I think it should be a requirement for runners to volunteer at a water stop before actually participating. I don't think it will kill them to run a couple more steps to throw away their water cups. I never realized how annoying (and maybe a bit inconsiderate) to see cups on the ground when there's a trash can next to it until I started volunteering for running events. Okay, so that's my rant... Now about the run. Cat N. and I both thought it was a pretty good event with lots of major sponsors. I came to realize this after crossing the finish line and being handed a Smart Water and not Arrowhead or Kirkland, wow! There were also free Jamba Juice, Pop Chips, Honest Tea, Bear Naked and many more! And of course, free chocolate and champagne! Definitely loads of freebies. You also get a medal and champagne glass for finishing, and my favorite, ALL participants get tech shirts. It's very different since most running events only give out regular T-shirts for 5K runners and save the dri-fit shirts for half and full marathoners. But just FYI, the shirts run a little small and short. I'm regularly a small, but I got a medium. Cat N. is usually a medium, but got a large. We both agreed that this will be an annual thing for us. And BTW, it's not only for women, but men are eligible to participate as well. read more

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I'm from Alameda and the starting line is less than a 10 minute drive from my house so I may be biased about this race since I didn't have to wake up at an ungodly hour to run like I do for most races. I've only gotten an opportunity to do the 5K but I'm really hoping to do the half-marathon one day (it always coincides with the San Diego Rock & Roll, though, and SD is typically where I am in the early summer). But the 5K was great, weather was sunny (which I don't mind for a 5K but for a half, that could be a problem), and the course was extremely flat. The cause is great and as a woman, it's always empowering and nice to run these types of races! It's also nice that it's a small race too--registration is relatively cheap and you don't feel too overwhelmed by the crowds. The only downside for me was that not a lot of people were cheering. More neighborhood spirit please, Alameda! read more

I really enjoyed this race! It was my first time doing the See Jane Run event and with a slogan I run for chocolate and champagne I had to join in on the fun. I definitely over dressed for this race- since it rained the night before I figured I would layer up, wear long pants, etc. Nope didn't need any of that. My boyfriend dropped me off in the morning so I didn't deal with the parking situation- I know that it was $5 in Washington Square park and it was limited so it might have been difficult. Saw more street parking further down. There was a half marathon that started at 8am and 5k that started at 8:15am. Got dropped off at 7:20am and was able to: - pick up my race packet- yay for same day bib pickup (I couldn't make it for the pre race expo which I heard was a bit disorganized but it was their first time doing it) - Picked up timing chip- yay for eco friendly timing chips! - Went to the bathroom - Stretched Then had 10 minutes to spare before the race. They were playing fun music 80/90s music like Mickey! This is a loop race so you see some of the same scenery twice- but this makes it convenient because you end up where you parked. For the half marathon their was probably about 1000 people? Mostly women but a few men as well. These races are so fun because you see women of all ages and shapes and sizes and everyone is happy and cheering each other on. The course was all paved and went along Harbor Bay, the Alameda businesses, some trails along the water and looped back. I loved that they had nice mile markers along the way and had water, gatorade, and gu every couple miles. They didn't run out at all too! So important since I didn't wear a fuel belt. The best part of the race has go to be the post expo with all the goodies you get! There was so many sponsors at the event and lots of free goodies. Some of the things I indulged in: - Cute finisher medal that you can engrave- not sure how much it was to do that - Champagne glass with ultimated Barefoot champagne - bagel - Free Lunar bars - Pop Chips - FRS drinks - Metromint Water - Barefoot products - Free chocolate - Degree Deodorant and a place to take a picture where they print out for you! - Purple Technical Tee with a nifty gift bag I did this race by myself and had a great time. I can only imagine if I knew some people doing it. I am definitely signing up next year and remember to look for discounts because they definitely spring up for being 5-10 bucks off. Good pricing, flat, great company, and goodies! Who doesn't want champagne and chocolate?? read more

This was my 2nd year in a row running the 5k. Parking was at a premium(I found street parking over a half a mile away) but I made it in time for the fun 80s pre-race workout. I had to weave around trios of walkers(please keep to the right, ladies) but otherwise it was a quick race under gray skies(my favorite running weather). I didn't pick up any champagne for the 2nd year in a row since I ran the race alone and didn't want to drink and drive. But I did grab some Chili and Lime Pop Chips. I got a last-minute deal on Zozi but hope to make this race an annual tradition. It has a fun girlpower vibe without being excessively frou-frou. And I'd love for my daughter to do the Kids run next year. read more

***This review is strictly coming from a first time participant who in no way whatsoever is interested in finishing first nor was I trying to run for time. I did this race out of fun, for myself and my babies (who were riding comfotably in the stroller). And YES, it was FUN. My next 5K will be at the Stinkin Roses in Gilroy. See you at the finish line*** read more

