The Howl-O-Dash 5K at SeaWorld San Diego is my quickest 5K since October of 2018. (The great factor about running a blog is you possibly can look again LOL). I’m nonetheless coming to phrases with that as a result of the final seven years have come and gone within the blink of an eye fixed. I’ve educated, however life occurred, and my working simply isn’t the place it was once. Over the summer season, I’ve had some respectable 5Ks, however I do know I’ve been fitter…I simply haven’t been in a position to string collectively a race that displays that. I obtained sick. The climate. The course. And many others., and so forth.
This SeaWorld Halloween 5K combines a enjoyable, spooky environment with a surprisingly technical course stuffed with twists and turns. It’s a singular expertise, particularly for runners who love racing by means of theme parks.
Earlier than the Howl-O-Dash 5K at SeaWorld
The day earlier than the race was sort of chaotic. I ended up working simply over 11 miles with pals. I knew I felt good, however was that the neatest transfer earlier than a race? After all not. Do I remorse it? No. It was a pleasant day, and we had enjoyable.
The drive all the way down to San Diego was lengthy due to site visitors. They’d closed a part of the 5, so there was way more site visitors on the 15. It took us over 4 hours to get all the way down to San Diego, and by the point we did, I used to be drained. We ate an early dinner and went to mattress early.
The Howl-O-Dash 5K didn’t have packet pickup the day earlier than. The e-mail stated the park opened at 5:30 for the 7 a.m. race, and I obtained nervous, so we ended up getting there at 5:45. It was truly simple…minimal strains…and the whole lot went easily. I did a fast two-mile warm-up and headed to the beginning line.
I knew I wanted to be towards the entrance due to all of the turns. There have been loads of younger kids and households there, and whereas the race began slightly late, off we went.
SeaWorld 5K Race Expertise
Once I say the Howl-O-Dash 5K has extra turns than every other race I’ve finished, I’m not joking. By mile two, my hips felt it. You actually couldn’t get a lot velocity across the turns. In the course of the first mile, I discovered myself because the second girl total. I felt like I used to be pushing arduous however not at my max, so after I hit the primary mile in 6:06, I used to be pretty stunned.
The primary mile felt prefer it took without end…I used to be unwell after I checked out my watch and noticed we have been solely at 0.78 miles in.
One of many coolest elements of the race was working by the SeaWorld orcas as they have been breaching. I nearly needed to cease and watch, however I saved telling myself to maintain going.
As we headed into the second mile, I discovered myself in first total. May I win this factor? That shortly disappeared as a result of a girl handed me like I used to be standing nonetheless. She ended up placing loads of distance on me. I wasn’t too defeated. We saved turning and turning. We ran over a brief moist turf part and a brief sandy part. After we hit the sand, I assumed, nobody is extra ready than this desert dweller. I hit the second mile in 6:17, which I used to be happy with.
End Line on the Howl-O-Dash 5K SeaWorld San Diego
From there, I simply centered on ending. I used to be drained…and bored with the turns. I knew the final mile went out into the car parking zone and had a pair fewer turns round mile 2.7. I saved telling myself, simply make it there.
I briefly regarded down at my watch, and it stated 6:28 tempo. I used to be okay with that as a result of my purpose this summer season has been persistently beneath 20 minutes.
As soon as we hit the less-turny part, I pushed as arduous as I may…round a 6:15 tempo. I simply tried to convey it in robust. I used to be 10–15 seconds behind the first-place girl and centered on making an attempt to catch her. I didn’t, but it surely helped me end robust, and my final mile was 6:20.
I crossed the Howl-O-Dash 5K end line in 19:25.
Submit Howl-O-Dash 5K Ideas
Truthfully, I’m stunned. I’ve recognized I used to be in higher form than the 19:55 or excessive 19s I’ve been working many of the summer season, however to run a 19:25 on such a turn-heavy course offers me hope that I can run beneath 19 once more…one thing I actually haven’t believed recently.
It was motivating, enjoyable, and one of the crucial memorable 5Ks I’ve finished. Operating by means of SeaWorld San Diego with orcas within the background isn’t one thing you expertise on daily basis. I most likely gained’t cease speaking about it for fairly a while.
Regularly Requested Questions Concerning the Howl-O-Dash 5K at SeaWorld
The place does the Howl-O-Dash 5K happen?The race takes place inside SeaWorld San Diego, winding by means of the park’s themed areas and animal displays earlier than ending close to the doorway. Few working races truly run in amusement parks.
Is the SeaWorld 5K good for newbies?Sure. The Howl-O-Dash 5K is walker- and family-friendly, however its quite a few turns could make it barely more difficult for runners chasing private information.
Can spectators watch the Howl-O-Dash 5K?Spectators can cheer from designated areas, and lots of stick round afterward to take pleasure in SeaWorld’s Halloween-themed points of interest.
What makes the Howl-O-Dash 5K distinctive?Few races allow you to run previous orcas, dolphins, and coasters earlier than breakfast. The mixture of Halloween festivities, coastal climate, and park entry makes it a standout San Diego race.
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Questions for you:
Have you ever ever run in an amusement park?
What’s your favourite 5k?
