Kaiser Permanente Bolt To the Q 5k

I ran the 10k in 2015 and although I’m already signed up for the 2016 10k, I will plan for this next one very differently where the organization of the race failed. AKA: I will be wearing a water belt. Which is crazy for a 10k. I’ve never had a course under supply water for that distance.
Yes, the day was unexpectedly hot. Which I absolutely know they cannot control and honestly, didn’t mind. The issue was their water placement and eventually running out of water. The course is an out and back and the 5k turns around at 1.5 miles, where as the 10k’ers continue on and turn around at 3 miles. The course included *two* water stations, both in the first 1.5 miles. So in theory, the 5k and 10k runners will hit the two water stations on the way out and the same two stations on the way back.
But, what about all that distance beyond the 5k turn around? The 10k runners didn’t get any additional water. And then, the final water station was EMPTY by the time I got to it. Let me repeat… they ran out of water on the course. I ran a 1:02 10k. There were PLENTY of people behind me who didn’t get water and who knows when the water actually ran out before me… but I can tell you it shouldn’t have been before people finishing around 60 min reached it.
Also the organization after the race was chaos. The line to get a simple granola bar was 100+ people deep and not moving quickly. Eventually, after being dehydrated and calorie deprived, I just grabbed a beer. But i saw people walking off with boxes of granola bars. The workers were not monitoring or facilitating. Eventually I just walked up and grabbed a bar, b/​c I couldn’t stand there any longer waiting for them to get it together.
You’re probably wondering why on Earth I would sign up for a race that I gave two stars? Quick answer… to beat my time. :) I can’t help it. I need a sub 60 min 10k. And at least I know what to expect and how to prepare. And I’m not gonna lie… finishing in the stadium is pretty legit. Who cares if its not ON the field and instead on the sidelines. The Charger girls are there and a Charger to high five. If you’re a fan, its worth it for that alone. I will never be able to be on the field otherwise. It will keep me coming back. And who knows, maybe all these reviews about lack of water will change it for 2016. One can hope!

While I felt very accomplished having finished the 10k course, this race was horrible! Extremely disorganized and not well thought out or ready to accommodate hot/​humid weather. To begin, runners were asked to line-​up at 7am to prepare for a 7:30am start time. But, the 5ker’s received the 7:30am start, which made absolutely NO SENSE. So the 10ker’s were left to stand in their stalls for more than 1 hour (if you lined up at 7:00am as it recommended) before they got a start. I was one of said people and it was a shame because I needed to use the bathroom. Sadly, I wasn’t permitted to leave my stall without a reprimand from volunteers asking runners not to climb or move the barriers.
As far as the course goes, it was nice and flat, but so boring and dry as well. Also, there were 2 water stations along the 5k course, but NONE available beyond the 1.5 mile marker that the 10k course stretched beyond. So, unless you were prepared and brought your own water to keep handy, you were dehydrated for a good portion of the race. I understand that they had no control over the weather, but it still seems reasonable to supply water throughout the entire race, not just at the beginning and end.
No bathrooms along the course until you get back to the parking lot. Don’t expect to run ONTO the field. The 50 yard line finish is actually on the side line. Also, no water at the finish and volunteers had to scramble to bring more in. I was tired after the race, but in order to exit the stadium, I still needed to climb the stairs into the stands and proceed to one of the exits there. No fun. I usually could care less about a Bud light, but I wanted to take full advantage of my registration fee. But, what do you know, there was no Bud for me after the race! Or handouts! What is this madness?!
Perks consisted of a nice Nike technical tee and the finishers medal looked super regal! They also provided high quality mid-​race shots that you were able to download for your own personal use. Parking was also plentiful and free. Only positives of this race. I believe 2015 would have been the last year for this race as the Charger’s front office is abandoning San Diego in search of more money in LA. Greedy bastards if you ask me. And those are the words of a die hard Chargers fan.

