Ventura was my first stop for the Lexus LaceUp running series. The Palos Verdes 10k in November is…read moremy next. I did the half marathon for Ventura and it was a lot more intimate than I'm used to. There were 267 participants and I'm used to races with thousands of runners. It definitely made for a different experience. The route was beautiful for the first 4 miles with scenic views of the ocean. The remainder was along a river trail, which wasn't as nice. With not as many people, I found myself running alone the last half of the race. It was therapeutic, but at the same time, didn't feel like a real running event. It felt like an ordinary training day run. There was a point where I wasn't even sure which way to go and had to ask a pedestrian if they knew which way the race was. The post race activities was excellent! Free food from food trucks or fruit juice smoothies, beer, and good giveaways. Plus our awesome tech shirt and finisher's medal! I recommend doing this running series, but would suggest doing the shorter distances (5k or 10k).

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!!

Such a beautiful and serene place to visit. We hiked the Paramount Ranch Trailhead loop. And it was…read morespectacular! The views of this place were breathtaking. We really enjoyed our hike. This trail I would rate as moderate because you do encounter a few steep hills and let me tell you, it's a work out! I loved it, you do break a sweat. So if you enjoy a challenge and appreciate the views, this is the place for you!

Awesome spot for a walk and/or run and best of all...its dog-friendly! Had a blast with the entire…read morefamily. Did notice several small mounds of horse droppings, but hey...it's nature right? heh heh Watch your step! The trail was a bit muddy when we went last weekend since it had rained recently so keep that in mind. Other than that I'd say you are in for a treat! Pros: + Beautiful Scenery + Cool Old West Town + Church + Dog Friendly Cons: - Horse droppings on Trail Personal Notes: Great spot for Pokemon GO. Caught 5 Magmars!

I have run several of their races over the years. The Pacific Half Marathon (2012); the Old Agoura…read more10k (2013); and the Cheseboro Half Marathon (2014, 2017). The only race I haven't done is the 5k. All the races are very well organized and usually start at the exact announced time. You can usually pick up your bib and bag in the finish area but it's recommended that you arrive early. The alternative is to pick it up at the expo on Thursday or Friday before the race - that's a good option if you're local so there is less stress than if you had to pick it up the morning of. If you arrive early enough there is plenty of parking in the mall parking lots nearby but the later you arrive, the crazier it gets. There is a decent number of port-a-johns near the start area but the lines tend to get a bit long close to the start...so I would like a bit more of these. As for the races themselves, neither of them is particularly fast because each one include a significant number of hard hills or technical terrain. The Pacific Half is entirely on roads and has an almost mile-long hard climb between mile 3 and 4, and some hard rollers before and after that. Cheseboro is about half on dirt trails, with short sections of technical terrain, and a gradual climb from Mile 3 to Mile 8 (steepest part is after mile 7). Miles 9 through 13 are mostly downhill but there are still a couple of climbs that will get to your legs late in the race. The 10k has a gradual incline miles 2-3 and some hard short climbs late in the race. So unless you're new to running and or if it's your first race at the distance, don't expect big PRs on these races. However they are quite scenic and make for a great workout. One cool thing about this race: race pictures are free! Take that, LA marathon and Rock and Roll races... So why not 5 stars? Well over the years they have cut the costs regarding shirts and medals. For instance back in 2013, the Cheseboro Half runners got a very nice tech shirt designed solely for that race. The design, quality and color was very cool. This year, the shirt was generic for all races and it had the logo stuck on the shirt instead of imprinted - it makes it uncomfortable to wear it because of the fact that the logo is not directly "inside" the shirt. Also the medals are the same for all races - only difference is the necklaces.

I ran the Pacific Half Marathon this year and it was a spectacular race. The scenery all along the…read moreroad course is stunning! There are so many hidden gems along the run and the distraction really makes the time pass quickly. The course is quite challenging with lots of long, gradual uphills. I'm so happy that I did hill repeats as part of my training since I saw lots of casualties fall back. The water stations were supplied with lots of friendly, smiling volunteers and no shortage of water, electrolyte drink or energy gels. There were also lots of porta potties without lines. There were several volunteers stationed along the course cheering us on. There wasn't alot of community members out cheering like there are at bigger events but it was still a great event. The finish area at Chumash Park was bustling with excitement. I really wanted some Whole Foods pancakes after the run but the line was a good 30 minutes long. Pretty much all of the brunch food lines were long so in my need for some quick replenishment, I settled on a banana and an FRS electrolyte drink. The lines were so long because all of the different races end in the same location. Parking was a bit chaotic since my husband waited for me at the finish. Luckily we have a friend who let us have his parking spot in his condo complex so we only had a half mile walk back to the car. I'd definitely do this race again since it was so scenic and challenging and the staff were so amazing. Chip Time: 2:06:31