See Jane Run 1/2 Marathon, June 3, 2012 at Crown Memorial State Beach. This was my second 1/2 marathon and I loved it! Well organized event, morning motivation from the stage area, use of bullhorn by speaker made it easier to hear, pre-race warm up, nice scenic course, enough water/fuel stations, more then expected bathrooms enroute, great finish line reception, cool finishers medal, cool champagne glass trophy, great after race activities. Met 'Jane' I mean Gloria along the way and we became race route friends as we finished that mother strong as we ran the last 1/4 mile to the finish line together. She was my pacer and I was her motivator. Great send off and reception by my babygirl. read more

See Jane Run 1/2 Marathon and 5K - Races & Competitions Near Me

This was my first half marathon, and I ran it in 2014 (there are other reviewers from previous years, too!). All in all, I thought it was really well organized and has a good course. It looks like they fixed the 2014 course to avoid the dirt path between the beach and the foot bridge, which is really good. I've run that path before on training runs, and it's only wide enough for one person, so I'm glad they changed the path to avoid it! That said, though, there was one (I thought) unnecessary course-lengthening portion on the Bay Farm part of the course right after the golf course... Like another reviewer stated, my GPS measured 13.33 miles, and without that little out-and-back bit right after the golf course, I think it would have been 13.1 miles. It was also right at this point that my GPS stopped being in sync with the posted race mile markers (for example, my GPS was pretty close to the posted mile markers up until that point; afterwards, my GPS would signal a mile ~0.2 miles BEFORE the sign was posted). The one terrible thing about this race is that PARKING SUCKSSSSSSS. The start and finish lines aren't exactly close to each other, and you'll likely have to find street parking, so good luck with that! I plan to run this race next year, and hopefully the weather will be just as great. read more

Overall I was impressed with the See Jane Run 1/2 marathon. It started with some very energetic ladies leading the group in a warm-up and stretch, which was pretty entertaining if you weren't participating yourself. The actual run was partly through neighborhoods where folks cheered you on as you ran past. The other part of the run was just on the water and was pretty- at one point you had a view of the city, and at another a view of Oakland. Granted it was pretty overcast and muggy but you get the picture. The after-race was really great! Champagne, beer, and lots of food. These people knew what women runners want after a long run! I was very pleased with my beverages and snacks as my friend and I sat and watched all the others finish. The run was a bit on the spendy side but it was definitely worth doing. read more

See Jane Run 1/2 Marathon and 5K - Jess and I, Beer and Champagne - Races & Competitions Near Me

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To be completely honest, I was looking to do my first half marathon ever and I chose See Jane Run simply because it had the lowest registration fee (I found a deal on Zozi). In the end, I couldn't have asked for a better first half marathon despite the record breaking heat this year! This is a great beginner's half marathon or for someone going for a new PR: - extremely flat course (except for a slight incline on the bridge everyone has to cross at Mile 3 and again at Mile 10) - gorgeous view of the water between Miles 6-10(ish) - plenty of bathrooms along the route - Clear mile markers starting at Mile 4 and onwards - water, Gatorade, and GU gels (yes, even GU gels!) every 2 miles! No need to wear an extra fuel belt. :) - Free goodie bags, fitted tech tee, champagne glass, See's chocolate, and finisher's medal (One of the few races I've participated in where even 5K finishers receive medals. But no worries to those who chose to do the half; the 5K and Half Marathon medals are different.) - separate finish lines for the 5K and half marathon - packet pick-up all week long and the morning of the race - plenty of communication prior to the race - pacers to help make sure you finish at the time you want! - course is open for 4 hours A few drawbacks: - Very limited parking. Get there early to find neighborhood street parking. - Although it didn't bother me too much since I was listening to my music the whole time anyway, this might be something to consider. There are very few people along the sidelines to cheer you on. - There was a small section around Mile 6 where we all just run a loop through the parking lots of a business area. - The majority of participants actually do the 5K. But the route really sucks in my opinion. You start at Washington Park, run 1.5 miles along the water (sorta), and then make a sharp U-turn and run back. I personally prefer loop routes whether it be a half marathon, 10K, or 5K. Two years ago I did my first 5K, and I couldn't even run a quarter mile without stopping. I sincerely enjoyed this race so much. I loved all the female support and energy. I'm tearing up as I write this because this event was so life changing for me. The feeling of running alongside all these other Jane's of different age, shape, and size reinforced the idea that anyone could be a runner...even me! Thanks to those at See Jane Run for putting together an event with everything I needed to accomplish my once ambitious goal of finishing a half marathon! See you next year! read more

See Jane Run 1/2 Marathon and 5K - 2013 half marathon finisher's medal on a shoestring necklace. My first ever half marathon! :) - Races & Competitions Near Me

