Interesting Races in Interesting Places: Cabo Wabo!

Frances E

People like me (late middle aged/early old) enter races for a variety of reasons, but winning stuff is not generally a realistic goal.  I was staying in the lovely Pueblo Magico, Todos Santos, an hour north of Cabo San Lucas, spending time relaxing and working on my yoga.  Maybe I was relaxing a bit too much and so a race in late January (2009) seemed like just the thing to get me moving and to see a little of Cabo.  I don’t usually sign up for a half marathon as a “fun run,” but this one – Media Maraton Los Cabos – seemed pretty irresistible.  The race description suggested that runners could, “Set your Personal Record running in a fast and challenging course while you enjoy the beautiful scenery.  Then take a rest, relax yourself and join us at the Cabo Wabo Post-Race Party!”  I figured that a race with Cabo Wabo Tequila and Pacifico beer as name sponsors would be fun.

My sister, her friend and I arrived in Cabo San Lucas the day before the race, settled into our cute little hotel and headed over to the Plaza Puerto Paraiso to register.  There were no signs to indicate any kind of running event, so we wandered around the plaza for a while until we eventually found the registration area and picked up our numbers and t-shirts.  No expo, but a few displays from some of the hotel sponsors and a medical center where I had my blood pressure checked (perfect!!).  We learned that the race would not be starting from the Plaza, due to road works, but at a large mall on the edge of town, known as the Wal-Mart Plaza, and that the route would not be going through scenic town streets, but along Highway 1.

At The Start

We arrived at the mall early for the 7:00 am race start.  It was still dark, but we couldn't miss the huge inflated Pacifico Beer can at the start line as we drove in.  There were about three hundred runners waiting near the start line, where the half-marathon and 5K runners started at the same time.  With a few clouds in the sky, it looked to be an overcast day, a big relief for me as I’m not a hot weather running enthusiast. Several speeches, the release of white balloons and the race began!

We started out crossing the winding overpass to the highway.  The route was slightly rolling, but no really challenging hills.  The most nerve-wracking part of the race was running along the side of the four lane Highway 1 – this is the main highway that runs through the entire 1000 mile Baja Peninsula – with very little division between runners and traffic.  Luckily, it was early Sunday and the traffic was quite light.  We headed down the highway, a slightly rolling course on the hotel strip that runs between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo.  Not exactly scenic, but pretty typical of the roads in this area.  The water stations provided water in knotted plastic bags.  I’ve never seen this before, but it works quite well as you can run while drinking.  The half-way point was the bridge over the highway at the Cabo Real Resort.

The last half of the race was a little more challenging. The water stations ran out of fluids from the 12K point. The temperature was rising and the traffic was increasing.  This is the kind of thing I call “character building.”  Luckily, I had brought a hand-held bottle with me, so it was just a question of rationing out my water and getting back before the serious heat and traffic started.  A few of the local residents were beginning to emerge looking on with puzzled expressions; no doubt wondering what these crazy people were doing running along a highway on a Sunday morning.  As I got closer to the finish I could see the sea and the rock arc at Land’s End, Cabo’s most famous landmark.  The course continued on for a couple of miles through a golf course – I think they did this to make up for the miles lost by not starting from the original start line.  As I rounded the corner to the Wal-Mart Plaza, I could see the Pacifico beer can in the distance.  A few hundred meters and I was finished.  An unspectacular 2:08, but I was on vacation and who would ever know?  Had a short massage while I waited for my sister and friend, doing their first walking half, then out for a well-deserved brunch and an afternoon by the pool.

A Relaxed Finish

It was a fun run and a not too challenging morning, but, for me, the real race highlight was the evening.  The race organization might have been a little relaxed, but the after-party and awards ceremony were very well organized! 

Party Time at Cabo Wabo

The party was at Cabo Wabo Cantina, a 20-year old Cabo nightclub, in the heart of Cabo old town, founded and owned by Sammy Hagar of Van Halen fame.  This has to be the most rockingest after-race party I’ve ever been to.  A nightclub with flashing lights, large screens and loud music is not exactly my regular evening hangout (especially when the evening does not even start until my 10pm bedtime!).  But here I was, in my party clothes, with my tickets for free beer and free tequila (it was 30 pesos for a bottle of water!).  A fabulous Mexican fiesta with speeches, trophies for the winners and cameras flashing. 

With My Trophy!

And then, my winning started.  I came 3rd in my age category – OK, so the winner of my age group was probably having breakfast by the time I got back, but it’s who shows up, right? – and was presented with a fabulous Lucite trophy (for age group 3rd place finish!!) and my prize of a day at Wild Canyon Adventures (off road jeep rides, bungee jumping and zip-lining).  As I was celebrating my not exactly well-deserved victory, I heard my name called again.  I won the raffle, which included a round of golf at Cabo Real golf club, whale watching trip and bicycle ride for two.

Yes, this run was a lot of fun!

Frances E