Costume Party Run Half Marathon and 5K

BIGGEST. FREAKIN’. MEDAL. EVER.
People don’t do this race for the course, the experience or for the joy of running… it’s for the gigantic medal! Shoot, that’s why I did the run. You don’t get a T-​Shirt, which I okay with because I have too many freaking race shirts already. However, you do get a trucker hat, which I’m pretty sure I will never wear. Lol. I think it’s a good idea not to waste money on shirts, and to focus on a nice medal instead.
The course? You do laps around Qualcomm Stadium, run down Friars road, loop around back to Qualcomm, do more laps and then you are done. When you run back to Qualcomm, you think you are done because you are running towards the finish line… NOPE. You run around it before you get it to. It was such a tease. During the entire run, you just stare at stores or the streets. Nothing special. Running on the concrete for too long was starting to get to my knees too.
Everyone did look cool running in costumes. Almost everyone dressed up. If you didn’t, then you’re lame. Lol. jk. I was miserable running in a costume because I hate carrying excess junk (keys, cell phone, hat, glasses, 1980s fanny pack, ect) when I run, and it was hot… but that’s me. Oh, and no gear check. Bah.
In the finishing area, they handed out a lot of snacks. As soon as you left that gated area you weren’t allowed to go back. My throat was dry, and beyond the finishing line area… there weren’t any opportunities for drinks. I tried to go back to get some water, but this nazi gate monitor didn’t let me. I told him I wanted water, and he continued to deny me. WTF. It was very hot, humid and you are refusing to let someone grab a cup of water? I just ran a half marathon, and what if something happened to me? Ass. I was too tired to argue, so I just walked away. Luckily the med tents were near by, and those guys were nice enough to provide a water bottle. At the finish line, they provided cups of water. so take that gate monitor! I did e-​mailed them my concerns so no one else will have to go through that.
The Costume Party Half Marathon offers the biggest medal I have ever seen. I wish I did last years run, but I wasn’t into half marathons at the time. Unfortunately, this is the last year for the Costume Party Half Marathon — but Superhero Events offers other runs throughout the year. Hopefully future races will have medals just as impressive and better gate monitors. :P

(My 3^rd Half)
Sadly, San Diego’s Costume Party Run – famed for boasting the «World’s Largest Half Marathon Medal” – had its final go-​round this year.
Look, I haven’t been running that long. In fact, this run is only my third Half Marathon this year. (I have another eight on deck.) But after first seeing pictures of 2013’s „Classic 45 Record“ medal – also shouldering the „World’s Largest“ bravado – there was no doubt that I would be owning this Half. But it wasn’t easy. This course is almost all Friars Rd. – about 10 miles of it – and although the hills aren’t that steep, they’re rolling. One after another after another after another…
And just when I thought I was reaching a reprieve in Qualcomm Stadium’s parking lot, more punishment: even the lot had hills! It was neverending! No, it wasn’t an easy course (for me, at least.) It’s not even scenic, really, but I was thrilled to have run it nonetheless. Because I knew that with every miserably hilly mile, I was one tired step closer to the prize. And this year’s just-​as-​ridiculously-​awesome, super-​stunning „Gold Record Edition“ medal – with a 6» diameter and a sparkling 3D Disco Ball – was worth the punishment! I am proud to having it hanging on my wall.
So…
The Costume Party Run has ended. But I think we’re good: the Run’s classy promoter – Superhero Events, LLC – they’re not out of it. They’ve got clout. And I am sure that sometime very soon, some upcoming, action-​packed and fun-​filled running events will be revealed.
My time: 2:41:57.2
Overall: ⁶⁴⁷⁄₉₈₉
:)

