The Laguna Hills Memorial Day 5k 10k Half Marathon is held annually to honor the United States…read moreMarine Corps Dark Horse Battalion. I believe this was the 18th year! You can definitely see how excited everyone was about it in Laguna Hills. This was the first year I signed up with my cousin and our friends and we definitely want to make it our annual tradition. The weekend before the event, we had the option to pick up our registration packets at Road Runner between 11am and 4pm. I came by early on Saturday to look at the merchandise at Road Runner but their worker bees were very rude in telling me I was too early. Their loss because I was going to buy a bunch of stuff. The volunteers for the event was nice though. They were very quick and helpful with the id check and waivers. We got our bibs and tshirts for the race. These bibs are fancy with gps chips implanted to help you track your time and probably so you don't cheat off the path. On the day of the event we were all awake nice and early and we lined up at the start line before 7am. The event was a bit disorganized in the aspect that the runners and walkers were all in one group making it very difficult to weave through and cut off the slower crowds. The route was blocked off by local police and there were plenty of non participates cheering on the whole time. Everyone showed their love for America with their Red, White and Blue. Before we knew it we were at the finish line!! Woo hoo!! It felt amazing!! We even got medals for our hard work!! Yayyyyyy!! After the finish line, there were many volunteers passing out water, protein water, juice, bananas and oranges. There were many event booths set up for the participants to enjoy after their hard work. There was a shuttle to take us back to the start point, but my cousin and I wanted extra fitbit steps so we passed on the shuttle and walked back to the car. It was so much fun!!

So coming into this race I didn't know much about the meaning of this race. I knew it was for…read moreMemorial Day. And that was plenty for me. Having lost friends and family in service. It means more to me than just another shopping day. So running with them in mind was deep enough for me. I'll be honest. I had not ran prior to this 5k since hurting my knee again. But I felt good. Probably since I had just walked 5 miles two days prior. I was going to do the 10k. But reality kicked in. It's in Laguna Hills. Hills being the key word. So I went with the 5k. I registered late. Not sure if I was the last to register online. Since there was only about 5 mins left when I registered. I was waiting for the confirmation email to come in. I showed up at 5:50. Since I needed to get my bib number and shirt. And check in. I want sure if they would have me on the list or even have a tshirt for me. But they did. And I registered just 5 1/2 hours prior to check in on the day of the race. I was shocked. I was ready with my phone out with the confirming email and all. But all they needed was my id and my signed form release. Just incase. I got my bib number and moved down to get my shirt. Which I wore proud. There were numbers of volunteers. Young and old. The kid who gave me my shirt might have been 9-10 years old. But he knew his job great. He saw the corner of my bib and said he gets an xl shirt. And handed it to me. Then he tore the corner off. The start line was a bit sketchy. Everyone lined up together. 5k 10k half marathon. So when we took off it was hard to maneuver around slower people. Or it was hard for people to maneuver around me. The race was great. There were people lined at the edge of the road cheering you on and waving American flags. It was very patriotic. There was water stations along the route. They had police blocking the road we running on. It was a great race. Fun and a great cause. This race Honors the US Marine Corp Dark Horse Battalion. A battalion that was ambushed in Afghanistan. I talks about how survivors made it and how the hero who gave all for his fellow brothers in arms. They have a grand marshal every year. Honoring a fellow vet. A survivor. The family of members were there. And I saw many service men running and veterans running for friends they lost. Also family members who lost. It was bitter sweet as people rolled into the finish line. Most people waited as the last runners came in. People cheering strangers on. It was great. The end of the race had many volunteers again giving you water your medal fruit and directing you in the right direction. They even had a dinosaur roaming around. The race ended at Fosil park. There were many different booths. They a humvee they had soldiers Demonstrating their guns riffles. You could climb up on their vehicle. You could see that war is not a game. It's real life. There were many other booths. Some with lots of free goodies. Others promoting other races in the future months to come. One of the booth/stage they honored the fallen service men and had a bagpiper playing. Though there was still racers coming in. It was very thoughtful and well taken in. I was very happy I had ran the race and proud to have been a Part of this. I will comeback and run it again. Last few items. There was a kid race and diaper dash. Which ended up being great. A must see. Check out my video on that. 2 toddlers battling it out to the finish line. Also they had buses running back and forth to take you back to the Laguna Hills Mall where we started from. I really want to thank all that helped put this on and all the service men and women that are out there everyday. And mainly those that stayed behind. For others to go home. Always remember that Freedom isn't Free.

