Davis Moonlight Race

I did the half marathon. Although not as elaborate compared to other races I have done, for the cost of the race for $ 60 (which is cheap compared to most races), I think the race was decent which is why I give it 5 stars.
This is the only half marathon that I know of that is at night. The half marathon/​10k/​10 mile starts at 7 pm. 5k and shorter races begin earlier. This is the only half marathon around the Davis/​Sacramento area that takes place in the summer which is most likely attributed to the summer heat here. It’s convenient to have an option for a local race over summer other than in the bay area or Tahoe.
Sign up early for an option to have a personalized bib. There wasn’t too many food options after the race to replenish with– there were watermelon, banana, trail mix, and water.
The course goes through East Davis. I went to UC Davis and lived in Davis for 5 years but I never wandered through the area of this course. I never actually heard of this race either while I attended UC Davis. The course is fairly flat. The only incline was going up the bridge and up the tunnel. The course loops back to the finish line about 3 times. It’s such a tease seeing the finish line each time.
The shirts are regular cotton shirts that I hear glow in the dark as well. I haven’t tested it out yet. There is an option to upgrade for a tech shirt for additional money.
Glow sticks are provided at around mile 10 as the night got darker. I thought it would’ve been better to have the glow sticks after the race. By mile 10, I was already tired so I didn’t hold on to the glow sticks for long. It looked really nice seeing other racers running with glow sticks in the dark and reminded me of the Electric run.
There were water stations every couple miles. Water and Gatorade was provided. There are time pacers for different time intervals. It makes it really convenient as I can gauge my pace. However, it’s also frustrating when I see pacer after pacer run past me. It does motivate me to pick up my pace though.
Since there are different distance races, there were a lot of different routes and different mile markings. After mile 5, there was a sign right after it that said mile 4 and went on for a couple miles. The course splits and conjoins again for the different distances for 10k, 10 mile, and half marathon. I thought the signs were pretty clear and I didn’t find it confusing since there are volunteers who guide runners to their destination at each turning point. I did see some racers running back the wrong way because they took the wrong course.
The start and finish line is at the same area. There is plenty of parking and parking is free.
The medal glows in the dark! This is the biggest medal I have ever gotten. My friends and I walked around downtown Davis after the race with our medals. Thanks to our medals, the bouncers let us go in without paying cover. Score! The medal is only for half marathon and 10 mile finishers. There is an option to purchase an additional medal for $ 6.
I usually train at night but it’s a different feeling running a race at night vs. the morning. I enjoyed this race and would do it again.

Did the 10k, about died, but that was on me, not the race.
This was a great race, easy to follow course, nice evening
The biggest con was that the mile markers were confusing. The races looped over each other and seeing the markers for the other races left you unsure which distance you had already run. If that were better adjusted, it would be a 5!

I signed up a few months in advance. Due to supporting friends & training the Mr., it had been over a year since I had run a race for myself. I wanted to see where my pace was running solo. The fact that this race finished in the dark drew me in. It sounded like a fun change up from the typical wake up at the butt crack of dawn & race as the sun comes up.
The 2014 race was graced with a slight drop in the typical 90+ July Davis temperatures. It was still pretty warm when the first wave of runners took off at 6:30. I knew my pace would be under 2:45, so I was in the second wave. There are no waves within each start, so it’s pretty congested. You are at the mercy of others to place themselves near their prospective paces.
The 5K, 10K & first wave routes cross over the 2^nd wave & meet together at points, which can make the course congested. As I was nearing mile 9, I started catching up with the slower runners from the first wave. At times, larger groups formed a wall that was tough to get around.
Around mile 10, the sun had set and the course was really dark in spots — even with the super moon. If I run this one again, I will bring my own flashlight and/​or headlamp. The terrain was a mixture of gravel, pavement (not always smooth) and trails. Navigating uneven surfaces at a run, in the dark can be tricky & definitely affects your pace a bit.
The water stops were plentiful but I still recommend carrying your own bottle, due to the warm nature of this run. The volunteers were fantastic.
Packet pick-​up was fast & easy. Change of Pace is well known for their creative t-​shirt designs & fabulous medals. They did not disappoint. The free taste of beer & expo were fun. They provided water at the finish line but no bagels & fruit as I am accustomed to.
Overall, I had a great time & this is a well run race. I was a little disappointed with myself, as I finished 2:01:17. I was really hoping for a sub 2hr half. Maybe next time!

My third year running Davis Moonlight, usually the 10K distance for the same price as a 5K, but not as long as a half marathon (after dark)…although I’ve run half marathons before and finish well before the 4-​hour course limit cut-​off, for evening races I just want to get it done, stop at the beer garden and seek out dinner. Also, I’ve done so many A Change of Pace races in Davis that courses are similar, either North Davis greenbelt or South Davis bike trails pretty much, over I-​80 a couple times (or under). Also, this race is usually pretty hot-​temps even though it’s purposefully an evening race, that’s Davis in the summer for you. This year I participated because it’s part of the Tour de Fit NorCal series part 1, the medal race.

