Renegade Race Series' Triathlon​ and Duathlon, understandably, is the major draw--including a…read more1/2-mile swim, a 17K bike ride, and a 5k run--but, for me, upon this trip, I'd only run. One of these days soon, I'd expect that I'll also compete in the Tri: it looks like a lot of fun, and it's very popular, among competitors and spectators alike! If you've been to Catalina, you already know how beautiful it is. And getting there--we took the Catalina Express (about an hour's ride time from Long Beach)--makes this event even more of an adventure. In running simply the 5K, you'll not need much, a backpack maybe. There's no gear check, but there's plenty of locker space upon the docks. The race itself affords some beautifully scenic views. It climbs quickly, but it's not a problem. It's residential, for the most part, not really​ a trail run, so keep that in mind if you're wondering what shoes to take along. The Tri begins first, so runners get a chance to watch before the 5K starts. And, as it did for me, in watching the fun of the Tri, you'll regret having only decided to run. You'll, instead, wish you'd registered for more, your wetsuit and bike in tow.

It has been a pleasure to be a part of the team since the beginning, and it has been great to…read morealways see the filmmakers be proud of the competition of films. Volunteering for this festival has been a great experience! Can't wait to celebrate the 10th anniversary in 2020!

I used to participate every year when there was still a marathon and the race started and ended at…read morethe Point Fermin Lighthouse. I returned in 2018 because it was now part of the Lexus LaceUp Running Series. Currently, the distances that they offer are 5k, 10k, and half marathon. I ran the half marathon. The race now starts and ends at the Pelican Cove Park just West of the Terranea Resort. *Parking* For parking, they have 3 locations: Rancho Palos Verdes City Hall, Salvation Army College, and Point Vicente Interpretive Center. Each of the locations are close enough to walk, but they'll have shuttles going around to pick-up and drop-off people. *Course* It was beautiful and just as hilly as I remembered it to be! Most of course was kept in the residential area about a stone's throw from the ocean just off of the main Palos Verdes Dr. Be sure to do your hill training or else be prepared to suffer! They even have a short steep section just after mile 10 that was a timed hill challenge. The fastest male and female will each win $500. Overall it was a well organized race. Although the race had a few quirks such as confusing separate starting lines, I liked the improvements that they've made with this race. The packet pick-up was quick and they had plenty of portapotties. Gear check was a bit chaotic as they were swamped with runners dropping off bags all at the same time. One of the bright spots with these Lexus LaceUp races was the post race food from the food trucks! That was some good quality food all included in your race registration!

If you are a new half marathon runner don't do this one first :) if you want to run a marathon or…read morehalf marathon thats a little more challenging this is for you! I ran the 2010 event, it was my third half marathon ever. I will do it again next year. It's gorgeous, my bum and legs are still feeling the hills. They had yummy coffee and fruit at the start and finsh, and it had a very intimate feel. The parking was a bitch. The restroom line was long. That didn't matter though because i loved the run! Must add this to your run list. See you there in 2011!

This race was truly amazing. We went as a bachelorette party for my sister's upcoming wedding. It…read morewas such a fun yet challenging experience that really bonded us as a group. You really have no idea how the race is going to end until it ends. Without giving too much information, our group was 15 minutes behind at one point and then ended up winning the entire race by three minutes. We didn't even realize we won until the very end when Bob announced penalties (he'll discuss this before the race starts.) So if you're looking for a truly great experience - then you need to check this out!!!

I know there is a Yelp for the Amazing Race Los Angeles...but need Amazing Santa Monica Race…read moredeserves it's on little piece of History... How do you describe spending your hard earned money on something that will drive you insane? yelling at others? pissing you off? making you run all around town? talking to strangers...? having people asking you what you are doing.....having a MIME Touch you as your running around in Venice Beach and you !@??#$!# at him...not knowing who he is...or your teamate telling one of the people giving you clues listen here we are really busy right now looking for a clue we can't help you! That was all part of the Amazing Santa Monica Race...that took just about a grueling 5 hours to compete....during the process you don't know what to expect... Bob was a great host, comedian, commentator, etc.... The only downside is the Santa Monica version is pretty new so we didn't have a ton of groups competing...positive side our team wins a medal cuz not enough groups are competing!! Okay 2nd isn't 1st...so I'm still upset! Try it...it's tons of fun!

The 119th annual Hungtington Beach 4th of July Block Party will run from Friday June 30th - Tuesday…read moreJuly 4th 2023. The very first celebration was started way back in 1904, just a few years before the city became incorporated. And since then, this holiday weekend event brings about 1/2 million guests to the party from all around OC, and LA. The first day starts off with a band staged at the corner of Main Street and PCH. This section of the street will be blocked off, with signs along the intersecting streets alerting more street closures in the following days. Over the weekend there will be a parade, a 5K run and the fireworks show on the 4th of course. There will be lots of venders and food trucks, and then the bands. It's definitely a great way to celebrate the 4th at this beach block party.

