Event Description
Monterey Bay Half Marathon
Come for the run...
Stay and play by the Bay
November 9-10, 2019
RACE OVERVIEW
Race Date
November 10, 2019
Start Time & Location
6:50 AM PDT on Del Monte Avenue at Camino El Estero in downtown Monterey
Course Time Limit
The Half Marathon course and finish line are only open for a 3.5 hour finish pace, or 16-minutes-per-mile. This time limit begins with the final start wave. Runners who are unable to maintain a 16-minute pace may be turned-around early and/or redirected to an alternate course. Aid stations, official finish times, finish medallions, and post-race refreshments are only available to runners who maintain a 3:30 finish pace or below.
ENTRY LIMITS AND QUALIFICATIONS
The half marathon is limited to 8,000 qualified entrants (must be 9 years or older, in good health and well-trained). Only those participants who are able to complete the race in 3.5 hours (chip time) will receive a Monterey Bay Half Marathon finishers’ medallion, an online finishers’ certificate and be listed in the online Results Book.
COURSE SAFETY RULES
Due liability and safety concerns, there are no strollers, children in backpacks, animals or wheels permitted on the course.
START CORRALS
Half marathon participants will start in 15 waves and assemble in corrals before the race. Corral assignments are based on a the predicted time entered during registration. Please be accurate with your predicted time to ensure a safe and smooth start for all. Your official time does not begin until you cross the start line.
If you are Active Duty military or a military Veteran, you can opt to be in a special Military corral which will start between Corrals B (1:44-1:53) and C (1:54-1:58).
Categories include projected finish times of 1:15 to 1:43; 1:44 to 1:53; 1:54 to 1:58; 1:59 to 2:02; 2:03 to 2:08; 2:09 to 2:14; 2:15 to 2:19; 2:20 to 2:26; 2:27 – 2:31; 2:32 – 2:41; 2:42 – 3:05; and 3:06+.
COURSE DESCRIPTION & MAP
Course is subject to change.
The out-and-back certified course begins on Del Monte Avenue at Camino El Estero and heads east on Del Monte next to the Window on the Bay Park. Runners turn right on Camino Aguajito at the eastern end of Lake El Estero and then make the next right onto Third Street. After crossing Camino El Estero, Third becomes Pearl Street. Runners stay on Pearl until Alvarado where they turn right. At Franklin Street, runners turn right again and then left on Washington, left on Del Monte and pass through the Custom House Tunnel. After emerging from the tunnel, runners veer right onto Foam Street. They take Foam to Drake and turn right again and then left onto Cannery Row. They run the length of Cannery Row and then turn right on Ocean View Blvd. in Pacific Grove. At Fountain Avenue runners turn left and proceed to Lighthouse Avenue in downtown Pacific Grove where they turn right. They take another right at the Pacific Grove Post Office onto Central Avenue. At 17th Street runners turn left and continue down to Ocean View Blvd. and Lover’s Point. The next six miles are run next to the Monterey Bay. Ocean View becomes Sunset Drive just past Asilomar Blvd. Runners will make the turnaround at Asilomar Beach. They will return to Lover’s Point the same way (but in the ocean side lane) and then get on the Recreation Trail. Runners take the Rec Trail back to Cannery Row where they will again run down the Row to Drake. At Drake runners get on the Rec Trail again and take it to the finish at Custom House Plaza.
AID STATIONS
Water stations, also offering Gatorade Endurance, will be found approximately every two miles on the course. GU will be available at two aid stations on the course (miles 5.9 and 9.4). If you are taking part in our BYOB program (“Bring your own Bottle”), a fill up station will be available at the turnaround (approximate mile 7.8). There will be first aid and medical care at all aid stations and at the finish.
TIMEKEEPING - PACE
Bib chip timing is provided by South Valley Endurance. There will be split mats near miles 4, 6, 7.8 and 11.
AWARDS
To be eligible for overall and divisional awards, one must show a time for all split timing mats located on the course. These will be near miles 4,6,7.8 and 11.
Cash awards are based on GUN, not chip time. Divisional awards will be based on chip time. There is no double dipping; athletes winning cash awards or cash bonuses are not eligible for divisional awards.
Divisional (age group) awards will go five deep in five year age divisions, both male and female, after 15 years and younger and 16-19 years.
The awards ceremony begins at 10:00 AM at Custom House Plaza.
PACING
There will be official Pace Teams for runners for finish times between 1:30 and 3:30.
