Rocking it at El Moro Canyon continues Rock It Racing's awesome trail racing challenge: The Rock…read moreIt Fall/Winter Series! This year, I've wanted to concentrate more on upon trail racing. City runs adapt to runners rather easily. They're designed that way: paved, leveled, manicured... When you go rural, it's the runner who needs to adapt: its unsteady inclines (and declines), its varied terrain, its single-laned uncertainties and precarious footings. But that's the fun of it, the beauty: getting away from the city streets and getting back to nature. Rock It Racing offers four very cool trail runs: Caspers 5k/12K, Whiting Ranch 5K/12K, Irvine Regional Park 15K/5-Miler, and El Moro Canyon 6K/10-Miler. Running at least 3 of the 4, qualifies you for the special Rocky Series Award, plus a stylish ​Rock It Racing trucker hat!

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.

Running through the OC Fair instead of having a deep fried Oreo? Yes, please! Most fun 5k ever…read more.. 5 stars!!!!! What makes the OC Fair 5k Fun Run true to its name is the 5k course with its fun detours along the way! Yes, you probably will not set a new PR for a 5k if you're doing the fun detours, but the run will definitely be not as fun without them. Although for some, running through the actual fair grounds may be fun enough! Kudos to the race organizers for making most of the course take place inside the OC fair grounds. For 2019, the fun detours involved shooting a basketball, breaking a plate, shooting a ping pong ball in cup, and going on the actual stage of the Pacific Amphitheater. So excited that my aim was just right, and I broke a plate! Not a just a 5k medal gets added to my medal collection, but also a pretty cool donut pineapple plush!!! The fun run takes place at 8 am on a Sunday, and since the fair is not yet open to the public, there's free parking for 5k runners. Race bib and t-shirt pickup is also available on race morning, which is a big plus! There was a water station available in the middle of the course, and bottled water, snacks, and fruit were given out at the finish line. It was my very first OC Fair 5k Fun Run, and I found it well organized with lots of friendly volunteers and staff. A major bonus of the fun run is being able to see the animals and plants in the Centennial Farm area after the race. Centennial Farm is directly adjacent to the finish line area. Although, I'm not too sure if there will be access available next year or in future years. The Centennial Farm staff were happily greeting runners in the area while OC Fair security officers were making announcements that the fair is not yet open and that runners cannot be in the area. Luckily, the Centennial Farm staff won the disagreement/miscommunication while we there! Definitely cool to see the animals and plants without huge crowds. The highlights were getting to see the newly born piglets and calves, taking a selfie with a friendly cow, as well as getting a brilliant idea for an old and nonworking wheelbarrow! Having done a number of 10ks, half marathons, and a couple of full marathons, I have stated to friends and family that I can't see myself ever paying for a 5k again because it's just too short of a distance. The OC Fair 5k Fun Run has changed my mind.

This is my favorite 5k that I look forward to every summer in August…read more My early memories are of running through bbq smoke (but not in current years) and the smell of farm animals (every year). The course starts out in the parking lot and makes its way inside the fair for a good distance before ending back at the main gate area. If you're running this race straight through without stopping for the Detours of Fun, you're just not a fun person. These are optional stops at a couple of carnival games where you might win a stuffed toy. The Euro Slide was once a fun detour but now taken off course *sad face*. The last of these detours is the Pacific Amphitheater where you can get your photo taken on stage. It will be posted to download for free but you have to sift through the photos to find on your own. After the run, I usually stay at the fair for the day but there is some wait time before the fair officially opens. What's included: - bib pickup and free parking on event day - in 2019, a tech shirt (moisture wicking fabric) - finisher's medal You also get a ticket to come back to the fair but not many days remain before the fair is over. Since I've participated every year since they started, I have to say I miss how there used to be two 5k's, one on the opening weekend and one at the closing weekend of the fair which came with a Super Pass (season pass for the duration of the fair).

I participated in XTerra Laguna Beach Trail Run 10k this year ( June 5th). The trail run course was…read moreEl Moro Canyon trails. Had about 1000 ft elevation gain from 0, and back down. The trail was hard. I have hiked this train so many times on my own, but the idea of racing this trail with 100 fellow athletes is a life time experience. There was one water station with gel/electro lytes at Mile 1.5. the run goes in kind of round abouts, so you cross the water stations twice. My Garmin watch said I ran close to 6.9miles, so if you are running the trail, dont count on the last mile based on your watch, and just be in the moment. SOmehow the garmin watches arent calculating the trail distance accurately, or they seem to add extra mile to the race. Also, take lot of your friends with you. Being in a 15$ parking area, to get into, there arent that many spectators like you are used to with traditional 5ks/half marathons. so the more people its better to keep the fun going. I paid 65$ for the trail run, but we got a nice tshirt, and a beer after the race(sierra nevada - the good beer), and an opportunity to run with such a group of people. I think its worth it. Number of participants were around 100 in each race, so most everyone seem to get a placement one way or other, which was more fun! they had lot of vendors, waters at the start line, lot of free stuff, and it was very well organized I must say! I want to do this again, may be another different one in SD or something.

From the owner: Triathlon Mountain Biking…read moreOcean Swim Trail Run Beer

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

This will be my 6th year, I believe, participating in this walk... and I dont wish for anyone to…read morehave to know why this exists. It is such an emotional, but empowering day. Every year I join the team with Erin Runnion and The Joyful Child Foundation, in memory of Samantha Runnion. I had no idea what to expect my first time doing this walk, and to this day, I am still not prepared every year for the emotions involved. There are survivors who inspire, and there are family and friends who support them, or are honoring the memory of their lost loved ones. Its not a large crowd, like your typical 5K, but its an intimate crowd and its very touching. There are some booths with items related to self defense and things of the sort... and speakers and some music usually. There is a dove releasing ceremony that brings me to tears, every single year for victims and / or their loved ones. This is so beautiful. Each individual gets to release their dove by themselves - it is not a group release which is so special I feel. I dont even know what to say about this event, other than its a day that is sad and emotional and a great cause to raise some money for those who have been victims of crimes and their families. The walk is through Mason Regional Park in Irvine which is a nice park. I enjoy this event because I love seeing everyone support each other, and feel supported, but I do not enjoy why everyone is there. Its hard to put into words just how this event makes me feel.

This race is a really fun race for a good cause. This year was my first year that I participated in…read moreit. They have lots of activities (Music, Vendors) and also have previous victims share their stories - which is very touching. I felt supported by everybody who was at the race. After the race was a crime survivor dove release - which also was very touching. To sum up: If you ever feel like participating in a good cause and raising awareness, this is a perfect race to participate in. If you are a crime survivor yourself, it is also a nice community to get support.