What better way to build up an appetite for thanksgiving day feast? This is a great fun and…read moreexciting run. I am shocked at how crowded this thing gets! But people wake up early, dress up and run a 5K. The sponsors usually come packed and it makes it a sight to see thousands of runners with turkey heads in the streets near the galleria.

2014 was my first year running in the Turkey Trot near the Galleria, and it was quite an…read moreexperience! They offer both a 5k and 10k race option, so depending on your level of experience you can race whatever works best. There are also wheelchair and kids specific races happening, so bring out the whole family! The course wound through the Galleria area, and the weather was perfect for running. As a first timer, I thought the instructions were a bit vague and I wish there had been a little more structure to the begining/pre-race activities. There were lots of people running in a group dressed in costumes, so if you have a couple of crazy friends grab them, get creative with the costumes, and have some fun running before stuffing yourself full of turkey later that day. Post-race activities include a few snacks for runners, photo opportunities, games and inflatable slides/obsticle courses, and a lot of great vendors to visit and get free swag. Yelp was one of hte race sponsors, and they had a booth where you could get yelp branded merch as well. Fun!

It's like the Brian O'neill's running club but different. Different in that it's on the west side…read moreof Houston, not on a fixed running trail and they serve different kind of food. Over here you start sign in at Ruggle's Green. You run almost 3.5 miles throughout the nearby neighborhood with directions that is provided to you at the start. It's better to wait for others so you can run as a group. The streets can be pretty busy so you have to be on the lookout for traffic. Here are a few basic safety guidelines to running that are applicable here since I see lots of people out there putting themselves at risk for harm: Don't wear headphones. Run against traffic so you can observe approaching automobiles. Look both ways before crossing. Carry identification or write your name, phone number, and blood type on the inside sole of your running shoe. Always stay alert and aware of what's going on around you. It seems that they offer other activities on certain weeks of the month. I think on the first of the month they have yoga afterwards and on the third week of the month they offer a crossfit program. They start having food around 7 in the form of pizza and thin slices of baguette with hummus dip but it gets eaten by everyone pretty quick.

So yes, my craze for free running clubs is noticeable since I joined ANOTHER one :)…read more This one meets at the City Center right by Ruggles Green on Monday nights at 630PM. So far, it's been decent. I think I am not in love with it yet because I am not familiar with the route (this route goes through neighborhoods). Also, it's paper sign-in as oppose to the computer check-in system at BON and Kung Fu. It also seems like they do not update the number of runs as quickly as they should because a friend of mine has ran there 7 times, but it still shows "1". I learned last week that CrossFit meets there every 3rd Monday (and it's free!) so it's something I might be interested in later. My favorite part of this running club is after the run. Since it's football season, Yardhouse have some specials going on and our group heads over for some MNF, food, and drinks :)

And another great race put on by RAS! Man, these guys know what they're doing and they do it well!…read moreIf you want a well-run race (see what I did there?) with yummy food, free beer, ice cream (because ice cream and beer before 9:00 am on the Fourth of July just screams 'Merica!), and amazing volunteers, then this is your race! I think I've written this review before. Oh yeah. For the other RAS races I've done! Easy to find, and tons of parking, and plenty of porta potties with NO line? Ok, this is starting out on the right foot! There wasn't a huge crowd, but there was enough people there to make it fun and interesting. The official photographer was walking around taking candids, which was fun. Usually I only see the photographer(s) on the course, and the end. The race went off right on time and the weather couldn't have been more perfect. The race warns you that it's not for the unprepared, as y'all know what the Fourth is like down here...hot and humid at 7 am! But this morning was overcast, with a breeze and it really felt great out there! I know we won't get that lucky every year, but I will take it when I can get it! The race is 5 miles, and pretty much an out and back, but the route is slightly different, so although you're seeing some of the same things twice, it's not exactly the same. There's plenty of water stations with water, Gatorade and cold towels, but it's not a bad idea to bring your own hydration! There's not a lot of spectators out, but there were a few, and that's always fun. The course is flat and fast, and there were people who passed us at the 1 mile mark. So yeah. It's fast if that's your thing. If not, there's plenty of slower runners, or run/walkers, or just walkers, too. Right before the end they were handing out little American flags so you could hold up your flag when you crossed the finish line! So cool! They announce your name too, which is always a thrill! The after party is just as fun, with plenty of goodies and showers, and cold water and soda and sausage on a stick. Which I didn't think sounded good, but man that protein after 5 miles was awesome! They also had free after race stretching/massages....so nice! No medals for this one though, but still worth 5-stars! If you want to celebrate your freedom with a run and some beer, then come on down next year on July 4th and join me! I'll be there!

