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February! Here to prove to you that just because you might feel like you don't have enough time, doesn't mean you can't pack a punch with the time you do have.  It might be the shortest month of the year, but February makes up for it with the power of deciding whether or not winter is over (Punxsutawney Phil said yes, but San Diego said no thanks), the gift of a three-day weekend, a Hallmark holiday, and the mystery of whether or not this year will be the year it puts an extra day at it's end (not this year, folks!)  If that's not inspiration to pack extra miles into your days this February, I don't know what is. 

Here's what we've got this month:

1:  Oh, the Places You'll Run: Meet Me At The Bay

2:  Perks of Being a Member (did you know you get discounts?)

3:  Vocab Word of the Month: Splits (don't worry--it's not a stretching thing)

4:  Got a topic you want covered? Let us know!

 
Oh, the Places You'll Run: Mission Bay San Diego
Knowledge is fun! Our aim here is to help you build connection between what's beneath your feet and in front of your face. Learn more about your running routes, the flora, the fauna, the history, and more!  
Ah, Mission Bay. We love to run around it! And with a loop distance of 12 gloriously flat miles (19ft above sea-level), scenic water views, and ocean breezes, it's easy to see why. Not to mention the abundant free parking and public restrooms. 

This man-made oasis is the largest aquatic water park of it's kind.  Man-made, you say? Yep. Developed in the 1940s with the intention of being a tourist destination (spoiler alert: it is), Mission Bay was once marshy wilderness called False Bay and home to the drainage of the San Diego River.  

After decades of dredging and construction Mission Bay Park was complete, the San Diego River's course was changed, and a recreational dream was born. Boasting sandy beaches with 27 miles of shoreline, boat launches, dog parks, swimming, children's playgrounds, a campground, bonfire pits, a golf course, and windy boardwalks, Mission Bay Park is living up to it's tourist ambitions.  In 2024, over 32 million people visited Mission Bay.

Mission Bay is also an environmental treasure chest making a home for over 144 bird species and 56 native plant species. Several of which are endangered such as the California Least Tern.  Next time you're on a run, see if you can spot one!
You've Got Promo Codes! 

Member of the San Diego Track Club? Use one of your exclusive San Diego Track Club member discounts to get some sweet deals on your next race, Just login to your Haku participant account and click on SDTC Member Discounts view offers box.  Get out there!
 

Vocabulary Word of the Month: Splits

The time it takes to complete a defined distance. Splits are helpful to track progress and check pace. 

For example: if running 8 x 400m, you would check your pace after completing the first 400m and then each subsequent 400m to make sure you are staying consistent. 

If running 4 miles, you might want to check your pace each mile to see how fast you're going, if it's sustainable, or if you can push it harder. 

If you reach your 6th 400m or 3rd mile and you start to pick up the pace, you will see negative splits, or faster split times.