Fun and scenic half marathon through the streets of Tempe, Scottsdale and Phoenix! The weather is…read moreusually perfect too in January! Not too cold or warm! Perfect for running! I've run this event twice now (2020, 2022), and have had a lot of fun! The race starts at ASU and ends when you run back across Mill Ave Bridge to the finish line!

Rock N Roll knows how to out on a race. The course was good and mostly flat - we did have some…read moreu-turns which is not my preference in general. The one strange thing was how the started us. One at a time with a second pause (about 1 runners across). I know this was to limit the crowd, but it was odd because masks weren't required in the corral, so it felt like an unnecessary addition. Overall though, very fun. Great bands. Great race support and the end of race refuel/refresh was terrific. This was our 32nd state to race in and we're glad we chose this race.

As I loaded my bike into the car and inserted the key into the ignition, I received 2 texts within…read moreseconds of each other. One read: "I'm here, unloading...", the other read: "I dropped off my bile already. Where are you?" How could it be that both my Groupon-mate's were already at the event, before I had even left? So I texted them back, and made my way to Goodyear, observing all traffic and penal codes. It was a brisk AZ morning, so cold I felt ice cubes floating in my bladder... the cool light-up kind. I followed the crowd and stood in a line, because everyone else was, only to find I was standing in the wrong line. So I stood in another line... Yuko called while I was staging and racking my bike. Quickly finding me, we walked and waited for an hour inside her warm car. The guy in the minivan next to us, exited his vehicle to don a shorty wet suit. I found that extremely suspicious. If you see something, say something... which I did... to Yuko, who promptly rolled her eyes. I strolled into the pool area to watch the remainder of the competing kids, and found Tori. We posed for a few snaps, and then made our way to the starting line. It was so cold. I couldnt see my breath, but I knew it was there... so I decided to run with my heavy pull over hoodie As I jogged, I could feel my lungs starting to heave the chilled air, and by the canal, I detected the pungent stench of rotting carcases of fish... man, I hope they were fish I was slow. The women's corral released 2 minutes after the men's corral. I've never been passed up by so many women... outside of that Match.com speed dating debacle But I wasnt here to run... biking was my secret weapon... unfortunately, the transition was not. It took a while to change shoes, take off the fleece hoodie (which kept sticking to my awesome bike jersey), grab a beverage, check my phone for check in comments, etc. However, after I mounted my trusty steed, I was off! Shortly after passing Yuko about 1.4 miles into the 12 mile course, I dropped my chain, and forgot I was clipped in. As my legs twitched to free my shoes from the pedals, Yuko unknowingly passed me. I re-railed the chain, and took off for glory... passing Yuko again. My legs screamed out, and I said "whoa, shut-up legs". We were neck and neck, as we rode back to the staging area. I yelled out: "If you find yourself biking alone, riding in the green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled. For you are in Elysium, and you're already dead!" Stripping down as the frosty air hang as heavy as a Wendy's Frosty, I made my way to the pool. "Ouch, ooh, aah, ouchie, yeowch!" I muttered, traversing the asphalt rode that separated me from sweet liquid freedom, until I reached the rug at the timer check point. I jumped in feet first, and was elated by the warm elixir that surrounded me. The heated pool felt wonderful as I started on my strokes, which lasted 20m until I hit my predecessor's foot. I paused a few brief seconds and stroked again, only to hit again. Maneuvering around her, I had successfully passed my first competitor. I started the second of eight lanes feeling superior, but the pool will not be disrespected, and I never trained on 50m lanes. The cold air came to thwart me again, as I started to breath heavily, causing me to feel like I wasnt getting enough oxygen. I flailed and floundered several times before emerging from the phlegm frappe that I helped add to. I went and grabbed my gym bag from the staging area, hurting my bare feet on the asphalt, returning to the showers, which were warm and inviting. There was no soap, but I rinsed like I've never rinsed before, and it was glorious!

Very well organized event! I had a great time racing my first sprint triathlon on Thanksgiving…read moremorning in 2015. Sign up online was very easy. As the race day become close, they kept sending e-mails with detailed instruction for how to pick up race packet and race day information. Picking up the race packet was available in Tempe about a week before the race day, it was nice as I didn't have to drive too far to do so. The staff there gave several good suggestions on what to bring to the race, and what to expect on the race day. As a first timer, I didn't know what to do. I also read a lot of online articles about what to do and what not to do... I showed up one hour before the bike drop off time. (2:30am wake up, 4:00am left house and 5:00am arrived at the YMCA). I was the first 20 athletes to show up and secured a very nice spot for my bike. Depending on where you rack your bike, it makes difference when you are competing and a few mins makes a huge difference in your ranking. I set up my transition area with a spare towel and laid out all the gears I needed for bike and swim. This is sprint, not Olympic, so much shorter distance. Many participants are so nice, experienced athletes were willing to share the tips. Wide variety of age group and fitness level participated the race. They have youth division and enjoyed watching kids trying their best. Race day staff was very organized, they were there to assist and help you get moving smoothly. They were there also to cheer for you and it was helpful. Based on many e-mails I received from them, many of them must be a volunteer. Since I enjoyed this event so much, I would like to volunteer at some of their upcoming events. As for my personal experience, this was a challenge I accepted from a friend in September. I didn't know how to swim nor I don't even own a bike. The first day of swim lesson, all I could go was 10m. I joined the race with rental bike. I didn't even own a pair running shoes until August. I ended up really enjoying a triathlon race. I have my eyes on the next race now. I will continue train until then. Lesson learned from my first race: warm up properly before the race. I felt tightness in my muscle at the beginning and it was very hard to loose up. Bring family and friends to cheer for you! It actually helps. Somethings I did right: Bring two sets up towels. One to lay out next to your bike to set up the transition area, show up early to secure good bike rack spot. Bring shampoo (they have lockers and showers to help you rise off after the race). Sandals to wear at shower. Big coat, hat and gloves to wear before the race. I had my east coast down coat with me and really helped to stay warm.

