Holly Jolly Half Marathon, 5/10k

(26^th Half, 2015)
Elite Sports, its races included in the CA Half series and featuring around Ventura County, has a challenge, the Endurance Challenge:
Complete ESCA events in the same calendar year, and your rewards are…
​** 2 Events (same Distance) Half, 5k or 10k – Custom Club tech shirt.
**** 4 Events (same Distance) Half, 5k or 10k – Runner’s hat, ditty bag, and water bottle.
****** 6 Events (same Distance) Half, 5k or 10k – Large gear bag with Series logo.
******* 7 Events (same Distance) Half, 5k or 10k – Special Season finale medal presented at Holly Jolly Half in December!
So that’s why I’m here at the Holly Jolly Half and to receive my Endurance Challenge medal, one that I’ve worked toward for the entire year:
1. Camarillo Half (
)
2. West Hills Half (
)
3. Seaside Half (
)
4. Shoreline Half (
)
5. Arroyo Creek Half (
)
6. Harvest Half (which was sadly cancelled, but runners received credit for the finale medal anyway.)
7. Holly Jolly Half
With the exception of the Arroyo Creek Half, all medals denoted each of the races. (Since the Halfs cost more, the coinciding medal, in my opinion, should stand on its own and not include the 5K and 10K runs.) However, the runs themselves are on the cheaper side, running about $ 60-​$ 70 for the Halfs, so I just look the other way. I will say that the runs themselves aren’t that entertaining, aren’t as scenic as I’d like; but, again, they’re easier on the wallet. If you’re running the Ojai Half, though, it really is gorgeous and completely worth price. (I ran it in 2014:
).
The Endurance Challenge medal is a bit disappointing as well, anticlimactic; although the Gear Bag – received after running six events – is pretty cool. Nevertheless, Elite Sports’ Halfs are included in the CA Half Series, and that’s why I’d also run them, pushing myself to clear 20 Halfs for the year. All said and run, I’m unsure as to whether or not I would chase the Endurance Challenge again. I would just as soon pay a bit more for a more significant end-​of-​the-​year series medal. (Again, Ojai would be the exception.) We’ll see. Elite Sports looks as though it is growing. I’ll keep my eyes open.

This race was close to home and super cheap. It was a smaller scale race, not your big advertised kinda of race. Cost for the race was $ 45 and up until October it was still under $ 80 for the half marathon.
Website was easy to navigate through and gave all pertinent information. Packet pickup was Saturday or on race day. You received a tech tshirt and a finishers medal for completing the race. Post race included bagels, oranges, water and electrolyte drink, awards for the top 3 in each category, awards for best costume and two food trucks (The Grilled Cheese truck and the ElaBrew Coffee truck).
Course was mostly flat and included some street running and the majority was on a bike/​running path. The half marathon was a two loop course, which is always a bummer. I would rather, get to one point and turn around than have to run the same course twice, looking at the same thing. The worst is getting to mile 7 and seeing the finish line and then having to run past it. UGGGGGG. Such a mind tease.
Water and electrolyte stations were set up every couple miles and volunteers were always ready and friendly.
Pros:
–low registration fee
–easy parking
–cool medal
–The Grilled Cheese Truck
–happy volunteers
–good aid stations
–well organized
Cons:
–Wish the award categories were split up into smaller categories
–2 loop course is a bummer
–the paint on my medal was peeling and it had a red, white and blue ribbon… wasn’t this a holiday race. Would have been better with holiday colors to match the actual holiday themed medal.
–wish more people dressed up.
–more spectators cheering on the runners would have been nice
Would I do this one again? Maybe if they considered changing the course from a two loop to a one looper.