I ran the 5k last year and this year decided to run the 10k. I was so disappointed with the 10k that I’m not sure I would want to do it again. The course was flat and not a bad run but it was along the freeway on the extremely hot pavement. It ended up not being fun for any of us because of the course.
Maybe next year they can have it someplace that’s not running along the freeway and more towards the beach and just have it as a Chargers Run.
The distribution of snacks and drinks afterwards was also really bad. No one was watching any of the snack booths and people were walking off with boxes of snacks — very unorganized.

Very well organized event. I got a dozen coworkers to run the event. Most were doing their first 5k. Parking could not have been easier, obviously. The course was well marked, reasonably flat and fast. My Garmin measured it at 3.08, so it may have been a touch short.
The finish in the stadium was great. Everyone had fun. It was hot, but that is out of their control. The kids run was fine this year (both my 8 and 4-​year-​olds participated and enjoyed it).
Pictures were free! I had about 25 high-​resolution, high-​quality pictures that I could download for free a week or so after the race.
A few timing errors were corrected a day or so after the race in the official results.
If you are looking for a fun first 5k to try… this is a great one.

This is probably my least favorite run event. I’ve done others such as Geek day, hot chocolate, and froyo and all of them were fun and well organized.
It wasn’t so much as the heat that made this run unenjoyable, although it did made me soporific and lethargic, it was more that the event was not well thought out and not really organized. The run should have started 7:30am as mentioned in their website but they let 5k runners go first and then 10k runners which started 30 min after. 10k runners was getting anxious as the heat beat on us. What annoyed me most was that there were only 2 water station. There should have been a water station at the steepest part of the hill were we had to make a u-​turn.
Once we were back to the stadium there was a football player and the Charger cheerleaders greeting us which was very uplifting and it was probably more so for the kids’ run. They also served beer and sold more beer and water at a hefty price.
Overall it wasn’t such a fun run. Perks wasn’t all that great either. Got a t-​shirt and beer for it.
Parking is plentiful so no problem there and staff were friendly but if you need to ask question not all of them were in the same page. Probably will skip this run next year unless perks get better.

This race was not organized well at all! It was so hot, which they had no control over, but they had no shade options at all in the pre-​race or post-​race. Ten more easy-​ups and water at the start would have helped a lot. Especially since they had the 10k start after the 5k. This was a very silly decision, as it takes longer to run a 10k than a 5k! To address passing on the course, a simple announcement to stay to the right if you are walking or slower would have worked. The 10k participants had to wait in the sun until 8:00 to start this gruesome, dull course. At the end of it, they hand you a medal and then you need to go all the way to the other side of the field for water, and still no shade. Water first, medal second, perhaps? After the race, you had to go wait in line for your free banana, in the sun! I’ve never had to wait in line for the free stuff at the expo after a race, usually you just walk up the tables. Two thumbs waaaaaaaayyyy down for this race and how it was organized. I hope they do better next year. I won’t be there to find out.

Did the 10K this morning which was their first this year. Usually they have only a 5K. They let the 5Kers start first so the ones running twice as long had to wait until after 8:00 to start, don’t know who’s idea that was but I can tell you it wasn’t a runner. Pretty stupid. Although they could not control the weather I felt they needed more water stations as it was usually hot and very muggy. They advertised as ending on the Chargers 50 yard line and I guess I thought we would be running down the center of the field not the side lines. Had to walk to the other side before we got our water and then up the bleachers to exit and then up more stairs which was a killer for me after that run. Stood in line for some samples and hoping to get something to eat but people were grabbing empty boxes and grabbing all they could. Needless to say by the time I got up there NOTHING! How creedy and inconsiderate can people get. I just wanted something to replenish my energy.
I do a lot of races and this one was not fun at all I could hardly wait for it to end. I will take off my list for next year. Wasn’t impressed.

This was my first 5k. Very well organized and will definitely get you hooked. You finish inside of the stadium, you’ve got charger girls cheering you on, they call out your name as you’re crossing the finish line and you’re on the jumbotron. Will be going back every chance I get.

