The only real difference is that the Carlsbad one is much closer to where I live, and will cost more. And Carlsbad is two weeks after the Irvine (not Huntington Beach as the title says) one. So, which one to choose?
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"If it felt good, you didn't push hard enough. It's supposed to hurt like hell." - Dean Karnazes' track coach, Ultramarathon Man
"My baby's soft and sweet, somewhere between a flower and a gun" - fiction family
At first blush, screw Carlsbad and their $60 registration fee! Unless it'll cost you that much in gas to get to Irvine. Elevation profiles? Any comments on marathon.com? Carlbad looks like better scenery. What'll the wind be like coming off the ocean for it?
The Irvine course looks like it could be boring, running through the city, next to the 405. Of course, I really don't know the area. Smog issues? (Lots of twists and turns, too.)
So, after some thought, Carlsbad.
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“Life is a headlong rush into the unknown. We can hunker down and hope nothing hits us or we can stand tall, lean into the wind and say, 'Bring it on, darlin', and don't be stingy with the jalapeños.'"
Irvine is about 50 miles farther from my home than Carlsbad, so it'd be about another $15 in gas round trip, so the entry fees will about wash. And not to mention that I wouldn't have to get up really early or get a hotel to go to Carlsbad. Reviews of Carlsbad are here:
Good target Half-Marathon?
Unless it'll cost you that much in gas to get to Irvine. Elevation profiles? Any comments on marathon.com? Carlbad looks like better scenery. What'll the wind be like coming off the ocean for it? 
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