Got this run through zozi ..thanks for the active life and cheaper runs…read more No fee for parking. Score!!! Pretty easy packet pickup. Look up your number sign and go. Was able to exchange my tech shirt for a smaller size. The 'packet' pickup was a breeze. So cool!!!! :) Can't wait for tonight. 3.1 miles of glowing madness, a huge screen, and edc like type of music? Sign me up again! The only thing is that - if you're a walker - can we stay in a single file so people can pass through? There were places where it was easy to pass and not have to say excuse me, then there were the trail parts where walkers were blocking people. AND there should be a wave for runners, joggers, woggers (walk/jog) and walkers. There were people who were just walkers, which is fine. :) Just be courteous of those behind ya that want to jog :)

What a fun way to gather a group of friends and RUN for 3.1 miles!! The Firefly Run is truly unique…read morein the sense that it's occurs at night, there's fun & motivating electronic music playing all night, and runners are dressed like fireflies! No really....there are runners that are dressed in wings, glow-in-the-dark necklaces, bracelets, wigs, neon this and neon that. It's a party run!!! Hosted at the Home Depot Center in the city of Carson, for my first 5K, this was very exciting! The entire event was extremely organized. From the parking attendants, to finding your name, filling out waivers, getting your bib number, free t-shirt, and all other materials that you may have bought. There were plenty of visible volunteers that were more than eager to help you out in case you were blinded by all the neon lights and giant LED screen....Anyways....Pre-Registration occurred online but if you wanted to register that night, there was an area designated for that. The course starts in the parking lot and guides you all around the Home Depot Center. The highlight of it all was being able to run through the stadium where the LA Galaxy play. The light shines down on the field and kind of created this magical ambience. Many runners stopped to take Instagram selfies. After all the runners cross the finish line, the fun doesn't stop there. There's a costume contest that's actually pretty cool because you get to see all the creative and kooky things that people come up with. Prize was a Go Pro!!! What am I going to dress up as next Firefly Run?????? The ONLY thing that sucked was the food vendors ripping you off after the run. TEN DOLLARS for 3 tacos and a soda??? TEN DOLLARS for a small tray of carne asada fries??? I'd rather load up on 10 bananas that they pass out for free after you cross the finish line!!! Other than that, I had the most fun running with my Team Scrambled Legs. I got the best of everything...a good run, good music, good company. A great way to spend a Friday night. When's the next 5K? Sign me up!!!!

Bottom Line: An awesome triathlon…read more I have had the chance to participate in this event a few times now and it was bigger than I thought it was going to be. Very professionally run but still relatively casual and fun. The venues for all three portions is awesome. The bike leg is longer than most other Tri's that I have done so it definitely benefits bikers, at least for the sprint. Great expo afterwards, lots of community support... I highly recommend this event!!

From the owner: Carpinteria is a beautiful beach town on the Central Coast located between Santa Barbara and…read moreVentura. The Carpinteria Beach, known as the "World's Safest Beach," is very special and has been rated the #1 swimming beach in California, due mostly to its Southern exposure and its protection by the Channel Islands. Swimmers will usually enjoy small surf and the absence of riptides at our unique beach. The bike course, an open course and large loop, travels along the foothills offering some spectacular ocean views. Both the olympic and sprint courses offer the participant a challenging ride, although the sprint course is also very well suited for the novice triathlete. The run course, also an open course, winds through some quaint Carpinteria neighborhoods and is mostly a flat loop course. The Carpinteria Triathlon is a benefit event for the City's Parks & Recreation youth programs. Proceeds will help to provide scholarships and additional equipment for programs such as Junior Lifeguards and our ocean recreation programs. This event is USA Triathlon Sanctioned.

If you've run Huntington Beach at all, you know the drill, I'm sure: you'll be running along the…read morebeach's pedestrian/bike path, so you'll be sharing the road. And that's cool. I mean, part of the fun in running at the beach is the social aspect: there are a lot of strollers, walkers, surfers, joggers, other runners, beachcombers, kids, and bicyclists. Everyone's outside enjoying the sunshine, making for a great day at the beach. Running the Tiki Beach 5k or 10k, the ocean breeze in your hair, is great fun and a perfect opportunity to get some exercise. There are grass skirts that you can add-on to your registration fee for $5 (or you can bring one of your own.) There are Tiki Beach shirts included in your registration, and a great-looking tiki medal is awarded to all finishers! Get off your couch! =]

I've run almost the same route for another race, but I would say Caren Ware Events blew that other…read moreone out of the water! Super organized & filled with lots of activity, vendors, energizing warm up, & an awesome banana pancake breakfast! Part of the reason I started running is because of the running community and organizations that put together these fun events that benefit such great causes. Free parking off of Warner & PCH if you arrive before 6:30 AM (beach parking) or right at 7am in the lot right behind Jack in the Box. Will definitely run another CWE race in the future!

