beach and a Kids Fun Run.
Registered participants will receive a well stocked goodie bag when they attend Packet Pickup the day before the race. Each runner in each race distance will receive a goodie bag at packet pickup filled with items provided by event sponsors containing gear to stickers to discounts. All runners will receive an official City to the Sea T-shirt from GreenLayer. Packet pickup will be held Saturday afternoon before the race at Running Warehouse from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Packet pickup on race day for the half marathon will be held in the parking lot of Union Bank immediately adjacent to the start line, and is open from 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. All half marathon runners will receive a finisher’s medal while the first 100 men and women’s half marathon finishers will also receive City to the Sea coffee mugs.
The half-marathon USATF certified course is open to runners and walkers. The City to the Sea half-marathon course is a point-to-point race that starts in downtown San Luis Obispo. The course winds through the city, takes runners along scenic back roads, and ends alongside the Pacific Ocean in the coastal community of Pismo Beach. There will be five aid stations throughout the half marathon course. All will offer water, while three will also have FLUID Performance and restrooms, and two will offer GU energy gels.
Water stations will be placed at miles two, four, seven, ten, and twelve and will be distributed by volunteers in small cups. If runners are carrying their own bottles, they may also fill them at these stations. Runners are asked to place all cups in the trash or recycle bins provided. FLUID, a San Luis Obispo-based sports nutrition company that specializes in making clean, all-natural drinks for during and after exercise, will be available on course at miles four, seven and ten. Fluid has a full electrolyte profile and not overly sweet. Restrooms will be stationed on the course at miles two, four, seven, and ten. There will also be restrooms available at the starting line and at the finish expo.
The half-marathon course will be open for three hours. All walkers and runners must finish within the three-hour cutoff time. Walkers who start the race before the 7:00am start time will not be permitted through the finishing chute. No baby joggers, strollers, skates, or pets are allowed on the course. Wheelchair athletes are welcome.
The 5k course (3.1 miles) is out-and-back and begins and ends in Pismo Beach at Dinosaur Caves Park, near the finish expo for the half marathon. The scenic course winds through Shell Beach with incredible views of the Pacific Ocean. There is one challenging climb on the otherwise gentle course. There is one water-only aid station on this course that marks the end of both mile one and mile two. Packet pickup on race day for the 5K will be held near the start line in at Dinosaur Caves Park. 5K Runners will receive an official short-sleeve tech T-shirt from GreenLayer. No pets are allowed, but joggers/strollers will be permitted. Joggers and strollers are asked to give the right of way to runners by starting at the back of the race. All 5K participants must finish within 1 hour of the race start.
To encourage young runners, The City to the Sea race is hosting a ¼ mile Kids’ Fun Run for kids ages 10 and under, which runs around the perimeter of Dinosaur Caves Park in Pismo Beach. Cal Poly STRIDE team leaders will lead the run and all finishers will receive a race bib and a fun prize. Following the race, there will be a Kids’ Zone with activities for the whole family. The race begins at 8:30 a.m. with a limited 150 spots available. Kids’ Fun Run entry fee is $5, with all proceeds going to charity.
Following the race, enjoy a post-race breakfast, and free entertainment by The Jacob Jeffries Band from 8:30 – 11:30 am. Two Cooks Catering will serve breakfast from 8:00 – 11:00 am. Dusty Davis memorial mugs will be awarded to the first 100 men and women half-marathon finishers.
2015 City to the Sea Half-Marathon Schedule
Saturday, October 10th
- Packet Pick-up: 11:30 – 4:30 pm at Running Warehouse
Sunday, October 11th
- ½ Marathon Race Day Packet Pick-up: 5:30-6:30 am, Union Bank Parking Lot, Court St. & Higuera
- 5K Race Day Packet Pick-up: 6:00-7:00 am, Dinosaur Caves Park, Shell Beach Rd.
- ½ Marathon Start Time: 7:00 am
- 5K Start Time: 7:30 am
- Kids Fun Run: 8:30 am
- Shuttle to SLO from Pismo: 8:30 am-12 pm
- Shuttle between Dinosaur Caves Park and Shell Beach Elementary: 6:00-11:30 am
- Breakfast: 8:00-11:00 am
- Kids’ Zone: 7:30-11:30 am
Both the Half Marathon and 5k sold out last year – get your registration in early! For registration and information, visit Citytothesea.org