First off... Thanks Shanon Y for inviting and having me to be your partner and letting me…read moreexperience this Color Run for the first time! Parking was crazy...Jammed pack from exiting the freeway and entering the parking lot. Funny thing is that there's no handicap parking even if you have the handicap sign. Despite the parking, I'd always wanted to experience a 5k run, however, I never thought my first would be almost everyone 'walking' when it's suppose to be 'The Color RUN'. There were blue, yellow, pink, purple and orange station (let's hope I did not forget a color) but as we went through each, some were 'running' out of color to throw because they were running low so had to use the time to 'refill'. So much for being covered with all the colors. Good thing was that there was a water station. The volunteers handed us the water as we pass by. The ONLY good thing about the run was the after party. We were pretty hyped up for that instead. Covered in lots of color. Barrels of colors were being switched so all the people can throw it everywhere. The after party was poppin! NOTE: You will def. get DIRTY. If you are planning to bring your phone, best to keep it in a Ziploc bag. AND bring extra clothes and baby wipes to clean yourself up before you enter your or someone's car. Trust me, you will thank me. Will have to see if I'll experience it again. It WAS a bit disappointing with the non running and running out of color at some stations.

Review for The Color Run SoCal 2013 held on Saturday May 11, 2013…read more BREAKDOWN: Wait long to get into parking, long walk into event, start line is always letting people go in waves, walk, walk, walk, get splashed with powder, walk, walk, smell manure, walk, get splashed with yellow powder, take pictures with your camera phones, walk, water station!! walk, get splashed with orange powder, walk, walk, walk, get splashed with pink powder, walk, you can see the finish line! Walk, wog, jog, wog some more, finish line!!! yaaay. Now what? OH! There's a DJ playing some fun tunes, they throw out colored powder packets, then everyone throws them into the air. Get freebies, go to the merchandise store, take pictures, more pictures, high five your friends, get a free air blow to get some of the dust off, and begin the trek back to you car. By the way, please take notice of a clear landmark. By the time you begin to go back to your car, cars are gone and there are lines of cars leaving and things don't look the same. The most important thing you must know about this event held at The Great Orange Park: GET THERE EARLY!!!!!!!! I cannot stress that enough! I exited the freeway around 7:15 and it took me about an hour to get into the parking lot, then another 20-30 minutes to get into the event to get to the start line. Granted, The Color Run (which I will know abbreviate as TCR) has groups go in waves, so it's ok if you're late, but if you're meeting up with friends (like I was) it's not too cool to make them wait so long for you. Plus it's frustrating to be sitting in your car trying to get in. In the meantime, make a party of it in your car. Play some upbeat music, take selfies, and just hurry up and wait. Now, as for the event itself, don't expect it to be some hardcore, awesome race. This isn't the L.A. Marathon or a 10K. It's a flippin 5K and the whole point is to have some fun with friends and get doused with colored powder. There's music going on, give-aways (I'm still upset I didn't get my free Victoria's Secret color run drawstring sack :( but I'm sure someone has to be selling one on Ebay!), TCR store, etc. Portapotty's weren't too disgusting, or maybe I just got lucky. As for the location itself, it's next to a manure plant. Yes. Manure. So during certain portions of the 5K, you got a lovely whiff of processed cow dung. Kinda gross. Also the park itself looks like an abandoned air field. The view was not scenic at all. I felt at times like I was on a march versus a fun event. It's out in the open and there isn't much to look at except each other or others running by. Thankfully I was with a large fun group and we kept it interesting. A 5K isn't too bad, but if you know you're not a fit person or the most walking you do is from your couch to the bathroom, then be prepared. You might get tired. But it's doable. I saw a woman with lymphatic condition (he legs were extremely huge) and she did it! I saw people in wheelchairs too. Lots of people went the extra mile and dressed up, wore tutus, rocked a few wigs, some wore coordinated outfits and accessories. I saw people of all ages, both genders, groups, couples, families with kids and some with babies (why?? I don't know.) I had fun. I definitely recommend going with friends. You don't have to run it, as with most 5 Ks. Running is optional. The majority walked TCR. When we saw people running, I asked "Where are they running to??" I registered early and made a team, so we all got in on the fun for $30 ! Not too shabby. I was able to pick up my entire team's packets two days before the race. Each packet came with a color run t-shirt, a bib, safety pins, a wristband, color run tattoo, directions, a colored powder packet. I would definitely do TCR again! I had a great time and so did all my friends. Next time I'll leave at 5:30 though HAHA. TIPS FOR ANY COLOR RUN: - bring your shades even if it looks cloudy - bring sunblock even if it looks cloudy - bring a slim fanny pack or drawstring sack for your stuff or leave your things at their check-in locker area - bring a large towel to sit on because the color WILL get on your cars interior (unless you really could care less!) - bring some sandals to slip on for the drive home - bring some all purpose wipes or baby wipes to clean up - bring a snack for the drive home or the long wait to get out of the parking lot

