Disclaimer: I received free entry to Surf City 10 as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!
I started racing competitively about 10 years ago after taking a few years off from running in high school. The way I got back into running was kind of odd. It was about a year after I graducated college and started working full-time, you know the old 9-5 routine.. I was working at an entry level position and would regularly buy lunch from the 7-11 across the street from the office. One day, as I was dressed in my business professional attire and dress shoes, I jaywalked across the street and had to run to avoid an oncoming car. And that split second of running got me back into running again. That was also the inspiration to start my running blog, here is one of my first posts. Ahh, fond memories! Read the rest of this entry »
Disclaimer: I received free entry to the Craft Classic 5K race as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!
Another 5K in the books. The San Diego Craft Classic 5K was a special race for me for a number of reasons. I used to live in that neighborhood where the race took place for about 7 years. The roads and sights were very familiar to me and brought back good and bad memories. The race itself was great, I had no issues picking up my race bib and swag the day before the race. Parking wasn’t an issue either since the race didn’t take place downtown. And I live not too far from there so I didn’t have to get up too early before the start. The course was pretty straightforward, it starts in Mira Mesa but quickly leads you north toward the Sorrento Valley area. That’s the first home we lived in when we were in college, it was a huge house for 4 people and a husky! You make a U-turn and then head back to the start. There were a few hills along the way which made the course difficult but not too crazy. I was a little sore after the run though. As you finish the race and get your medal, they had water, bananas, and some healthy fitness bars. The beer garden was a nice treat as well. As I mentioned in my race preview, the Craft Classic is all about beer (hence the name). The medal doubles as a bottle opener, the swag was an empty pint glass, and of course, all participants get free entry to the post-race beer garden. I think all races should have some type of theme, an alcohol/beer-themed race is sure to get people to register. And by the looks of the turnout, they were right!
Disclaimer: I received free entry to the Hot Chocolate race as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!
I’ve wanted to run the Hot Chocolate run for many years now. I still remember seeing this race being promoted at a race expo back in 2012, you couldn’t miss them with their large inflatable balloon taking up so much space at the expo. While a run that offered hot chocolate at the end was sweet and different, what I liked more was that they offered a really nice running jacket instead of a cheap t-shirt or finisher medal. At that time, I had collected more than enough shirts and race medals, but the jacket seemed more practical since it was something I would have been able to use much more often than a medal. I actually had the chance to run this race last year. I registered and even picked up my jacket at the race expo, but something came up and I wasn’t able to attend the race. I finally got to participate in the race this year and am glad I did. It was a very well-organized race, and I had no issues from start to finish. The course was pretty straightforward, we ran through some streets around downtown, I didn’t notice anything too scenic but it was nice that it started and finished around the same area. There were some hills throughout the course, but nothing too daunting. The chocolate was a nice treat at the end, and it was dark chocolate so I did not feel guilty eating that after the run. The Hot Chocolate Run is a great way to combine exercise and the social element of running together.
I also claimed my results on Athlinks, which is a great way to keep a historical record of all races you’ve ever run (and I’ve ran a lot of races..) It has fun info like all your personal records by distance, total races run, total miles and your Athlinks rank (I’m top 9%!) Here is a link to my Athlink.
And finally here are some photos taken before, during and after the Hot Chocolate run:
Picture this: 100 5th graders and their parents biking (single file!) 267 miles from Yuma, Arizona west to Moonlight Beach in San Diego, California in one week. Sounds like a highly unlikely and extremely difficult event to organize, let alone participate in. But this has been going on for over 25 years and I was fortunate enough to participate in the Ride Across California this year. Read the rest of this entry »
I’ve wanted to participate in the Fit Foodie 5K for quite some time. As I mentioned before, one of the reasons I run is so that I don’t have to worry (too much) about what I eat before and after. So when I learned about an event that highlights running and food, I was sold! I finally had the opportunity to run it this year and it did not disappoint. The race was very well organized and there were so many different food options, I felt like I had to go for another run afterwards!
We came a little late so had to start the race at the very back, which meant a lot of bobbing and weaving to get to the front. Usually, when that happens, I’m able to go off to the side and pass most people that way. But because the race was around Liberty Station, the race was mostly on a very narrow walking/biking path. So, I did my best to avoid running over others while trying to keep up my pace. I also have to admit that I had not been running very much before this race. So it’s not like I was in tip-top shape ready to win the race. But the atmosphere was great throughout the race and I had a really good time. Read the rest of this entry »
When people ask, ‘why do you run?’ you’ll usually get typical responses like, ‘oh I’m trying to lose weight’ or ‘I’m training to run my first marathon’ or something similar. However, my go to response is more ‘because I love to eat!’ Going as far back as high school, I still remember going out to eat with another cross country friend at a restaurant and having each of us consume the following with little to no effort: 5-6 glasses of lemonade, individual appetizers, full entrees followed by our own, very rich dessert to complete the meal. You can try and justify such a large meal by saying that we were just kids with big appetites. But I’m sure it was also due to us burning thousands of calories every week that contributed as well.
