The Encinitas Half Marathon is coming to town on Sunday, March 4, 2018!  Thousands of people will be running in this much-anticipated race which benefits the important ocean conservancy work of the Surfing Madonna Oceans Project.

The second annual run kicks off at the parking lot of Moonlight Beach, where VIP guests will mingle at the Moonlight overlook, and runners will stretch and hydrate in preparation for the impressive feat. The run is 13.1 miles long, and runners are expected to maintain a 14.53 minute mile in order to stay within the 3 hour, 15 minute timeline. Fortunately, the course is mostly flat, which is perfect for runners hoping to set a new personal best.

The course stays mostly along the iconic Highway 101 but veers off sometimes along other scenic coastline streets. Participants will get to experience many Encinitas landmarks as they pass by the Swami’s Temple, the Boathouses, the Tiki Heads at Swami’s Beach, and through downtown Encinitas, Leucadia and Solana Beach. The best feature of the course is that it passes 7+ miles of coast, so runners will be able to breathe the ocean air and gaze out at the Pacific as they push themselves to keep going!

After the race, runners will be rewarded with a beautiful medal and a free breakfast, and then enjoy the after-party taking place at the Seaside Bazaar. Having competed in the 2^nd annual Encinitas Half Marathon, they will have much to celebrate!

The Surfing Madonna Oceans Project (SMOP) is an Encinitas-based nonprofit founded in 2012. Initiated and inspired by a public art project (the “Save the Ocean” mosaic located in Encinitas, CA), this 501C3 is dedicated to bringing the community together to “Save the Ocean” and protect our coastline. Some projects include environmental education programs, ocean conservation grants, marine mammal rescue/recovery initiatives and ocean focused programming for children with special needs. Read more at: https://surfingmadonna.org/