3.5* rounded up…read more Packet pick up was a breeze the day before, and they had the extra medal and shirt I'd ordered for my Mom. It literally took 10 minutes to peruse the vendors, snap some pics and be on our way. They were giving out water samples, some type of alcohol, donuts, and Orangetheory was offering a free class with your email/cell info, too. Parking was plentiful, and free. Porta Potties were available by start/finish line. The Half Marathon started just 15 minutes before the 5K, but both starts went smoothly. The MC had the crowd pumped, and the whole vibe of the all woman event was empowering; lots of support amongst the ladies on the course. It was a fast course, flat, and well supported by Chandler PD, some volunteers, and residents, with a hydration station just after 1.1 mile marker for the 5K. I was on track for a PR until spotting a stray dog in traffic and trying with another runner - in vain - to secure him. Sadly, after 20 minutes, we weren't able to help more than getting him off of a very busy road where drivers nearly hit us! :::sigh::: Medals and long stemmed roses were presented at the finish, there was hydration, bananas, cake, protein bars, and a stretching booth. My only gripe was the long line to get photos after the race, they only had one printer, but organizers announced several times that they would get more for next races. All photos on the website are watermark free=super! Otherwise very organized, and I'm looking forward to future 131 Production events. I'm a fan!

Had registered for the half very much in advance of race day, and when I registered they shared…read morethere was an option that I could transfer to the virtual option for a small fee. Come closer to race day, I end up needing to work that time, tried to transfer to the virtual option. Was told I couldn't transfer, but I could re-register (for 2x the registration fee!) for the virtual option.

Very hilly 15k race…read more I think we had just about 600 runners at this race. Pretty small race. Bib pick up: available on Friday and Saturday in Scottsdale, and the race day pick up is available. Race day pick up location was at the finish line area and need to walk to the bus stop. Race day: bus takes to the start line. Plenty of toilets available at the start like. Only 600 runners, line never gets too long. Since some people showed up late, last bus ended up leaving later, ended up pushing the start time by 20 minutes. That 20 minuets made difference in temperature, I was really hot. Race: start from the McDowell Mountain Park, up hills and down hills then up again, little bit of down and more ups and ups. Be sure to train for up hills during training. Since it was a local race for me, we practiced the race route several times and it helped me prepare well. Post race: cash award is available for the first place runner. I think it was $200. They also have age group award and it was $50 gift card at a local running shoes store. I spend so much money for running shoes for me and my family, this gift certificate is definitely helpful for my household budget. One of the sponsors is Huss brewing. They provide lots of craft beer. Everyone gets one can but they also give out to groups of runners. Fast runners, biggest running team, random picks. Amount of beer is based on one person's weight in your team. It's good to have heavy weight person for more beer. I took a case home and am still enjoying them. It is really fun race, small and friendly.

I beat my 10K PR!!! 1:04:58…read more For this run, I saddled up and drove over 350 miles of sun-bleached, blistered terrain to "The West's Most Western Town": Scottsdale, Arizona. "The Night Run," Arizona's oldest night race and a 25-year tradition in Old Town, beckoned. And I listened. You see, I had four BIG reasons for making this trek: I had yet to run an evening race; Phoenix just so happens to be my 5th through 7th grade stomping grounds; as challenged by Adam Richman, Chompie's had forever been bookmarked; and I wanted--no, I REALLY wanted--that glow-in-the-dark Night Run medal! But to beat my Personal Record in AZ, it wasn't easy... At 7:20pm--sundown in the wild west--it was still a dry 84F. Over 1200 shoe-laced die-hards, armed and necklaced with glowsticks, sidled up to the starting line. There were mosquitos... And at 7:30pm, we were off! The double-looped course for the most part ran alongside the city's streets--red cones separating runners and traffic--but then it also wandered in and around the park and pond of the Civic Center Mall. It was very dark at times, and although volunteers assisted, waving glowing batons, the cars being so close felt a bit dangerous. Maybe it's just me. Yet I pushed. This route was pretty much flat, and I knew I could maintain. I had to. I needed to. I did. Nevertheless, I had great fun, Scottsdale! And I'm sure that next year "Owl Be Back!" =]