Had a good time doing this run. Easy 5K run. Well organized. Parking was easy.
Great seeing the Charger girls there at the starting line and then seeing yourself finish on the jumbotron screen inside the Q.
Oh yeah I ran this race after a quick 1 night and 1 day bachelor party trip to Las Vegas… Lol.
This year I see they are expanding the race and are offering a 10K race now with the 5K. Not sure if I’m going to run this race this year though.

Easy, compact, well-​organized 5K race. Given the Qualcomm Stadium location, there’s plenty of free parking, literally right at the start/​finish line, and there’s also plenty of space to spread out, stretch, and warm up before the race.
The course itself is a fairly easy and flat in-​and-​out loop through the neighboring office parks, and you’re rewarded at the end by a gradual descent back into the parking lot and the stadium itself. Major props to the Chargers cheerleaders for gracing the finish line, waving their pom-​poms non-​stop for an entire hour and cheering on finishers with warm smiles and congratulations!
And it’s all a good deal, too — the modest entry fee comes with a technical shirt, the usual timing support and on-​course water stations, and even free beer at the finish line. Definitely a great way to exercise off a hangover while you’re in town!

This race is fun! Good race for the whole family. We did the 5k and my 9 year old daughter did the kids fun run (half a mile). I liked the music at the starting line, well organized, the Charger cheerleaders were there, and the finish line is amazing! !! Running down into Qualcomm Stadium, onto the field and finish on the 50 yard line!!! Ryan Matthews was even at the finish line. I also respect the cause… benefitting homeless moms and kids. The medal is cool too.

We’ve been doing this run since 2011 and we’ve had a great time EVERY time. The course has changed in the past two runs so it doesn’t start at the Chargers training facility anymore, but the current course is just as fun. We love that we can involve the kids in the 5k AND the Kids Fun Run so everyone has a good time. It’s such a great feeling running onto the field and finishing on the 50 yard line. And having Ryan Matthews greeting us at the finish line tops it all off. I think we’ll make this an annual family tradition.

Run was a lot of fun and I would definitely do it again next year. Plenty of parking, it started on time, and seemed fairly well organized. We had fun running into the stadium and finishing at the fifty yard line. Ryan Mathews even high fived us. «beer garden» was kind of sad and just consisted of luke warm cans of bud light. Also, no recycling bins near the exit. There were tons of empty cans and bottles just thrown away!

