It was a awesome and cheerful half marathon, despite the fact that it was postponed because of the…read morefires. Pasadena half it's a yearly run which helps me prepare for LAM. This year it was more ghetto as there was a running club from the valley screaming and drinking alcohol out in the open with out concern for other sober runners, but regardless, a must do run.

This race was acquired by the McCourt Foundation several years ago and became the Rose Bowl Half…read moreMarathon. Everything about the race is the same but a few logistic and planning decisions take away from the overall experience. The bib pick-up process is by far the biggest negative. They don't allow you to pick-up for others and only provide a few locations in Pasadena and Santa Monica. There's no expo so why make everyone pick up their own bib. Or why not provide more locations to make it more convenient for those who don't live in Pasadena/LA? The other complaint is that the only recognition for legacy runners (whose who've run every race since 2016) is a banner at the race. Loyalty runners (2 consecutive races) get a pin. Most other races have more substantive recognition for their loyal runners.

A run that ends with an ice cold craft beer?!?!…read more Sign me up! That's all it took when I saw the flyer for the LA River Greenway 2020 10K at Golden Road Brewery. $50 felt kinda steep for a 10K, but supporting the LA River Revitalization effort (come on LA, let's do this!!!) while running the jogging path from my old Los Feliz days and cracking a beer at the end eliminated the need to ask any more questions. To sum it up... best 10K EVER!!! I loved it. Every second. The run was pretty... starting near the zoo, the first part was along the 5 Fwy, which sucked but that's LA for ya. We then looped back on the North side of the river to finish at Golden Road Brewery. I liked the part running through the neighborhoods too... a ton of residents were out on the curb cheering us on or glaring at us to hurry up so the streets could reopen. (I do think the street closures were a little excessive... the group of runners was small, so I hope that next year they'll be able to facilitate at least one-way traffic on the route for our Angelenos.) For all the schwag lovers, you will be in heaven. Logo tech-tee with vine screenprint around the side (cute!), a pint class sporting the sponsor Waiakea Water's trademark, several energy bars, organic shampoo & conditioner samples, Golden Road Brewery wayfarer-style glasses, finisher's medal, a tallboy of Golden Road beer, Waiakea Water at the finish, and a finish festival stocked with food trucks. This year was the first year and they plan to increase the distance each year as the river revitalization progresses. I plan to participate in every one and support this effort. I can't say it enough, best 10K I've done and I hope to see even more supporters out there next year! https://www.facebook.com/greenway202010K http://www.lamayor.org/restore_the_la_river

Myself, son and friends really enjoyed ourselves today…read more I may need another 5 showers and couple bottles of shampoo and conditioner before all of this color is off of me and I'm not sure how long I'll be blowing blue color from my nose but was it all worth it??? F yes! it was :) After finally parking the car around 845A at Dodger Stadium and making our way right to the the very front of the start line to meet our team for the 9A wave, we were ready to get wild, crazy and colorful! We had an amazing morning during the run itself and the finish line party was the BEST! Packet pick up at Sports Authority in Burbank was EXTREMELY slow (I race quite often and have NEVER had to wait in a line so slow moving to pick up bibs/shirts) PARKING was a complete cluster! One of the most asinine piss poor planning disasters I've encountered in quite some time which can really take away some of the excitement leading up to the race but as soon as you are parked and out of the car - you are ready for fun, I suppose... at least we were. The course is around the stadium area, which clocked in at 2.7 miles on mine and my friends Garmin, not 3.1 - so a 5K it really is NOT but I don't think many people are concerned with this aspect since it's a Fun Run and you aren't time chipped. This race is tons of fun! As I had originally suspected, I still believe it's a great race for all ages and fitness levels. My son exclaimed "this is the most fun run I've ever done" :) All in all - I'm very glad this run came to LA! Awesome fun experience :)

First time runner of color here and now a fan! Papa Panaflex has been to a few of these and been…read morewanting me to join him in his adventures of organized fun, so there I went. Now for my organized thoughts: *Save yourself some time and pick up your race packet a day or two in advance. You get a shirt, temporary tattoos, headband, racing number, coupons, and samples. You get your medal after the race. *Bring a change of clothes and shoes for the ride home. We just brought towels and still made a mess . Also, bring some wipes! *Wear a fanny pack or jogging belt so you can take pics. I brought a baggie for my phone, but didn't use it. Too cumbersome. *Remember where you parked. It's Dodger Stadium and even though you've probably been a million times, the parking people will direct you to a section you've probably never used. Lot's of runners were wandering around looking all sorts of confused. *After each color station, grab a water bottle at the hydration stations and rinse out your mouth. Unless you like that chalky powder feeling in your mouth, you'll need to rinse and spit. *Treat yourself to Guisados down the hill once you're done!