The Night Run is an unusual run in a nice setting. Earlier tonight (by this time of night,…read moretechnically yesterday) I participated in the 5k portion of the Night Run for the first time. I've done a lot of races, but this was the first one that I ever did that was completely in the dark. I found it to be a generally good race, but with some important organizational hiccups. Here's the breakdown of what I thought was noteworthy: PROS: - Unusual, novel event, unlike other races - Very family-friendly, with kid-inclusive side events - Good course in a good part of town - Ample police presence and road closures for runner safety - Plenty of volunteers along race route, most with lighted batons and easy to spot - Everyone gets a glow-in-the-dark medal! CONS: - There was a huge amount of disorganization at the event for bib, goodie bag, and t-shirt pickup. I got there more than an hour early and it made very little difference. Extremely large crowds made it impossible to view most expo booths. (Was there some kind of prize wheel? I would have checked that out.) Bib pickup was the worst. There was no real separation of bib pickup into alphabetical groupings. Getting your race packet meant you had to wait a very long time in a huge confused crowd for your bib, then walk all the way around the expo to avoid the bib crowd to go to a separate table for your bag, then get in ANOTHER separate long line for your t-shirt. Amazing. Also, the event confirmation email said to ask the people giving out bibs for a timing chip if you decided you wanted to buy one -- but that was not true. The person who gave me my bib could not even tell me where to get a chip and did not try to help. Turns out that was yet another separate table and separate line! I've never gotten into so many separate, long lines just to assemble the pieces of my packet. It took forever, and no one seemed to know what was going on. - There were two water stations on the route, but the first was completely unmanned. It was just two orange cooler-dispenser things surrounded by cups and a huge crowd of stationary runners, waiting their turn. This does not make any sense in a chip-timed race. I did not get water at the first water station because I did not want to have to completely stop moving, just to wind up standing in another line, in the middle of the race. - There was very little light at the finish line, making it hard to see well enough to even get a medal. To top it off, race organizers or volunteers were spraying everyone with these squirt gun water-tube things. (I saw that they had prepared tubs of water to fill these things with, before the race, so it wasn't just some random person playing a prank. I didn't find out what the tubs of water were for until the end of the race.) This wasn't a mist; it wasn't coming down from above; they were spraying these things at us, pretty much sideways. I wear glasses, so when the water went right in my face, I couldn't see where I was going. It was not helpful, not refreshing -- more like a huge annoyance and a very real hazard. I appreciate that they were trying to do something nice, but spraying water in my face and all over my glasses, when I already can't see because it's so dark, AND I have runners coming down the chute behind me, is NOT NICE. Do you know how disoriented runners are when they come down the finish chute? Seriously, everyone is sort of mentally gone. You just don't do this. IN CONCLUSION: Would I do it again? Maybe, but only if: 1. I carried my own water, 2. I was able to get to the running store to pick up my packet in advance, and 3. I could get some assurance that no one working for The Night Run would spray the race finishers in the eyes with a big squirt gun, as the runners staggered around in the dark in a state of running-induced mental vacancy. The problems with the race could easily be fixed. I'm assuming that the race organizers are good people who want to plan a safe and fun event, so I'm hoping that this detailed feedback is useful to that end.

Least fave for this event was the start time. By the time we finish, it was too hot. I know, i…read moreknow. The organiser probably thought it's still early spring and it'll be fine. Nope. Packet pick up line was long and slow. Having said that, the event itself was wonderful. The course was well marked. Plenty of water and sports drink stations. We loved the tunes as we run along the course. Parking was free. Plenty of porta potties. The merchandise were adorbs. The post run entertainment was fun! We will run this event again. Hopefully they'll do it an hour early. Fingers crossed.

I first ran the Rugged Maniac a few years back and have been hooked ever since. I love this mud…read morerun. Rugged Maniac is an annual obstacle course race that takes place in multiple cities across the United States and Canada. It started in 2010. The course is 5K (3.1 miles) and consists of 25 obstacles along the way. We are fortunate enough to have both a Spring and Fall Rugged Maniac here in the Valley. Obstacles range from crawling through tunnels, jumping over logs set on fire, crawling under barbed wire in muddy water, and climbing a slanted 14-foot ladder wall. They change up the obstacles each year. I've gotten pretty muddy at this event. You can form teams with a team name for the run. Registration includes a shirt, a finisher's medal, and you get a free beer after the run. The event itself has a DJ on hand and fun events like a beer stein holding competition and pull-up bar contest. One nice thing is that they have photographers on hand that take photos of you during the run that you can download later. Rugged Maniac partners with the American Cancer Society.

What an awesome day! I felt so empowered by all of the girls, women and the men who were showing…read moresupport! This was my first 5k and it was so fun...everyone who participated got a metro and that was such a reassuring gesture to the girls...weather your first or last you didn't give up!

Very cool event through local schools, teaching girls the fun, social support, and physical…read morebenefits of athletics. The event keys in our young ladies. There is an announcer, silent auction in support of the charity, anchor vendors with SWAG, and lots of girls enjoying things, together. Only knock is that the silent auction isn't much value.