07.21.13 (Well, here’s just one of many unfinished reviews sitting in my queue from our visit to San Diego back in mid July).
You see, we came down to S.D. for our niece’s 6^th birthday party. Also to watch her and her lil bro run «Bolt to the Q» kids ½ mile fun-​run that they wanted to participate in. The wife & I decided since we’re there, might as well sign up for the 5K, right? It is a cool medal & proceeds benefit Trish & Ryan Mathews «Door of Hope Chest», a program that helps homeless moms & children get a new start in life! So, there’s that.
I found that the 5K portion of the run was well organized. Start time was at 7:30 a.m., a whole 2 hrs before the kid’s fun-​run. A great MC. had the crowd going getting runners pumped up & excited. A couple dozen Chargers Cheerleaders were there for pre-​run photo ops & to cheer us on at the finish.
The 3.1 mile course started in the designated area of Qualcomm Stadium’s parking area which leads runners out of the stadium in a «not so great» neighborhood between Ward Rd. and crossing the S.D. River. Runners turn West on Camino Del Rio & do u-​turn at the 1.5 mile mark, towards the stadium. As we made our way into the last ¼ mile stretch, you can see the pack leaders running the straightaway through the parking lot & into the tunnel at the field’s entrance. The finish was on the 50-​yard line! You can actually watch yourself crossing the finish line on the big screen! Nice touch Qualcomm.
However, the finish line bottle necked & became a bit of a cluster. C’mon peeps. Grab your medal. Stop for your pic by pro-​photogs & make your way into the stands to find or wait for the rest of your party.
Before entering the stands, volunteers hand out Gatorade & bottled water. Unfortunately, by the time I made it (middle of the pack) none of the drinks were cold. The front of pack runners got all the coldies. You can see runners picking up bottles before volunteers could stick them in the ice bins. Drinking warm beverages in the middle of the summer kinda sucks balls.
It personally took all but less than 30 minutes to run the course, and knew that I’d be in front of the wifey & her sister… so, I wait & watch till I spot them. Okay, now that we’re finished… off to the Kid’s ½-​mile race.
Now what? We were unclear as to where the kid ½ mile run was to take place. The niece & nephew arrived around 9 a.m. and were outside the stadium w/​their dad (who did not participate). We ended up asking about 10 volunteers before we actually found someone who knew what they were talkin’ about. The kid’s starting line was the same as 5K, so, we obviously must leave the inside of the stadium? How do we get back in? Does my brother in-​law get to watch his kids finish? Should we run with them? WTF? HELLO? anyone? Finally we find out that we get re-​entry with claim ticket for each kid. But there are 4 adults? The bro-​in-​law and I take the re-​entry/​claim tickets back in the stadium, grab a couple beers & wait in the stands. Meanwhile, the wife & her sister decide, after running the 5K, to run the ½ mile with the kids to regain entry into the stadium. Nobody seemed to care as long as they had their bib number still attached to their shirts.
I could see my 3 y.o. nephew enter the stadium with my sis-​in-​law in tow. A Chargers’ Cheerleader grabs the nephew’s hand, which he didn’t mind at all, and crosses the finish line with him. Photo-​ops ensue & my nephew has pix with the hottest cheerleader on the squad. I have to admit, I’m a lil jelly. Not far behind I see the wifey & 6 y.o. niece cross the finish.
Yay! It was fun for the whole family. We all got FREE swag including «Bolt to the Q» running shirts. The 5K FINISHER medal was pretty sweet. The kids’ finisher medal, although plastic was cool. The kids even got their shirts signed by Edwin Baker (no longer w/​the Chargers).
I’m dropping a star off of what should be 4-​star event. The sheer confusion and non-​information of the Kids Run was stressful from the get-​go.
We’ll probably do this next year now that we know what’s up.
I’m deez® & I approve this review.

Kids Fun Run: Very disorganized. Started late, parents were left without information prior to race day as well as just minutes before the race. The WORST part was that when I signed my children up for the race it stated they would be getting a medal. My 3-​year old ran her little heart out and asked at the end why she didn’t get the medal I said she would get. My son was thrilled when he came in 2^nd place overall, yet no medal for him either. Aside from this empty promise to 250+ kids, there was nothing for them afterward either but water/​gatorade. My kids have been in several fun runs and this was by far the worst in terms of offerings for kids post race and organization. I thought the kids’ shirts should have looked like the adult ones, especially since we were running as a family, but that wasn’t a deal breaker. I honestly believe the race organizers should make good on their promise to the kids, although it should have been given as they crossed the finish line. Oh yeah, another big MINUS: parents were not allowed on the field so we could not see our kids cross the finish line or take pictures. Also, there was a grumpy volunteer yelling at parents who were attempting to go to the finish line to corral young children who may not have known what to do after crossing the line.
Adult 5K: Started 10 minutes late, which is psychologically and physically damaging to serious racers who timed their warm-​up. By the way, they were late because they were waiting for buses to arrive shuttling people that arrived late to Qualcomm, so those of us who followed the rules were punished. The shirt were all men sizes, so it will be a nightshirt for me rather than a running shirt. It was advertised that if you couldn’t make it to the pre-​race day you could get your goodie bag after the race. They were nowhere to be found race day. Also, I never saw anything but water/​gatorade for the runners, and I finished in under 30 minutes to it is not like they ran out???
One good thing: The ending! The finish line was inside the Q at the 50-​yard line with an announcer of names and the jumbotron on. That part was cool. I doubt I will do this one again, unless they make good on the problems they had this year.