I ran this race last year (2012) and this year (2013). In 2012, there was definitely a learning…read morecurve. They have more than made up for last year! Love the new course, prompt start time, and much better logistics. Way to go! I'm proud to say I'm a Legacy runner

First time runner of the Hollywood Half/10K/5K and can't wait to run it again next year. My Dad ran…read morethis last year and loved it so much, that he made sure Jay L and I ran it with him this time around. While the 6am start time seemed a bit early, it ended up working out just fine. If anything, it kicked off a whole weekend of justified relaxation. Okay, here are the essentials: Race kicks off at Hollywood/Highland and ends at Vine between Hollywood/Sunset, so park near the latter for a fast escape. There are plenty of metered spots, so no need to deal with overpriced lots. While there are port-a-potties around the course, buy a beverage at the McDonald's on Hollywood before the race and use the restroom in relative cleanliness and comfort. While you might get all pumped up about completing the turn onto Gower, slow your roll because that extra stretch going west will humble you. Overall, enjoy the run and take in all of the costumes. Great event and can't wait to run again next year!

I was worried exiting the freeway at 7:00 am, the parking lot looked crowded and the exit ramp had…read morea long line. I still had to pick up my race bib for the 8:00 start. No worries though. Nice race t-shirts, lots of people. Fun race I did better than I expected, I wasn't able to train the last couple of weeks. The course goes through a bubble zone and inside the stadium concourse then onto the field! Water and fruit are at the finish line and lots of game booths! Very nice race!

2021 was the 2nd time to do this one for me. I think they…read morejust held it virtually last year due to covid. The participation was smaller than in the past, and so it was easy to distance ourselves during the run. It was around the time when things just started opening up again. We did it with a group of 4, with one of the group having finished chemo so we just walked it. After running dozens of 5ks to marathons and always with an eye on my personal time, I wasn't so sure about walking it but of course it had special meaning. Walking it is fine as the participants range from serious to walkers. This year, instead of finishing around the warning track in the outfield, we ran right by the dugouts so it was great. All the volunteers were friendly and it was nice going into the entrance of Angels stadium to use the restrooms and check out the team store before and after the run. The tech shirts were nice this year. We'll be back!