6/10/08 -- UPDATE -- Just received an email from one of the race organizers that our official times were off due to timing chip issues. Therefore all participants incurred an additional 2 min and 26 sec to their official times. This coupled with the inaccurate course markers and the boat that caused delays along the course make this race questionable. I would consider doing a differeint event in the future even with all the goodies at the finish line. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This race has so much potential to be a 5 star race. But there are a few drawbacks. GOOD THINGS: ~ all women race ~ sterling silver jewelry at the finish line ~ chocolate & champagne when you cross the finish line ~ technical t-shirt in your goodie bag ~ fast, flat course w/ nice views of the Alameda Bay ~ timing chip accuracy for race times BAD THINGS: ~ poorly marked course (only 3 mile markers along the course) ~ According to my Garmin we ran 13.3 miles. ~ foot bridge/drawbridge The biggest negative of this course was the footbridge. As I was on my return back to the finish line, there was a foot bridge to cross over. Upon my approach, I hear a beeping sound like a car is backing up. Turns out there was a boat coming through the waterway so all the runners were stopped for a minimum of 3 minutes for the drawbridge to raise and let the boat through and then lower back down. Once the bridge lowered, it was like starting the race again and doing a 5k since there was only 3 miles left to go. There was a huge backlog of runners waiting for the gates to open and let us though. This whole process was excruciatingly slow and docked 5 minutes onto people's race time. What are the chances that a boat would need to cross? If it's likely or even a sliver of a chance, I would adjust the course so runners wouldn't have to go through this experience. Overall, I set a race pr coming in two minutes faster. I'm disappointed knowing that I could have come in 5 minutes faster if it weren't for the boat that got in my way. There is also a 5k and a kids race. For all the girl power along the course, I would still do this race again. read more

What to love: Beautiful Route Perfect weather! Lots of fun with ladies Chocolate & Champagne + glass Cute tech shirt & a medal Lots of post race free stuff - Jamba juice, Smart Water, healthy snacks... What not to love: Parking Timing chip lines were very long so get there early otherwise, you may not be able to start on time. Overall, I loved the race! Must do race if you are near by. read more

It was hard to find this event to review because I think Yelp is discouraging reviewing of events, but I found it nontheless and going to be a rebel by writing a review harhar! This was a fun run, even if I didn't beat my pr... When I arrived, I saw hundreds of women doing aerobics to warm up and it was cute haha. For the bathrooms, there was a line that looked hopelessly long, but it went by pretty fast. Since it's chip-timed, it's okay to start late if you really need to use the bathroom like I did. The announcer said a record of 1,900 women were signed up. Although I didn't run this last year, it looks like See Jane Run was more organized this year, because they did start on time. However, they ran out of the tote/goodybags but they said they'll mail 'em to us. Anyway, I liked the course. It started off near the water, then went into residential, then through some business area, then around back to near the water again. It was flat, with a couple bridges, and all paved! I also liked the cool climate. It was breezy but not too windy. I also liked the motivating quotes they posted up every so often, they really did motivate me! The water stations provided water, electrolyte drink and GU energy gel and the volunteers were helpful and encouraging. They also had portapotties available at each stop. Only miles 4, 10 and 13 were marked though. And according to my Garmin, I actually ran 13.2 miles instead of 13.1. When I was able to see the finish line, I was thinking "WHy is it so far?!" haha. After finishing the half, they award you with the pendant they said they'd give (but it looked like one of those 25 cent things and the 5k medal looked a lot cooler! haha) and this tiny plastic bag with one white powdered chocolate. I think it's funny how chocolate and champagne were so advertised but you get this dinky little chocolate and champagne (for 21+) in not even cute cups I was expecting to see. Anyway, these aren't things I'm really craving after running that much anyway hah. I did, however, stock up on the Smart Water, Powerade zero and other goodies the booths were giving out. I love free stuff! :] Overall, this is a great run for all women whether you want to run the 5k or half-marathon and I would recommend it and do it again. There is also a 1 mile kids race. Oh and they also let males run with you if you'd like a partner or support. My sister was telling me about this elderly couple who ran together and finished holding hands. SO CUTE! Edit:// I checked my time online and it said my clock time was the same as my chip time which is impossible because I started a few minutes late due to waiting for the bathrrom. I emailed them about this and I have to minus another start because they didn't fix this mistake. read more