Since I started running consistently again as an adult, I would follow the same ‘run to eat’ mentality. Post long runs and post-race celebratory meals were often just as important as the run itself. I would find new restaurants and places to eat depending on where I ran. Race-cations were also planned by destinations with the best food (along with sightseeing opportunities).
So when I heard about the Fit Foodie Festival & 5K a few years ago, I was excited to participate in an event that celebrated my two favorite activities. Unfortunately, I never had the opportunity to attend, until this year. Check out the following information about the Fit Foodie Festival & 5K.. Read the rest of this entry »
Do you have a hotel of choice when you travel? If you’re a Spartan Race participant (or interested in becoming one), you may want to switch and become a Marriott Rewards member. Spartan Race has partnered up with Marriott Rewards to provide race discounts for new members. Here are some of the perks for joining Marriott Rewards and registering for an upcoming Spartan Race:
20% off races
Free VIP bag check
$5 off Spartan gear at the races
Once enrolled, points are earned when you stay at any 4,500 participating hotels around the world.
I actually had no idea how many different hotels fall under the Marriott Rewards program, here’s a quick snapshot.
Any time I talk about the Spartan Race, I always tell people that it is one of the toughest races I have competed in, but also one of the most rewarding.
There are races that happen almost every week across the country, each with their own unique differentiators (scenic course, obstacles, bands, colors, and more). Some are more popular than others. I just wanted to share one that is pretty…hip and groovy (pun intended). The Peace-Love-Run Half Marathon, 10K & 5K Run and Peace Love Yoga events take place in Mission Bay San Diego on April 1, 2017. This 60’s inspired race has distances for runners of all levels, with “go-go girls, hippie chicks, woodstock dudes, Sonny and Cher” all present.
All participants will receive a pretty cool finisher’s medal with a free shirt (tech tee for half marathon and cotton for all other distances). There is also a yoga party with a free yoga mat for all participants of that event. The run and yoga party both take place in Mission Bay, which is quite scenic and peaceful.
Wanderlust 108 is scheduled to take place again this year. I had the pleasure of experiencing the first ever mindful triathlon at NTC Park a few years ago. The idea is pretty simple, you join other like-minded folks for a 5K run (or walk), followed by a large-scale, outdoor yoga class and then wrap up your morning with a guided meditation led by the world’s top teachers.
What’s new this year is all of the other activities that will take place outside of the main events, including: AIReal Yoga™, Acro Yoga, Hooping, Walking Meditation, Photography Workshop, DJ Academy, Essential Oils 101. There’s also a picnic lunch option called the “Wanderbowl”, a hearty, Mexican inspired vegetarian meal of rice, beans, cheese, avocado and mango-lime-cilantro salsa, plus snacks and a beverage. This is a great idea for people planning to stay the whole day.
The Spring schedule for this year starts on April 1 in New Orleans and wraps up on August 12 in Calgary Canada! Check out the their website to learn more and to register for a mindful triathlon near you!
It’s been a while since I participated in a Spartan Race. But whenever people see all of the medals that I have earned throughout the years or ask me what is the most difficult/rewarding race I’ve ran, I always tell them Spartan Race…hands down!
In 2017, the Spartan Race is offering season passes for people who already know they are crazy enough to run more than one race. I guess if you know you are shooting to get that trifecta medal, then you might as well purchase this in advance. They are expected to sell out quickly, so if competing (maybe no necessarily finishing) in a Spartan Race is one of your New Year’s resolutions, then I highly recommend you check out the Spartan Race.
If you’d rather avoid dealing with the mud and heat that you will encounter in a typical Spartan Race, you should also check out the 2017 Stadium Races.
I’ve wanted to participate in the 
When people ask, ‘why do you run?’ you’ll usually get typical responses like, ‘oh I’m trying to lose weight’ or ‘I’m training to run my first marathon’ or something similar. However, my go to response is more ‘because I love to eat!’ Going as far back as high school, I still remember going out to eat with another cross country friend at a restaurant and having each of us consume the following with little to no effort: 5-6 glasses of lemonade, individual appetizers, full entrees followed by our own, very rich dessert to complete the meal. You can try and justify such a large meal by saying that we were just kids with big appetites. But I’m sure it was also due to us burning thousands of calories every week that contributed as well.
There are races that happen almost every week across the country, each with their own unique differentiators (
