For the past 13 weeks, I’ve been training for the Jersey City Marathon, which takes place in just three weeks. As part of my training, I decided to run a half marathon in what I consider the most beautiful city in the country—San Diego. It fit perfectly into my schedule, and honestly, who wouldn’t want to run a race on the West Coast?

I arrived in San Diego on Wednesday, giving myself a few days to continue training, explore the city’s beauty, and spend time with my adult children. As race day approached, I felt a bit of anxiety after reviewing the course with my son, who was also running the 5K. I quickly realized that hills would definitely be a challenge.

Race morning was breathtaking. As my son lined up for his 5K, the sun rose beside us over the stunning harbor. The course started fast and flat, so I took advantage and went out strong for the first eight miles, running through downtown San Diego, past the harbor, and through Liberty Station. But at mile 9, the climb began—from 0 to 293 feet and finally topping out at 387 feet. It was a tough, steady ascent over more than a mile. My pace slowed, but with small strides and strong arm swings, I pushed through.

Reaching the top of the hill in Mission Hills felt like a victory, and I found my rhythm again as I ran through Hillcrest and back into downtown. The final three miles were a breeze—all downhill—and I let gravity carry me to the finish.

This was, without a doubt, my favorite half marathon—not just because of the city’s beauty, but because of the effort it took to run it successfully. And the best part? Sharing the experience with my son, even if we ran different races. I didn’t hit my sub-1:50 goal, but I came close, finishing at 1:51 and placing 14th out of 112 in my age group (45-50).

One of the things I love most about running is that you can do it anywhere, and getting to explore different cities along the way makes it even more special. I’m also incredibly proud that my son is lacing up his running shoes and joining me on this journey.

GOVX San Diego, you did not disappoint! The course was beautiful, the race was well-organized, and I have a feeling this one is going on my list of yearly races.

—Heather P.