SEE ME RUN. Only trained 1.5-2 weeks and finished ok. Had I done proper training (2months) would have hit my mark. EXPO Expo was small. Fairly organized and you can buy cute running gear and accessories. PRERACE We had fun exercises before the race. Parking was decent but still had to park some distance. RACE 13.1 milers started before the 5k runners. However, lining up at the start of the race wasn't really organized AND THERE WERE NO CORRALS. The course was nice BUT THE HEAT was extreme killer. The dirt path after mile 2 was annoying. Narrow and you get stuck behind people who started walking or are slow. The path can fit 2 people or 3 skinny people. It was a HUGE bottleneck that interfere with your time. lack of hydration tables throughout the course, especially on a hot day. No shade anywhere, just heat. There's angry residence everywhere!!! They forget it's race day and can't drive through the course so you see cars piled everywhere. Some bipass the police and drive on the course. I almost was hit TWICE by angry residence. Towards the end of the course the Alameda bridge opens for passing boats, so your just waiting until you can cross it, again another interference with your time. At the end is the trail through the park. What was annoying were random spectators crossing the paths while still running. AFTERMATH I cramped up. My salt packets dissolved in my pockets. Getting the champagne glass and medal at the end was somewhat organized. No line so your just climbing over people to get your stuff. Will I run the race again? I'm not sure, didn't really enjoy the first time. until the next review.... read more

This is a review for the See Jane Run Half Marathon part, I didn't do the 5k but I'm sure it was great! The Pros: *Cheap(er) registration -- discounts given out often so always check your e-mail and retailmenot for some useful discounts! *Flat course (despite a couple of gradual mini hills) *Lots of "Jane" support! *Cool finisher medal & t-shirt *Chocolate & Champagne!!!!! The Cons: *Crabby weather (not the event's fault of course lol) *Parking -_-" *Business district portion wasn't really scenic *Lonnggg monotonous stretch of road from mile 9-12 *Smelly overpass on mile 4 and on the way back on 8(?) *Location of water after the race (it was in this tent a little walk away but none of the volunteers seemed to know where it was!) Basically, this is an awesome race if you and your girlfriends want to accomplish something major together! The roads are really wide and you don't really waste energy bouncing around to get through people. I gave this race 3 stars because even though you get chocolate and champagne -- in a cool glass, the scenery isn't all its cracked out to be. Not much support out on the road even though a few spectators braved it out onto some of the sidelines. Post-expo is very rewarding because lots of free goodies and I found this cool little business that I wouldn't have found otherwise that sells yummy protein shakes. I would come back just because I've been doing this now for 2 years, it would be a shame if I didn't come back! Thanks for the great race See Jane Run, see you next year! P.s. There was a woman out on the course today who fainted so close to the finish line, does anyone know the status of this woman? I saw the EMT try to revive her when I was walking back to the car, and I really hope she is ok. Running is no joke, people can get hurt. Please make sure you & your loved ones are well prepared before and after races. I'll continue to send positive thoughts to this woman and her family. read more

This was my first 5K and my 2nd official race ever (first being Bay to Breakers, so I don't really count that as a real race...more of a people-watching event haha). I had a great time. See Jane Run definitely put on a fun event! The course is BEAUTIFUL. I've run Bay Farm Island before, but not Shoreline. The weather cooperated with us this year and it was really beautiful. I had a little difficulty after the turn around...everybody was on the sidewalk and I felt bad weaving through everyone, so I eventually kinda straddled the sidewalk, but that made it a bit difficult to run. I kinda liked how Bay to Breakers had the runners to the left and the walkers/slower runners to the right. The staggered start seemed to work pretty well. I was definitely antsy to get started but it was a good idea to prevent major backup at the turnaround. The expo was AWESOME. Sure, a long line in the beginning to get the food and champagne glass, but I made a few new friends in line while waiting. =) There was pretty much no line for all the other vendor booths, and there were plenty of freebies to go around. And who can complain about featuring champagne and chocolate?! =) The bag check worked out fine, the portapotties in the beginning had ridiculous lines but not a major complaint, and the pre-race workout was fun and energizing. I love my technical t-shirt and champagne glass! The medal was real cute too. Warning: don't use that redstargiftcard.com card in your goodie bag...it's a scam. read more

See Jane Run... reminds me of something from Dr. Seuss, but it's not. It's a fun run from everything to energetic ladies leading the group to stretch to 80's music warm up to CHAMPAGNE ( I heart champagne). I ran in the 5k (3.5 something miles). I highly recommend this run for a beginner because it is fairly flat with very little incline. It's a beautiful short run, most of it is along the ocean with views of the city. At the end of the run, of course the free champagne and chocolates, but there were tons of free samples and tables set up for you to enjoy yourself after a mini- accomplishment. TIP: Parking is limited if you do not arrive early enough because the main parking lot is block off for the run. There is street parking but it's taking up quickly. read more

Good: - Champagne and Chocolate at the Finish- nice touch, can't deny that - Decently pretty course on waterfront part of time - flat, fast, and good weather. Bad -Not enough bathrooms, volunteers, space at start line - Lines so long at Start that we didn't pick up our timing chips (we would have missed the race). Probably 45 minute wait - We picked up bibs and packets early at the store but still needed to stand in lines for everything on race morning... inconvenient - Starting corral crowded and not really monitored -specatorship on course pretty minimal, seemed like locals don't know about the event read more