Every fourth Thursday, from February to November, Road Runner Sports in Laguna Hills hosts its…read moreexciting Adventure Runs! Up to 12 mapped checkpoints in the surrounding area are revealed at the moment the scavenger hunt begins, each offering free raffle tickets to those who check-in. But you've got to be quick! You've only an hour's time to hustle through as many checkpoints as possible before heading back to Road Runner Sports for the free raffle. Over $3000 worth of prizes await you, so scoring as many tickets as you can greatly increases your odds. And if you purchase an Adventure Run tech shirt, you'll snag double the raffle tickets at each checkpoint! Some of the checkpoints may be a couple miles away, but hitting them, as opposed to some of the closer checkpoints, awards greater numbers of tickets; so you'll have to map out your run. Wearing our shirts to double our prize, we scored double the tickets each at Slaters 50/50, the "Wonder of Dinosaurs" (inside the Laguna Hills Mall), and at El Toro Park. (By the way, checking-in on Facebook prior to the race reveals the hidden check-in: on this day, it was to find the walking banana; but you had to also be wearing NewBalance!) Anyway, plotting our course on-the-go worked out for us, as we won--yet again--three prizes, sadly not a free pair of running shoes, but there's always next time!) I mean, seriously, who wouldn't run a few quick miles for a new pair of NewBalances. Am I wrong? Sound like fun? It is! Register online: adventurerun.com. Oh...did I mention the free beer?

The Adventure Run by Roadrunner Sports is every 4th Thursday of the month. They set up a little…read morerunners village in the parking lot and you go inside to check-in even if you pre-registered online. This month they unveiled a new RFID bracelet system that makes checking into spots along the map easier. Maps with checkpoints are emailed prior to the event so you can plan out your route. There are different checkpoints each month! Some checkpoints offer drinks or snacks so it's worth it to try to make it to each one. Last night there were 8 checkpoints and you can go at your own pace. I made it to 4 before running back to the starting point. You don't need to make it to every checkpoint but each checkpoint is worth a number of raffle tickets. You need to finish your run in an hour and make it back to the start in order to scan your bracelet and pick up your free beer. Last night's beer sponsor was Green Flash Brewing company and they had a grapefruit IPA and passion fruit beer on tap. If you buy an Adventure Run shirt, you get double the amount of tickets with each check-in. If you attend 3, 5, 7 Adventure Runs in a year, you get a small prize. Last night's prize was an Adventure Run mason jar mug. In the runners village, they have vendors serving snacks, drinks, and wares for you to try. You can even test-run shoes. Last night's shoe sponsor was Adidas. The cool raffle prizes at the end range from: free entry into local races, free shoes, free snacks, free drinks, free mugs, free water bottles, and free services from the checkpoint sponsors. You must be present to win. If you plan on waiting around afterwards, they have an after-party with even more raffle prizes at a local restaurant; last night they held it at CPK. Definitely bring a jacket since it cools down considerably after the sun goes down. I saw someone hanker down in the beer garden with a Tommy Bahama chair and blanket. This event is definitely fun whether you're a seasoned runner or just starting out. It's great for families too since it's open to all ages. There was a big turnout last night too. It's offered from April through October on the 4th Thursday of the month.