Santa to the Sea is a fun, festive, and very well-organized event for all ages and abilities. Takes…read moreplace in my hometown of Oxnard, CA. Race options include diaper dash, kids 1K, 5K, Quarter Marathon, Half Marathon Relay, and Half Marathon. Volunteers and crowd support are awesome and the monies raised go to wonderful local charities and scholarships. They also do a toy drive! Santa hands down is my favorite local race. Register early to get the best pricing!

I LOVE this race. I've run the 5k a couple of years in a row and did the half this year. I had such…read morea great time with my friend. If you sign up early enough you get a great price! Such a great cause to run this race. Bring an unwrapped present for an underprivileged child to be given to this Christmas. A race that focuses on giving back to the community. The course goes by SO quickly, mainly because it's mostly flat but also because you have so much of the community involved. Throughout the race we were cheered for by locals, had live bands playing and even passed by a house with people banging on their pots and pans, yeah!!! Local schools had cheering stations and plenty of water/ electrolytes stations, too. At the half way point, you're given gels, too. Japanese drummers at the half point got my blood pumping, what a way to cheer. Thank you!!! And you run feeling safe thanks to all the volunteer and Oxnard PD helping with traffic. Cool bling at the end to boot. Great job Mike Barber and rest of Santa to the Sea Committee. Can't wait to run again next year.

I'll write a more in-length review later, but for now…read more.. Super flat out-and-back course which was really nice but at the same time had some not-so-pristine moments (roadkill...stinky water treatment plant...stuff like that). THE MOST AMAZING post-race snack table ever! I mean seriously. Someone posted a picture of it, and it really deserves 6 stars. This race isn't getting 5 stars because: A) having to pay for parking (THANK YOU to the parking gate guy who worked with me when I couldn't pony up the full bill!) B) I had to pay extra to pick up my packet on the morning of. Not sure where the "VIP area" that was included in my $20 extra charge was supposed to be, but, either way I wasn't going to be able to drive from Lancaster to Ventura two days in a row to so the extra $20 was a necessary evil. C) The final mile was a mess. I'm chugging along trying to tell myself to just keep running, but the course at that point was on the beach path where people were just meandering. It was a struggle to stay in the game and keep focused while dodging strollers and random beachgoers. All in all, I might just have to do this race again next year!

Such a great course to run. Whether you're a seasoned runner or this is your first half marathon,…read morethis race is sweet. This is my second time running the Ventura half marathon, the course changed a bit to make it easier at the finished line. Now is mostly all down hill. Process of signing up is quick and easy. They are great at maintaining you in the loop on updates as the date gets closer. Parking at the fairgrounds was so close to the finish line and $5 was a steal. You get a nice shirt, medal, a bag and some protein goodies as your swag bag. Also, Nuun water and honey stinger where provided through out the run (at designated aid stations). Afterwards you can get your free breakfast ( waffles, pineapple, strawberries- just make sure they're not in your teeth before you take a picture like I did ) pretzels and beer, haha. Walk around some of the tents and visit with local businesses. Check out mile 26 for all your running everything. Photo ops, too. Get your BQ at the full marathon.