Pros: The energy overall was very positive and I enjoyed the high energy warm up Nice tech shirt The course was lovely. My only issue with it were the residential streets we had to share with the cars. The road curved down to the curb and that really trashed my calves. Couldn't even move to the sidewalks due to all the driveway dips. The Saturday expo was well organized Cons: The Champagne glasses ran out. I blame the runners. Ladies: didn't your Mother teach you manners? The volunteers reported that many runners were taking 3-4 glasses each. Do not tell me you were "getting some for friends". There were runners (myself included) that didn't get champagne or a champagne glass. Yeah, this rude behavior is why we can't have nice things. The Scott's Seafood buffet was gone before the back of the pack runners got in.Either there wasn't enough food or the front of pack gals ate all the food before the back of pack gals got in. I know this was a big selling point for me and after a hard race, instead of seafood I got a bag of Lays. If you are going to advertise that all runners will receive the following then they should be provided to all runners, not just the fast ones: NEW! Catered runners lunch from Scott's Seafood Finisher medals for all runners including kids Technical T for half marathon/cotton for 5K and Kids Reusable See Jane Run tote bag Commemorative champagne glass Chocolate Race goody bag or virtual race bag I have no idea what a Chocolate Race goody bag is. I never saw that either. I got a piece of the organic chocolate but that was it. The medals were tiny. They reminded me more of the size of the 5k medal at the SF Marathon. For a half marathon, I expected a larger medal. I think if I do this race in the future, I will do the 5k so I can have a better change of actually enjoying the cool perks that were advertised. read more

Well - I did get my champagne at the end. However, for those slow-pokes like me, there was no chocolate. I know this is picky, but when the t-shirts even say "I run for chocolate and champagne". . . well, you'd better have enough at the end. There were also issues with the timing chips. An email went out that our photos would be available on a certain date and several days later there still were no photos. This is only their 2nd year, so I'm gonna give them a pass on the challenged logistics, but not a stellar review. The course was mostly flat, but there were sections that were so boring I could have cried. Through an office park? Boring. There were also weird loops that were kind of annoying (run into this parking lot 100 feet, turn around, come back). The final stretch along the Bay was very nice but kind of lonely - there were no staff and no cheering stations. I enjoyed the fact that it was a small race and look forward to trying it again next year - hopefully the logistics will have improved. read more

This is an extremely fun race to do with your girlfriends!! PROS: -Chocolate and unlimited champagne at the finish line -Tech shirt (although 2011's was a little too shiny for my taste) -Lots of samples, freebies, and snacks at the post race expo -Free massages post-race (I didn't get to experience this, what a line!) -Fun dance warm-up 10 minutes before you race -Beautiful scenery around Crown Memorial Beach -Cute temporary tattoos station -- "I Run for Chocolate and Champagne" -Flat course, good for beginners -Medal for a 5K? Awesome! CONS: -5K course is extremely small and tight! At mile 1.5, you continue the rest of the 5K on a narrow sidewalk. This is bad especially if you're a 8min/mile pacer; you are constantly weaving! The roundabout was was also tight in space and sharp. :( -Event tells us to show up at 6:30 sharp to ensure any parking mishaps. No need! There is plenty of neighborhood and street parking nearby. I thought 7:30AM would have been fine. -There is no water pre-race! What! Please change this for next year! -Fat plastic chip device strapped to my ankle. $30 fee if you do not return it! Very minor complaints in the CONS section. Definitely would do it again because of the amazing post-race expo! The $35 registration fee was extremely worth it. There are coupons online and on e-mails so just search and watch out for those if you're interested in running next year. All in all, lots of fun and lots of pink and purple. :) read more

This is a good beginner's race or fun race. You get a tech T and it's for a good cause. The participants were friendly and supportive. Organizers recommended arrival at 6:30am which was really for parking. I arrived at 7am for an 8:30 start for 5k. 5k was set to start in waves last minute for safety reasons. So I basically stood around from 7am until 8:55 before I got to start the race. I'd imagine the half marathon was better than the 5k since they started together and had fewer people. It kind of kills the mood when this was unplanned and people are finishing the race before you even get to start. That's why other races have better route planning or limit the number of participants. Since it was so last minute, the waves weren't by age group or intended pace, so runners still had to dodge people walking 3-wide on a narrow path. There was no water before the race. And a line 100 people long for bottles of water after the race that was somewhat hard to find. (The bubbly was blocking the finish area and there were long lines and support crowds everywhere already.) Water is essential... epic fail here. Give me tap water in a paper cup if you need to. Thankfully, there were generous sponsors providing hydration. read more

Great woman power run!!! This was perfect for my first 5k! Everyone is super supportive and there to have fun AND run. Path is a bit interesting and the markers could have been better, but it goes by so quickly you don't really think about it. A few men but very rare. And of course the perks at the end are totally worth sprinting for. :) read more