This review is for the 2014 Costume Party Run Half Marathon. Unfortunately this is also the last year that Superhero Events, LLC will be hosting this event according to their Facebook page. Still wanted to review it anyways!
The Costume Party Run Half Marathon was pretty different from the other half marathons I’ve participated in (ex: OC Marathon). I personally enjoyed this run, but it depends on what you’re personally looking for in a half marathon.
EXPO
I picked up my bib the day before at a Road Runner store. There were only 1000 participants for the run, so there were no vendors. Each participant received a massive bag containing nothing but a trucker hat, a sheet of paper and time chip in it. I guess the purpose of the bag was to hide the cheap looking hat. Would’ve preferred a cheap shirt personally.
At least the process for picking up a bib was quick and easy!
COURSE
Unlike larger half marathons, the Costume Party Run course was not scenic whatsoever. Probably the highlight of the course scenic-​wise was Qualcomm Stadium, where the race both begins and ends, and IKEA. Seriously. As for the course, runners just ran up Friars Road for 6 miles and then ran back the same way they came.
To make up for the lack of scenery, I just looked at the costumes people were wearing. Some people wore full on suits and masks which was insane. My group dressed up as the Powerpuff Girls which was pretty fun. First and last time I’ll ever run a half marathon in a bright orange wig.
Since there were only 1000 participants in this run, I definitely didn’t feel claustrophobic at any part of the race. Also, it was awesome not having to run around other runners like I’ve done in the past in half marathons that have 10,000+ runners. Downside is that there isn’t really anyone to cheer you on too. Sadness.
There was also a sufficient number of porta potties and water stations. Barely had to wait in line for a porta potty which never happens. Once we finished the race, we also got a lot of snacks and drinks which made up for the expo the previous day.
MEDAL
So why did I bother going to a run that had no scenic views and only gave you a trucker hat? Because the medal is freaking incredible!!! The medal itself is worth a 4-​star review on Unilocal.
Seriously, the medal is the largest medal I’ve ever seen at any half marathon. It’s the size of a mini gold plated record and there is a spinning disco ball inside the center of the record. It’s just something you have to see in person to appreciate its beauty.
I don’t know if Superhero Events, LLC plans on bringing back the Costume Party Run in the future because it was fun seeing everyone run in costumes. Also it’d be cool if they brought back the medal because the medals from their other runs are definitely nowhere near the same size. Overall an enjoyable run because of the small crowds and amazing medal!

Non scenic but I knew that going in. People’s costumes were great and there were a good amount of water stations. The course according to my Garmin Forerunner the course was 12.66 total not the 13.1 miles a Half Marathon is. Huge medal– one and done for this race

this was a sub par half marathon. They advertised the worlds biggest medal. The medal was cool, and the energy was great. However, no costume contest like they said, water in G2 cups, 3 miles was running around qualcomm stadium in circles (to kill miles). A 2 dollar trucker hat for a 100 dollar race are you kidding me! I’m glad I paid $ 45 intro price but most people paid 85 – 100. No technical shirt for a 85 – 100 dollar race, come on! My friends made comments on facebook, and the founders wife, erases the messages on facebook, and blocks the user. I heard this from several others, thats not fair. It seems that companies that you dont trust erase negative comments thats not a good company so you cant see the other side. Anyways, I loved the experience and the energy but a lot of «shortcuts» to make money from this race. So if you want to party and just run down friars road and around the stadium for 3 miles this is a good race for you, but if you want a little more then this is not the race for you. And water in G2 cups (when you’re running you want G2 and not water, thats the last thing I want to worry about). But I did enjoy the energy. I guess Sabrina (owners wife) cant erase this post because this is «yelp» right?! :)

Hi, I’m big sexy and I just ran the costume party run with thousands of my friends. Yah there were potholes on Friar’s road and had to circle around the Qualcomm stadium parking lot like lost Ants harvesting for fall but did you see the gargantuan medal nestled between my voluptuous bosom??? It’s the size of a cantaloupe!!! But it was great to see tons of people suffer the early July heat with me and share in that special moment of runners swass juice running down your leg. What a feeling! Anyways, I didn’t care too much about the course or the heat because that medal, brought the material whore out of me!

Great concept for a run Superhero Events! I loved seeing everyone in costumes and looooooove the huge medal! Super entertaining to see everyone get creative with their costumes (Go Mr. Chinaman). Great distraction for me so I was not counting down how many more miles I have to run to earn my spinning disco ball! I also loved the trucker hat, but I understand not many like to sport hats.
I wish the race was not done (mostly) in the parking lot behind Qualcomm stadium — yuck on that! (And on a side note, please City of San Diego, fix them potholes).
They could also improve on a couple of things like having waves and definitely have checkpoints. I saw several folks pretend to tie their shoelaces and cut the course — so sad — why sign up for a half marathon if you are not going to run the course?
Overall, I am hooked on running this event. After all, my gals and I need to top the Hooters outfits… or maybe we can just recruit more hotties to run with us — both gals and guys! Til the next race…