I should have paid closer attention to the calendar when I signed up for this race. I assumed that because it was called the Moonlight Run, that it would be correlating with a full (ish) moon and start late enough that the run was actually at night. Most of it was in the heat of the evening, especially with the wave start, first runners starting as early as 6:15pm when it was very hot.
Obviously weather is not something in the control of the coordinators but lots of things were.
*The first two miles are not shaded. Its the hottest part of the race, and you are running on a frontage road in the blazing sun. Cars driving by (at least a dozen) on the runners side of the pylons on a road that should have been closed to traffic.
*No one directing runners and/​or no signage to tell runners which way to go at a couple important places. A whole group of people doing the 5k ended up doing the 10k, not realizing the problem till they were 3 miles out, at the farthest point out, forcing them to do the 10k to get back.
*Wave start was to get the most people back in at the same time BUT there were times on the narrow bicycle path that you had elite runners trying to weave between 5k/​10k/​slower half marathoners to get through and keep on pace. Lots of congestion.
*No water at finish line for a lot of the people coming in later. No water left out on the course for the later runners either.
*People pillaged the swag at vendors before the race even started. We are talking people filling BOXES with stuff. This is poor runner etiquette but the coordinators and vendors should have squashed it before it got to be that out of hand.
*Sprinklers went off on the lawns where some of the participants had their things, as well as vendors and the bag check.
*Bikes on the bike trail. I understand it is a bike trail, but there are other running events that make it very clear that the trail is closed to everyone but participants.
There were some positives though!
*The swag that was still there was good swag!
*The beer and pizza were cheap! $ 3 for good Sudwerk beer. $ ³⁄₂ pizza slices.
*The medals and tech tees were awesome!

I was not impressed with this race which is disappointing because it has such good reviews! I guess I’ll start with the good…
1) Lots of swag, both in variety and quantity
2) Generally enthusiastic atmosphere
Cons
1) People starting collecting swag prior to the start of the race. Big yellow bags were handed out and participants got all their goodies and checked them at the «Sweat Check» booth. I love free stuff just as much (if not more!) than the next person, but isn’t the race the first priority?
2) Poorly planned race course. Parts of the course were too narrow to accommodate the number of runners. The freeway overpass was an especially tight fit.
3) Not enough mile markers! For the 10K we saw mile 1, 4, and 5, but saw a marker for each mile that overlapped the half marathon course.

This was my first half marathon with Unilocaler Mindy Y!
+ Easy registration and check-​in
+ Friendly families who sprayed the runners with water hoses
+ Volunteers and Davis locals cheering
+ Water, Gatorade, orange slices, Powerade gel at every 2 miles
+ Official timing spots at 5k, mile 7, mile 10, mile 12
+ TONS of SWAG! Power bars, Zico, EmergenC, Dove deodarant, cookie spread, etc
+ Awesome cheering section at the home stretch to the finish line
+ GLOW IN THE DARK medals!
— Awful humid Davis heat! I was splashing water on my face every 5 minutes
— Crowded section when the 10k and ½ marathon route overlapped
GO Team Beast Mode! :)

I signed up for this event two days before and was actually shocked that it was in the mid-​to-​low 90s at 7pm when we started running! Running in that kind of heat is exhausting!
There were about 1500 people for the half marathon (based on bib numbers) — but it seemed like such a huge crowd. The route goes through Davis neighborhoods and on a lot of trails over campuses and parks. A few citizens were friendly enough to stand out front with hoses to spray willing runners (I wish there were more nice people doing that!).
Despite the heat and my body not being happy with it, I stuck it out for my worst half marathon time ever. I also met a LOT of nice dogs (I decided to stop for at least two cups of gatorade at every station and pet every dog on the way, plus walking 2 miles with an ankle cramp and stopping twice for toilets — finished in 2:05).
The event was run pretty smoothly — they had official timing spots all throughout the route — and there were some great sponsors — Zico was there once again with their awesome coconut water, and I had a great big chunk of the heart of a watermelon at the snack tent (yum!).
I kind of wanted to get the ladies cap sleeve blue and white shirt but didn’t see it on sale anywhere!
I like running later in the day (instead of the usual 7am) and I like warmer temperatures but I’m not sure I’m up for low 90s again, that was exhausting!

This race is put on by the A Change of Pace Foundation, who always does a fantastic job. I have run the half marathon twice and look forward to running it again this year. The race is relatively cheap compared to similar races. Volunteers and water stations are plentiful. This race comes with glow-​in-​the-​dark schwag during the race. A race t-​shirt is included with an option for a tech shirt for a little more money. The medals are always cool and also glow-​in-​the-​dark. This race is also the final race in the Tour de Fit series put on by A Change of Pace Foundation. If you complete the series you will receive a series medal as well. This is arguably one of the best races in Northern California.

Change of Pace! Thanks for another great race!!!
A few notes:
1. Yes, this is only a «MOO nlight» race for people who do the half marathon. It’s the only race where you get glow in the dark shwag — medals/​tshirts.
2. Apparently nobody told Kaiser to turn their sprinklers off. They suddenly turned on and drenched a good portion of the spectators — hahaha, but seriously… not cool.
3. I always LOVE the Change of Pace Foundation’s races. In addition to this race, I’ve personally done the Davis Stampede, the Capitol City Classic, and the Davis Turkey Trot — all great experiences. The timing is always first class, the races are always plentifully staffed, and the courses are always well placed.

It took over an hour for me to get to the race. The Richards Blvd S exit was congested and the last mile took about half an hour itself. I’ve never encountered this problem before at other races. I barely made it to the race on time. Actually, I had a few minutes left to spare since the race started a little late.
The race was set to start at 7:00 PM. It wasn’t much of a moonlight run for those of us that did the 5K or 10K. The sun was beaming brightly in my face. With the summer heat, there weren’t enough water stations.
What I loved most about this race were the glow-​in-​the-​dark t-​shirts. I would consider doing this race again, if I ever get myself to the half marathon level because the finisher medals were awesome and also glowed-​in-​the-​dark.