(26th Half, 2015)…read more Elite Sports, its races included in the CA Half series and featuring around Ventura County, has a challenge, the Endurance Challenge: Complete ESCA events in the same calendar year, and your rewards are... ​​** 2 Events (same Distance) Half, 5k or 10k--Custom Club tech shirt. **** 4 Events (same Distance) Half, 5k or 10k--Runner's hat, ditty bag, and water bottle. ****** 6 Events (same Distance) Half, 5k or 10k--Large gear bag with Series logo. ******* 7 Events (same Distance) Half, 5k or 10k--Special Season finale medal presented at Holly Jolly Half in December! So that's why I'm here at the Holly Jolly Half and to receive my Endurance Challenge medal, one that I've worked toward for the entire year: 1. Camarillo Half (http://www.yelp.com/biz/camarillo-marathon-camarillo?ylist=run-fatboy-run-long-beach-3) 2. West Hills Half (http://www.yelp.com/biz/west-hills-half-marathon-5k-10k-los-angeles?ylist=run-fatboy-run-long-beach-3) 3. Seaside Half (http://www.yelp.com/biz/seaside-half-marathon-5k-10k-ventura?ylist=run-fatboy-run-long-beach-3) 4. Shoreline Half (http://www.yelp.com/biz/shoreline-half-marathon-ventura?ylist=run-fatboy-run-long-beach-3) 5. Arroyo Creek Half (http://www.yelp.com/biz/arroyo-creek-half-marathon-5k-10k-simi-valley?ylist=run-fatboy-run-long-beach-3) 6. Harvest Half (which was sadly cancelled, but runners received credit for the finale medal anyway.) 7. Holly Jolly Half With the exception of the Arroyo Creek Half, all medals denoted each of the races. (Since the Halfs cost more, the coinciding medal, in my opinion, should stand on its own and not include the 5K and 10K runs.) However, the runs themselves are on the cheaper side, running about $60-$70 for the Halfs, so I just look the other way. I will say that the runs themselves aren't that entertaining, aren't as scenic as I'd like; but, again, they're easier on the wallet. If you're running the Ojai Half, though, it really is gorgeous and completely worth price. (I ran it in 2014: http://www.yelp.com/biz/ojai-half-marathon-5k-and-10k-ojai?ylist=run-fatboy-run-long-beach-3). The Endurance Challenge medal is a bit disappointing as well, anticlimactic; although the Gear Bag--received after running six events--is pretty cool. Nevertheless, Elite Sports' Halfs are included in the CA Half Series, and that's why I'd also run them, pushing myself to clear 20 Halfs for the year. All said and run, I'm unsure as to whether or not I would chase the Endurance Challenge again. I would just as soon pay a bit more for a more significant end-of-the-year series medal. (Again, Ojai would be the exception.) We'll see. Elite Sports looks as though it is growing. I'll keep my eyes open.

This race was close to home and super cheap. It was a smaller scale race, not your big advertised…read morekinda of race. Cost for the race was $45 and up until October it was still under $80 for the half marathon. Website was easy to navigate through and gave all pertinent information. Packet pickup was Saturday or on race day. You received a tech tshirt and a finishers medal for completing the race. Post race included bagels, oranges, water and electrolyte drink, awards for the top 3 in each category, awards for best costume and two food trucks (The Grilled Cheese truck and the ElaBrew Coffee truck). Course was mostly flat and included some street running and the majority was on a bike/running path. The half marathon was a two loop course, which is always a bummer. I would rather, get to one point and turn around than have to run the same course twice, looking at the same thing. The worst is getting to mile 7 and seeing the finish line and then having to run past it. UGGGGGG. Such a mind tease. Water and electrolyte stations were set up every couple miles and volunteers were always ready and friendly. Pros: -low registration fee -easy parking -cool medal -The Grilled Cheese Truck -happy volunteers -good aid stations -well organized Cons: -Wish the award categories were split up into smaller categories -2 loop course is a bummer -the paint on my medal was peeling and it had a red, white and blue ribbon....wasn't this a holiday race. Would have been better with holiday colors to match the actual holiday themed medal. -wish more people dressed up. -more spectators cheering on the runners would have been nice Would I do this one again? Maybe if they considered changing the course from a two loop to a one looper.

A good run for a great cause benefiting the Autism awareness society of Ventura county located on…read morecampus at CU Channel Island. There's a 10k, & 5k race as well as a combo run to do both the 5 & 10k course. They have awesome finisher medals & awards for the top 3 male & female finishers for each race. The run is a family friendly fun run type, but there is also some good competition with the first place male in the 10k finishing with a time around 37 minutes. There are a good amount of sponsors in the vendor/post race festival area with info about upcoming local races & local business.

Such an awesome race event for a great cause. The charity race benefits the Autism Society Ventura…read moreCounty and they host a 5K, 10K, 15K (10K + 5K), a fun K for the kids and even a virtual race! My dental office team and I participated in this year's race and it was such a well-organized and fun event. Parking was easy if you were an early bird and finding the bell tower starting line at the center of CSUCI was cake. Only difficult part was rounding up our troops lol We ran the 5K and it was pretty rigorous for me since I honestly haven't been working out hah. Surprisingly, my best time of all my 5K races was this course where it took you down to the backroads, to the parking lot and back to the grassy area of the campus. At the end, you receive your puzzle piece medal representing autism awareness, a plate of pancakes, orange slices, bananas, mini cliff bars, waters, you name it. Loved the theme of "A Hero in You" because a lot of the participants dressed up in superhero themed apparel. Lots of booths to check out and DJ music playing in the background. If you happen to have cash on you, the Shave It booth was out selling $5 shaved ice but I'm all about the free Starbucks and goodies lol