I ran for froyo! My friends and I thought it would be a fun race to do. For about ~$40, we ran…read morethe Froyo 10K in OC. It was held at Irvine Meadows which is really close to my neck of the woods. We checked in to receive our race bib, Dry-fit hat, and Froyo race sunglasses on the day of the race. Parking was $10 per car and carpooling was encouraged. We could have checked in a little later but it was fine to wake up bright and early to get our blood pumping for a run. The 10K started at 7:45 am and the 5K started at 9 am. Check-in started at 6:45 am for the 10K. My boyfriend and I arrived around 6:50 am and parked. The course was supposed to be mostly flat but there were a few decent hills on race day. It was a different course than on the website. Instead of mapping it out so it wasn't boring for the 10K runners, we ended up repeating the 5K course. Don't get me wrong, it was a decent run but the course was a) longer than 10K, b) boring because we ended up running the exact same lap over again, and c) they did a bad job of coning off the street when there was a car coming down the race course, albeit slowly with hazards on. There was plenty of water along the race course which I'm sure everyone was grateful for and there were porta-potties at the beginning of the course. In the middle of the race and at the end, we got to run through water misters, which would have been ideal had it been warmer out but because it was cool and overcast, it wasn't necessary. We finished under the finisher arches, handed a medal in the shape of a spoon, and given a bottle of water. Then we made our way over to the frozen yogurt area, you are given a choice of one flavor of yogurt and up to three toppings. I opted for the original tart with granola, almonds, and Oreo crumbles. They held a short recognition ceremony for the overall fastest runners and the first runners in each age group, giving out golden spoons to the qualifiers. Overall, it was a great way to start the weekend! 3.5 stars.

El Toro makes for a beautiful run!…read more Tour Del Toro, organized by the Boys & Girls Club Program in Lake Forest, welcomes cyclists, runners, and walkers alike to participate in either a 25-mile/50-mile ride or a 5k/10k Run, each race just as colorfully scenic as the others. Touring through the heart of South Orange County, each course winds not only through the neighboring hills and canyons, but in and around the Lake Forest Sports Park & Recreation Center as well. Including 57 acres devoted for active use and 30 acres for passive use and open space, the Sports Park, standing as the Tour's start and finish. really is amazing--heavily populated and fully appreciated by its residents. I'd won a free 5K run from Road Runner Sports' Adventure Run, and although I really enjoyed the 5K, I would definitely opt for an extra 3 miles and run the 10K next year instead. The 10K's course, which at first ran through the Sports Park, also headed toward the hills, just a bit north. On such a beautifully sunny day as this, extending my run into the green would have made for an even better trek. But, again, this run entirely supports the Boys & Girls Club in Lake Forest; I'm always on board for something like that. It's always fun to step outside and get some exercise, and when doing so helps kids, applause is in order. Great job, Tour Del Toro! See you next year!

A great event with something for everyone. This year I wasn't in the best shape, so I opted for the…read more5k walk/run. A nice course around the sports park, finishing with a fun expo that included a bicycle safety rodeo for the kids, and an indi race car (which my son thought was pretty cool!). The year prior I did the 25 mile bike ride, which was a nice, challenging ride. From what I was told the 50 mile course was fun this year, and the more difficult 50 mile course was exceptional for those advanced riders looking for a real test of fitness and stamina. I wish I could have done the 10k this year, heard the trail into the hills was a welcomed change-up from most courses in the OC area, which are typically dominated by concrete and pavement. I will say it's definitely a newer event, so the only downside is that they are building up participant numbers. If you are looking for an event with huge crowds, this isn't for you. But if you're looking for a day outside for the whole family and all fitness levels, then Tour del Toro is an event I would definitely come out for. And I'm always down to support the Boys and Girls Club.

Beautifully done! Our community treasures the Nightmare…read moreBefore Christmas House. Today I had the wonderful opportunity conversing with the homeowner again he loves to share how he made each individual character from common items, such as washtubs, potato sacks, Water cans, etc. He mentioned that he does it for the community, especially the children. Furthermore, I found out today that as we grow closer to Christmas / winter holiday the outdoor decorations transitions/change into more of a Christmas theme (as the movie itself does) And as we get closer to December 25, he's going to put up a Christmas tree, and then the stockings! I love slowly driving by here, especially with a passenger, who's never seen the house before and is shocked at how beautifully done it is! In conclusion, we give Much thanks to the homeowner and the neighborhood for having this heartfelt display for all to enjoy !