Just when we were in the swing of having them back, they're gone again. With the upcoming…read moreconstruction, it was announced there were not going to be anymore races for the foreseeable future here on the West Coast. This was the last race on Feb1 as the 5k and 10k took place the prior days. From what I gather from others, this can take many years to come back. I believe this was a new half marathon course at least new to me since the Star Wars Half days. This course was very refreshing, the stretch of it on Anaheim Blvd, running past the Packing District and the Ducks ice rink. The good thing about the "out and back" parts is seeing if you can spot the "balloon ladies" if it's a concern or maybe friends who run at a different pace or checking out their fits. I appreciated the DJ's and bands out there. They brought the energy! Everything was just so cute with the "It's a Small World Theme" but maybe I'm biased because I happen to love the color purple as in the bib, medal, and long sleeve tech t-shirt. It delighted me to see several runners dressed in this theme because I'm not creative enough to assemble my own costumes. PhotoPass photo opportunities were inside the park and some at the reunion area. These digital photos are included in registration and show up in the app same day. I must say the finish line replica photo op in the reunion area was a time consumer in the hot sun. Powerade was the electrolytes on course. I was wondering how they were able to get the taste and concentration consistent to realize they were being poured from the plastic bottles. Not too much to sample or any freebies at the expo if you compare that with other major race expos. The post-run snacks are not much nor memorable unless you count that nacho-like cheese from the box. IYKYK Yes, you pay a pretty penny just to participate but only you put a value on this experience. I would say if you're a Disney fan and have the means, to just do it one time for the experience but that dream has run out luck on this coast for now.

I did it :D my first half marathon, and I couldn't have picked a more magical way to do it than…read moreRunDisney's Halloween weekend at Disneyland Most of my training happened on the treadmill, which honestly taught me a lot about consistency and mental endurance. I followed the official RunDisney training program from their website and trusted the process--even when life was busy and motivation was low. Race morning was early (very early), but the energy, costumes, music, and Disney magic made every mile worth it. Running through Disneyland in the dark, then heading outside the parks with rolling hills, the heat that I did not prepare for was challenging--but unforgettable. These are the things that really helped me: 1. Enlist a buddy to do it with you. I somehow managed to persuade my oldest son to come with his mama. My son who is in his prime, who at the time just came back from officer training school (boot camp). He was jumping, singing, running circles around me during the race, yelling out motivational pep talks. It was kinda annoying and motivating at the same time. 2. Use the free pacers There are multiple pacing groups, and sticking with one helps you stay calm, consistent, and confident. It really helped to see a whole group pushing through. Being next them reminded me about Dory..."Just keep swimming... Just keep running!" 3. Arrive early + move up in your corral We arrived around 4:15 AM, which gave us time to settle in and get closer to the front of the corral--huge stress reducer. 4. Stay close to the start line if possible We stayed at a hotel near the start, walked over, and later met my hubby near the mall. Less logistics = less stress. 5. Go to the Expo on Day 1 Exclusive merch sells out fast (RIP glow-in-the-dark shoes). The expo is free, fun, and has lots of freebies. Pro tip: go again on the last day for sales. 6. Practice in your costume This is non-negotiable. What feels cute for 10 minutes may not feel cute at mile 9. I practiced in my Ursula costume a handful of times. I saw people ditching parts of their costumes. 7. Hydration is covered Water and electrolytes are provided on course. I didn't need to carry water, but some people prefer to--do what works for you. 8, Know the course You start inside Disneyland, then head outside the parks where the hills show up. Save your energy for those miles. 9. Pictures Make sure your number is visible. Photos come free with it. There a a good number of photo opp in the parks. Unfortunately we couldn't stop since we were the last coral. So we did "passing" video shots. You should practice doing this. 10. Volunteers The volunteers outside of Disney were awesome! Seeing the signs, hearing the encouragement, and grabbing the sweets helped a ton. Soak it in and it will keep you motivated I discovered that I hate running long distance. At the same time I also realized I like doing it at Disney and after the race I told my son lets do the Dopey Challenge next. Where you run the 5k, 10 k and half marathon all in the same weekend. Of course my sweet son replied, "sure thing mom as long as your paying." This race reminded me that you don't have to be perfect--you just have to..... "just keep running, just keep running, running....running". If you're thinking about doing a RunDisney race, especially your first half marathon, do it. Train smart, trust the plan, and soak in every magical mile.