This is my second year running the See Jane Run 5k. Aside from some technical glitches, it's a great race. I love it because... -there is unlimited champagne (last year they gave each participant one drink ticket) -fabulous the swag (free jamba juice?! yum!!) -the fun music and 80's warm-ups -the course is flat and scenic -cute finisher medal -it benefits Girls Inc. which is a nonprofit worth fund raising for. I wasn't so happy about.... -the technical t. It seemed to run a bit small. My large looks more like a medium and the medium looked tiny. -If you didn't pick up your bib and timing chip before the race, you were stuck in extremely long lines. There were ladies still in line when the half-marathon started. Hopefully, this will be changed for next year. Overall, it's an easy race and a great choice for someone running their first race. There are a variety of ladies who run and there's a spirit of camaraderie. read more

This was my first 5k and I thought it was a great supportive group of women which was very encouraging. The running group on Sundays in the Oakland (Rockridge) was a great way to train for the 5k. I paid $45 because I registered late but I thought it was okay since you get a nice purple shirt, free champagne, chocolate, water, and other freebies. The volunteers were awesome (5 stars) and the warming up stage that was set up with 80's music was also great (5 stars). I don't have another race to compare it to so I thought it was good. However, I do agree that the running location was a bit tight/narrow for runners that have done this before and need to pass up slower runners/joggers/walkers. Once we passed up 1.5 miles, the space got tighter. I also wish they had water pre-race. So -1 star for that. Overall, it was a great experience, we scored on the weather, lovely ocean view, nice volunteers/See Jane Run Staff, great freebies, & nice people. read more

This is now one of my favorite races to run here in the bay area. The first year that this race was put on might have been a little shaky, but let me tell you...they sure made up for it this year! It was a great feeling being out there with hundreds of other women who all had the same goal...finish so I can eat the chocolate! That's what we run for, right? The energy of all of the participants was superb and the pre-race 80's warm ups were just what I needed to get myself ready to run! The course was well marked, had plenty of water stops, and volunteers cheering me along. The post-race expo was the perfect place to cool down and chat with fellow runners (while drinking champagne, of course). I will definitely join all of my fellow Jane's in next year's run! read more

This was my first Half-Marathon, and it was truly an amazing experience. The energy was incredible. Besides, I don't think anyone can beat a race that features chocolate and champagne! Here's my blog post on the experience! : http://mouthfulsandmorsels.wordpress.com/2011/06/06/see-jane-run-my-first-half-marathon/ read more

1} great girlfriend bonding, for sure! (wow, you could count how many men were in this race on one hand!) 2} as others have mentioned however, I've run other 5Ks before and this one definitely had its share of issues: first, VERY narrow running path - after mile 1 on the 5K - for participants. you can't really challenge yourself when you spend more time weaving through the crowd, and I wish many of the women realized that they needed to move to the side if they were going at a slower pace than an approaching runner / walker. 3} other issues were at the finish line: ONE finish line and timer for BOTH the 5K and the half. that wasn't fun thinking you'd finished the 5K in an hour and some. *lol* 4} finish line issue #2 - very crowded at the finish line, and part of that was also caused by volunteers taking your ankle timers off before you could even catch your breath. wish they could have given us a lot more cool-down space after the timing pad before taking the timers off and giving us our medals. :( 5} despite the mini-complaints I've presented, I still had a blast with my pals. :) great expo afterwards. definitely a YES, and has just been added to my "must-do each year" list. read more

This was my first half. Overall it was very good, nice course and clearly marked. Champagne and chocolate were great. What was lacking was race swag (we got a reusable bag, shirt and that was it-usually there are some samples thrown in). The expo after the race was small and the snacks were limited (mini bagels and prezels). read more

Yesterday I joined a few hundred other women in Alameda to run the See Jane Run 1/2 marathon and 5k. I initially signed up for this 1/2 because I thought Alameda would be a nice flat course to get a PR. Wellllll, toss is a recent injury, and new job, and trip to Vegas, and I was just hoping to finish without further injury. Some people were saying that this is the first time the running store has put on a race.....Well, I believe it now. It was a poorly organized race. They started us about 30 minutes late because there were problems getting the mats set up for the chip timing. The website clearly stated that there were water stops every two miles.....There were not. This was a poorly marked course. I saw one marker at four miles and one at 10 miles.......WHAT ABOUT ALL THE MILES IN THE MIDDLE??????? Also, I like to know when I'm one mile out, so I can countdown to the finish. The weather was SUPER windy on the course. One section included a little tiny path that could only accommodate one person at a time. There were also long stretches that were not well marked or well staffed with volunteers, so you just had to hope the woman ahead of you had not taken a wrong turn. Based on my time early on and my finish time, and how my legs feel, I'm not sure if I really ran 13.1, or if I actually ran farther. The best part of this event was the warm fuzzies I got from all the other participants. There was really a sense of community before and during the race. Members of the See Jane Run training team were wearing matching shirts, and cheered for each other, and other runners. During a stretch of the course where you saw other people ahead of you as they were doubling back, there were lots of high fives and cheers. Despite the disorganization, it was a supportive environment. If this really was their first half marathon, I'm sure next year's event will be better. read more

