Surf city marathon (2/1/2026)

Surf city marathon (2/1/2026)

Expo Weekend

The expo experience this year felt much more chaotic than I remembered from previous races. Around 11 a.m. on Saturday, parking was especially difficult. Compared to 2021 and 2023, the congestion seemed noticeably worse, and getting in and out took much longer than expected. It added a little unnecessary stress before race day, but fortunately, it was only a small part of the overall weekend.

Race Morning

Race morning itself went smoothly. I entered through the Magnolia parking entrance, and parking was free. I left home at 4:50 a.m. and arrived around 5:17 a.m., which turned out to be perfect timing. There was enough time to get settled, prepare gear, and mentally focus before the start. The morning temperature was around 54°F, warmer than previous years but still comfortable at the start line. More importantly, I woke up feeling fresh and confident. My preparation leading into the race had gone extremely well, and I felt organized with nutrition, pacing, and gear all dialed in. Everything pointed toward a strong day.

The Race

The race began at 6:30 a.m., and almost immediately the sun came out. Early on, I didn’t think much of it. The conditions didn’t seem overly hot at first, and the pace felt manageable. For the first half of the race, things were going according to plan. I stayed right on target pace and felt in control. But after about an hour under direct sun exposure, I started to notice the effects of the heat building. Slowly but surely, the effort level increased even though my pace remained the same.

Around mile 17, everything began to unravel.My pace dropped significantly, and while I initially believed I could regroup and recover, the opposite happened. Each mile became harder than the last, and I gradually slowed down more and more. It was frustrating because the fitness was clearly there. The legs were prepared, and the training had been some of the strongest I’ve put together in recent years.

Leading into the race, I completed four solid weeks averaging 60 miles per week. I even made two separate trips to Huntington Beach specifically to train in similar conditions and prepare for the course environment. From a training standpoint, I felt ready. But race day reminded me that fitness alone is not always enough.

Final Thoughts

In the end, the result was disappointing. I truly believed I had prepared properly and was capable of executing the race I envisioned. However, I underestimated the cumulative effect of the heat and sun exposure, and eventually it caught up to me.

As difficult as races like this can be, they also provide valuable lessons. Sometimes success in endurance racing is not just about fitness or mileage—it’s about adapting to the conditions on that specific day.

This race didn’t go the way I hoped, but it’s another reminder of how unpredictable the marathon can be, and how even strong preparation can be tested by factors outside your control.