I came better prepared this year. From the previous review, you could tell I was absolutely livid…read moreabout the parking situation, so this time instead of exiting on Indian Bend, my friends and I exited earlier on Pima Rd and took Hayden up to the parking area. There was still a long line but faster than waiting an hour in the car last year. There was group yoga warm ups at around 6:30 and again at 7:00am, which made it a nice way to start the cold, brisk morning with a stretch. Everyone was suffering because it was so cold this time, but moving around made it better. Now that I'm a more seasoned runner, I did the 15K instead of the 5K, which is about 9.3 miles. This was my first experience being in the first corral of runners too, which was kind of intimidating for some reason even though it was a fun run. One of the girls was in a specialized wheel chair so she even had a 1 minute head start, but she flew like the wind leading the way. I was expecting actual hot chocolate along the run this time, because of rumors, but instead there was tons of Gatorade stations. If you didn't want Gatorade, there was also water available and port-a-pottys at each station. The one chocolate stop I was looking forward too was not hot chocolate. Instead it was just Godiva candy. Even though I was slightly disappointed I survived. I layered on so much clothing because it was so cold that I felt overwhelmed during the run after the first mile. I now will never run with a hoodie, over a long sleeved shirt over an undershirt, so that's one thing I might change next year. The course itself was nice. Nothing extraordinary. Running through Scottsdale is always nice since there are plenty of trees lining the way. You even ran past the Butterfly World building during the run. There are a couple of hair pin turns on the run, so that was my only complaint. It wouldn't been alot easier if they rounded those couple of turns a bit better.

The Hot Chocolate 15/5K run or as I like to call it, "walk at a slightly faster pace" is one of the…read moreonly events like this that I have participated in, here in the valley, on my almost free will. (Seriously, how much free will or will power can there be when chocolate is involved?) I don't even think I own a real pair of sneakers but the promise of hot chocolate can convince me to do a lot of things. With that in mind, as someone who know absolutely nothing about running other than from my elementary school days, I thought the event was very well organized and the course was pleasant even for a novice. The well deserved hot chocolate you earn is delicious. Thick and full of flavor. Smart choice on that one organizers. Could the hot chocolate at the end of the race be bigger? Ah, yeah! But probably nothing short of getting to drench yourself in a bath of chocolate at the end would be enough. It could always be bigger. Maybe you could get two cups? No? Can't hurt a girl for trying. I have a feeling though many other runners were not solely motivated by the promise of delicious treats at the finish line. The proceeds from the run go to Ronald McDonald House Charities in each city the race is ran. The cost to run also includes a hoodie which you pick up prior to the event and can wear during the run. It is a nice way to make everyone feel like they belong whilst the faster runners push you out of the way for being too slow. Also, there are many photo opts during the run and afterwards you receive an email to claim the photos if you so choose. This seems pretty typical but is a nice way to remind you of how you friends tricked you into waking up early that day for good parking. Maybe I can just volunteer next time. They get chocolate too, right?

The second annual Tri For The Cure AZ took place April 20, 2008. Over 900 women and children came…read moreout to participate and there were spectators galore! There was a great energy at the event and it was fun more than competitive so i totally recommend it to beginners or people who want to get a taste of what doing a longer distance triathlon is really like. It's also more appealing for first time triathletes because the swim takes place in a pool - much easier than open water! The distance is short for triathlons, even shorter than the normal sprint distance. It consisted of a 400 meter swim, an 8 mile bike, and a 2 mile run. There were options for people to do relay and duathlon as well. Originally, my friends and I thought we'd be starting at 7am and done by 8:30, but there was a delay in the start, and the way that it was set up, they started each person separately, so we we spent the entire morning there. Since the transition area closed at 6am, it made for a long day... but it all worked out! The event ran smoothly once it began and the pool was great! The bike course was a square and pretty flat, so it was easy enough to do the two laps... and the run was a one-mile loop so it went by pretty fast as well. They had adequate water stops on the run and the park we ran through was beautiful. Even the expo (which took place at Gainey Village) was fun... and it's obviously all for a great cause - I lost both of my grandmothers to breast cancer so it's one that hits close to home... I pray we'll find a cure soon. Now, the question is, what's our next race? :)

I'll add to this review. I don't know how to change the title from tri for the cure 2008 to just…read moretri for the cure with no year attached. This can be a test to see if anyone actually reads my reviews, haha, and can offer suggestions on how to contact yelp to change the event title. Everything Gabi M. reviewed regarding this event is right on the money. Great sprint triathlon for beginners (and veterans). I did this tri as a relay both in 2009 and 2011 and both times my teammates and I had a great time. Both times I brought my hubby and son and they had fun too. My teammates and I plan on doing this again next year so it'll be my third year doing this race. And I'm considering doing some that are longer distances too!

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.

I have heard about the Lost Dutchman Marathon for many years and finally had a chance to…read moreparticipate in one of their races. The Lost Dutchman Marathon and its other races takes place over President's Day weekend at Prospector Park in Apache Junction near the rumored site of the legendary Lost Dutchman Mine. It is run by an all-volunteer team with proceeds going toward a local youth organization. Race day includes the marathon, a half marathon, a 10K and 8K trail run, and a 2 mile fun run. I was impressed how organized this event was considering how many people come out to run it. One tip I will give is to get to the event early as the traffic gets crazy toward start time (plus you can watch the sunrise!). There is parking at the nearby rodeo grounds and they will shuttle you over to the starting line. Lost Dutchman has been doing this since 2002 and it draws quite a crowd. There is a medical team on hand for emergencies and snacks and drinks available afterwards I personally love trail runs and just bought new trail running shoes before this event. I participated in the 8K trail run. The views of the Superstition Mountain are just gorgeous as you are running. I had a really good run that day and runners are given a medal at the finish line. It was cool to hear my name being called out as I crossed the finish line. I will definitely considering doing this again some time in the future.

I've run this event 3 times. I ran the half marathon in 2022 and the marathon in 2015 and 2026…read more When I ran the half marathon, they had race morning packet pick-up. When I ran the marathon in 2015, I picked up my race packet on Saturday at the Apache Junction Multi-Generational Center. This year, I picked up my race packet on Friday at the Road Runner Sports at the Tempe Marketplace. The half marathon was an out-and-back course that started and ended at Prospector Park. For the marathon, we parked at the Lost Dutchman Days Rodeo ground and got a bus ride over to the start at Don's Camp on the Peralta Trail. Both times they had set up many campfires for people to stay warm. If breathing in smoke before running a marathon isn't your thing, you can also stay warm on one of the buses. It's a fairly small race for the marathon and they had a lot of portapotties. From there, you make your way over to the finish line at Prospector Park with scenic views along the way. Post race they have buses that will take you back to your car.