This was my first half marathon, so my only basis for comparison are 5Ks and 10Ks. Pros: +Women of all shapes and sizes--not just super athletes +Easy course (flat) +Weather was nice Cons: -Boring course (run through an office park parking lot at one point) -Celebration at the end seemed a little puny. They ran out of champagne even though my time was decent. Not many booths/vendors to justify the entry fee. -Water station volunteers were inconsistent. At some they stood behind the tables chatting, creating a bottleneck. At others, they stood on the side of the road and handed the cups to the runners which I appreciated. Overall, a good experience but I look forward to trying other races for comparison. read more

I will start with the bad because it's a big deal as I ran the half marathon for time. The course was long -- 13.25 miles according to my Garmin. I see that I am not the only one showing the long course and I wish they would just fess up to this error. The narrow foot path where the weeds had been cut down was hugely problematic. It could fit only one or two runners abreast. I would be more forgiving had we not done a practice run on this very same course two weeks prior, and the same weeds had not been cleared from the path making it difficult to stray from the pavement without tripping. Those of us standing at the bathroom did not hear the start of the race. Now, had the race started on time I would give them that. But the race was running a few minutes late, which means those of us who have hydrated want to go for a last minute pee. This meant I missed the start so I had to jump in the middle of a section with a much slower pace than mine. I found the support tables to be fine. I know others have complained about this, so I think it depends on whether or not you were in a congested part of the course. I stopped on the first set of mats thinking it was the finish line (I blame the long bill on my cap). That has never happened to me before. Apparently this first set of mats was to signal the announcer who is about to cross the finish line. That needs to be rectified. The after race part was really good. The freebies are a key part to any race's success and they did an excellent job organizing the goodies and the way they were distributed. The environment overall was very positive and cohesive. It's nice to do an event with that kind of community feel to it. SJR just needs to get the logistics buttoned down. I feel strongly that SJR should take ownership of the issue of inaccurate course length. If they do so, I will be happy run again next year and bring along others. read more

Glide, check, comfortable sports bra, check, non cotton undies, check, breakfast check, mesh baseball hat, check....This was my very first half marathon and I'm very proud of it! See Jane Run is a clothing store and every year they do a women's 5K or half marathon. In the end they give you champagne and chocolate. The view is nice, although today wasn't a clear day, so it wasn't as pretty as I expected-hence the 4 star. I guess I'm just spoiled from my Newport Beach/Laguna ocean views! (I'm a sucker for awesome views) This race is great for a novice like me, because there was only one uphill run where we had to cross the bridge. I would like to say I'd do this race again next year, but I am going to move on to bigger and better things....I think Disneyworld in January 2010! I'm so pumped! read more

The yays! ... *Reasonable price *Very nice t-shirt and glass champagne glass *Very nice people *Pretty easy course ... flat with one or two gradual hills *Cool view of San Francisco The nays ... *Pre-Race Expo totally disorganized ... long lines and really crowded (might of been because of the weather, since it was in a middle school gym but there were lots of overhangs outside of the cafeteria that they could have used) *I was looking forward to running around Alameda ... not the Alameda business district and weaving in and out of buildings *More water stop volunteers would have been nice *Not very many spectators *They should have waves at the start line ... a little chaotic since there wasn't read more

The 2 stars are for the weather and the views. Otherwise I was very disappointed in my experience with this race. -The race started 30-40 minutes late. -There were only 2 waterstops (some runners got a third stop in the "missing mile") -According to my calculations throughout the race I had about 1.5 miles left to go, when suddenly I rounded a corner to the finish. The race was over a mile short!!! And just when my anger was subsiding I received an email from the organizer explaining that the missing distance was due to a misinformed volunteer, and the lack of waterstops was someone else's fault. I'm sorry but a $10 coupon for my next event with them does not make up for this experience! I will not be doing another. read more

