Santa Ana is celebrating once again and runners are the stars of the show. Lindora Run, which we must now also call the Lindora Run Half Marathon, will bring 4,000 registered runners to the streets of Santa Ana, plus another similar number who were unlucky enough not to register; because yes, for the fourth consecutive year, four out of four, Lindora Run sold out all its spots a month before the starting gun.
What's the deal with Lindora? Is it that people like running through the beautiful neighborhoods of Santa Ana? Well, no—everyone agrees that Lindora Run is a different experience, not so much because of the beautiful neighborhoods but because of the service and quality of everything the athlete receives. From the Adidas shirt, which many keep as an almost collectible memento for years, to the expo where you pick up your packet. In the words of José Nuñez, the event creator, "scaled appropriately, the Lindora Run expo has nothing to envy from the expos of the big marathons."
This year the expo will be today Friday and tomorrow Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Saint Jude School. In addition to picking up their packets, athletes will be able to enjoy free talks, personalize their shirt, sign their name on the huge signature wall, review the route on a giant screen, and even let the kids play in a children's area that the organizers have set up so the little ones have a good time. Oh, and one more nice touch that the organizers had in store: everyone will receive their race bib personalized with their name.
Half Marathon
Now let's get to the serious part. The Half Marathon distance is making its debut this year, with a capital H because the route is also certified by the IAAF, meaning it measures exactly 21.0975 kilometers and times will be recognized at international events. Fifteen hundred athletes will run the half marathon, whose course by the way is not easy at all. Let's look at the elevation profile in detail:
There are four major climbs in the first 14 kilometers. Right from the start there are 4k of climbing, not too steep but enough to crush the hopes of anyone who dares to go out too fast. Because then the route is filled with false flats—sections that look flat to the eye but have a slight incline that throws off your pace. At kilometer 7 the climb returns, and it culminates with a really difficult stretch at kilometer 9.5. Once you get past this climb there's only one more incline at kilometer 13, and the finish is actually quite favorable in terms of elevation, but quite unfavorable because of the heat.
Although the race starts at 5:40 a.m., by 7 a.m. the intense heat will be unavoidable. There will be six hydration stations on the course, plus one at the finish. At three of those six stations there will be electrolyte drink (Powerade) available in cups, while the other three will have water. Don't miss the opportunity to hydrate at each station and splash water on your head and neck; this will help lower your perception of heat.
—RELATED: HOW TO RUN IN THE HEAT AND SURVIVE THE ATTEMPT.
10k
Many people already know the 10k route. And although it now has to share athletes with the half marathon, the 10k remains the favorite: 2,500 athletes registered in this distance for Lindora Run 2015. The elevation profile is not as complex as the half marathon. The 10k starts with 3k of moderate climbing and then goes into descents and false flats, which while requiring care won't kill you. In total there will be four hydration stations for the 10k, which will start at 6 a.m.
Race day, it will be very important that you arrive with plenty of time to spare, because according to José Nuñez there could be some congestion at the access points as the start time approaches. "The hotel zone is completely full, the hotels have no availability because many people are coming from far away," Nuñez explains. There will be free parking for 200 cars at Momentum Lindora, and other shopping centers (some, not all) usually allow cars to park without issue. The recommendation is to arrive an hour and a half before the start to avoid any hassles; after all, there will be 4,000 runners plus their companions all pushing for a spot near the start.
—RELATED: WHAT YOU CAN'T FORGET ON RACE DAY.
There will be no corrals at the start, so whoever wakes up early will get the best spot. Remember that for the half marathon there will be "pacers" to help runners achieve their goal. The rabbits will finish the race in 1h30', 1h40', 1h50', 2h00', and 2h10', so if you're planning to finish in a similar time you can stick with these experienced runners to achieve your goal.
It goes without saying that hydration will be key throughout the entire race. You should arrive well hydrated and keep drinking fluids at your own pace during the competition. As always, the neighbors of Santa Ana come out to help, and we know that in front of the Vindi stores they'll be cooling off the athletes with hoses. We wish everyone the best—may it be an excellent race and enjoy it to the fullest.