My review is for the marathon:…read more What a great, small race. There were probably 200 people combined in the marathon and half marathon. The course started on the Santa Ana River Trail just outside of Riverdale Park in Anaheim and went along the trail almost until the 22 fwy. The runners turned around and came back along the same path where the half marathoners finished inside Riverdale Park and the marathoners continued along the trail until just past Yorba Linda Regional Park and then turned around to head toward the finish at Riverdale Park. There were plenty of signs directing runners where to park (at a lot adjacent to Kaiser hospital) which is great when you're not familiar with the area and it's still in the dark of early morning. There was an ample amount of porta potties at the start as well as public park restrooms (those had a longer line). They had a Don Francisco truck handing out free, hot coffee (it was chilly on race morning) and I saw some other snacks out there too at some of the sponsor tables. A girl from a local yoga studio led a 10 minute warm up stretch before we were lined up on the trail and the Star Spangled Banner was sung. The race started just a couple minutes after 7am. There were water stations at almost every mile and mile markers throughout the course. Max Muscle Enduromax was offered as the electrolyte drink at different intervals and they were handing out Clif Shots at several stations as well. There was another station handing out pretzel and orange slices as well. All of the volunteers were extremely friendly and many of them cheered when they saw an approaching runner or walker. There were lots of cyclists on the path and recreational users but there was plenty of room for everyone. The Santa Ana River Trail is really scenic with lots of foliage, Canadian Geese, birds, Egrets and mallard ducks in the water. There really wasn't any shade so a summer run along the trail would be very hot. At around mile 20 there was a great musician greeting runners. The run was really beautiful and serene but if you're someone who needs lots of spectators and likes to run in a big pack, this isn't the race for you. At around mile 22, I was all alone. I didn't see another runner behind or in front of me for atleast a mile so I enjoyed the zen of the run. I was greeted at the finish line with a couple dozen spectators cheering and was draped with a space blanket and had a medal hung around my neck by some of the friendliest volunteers with the nicest smiles. The announcer read each finisher's name and hometown as they approached the finish which always pumps me up. There was an ample amount of post race food: water, bananas, Clif Bars, homemade cookies (yum!), Martinelli's apple juice and passionfruit apple juice, and bagels. They had a local massage business giving free massages (I really wanted one but I felt guilty asking someone to rub my sweat drenched, smelly back and legs). Max Muscle was handing out samples and Yorba Linda water district gave away plastic water bottles. They were updating the results about every 15 minutes. I was 1st place female 35-40 so I earned an extra medal (sweet!) and I earned a new PR! It was a glorious day! The marathon finisher's medal was HUGE and it's soooo nice. It might be my favorite medal I've earned so far. The tech shirt was a very nice white, long sleeve with Canadian geese on the front. I'd gladly come back and run this race again next year. The race was very well organized and volunteers were wonderful! Finish time: 4:23:51

2nd year for this event. Well organized, very helpful staff and a lot of fun. This years event at…read moreapproximately 500 runners well up from last year and seems to be growing very quickly. My time was 43:12 I didn't win, but I wasn't last. So get up off the sofa and let's go, pass on the left! :-)

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.

I come to this race every year! It's a well run 5K/10K for the serious runner and ru/walkers who…read morejust want to support WeSPARK and get out in nature. The DJ plays great music and always have some sort of entertainment.

What a fun race! Emphasis on "fun" - this is without a doubt a "fun run" but if you go into it not…read moreknowing that it will take some time for you to adjust and figure that part out. The race started after 845A, which I think is extremely late for a race to begin. The original start time of 745A was pushed back an hour but communicated to all runners several days before the race which was helpful. There was a small expo and several food trucks on the back lot the morning of. Parking was free which is a total PLUS! This is one of the first races where I didn't have to pay for registration, parking at bib pick up (Sports Authority Sherman Oaks) and race day parking at the venue. Thank you weSpark and Universal - this was very much appreciated. Now, the run... I would have started the corrals differently, but I'm no race organizer. I didn't like the idea of 5k runners, 5k walkers (some with strollers) starting before 10k runners. This made it a pain in the ass! to push through walls upon walls of walkers and runners. It's also a little dangerous if you ask me because you have charging 10k runners attempting to get through the crowds and having to run around the walls of people on the sides of the road. For those of us running the 10k and needing to loop the course twice, it would have made more sense to send us out of the starting line first so slower runners and walkers were in back of us. It does take more effort to wind in and out of these people, this was the part of the race that was NOT fun. I also thought the course would be more level with one hill - oh no, to my surprise it was much more hilly than I had expected with a few down hills and a couple flat stretches. Running through the sets was really awesome as you can see from many of the awesome pics posted. I'm not a huge Universal fan but the sets were really fun! I'm honestly asking myself if I liked them more than the Disney run. The second time around the course was different, many areas gave way to open roads while there was still some heavy congestion from walkers who were still working on finishing the 5k. This race was similar to Disney in way of many participants stopping mid course and taking pictures and waiting in lines to take pictures with the entertainment. This is fine if it's what they'd like to do - I just think there should be separate lanes for runners and walkers so you don't have people coming to a dead stop in front of you while you are running. It's always discouraging to trek up hills with others walking them and huffing and puffing in front of you, some separation would be appreciated. All in all, this is a fun run for an amazing low registration price benefiting a great cancer support center in the valley. It is totally worth it to run it or walk it, if that's your thing. A great time was had even without a PR :) I did manage to come in 9th place in my age group which wasn't too bad.