This is my 2nd year running this race. My girlfriends and I had such a great time last year that we all signed up for it again. As for the half marathon itself...it's almost like a love/hate relationship with it but this is not therapy. Course was well organized and flat! Parking wasn't too bad. Weather was nice (overcast for most of it and then sunny skies towards to the last half of my run)...Love the girl vibe of this event. Post race expo is a lot of fun with a lot of goodies to try and check out. I didn't make it to the pre-race Expo but my friends all seemed to enjoy it. Wish there were more people cheering thru the race. Nonetheless, it was a lot of fun inspite of the pain I'm feeling in my legs post race tonite. I'd still do it again next year. I hope to bring my kids to race in a couple of years when they are older. read more

first race i've ran in years- well sorta... it was late wednesday and by late around 2 am- i was up finishing up 192 cupcakes for an event- but that has nothing to do with this event so i'll back to the point. it was the wednesday before the weekend of the race and my friend Rita Jo posted that she randomly decided to run this event on Facebook. I commented because well, nobody else was really awake and it was nice to talk to someone while i baked. sunday came around and i was there to cheer for her... i texted to see how she was doing and she said she was a little off pace and hurting... so i decided to run against the flow of the race (on the other side of the road) like a salmon going upstream, to find her. dressed in my pink "kiss me i'm filipino" shirt- i wasn't easy to miss, so i was hoping to find her or she find me as i ran. it was so great to see all the amazing runners doing their thing! i've never been to a 1/2 marathon before! i was cheering for them and oddly enough they were cheering for me too! it must have been the shirt. when i finally got to my friend, we finished the race together. lots of friendly people along the way cheering for the runners and their supporters (people like me who come as friends) we congratulated people who finished on their way back already, and in returned they cheered us on. all the way to the finish. where there were plenty of booths including champagne and chocolate in celebration of the day. i nearly ran a half marathon that day, but it didn't really seem like i did was in such great spirits getting to hangout with my friend and talk during the race! the atmosphere of the race was just so alive and positive i was in awe! i can't wait until i actually do a race officially, but that will have to wait. there's a few months before i run the Nike Women's Marathon (NWM) in San Francisco... i guess until then i keep running... until next time, cheers! ps shout out to the awesome volunteers! specially those three by the bridge doing the wave! you ROCK! read more

Whoo hoo! I love See Jane Run events. This was my fourth. There's nothing like drinking champagne after running my heart out. The weather was perfect for running. The course was flat and fast. It was fabulous to run with such a spirited bunch of women. Thank you, See Jane Run. read more

Ran the 5k and it was well organized and a fun, easy flat course with great schwag at the end. The only improvement would be to block off both sides of the road next year b/c it wasn't a wide enough space for all the runners, but all in all I would happily do it again. read more

I think this was a well run, fun women's event. I have participated in *many* 10K's, half mathons, marathons, triathlons, etc. The See Jane events are always well organized and it is such a great atmosphere to have fun AND feel as if the race is as competative as you personally want to make it. The course was well marked, there were plenty of support stations, more than in most events and the food at the end of the run was perfect. I heard that some folks didn't get the chocolate. I am sure that can be fixed for next time. The other big bonus was the quality of the finisher's goodies. A great dry fit shirt (that I have seen on women running all over SF) a pendant, and a bag that I am using all the time. I see that some of the women didn't like the course and the foot bridge. I am not sure why - the views are amazing from the shoreline and the footbridge adds a little something different.. I think the See Jane's should somehow put the footbridge earlier in the race and make it part of the fun (who can get through first???) I am going to participate in the See Jane Tri this weekend! One more comment : Put on more events! read more

I did the half marathon, and I really wanted to like this run, but in the end, I feel like there were a lot of things that could have been better. Pros: - I really liked the running route, we didn't retrace much of the same path which was nice - Very nice technical t shirt, one of my favorite race shirts I've gotten (long list of) Cons: - Not so good communication about bib pick up - they didn't mention where the pick up was on the day of the race, so I ended up going to the finish line (that's all i could see from the parking lot), and then walking around asking around, and no one really knew. One person told me it didn't start until 7am. After asking around for about 10 minutes, they finally told me it was at the start line, so I had to do another 5 minute walk over there. - The emails about parking was totally incorrect. They stated that the park's lot was only a 5 minute walk to the start - NOT TRUE. I tracked it on my Garmin, it was more than half a mile, so I ended up walking close to 2 miles before the race even started (to the finish line, to the start line, then back to my car, and then back to the start line) - Shirt pick up line was LONG. Had to wait in line for about 10 minutes after the race to get my shirt. Why couldn't they just give it to us with bib pick up? - No water bottles at the end of the race. They had these tiny dixie cups, which meant that I had to stand in the shirt line with no water. - Race was mainly on cement, which killed my knees. I do a long, 10+ mile run at least once a week, and my legs have never felt so beat up as they do today after the race - No photographers on the course! - The aid stations were unevenly spaced, and they were not space according to the map race. There was about a 3+ mile stretch right in the middle of the race with no station, even though the map indicated it every 1 to 2 miles. I know this because I had planned my salt stick caps at specific stations, so i definitely noticed when one was not where it should have been - The course was too long! My Garmin clocked it in at 13.32 miles. I ran all the tangents closely and didn't zig zag around, and I've read some other race recaps where people said it came in around 13.3 also, so I'm pretty sure the race measuring was off. Although it doesn't seem like much, it makes a HUGE difference since I was trying to PR and it added another minute or two onto my time! read more