This was my sixth time running this race and it's one of my favorites!…read more This race is exceptionally well-organized. The communication is clear, the expo is well thought out and both the start and finish lines are models of how large races should be managed. (I will note that this year they changed how you do bib pick up and that wasn't communicated clearly the day I went to the expo. Rather than going to a booth that corresponded to your bib #, you checked in with someone with a tablet and they told you which booth to go to. There were no signs directing people to the tablet folks the day I was there, so most of us just walked up to the booths corresponding to our numbers where the people had no idea what we were there for. They need to improve that next year, but I'm not going to knock them for it) There is always so much support on the course...even though it was cold this year, still a lot of people out there and that makes a huge difference when you're running. Water stations were great, signage on the course was phenomenal and you get a lot of encouragement the last two miles. Getting your finisher shirt and hot food from HEB after the race was a breeze. The finisher shirts are okay but I will say when they had Under Armour finisher shirts, those were excellent. I've already signed up for the 2020 race and I'm looking forward to it.

This was my first year to enter this run. Before it, the longest sanctioned run that I participated…read morein was a 5 miler about 30 years ago and it was at a small town spring festival with about 250 participants. Boy, is this one different!!! Registration opens the day after the event for the next year and I signed up in January of 2018. Also by registering that early the cost to do so is the lowest and increases later. Beginning last summer, the run committee starts sending out emails reminding you of your registration and to start preparing which is helpful in case you forgot. The first aspect of this run for me was the packet pick up on the Friday and Saturday before the run. The pick up is at the GRB and requires you or your proxy (limited to one) to come down and pick up your packet that contains your all important bib, run day instruction sheet, a pre run tee shirt and your large and clear gear check bag (which I decided not to use). That part I knew from emails sent from the committee and my experience went very smoothly as it was well organized. I went at noonish on Friday and experienced no delays. Also the Expo was fun to go through and see all of the vendors and their wares. The volunteers were all super friendly and said thanks many times for entering. This warm attitude was again demonstrated many, many times by the volunteers until I left the building to go home after the run was over the next day. That single trait impressed me the most. It gave such a small town feel to such a big town event. The organizers recommend that all runners be at the GRB by 5:30 a.m. the morning of the run. I arrived at 6:30 a.m. and still had plenty of time since I do very little stretching or warmups. While the GRB was full with people there was enough room to walk around, stretch and get some water or Gatorade. The lines for the many Port A Cans inside were long but moved quickly. The run begins at 7:01 a.m. and staggers the start because of the estimated 26,000+ runners. Remember that both marathoners and half marathoners are included in that total and run about the first 8 miles together before they split off. At the start line, runners are segregated into corrals (A,B,C and D) depending on how fast they expect to run. When registering you pick your corral depending on your expected speed. I know that the A and possibly B corrals require proof to be admitted. The D corral is the slowest group and the corral I was a proud member of. Like I said, the run began at 7:01 a.m. with the A corral. It was 7:48 a.m. when I finally crossed the starting line. I expected that and why I was in no hurry to arrive earlier to the GRB that morning or even leave the GRB to walk to my corral staging area when I did at 7:10 a.m. It was cold outside and the warmth of the GRB was appreciated! Remember your time begins when YOU cross the start line so if you need to go to the bathroom one last time do it before you cross the start (there are Port A Cans besides the corrals in the staging areas). The course was flat and well marked. Every mile and every 5k has a banner on the side of the road to help you know your location. After the run is over you can look online at your 5,10,15, 20k splits and finish time as the chip in your bib helps record them. I cannot say enough about how much the people of Houston support this event. All of the people cheering you on and calling you by your first name (which is on your bib), the musical acts and the funny signs were incredible. I would have loved to stop and talk to these people, take pictures of the signs, etc. but I didn't have time...lol! Also, there were plenty of drink stations and Port A Cans along the route. After the finish line, the finisher medals were handed out and then you proceed to pick up your finisher tee shirt. HEB was serving a free hot breakfast and I considered eating but the line was long and moving slowly. I estimated at least a 15 minute wait and left. After running 13.1 miles, I didn't want to stand in a line that long. In fact, with a total experience of an event that ran so smoothly from beginning to end the breakfast was the only snafu that I witnessed. In my review, I refer to this as a run not a race. That's because I wasn't racing anyone! But I did meet my goal....by 7 seconds. This was a great experience and I was proud to be a part of it.

Johnny Goyen Park is a small park located on the southwest side of the main building at UHD…read more It's where the university's sustainable garden is located. Not a bad place to sit and relax for a few. You can watch the water go by. But, there is a lot of traffic from the I-45 access road that runs by.

I was told about this run from a fellow yelper Zain R, and I was able to convince couple of other…read moreyelpies to join us, thus forming the team "Agony of De Feet". Mike M and Catheryn S were the other team members. We met at Zain's place and took an uber lift to the med center where the run was taking place. It had sprinkled in the morning, and so the roads were still damp and grass was wet. It was also somewhat of a cold morning too. We did a quick 5 min stretch, participated in the national anthem, and started the run. Since this was a nice sized crowd, we started at the back end of the crowd, giving all others to start before us. The lane was very narrow and being a wet ground, I wanted to avoid any slips/fall/injury. The first couple of minutes, I kept pace with my fellow team members, and then took my long strides and disappeared with the crowd. There was plenty of law officers directing traffic and ensuring safety of the runners. I was dashing on the side curb, avoiding running on the lane and bypassing people. There were volunteers passing out water through out the course and also at the finish line. Once I got to the finish line, it was about 15 extra minutes before the rest of my team members showed up. We all got water and took a few selfies together. We then went next door to the tents where there was some snacks to nibble on and replenish your energy. I plan on running next year at this event.

