Last year at the Howl O Sprint 5k, I had my fastest 5k in quite some time, and I thought…wow, maybe I can finally get back to some faster fitness. Located in SeaWorld, the race is a lot of fun…but it has more turns than any other race I’ve done. It’s neat because they do fit almost the whole 5k inside the park, which just makes for a fun time.
My journey to San Diego was quite the adventure. We flew down, and despite confirming a rental car for Saturday, Hertz was just closed. So we quickly got a rental with a company called “Renty,” and it ended up being ok. Then Marriott canceled our hotel room since we were the last to book, and I guess they were overbooked. After a lot of searching because so much was sold out, we were able to get a hotel in downtown San Diego. There were a lot of little things that happened that day that just made me grumpy, so I went to bed tired and not in the best mood.
The 4 am wake-up call came early, and I felt just bleh. I didn’t feel like I had a ton of energy to run, and I told myself, “Hopefully, that changes.” I tried everything to hype myself up. We arrived at the Howl O Sprint 5k race start around 6, I got my bib, and I did about a 2-mile warmup. I made it to the start, talked with friends, and before we knew it, we were off.
Howl O Sprint 5k Race:
The Howl O Sprint 5k race course has a lot of turns. You can run fast, but you are changing direction a lot, and that does not make for an easy course. The first half mile has some smoother running, and I looked down and saw I was running a 6:04 pace. I didn’t really want a repeat of the Aquarium of the Pacific, so I forced myself to slow down. I thought I had slowed down to 6:15 but ended up running 6:20. After the first mile, I found myself in second place among women, where I stayed.
From there, it was just navigating the turns. The Howl O Sprint 5k course is fairly well marked, but there was a spot where I came to a full stop because I was unsure where to go. It was fairly uneventful, and I just plugged along. I ran a 6:33 second mile, including the stop, and I was disappointed in that but just told myself, “You are doing better than last week.”
I wasn’t feeling as bad as the previous week during the last mile, so that felt like a win. We left the park around mile 2.7, and then it was just a straight shot to the finish line (with just one turn). As I crossed mile 3, I realized that my watch was not right, and I crossed the Howl O Sprint 5k finish line when my watch read 3.05 miles. Looking back, it appears to be the same course as last year, so I have to wonder if my watch didn’t pick up some of the turns well.
Howl O Sprint 5k Thoughts:
I finished the Howl O Sprint 5k as the second woman overall with a time of 19:48. Last year, I ran a 19:25. There are a lot of variables there, but I’m happy to have a strong race after what has felt like a fall of not-so-strong races. Would I have liked to PR the course? Of course and I do know I’m in that some of fitness when the stars align., so I’m hoping I can build back some fitness. The race is fun, and who doesn’t want to run in SeaWorld?
SeaWorld Howl O Sprint 5K FAQ
Where is the Howl O Sprint 5K held?
The 5K takes place at SeaWorld San Diego in California. The Halloween-themed race brings runners through the theme park, including areas decorated for the Halloween season.
Is the SeaWorld Howl O Sprint 5K course fast?
The Howl O Sprint 5K course is flat, but runners should expect plenty of sharp turns and frequent changes in direction. You can run a fast time here, although the winding course can make maintaining a consistent pace challenging.
What time does the Howl O Sprint 5K start?
In 2026, the race started at 7 am, with parking and race-day packet pickup opening at 5:30 am. Check the official race website for future schedules.
Can you walk the SeaWorld Howl O Sprint 5K?
Yes, both runners and walkers can participate in the Howl O Sprint 5K. There is also a separate 1K Kids Fun Run for children ages 12 and under.
What does Howl O Sprint 5K registration include?
Registration includes a race shirt, chip-timed bib, finisher medal, and parking. Halloween costumes are encouraged, although masks are prohibited. You do not need a separate SeaWorld admission ticket to participate in the race.
You can see Strava here and all race recaps here.
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Questions for you:
Have you ever done a race with that many turns?
What is your favorite 5k?