Our family of six first learned about this truly amazing holiday spectacle right here in Orange…read moreCounty. For years we hoped to stop by, but life kept getting busy and we never quite made it--until now. On our very first visit, we were lucky enough to meet the homeowners themselves. They generously walked our four kids through each creation and section, encouraging them to ask questions and even sharing their own favorite parts of the movie that inspired it all. Watching our kids light up during that interaction made the experience even more special. What makes this display even more incredible is knowing that every single character in the yard is handcrafted by the homeowners themselves. The time, care, and love poured into this display is undeniable. A truly magical experience created by genuinely amazing people. We are so grateful we finally made the visit--and it's now a holiday memory our family will cherish.

This is a wonderful event!! I visited the one in Santa Anna. You pre-purchase kit online. In kit…read moreyou received the lantern & felt pen to decorate, a battery operated tea light, deck of playing cards, deck of conversation cards (which proved to be a great way to pass the time), a fun scavenger type activity, plus all came in a handy back pack. There were a few venders & several food trucks. People put a lot of thought & heart when decorating their lanterns. Releasing them onto the lake at night (after 8pm) was so beautiful!!! I would highly recommend this!!

Do not waste your money!!!!! This is soooo unorganized and a waste of money. They don't move the…read morepeople along, so only the people that arrived way too early get a chance to be by the lake and send their 25.00 lantern placed in the water. Overpriced food trucks and about 3 craft booths. If yo really want to go, go for free and just watch the lanterns placed by other people who paid the 25. I did and I couldn't even get by the edge of the water. What a waste of my time and money. NEVER AGAIN. I feel sooooo taken. If I could post less than 1 star, I would.

The area is nice but the parking can be a hit or miss because the rink is located in a business…read morepark. I honestly don't know where you would go during tournaments outside of dropping your kid off and circling. There's no curb parking and all businesses have "we will tow" signs. If that stress isn't enough, there's no snack bar or beer license. Lol. The vending machines work and are reasonably priced. Lots of restaurants in a short driving distance. Temperature: colder than a sweatshirt but my Mom puffer is almost borderline too warm. Staff is nice, bathrooms are always relatively clean. They run a tough club hockey program & charge according. Maybe it's gone down since they no longer have AAA availability. Two seasons ago it was just a smidge less than Ducks but more than OCHC and Wave.

First time here for a pick up game at 11:30 on a Friday. Gotta say, the ice was actually pretty…read morenice. However, the Zamboni guy did a half ass job and the ice was pretty much like a lake for the first few minutes of the game. Locker rooms were small but pretty clean. No stands, but they have some picnic style tables to sit at and watch. Not sure if they have stronger lights or maybe more windows, but the place does seem a little brighter than some other rinks I have skated on. Overall, it's another decent rink in Southern California if you want to play some hockey.

This is a super fun Halloween event for children and families! Every year, the City of Irvine runs…read morethis event at the Orange County Great Park. It is usually free or they charge some nominal fee for tickets. This year it was $5. Other years, they have charged for parking. The kids get a free pumpkin and they get to play a whole bunch of carnival style games where they can collect points to turn in for a big prize at the end. There is usually also a cakewalk and several other activities for the kids as well. There are also a growing number of vendors every year that participate and allow the kids to "trick-or-treat" through stalls set up so they also come away with a whole bunch of candy. Our girls love coming to this every year and seeing all the different costumes that the other kids are wearing as well as dressing up themselves. Sometimes whole families get into the act. This is a great weekend activity for families once a year and I would totally recommend it. Every year it sells out almost right away though, so make sure that you have the information for registration ahead of time. Five stars!

I've been going to this event since they first started! I think I've only missed 1 year and the…read moreoldest now has outgrown this. It use to be free and now they charge $5 which isn't bad but please work on your registration. The registration process is a 1-star. Every year, the system crashes because it's not ready for the volume. What do you expect when you say they go on sale at a certain time. Please fix that!! It's only $5 which is a great price but you also have to bring cans for the ticket to treat town & pumpkin patch. So what is the $5 going towards? Not sure but it's not a bad price for the kids to have fun. Easily paid. They have face painters, petting zoo, games, bouncing houses, train rides, and dog shows. Lots of variety which is fun. Treat town treats-also needs help! I realize there are tons of kids but 1 dumdum lollipop at 1 station is a bit sad. Or 1 tootsie roll? Wow. Luckily we don't go for the treats really. There are a few downs but overall, great fun for the whole family!! I love taking the kids here every year before they out grow it. :)