This is a 2015 update from my below post (be sure to read that for all the details. I don't want to…read morerepeat). I downgraded one star (from four stars to three stars) this year based upon some changes in the race organization. In particular, packet pick up required before the race. For those of us that live out of town, it is near impossible (and certainly not desirable) to trek downtown on a weekday to pick up a race packet. This after paying $30 or more to run. I highly recommend expanding the volunteer workforce on the morning of the race OR even offering mailed packets. I would pay $5 to not spend 2 hours driving in and out of town, finding parking, etc. This year I was on vacation during packet pick up and despite stating there were no race day pickup (and no exceptions), they were able to pass them out (and I was appreciative, but this was still a hassle). If you read my review last year, there were issues with race day pickup, but this wasn't a good fix. Also disappointed that Live Oak brewery wasn't out, instead they had some beer, but a one 8 oz can limit per runner. I know sponsorships are a two way street so this had no bearing on my star rating, but not as good. Also, change in parking, they used to offer free parking in a nearby garage, now you have to pay to park on race day (as a regular visitor to the hospital). We were early and found some free street parking, but this is another step back this year. Also a bit of a downer, no team competition this year. Neutral things: The route changed from previous year, but was more or less the same roads. Awards for age groups were not announced at the event and will be mailed, again, since I didn't win, this wasn't a big deal, might be for some. Overall Men's and Women's, overall and Masters Top 3 were announced with awards passed out. On the positive side, the pre-race tents and post-race party were MUCH better location (right near the start/finish). It was also on pavement instead of grass, leading to much less mud due to rains and lack of evaporation prevalent this time of year. Also YELP HAD A TENT THERE!!!! Thanks to Rosa and Christine for coming out with lots of SWAG. I hope they consider tents in future years, I saw a lot of people stopping by and checking in to the event due to their presence. GOOD MOVE YELP!!!! I may or may not do the race next year, depends on the packet pick up situation.

Bonham Park is my favorite place to ease the stress during hospital visits. It's just 2 blocks away…read morefrom Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital. The park has a simple walking path, grassy field and a sports court (I don't know what it is because I don't use it and never seen anyone in there). There are no parking lot and restrooms. The trees are on the streets, therefore, no shaded in the center. Bring your own picnic tables and chair for picnic. This park is also surrounded with better looking houses. Quite frankly, I like to drive around here. This park is next to James Butler Bonham Elementary School. I didn't know who he is. So I researched on this historical record: "James Bonham was a 19th-century American soldier who died at the Battle of the Alamo during the Texas Revolution. He was a second cousin of Travis and was a messenger of the Battle of the Alamo."

Last Saturday, I attended Houston's annual Dragon Boat Festival. It is usually held early May every…read moreyear. The Dragon Boat Festival and Race was away for 3 years while Allen's Landing underwent a major renovation. I was very excited to see the new structures to preserve the historic site and the nature's beauty. The water is never clear in the bayous, but the athletes were very lively paddling each dragon boat. It takes 22 people per dragon boat: 10 sitting on both sides to energize the boat; one drummer in the front provides cadence and one tiller in the back to direct the movement. It takes extreme teamwork to get it moving. The most exciting moment is to race against 2 other boats in a single heat. The festival started at 8:30 and first race at 9 am. In between races, there were entertainments on the stage, food vendors on street level and community booths along park paths. Allen's Landing provided shades under the bridges, mature trees and historic Sunset Coffee Building. A Yelper friend asked where the best place to take better photos is. I found just about everywhere near the race provided great captures. As a spectator, Dragon Boat Festival a great cultural event for the entire family. Prepare to park at a all-day one-fee parking lot, which could cost about $5 to $10 depends on distance to a major venue. I parked at my usual spot by county courthouse and avoid walking on Commerce Street. The park is pretty big. There is a staircase down to the waterside. So you need a pair of good walking shoes and sunblock. ** 7th update of 2017 **

There are so many Festivals in Houston, but I had never so much fun at one…read more Maybe, because this was the first festival that I was actually a participant instead of just an observer. So this festival consists of the actual dragon boat racing, which is done in 3 different rounds, with 3 boats per heat within the round. There are so many varieties of teams from accounting firms, to hospitals, and even churches. It's a good mix of competition but also in good fun. As far as in between the racing there is plenty of entertainment. And what's best is the whole festival is FREE. No cost to enter, nothing extra to watch the festivities, only pay for food. Now on to to the food, there were many different food vendors from banh mi to korean BBQ. As far as the performers, there was cultural dancing along with belly dancing. And to wrap up the day there was an individual along with a team ramen eating contest. Overall, a great way to spend the day.