This review is about the Bolt to the Q Kids Fun Run. I did not participate in the 5K but my kids ran in the Fun Run. First of all, the kids race was one of the most unorganized events I’ve ever seen. No pre-​race emails to parents with instructions for race morning. The volunteers running the kids table at the Friday packet pick up were all confused. My friend picked up her son’s race bib and received a gear bag with his shirt, but when I came to pick up bibs for my kids they told me gear bags were only for the 5k runners. Race morning, parents were wandering around Gate A wondering where to go and where the race would start. Eventually someone came out with a roll of tape and started making lines on the sidewalk and volunteers came out holding up signs but when asked none of them seemed to know anything about the kids race. The old guy with the bullhorn who was apparently announcing the race was rude and kept trying to push the kids up front back several steps while the kids and parents in the back couldn’t hear a thing and weren’t budging! And then when the kids crossed the finish line they weren’t given a race medal, as advertised on their official NFL website. The volunteer at the kids registration table that morning, when asked, also stated that all the kids would get goodie bags and medals after they crossed the finish line. Instead they were given a little rubber football and that was all. And lastly, one of the most dangerous situations I’ve ever been in with my kids was while waiting in line for an autograph from Ryan Mathews, whose charity this event was for. He was only signing for kids and security would not do anything about the hundreds of adults pushing towards the table while little kids were getting shoved and nearly trampled. It was one of most disappointing, disorganized racing events I’ve ever been to, and my family has participated in several half marathons, 5k’s and kids races. It almost felt like the kids run was just an afterthought, which I think is a big insult considering parents paid good money for their kids to participate. Reputation is everything and I think the Chargers are going to lose repeat runners in their Bolt to the Q event because of the event disorganization and false advertising from this past weekend.
An addendum to this review: I received an email response from Competitor Group, who organized this event, three days later with an apology and a request for my mailing address so they could send out the medals for my children. The medals arrived in the mail today.
«Thank you for e-​mail and for your feedback on the event. With the first time hosting this event, unforeseen challenges arose and there is no question it is disappointing that you did not have the race experience you were hoping for. For that, we sincerely apologize. While a significant amount of time was committed to planning for this event, some elements did not go according to plan on race day. Chargers branded mini footballs were distributed to all of our Bolt to the Q Kids finishers at the finish line, where they were then able to receive an autograph for a period of time following the Awards Ceremony. After speaking with the race manager, we would love to offer you medals for your children. Please reply to this e-​mail with the best address that you would like these sent to as well as the number of medals that you need. We are definitely taking all of the feedback that you have given us and will make sure that we use this information for our future planning to ensure a better experience for the future years! Please let me know if you have any further questions or concerns. Have a great day!»
I will go ahead and revise my rating from 1 star to 2 stars because they addressed my concerns and apologized but when it comes down to it, everything should have been ready on race day. They should have had those medals ready for the kids at the finish line. After all the upset comments on their Facebook page they finally decided to offer a «limited number» of finisher medals to the children. Why not automatically send it out to all the kids who were registered? It would have also been nice if there were more event day organization and communication. My family and I have participated in several half marathons, 5K’s and kids fun runs but this is the first time that I felt like we were treated like second rate citizens. It was all about the 5K and the kids race was just an after thought.

This was my first 5k & I had lots of fun! The run starts at the Charger’s training facility (Close to the freeway exit & plenty of parking when I arrived about an hour-1.5 hrs before the race time. There was a little bit of initial uphill but once you get past that, it is smooth sailing. The race was well organized and the best part was finishing by running into Qualcomm stadium! You see yourself on the jumbotron with the Charger’s cheerleaders rooting for you. Swag included a cup of beer for participants post race, orange juice, bananas & a tech tech t-​shirt which became my night shirt because they are men’s sizes. After the race buses shuttle runners back to the training facility.
Last year Marcus McNeill helped put on the event so I was able to get a picture with him! I didn’t see other Chargers players around, but being in the Q gives you some fun picture taking opportunities! Sign up for this race (even if you aren’t a runner!) and put your Charger’s jersey to good use :)