I know there is a Yelp for the Amazing Race Los Angeles...but need Amazing Santa Monica Race…read moredeserves it's on little piece of History... How do you describe spending your hard earned money on something that will drive you insane? yelling at others? pissing you off? making you run all around town? talking to strangers...? having people asking you what you are doing.....having a MIME Touch you as your running around in Venice Beach and you !@??#$!# at him...not knowing who he is...or your teamate telling one of the people giving you clues listen here we are really busy right now looking for a clue we can't help you! That was all part of the Amazing Santa Monica Race...that took just about a grueling 5 hours to compete....during the process you don't know what to expect... Bob was a great host, comedian, commentator, etc.... The only downside is the Santa Monica version is pretty new so we didn't have a ton of groups competing...positive side our team wins a medal cuz not enough groups are competing!! Okay 2nd isn't 1st...so I'm still upset! Try it...it's tons of fun!

Santa Monica Amazing Race was THE most fun activity I have done in the greater Los Angeles area in…read moreover the 2 years that I have been a resident. It is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, see the local scenery, and get a light exercise in (depending on how competitive you are). By far worth every penny for the 3-4 hours of sheer entertainment, puzzle solving, and team bonding. The host, Larry, was a true delight making the experience all the more fun and memorable. A MUST DO activity for anyone in the area or visiting! I'll definitely be signing up for the LA race soon.

I've been running this half marathon for the last 4 years. It's a nice small well-organized race in…read moreSanta Clarita with most of the course on the Santa Clara River Trail system. The race starts and ends at the Iron Horse Trailhead, just steps from the iconic Lost Boys Bridge. The race is easy to get to as it's just off of the 5 freeway at the Magic Mountain Parkway exit. The 2 closest parking options for this race are the dirt shoulder on the north side of Magic Mountain Parkway or across the street at the Gateway Plaza parking lot. It's a fairly flat and fast course with some gradual climbs. The challenging part of this race will be the temperature as it get quite hot in the month of June. Thank goodness the race starts early (6:30 am), so you can finish your race just ahead of the day getting blazing hot! One of the best parts of this race will be the Ben & Jerry's ice cream that'll be waiting for you at the finish line! Other cool benefits include race morning race packet pick-up without an extra fee, free complimentary race photos, and a good selection of post race goodies!

I'd planned to run Sugar Daddy for awhile, had been drawn in by the super snazzy Sugar Daddy medals…read moreand the refreshing addition of free ice cream at the finish. Plus, besides having visited Magic Mountain, I'd never really been to Santa Clarita. A fun run there, then, would be perfect. First off, whether you're driving north or south, exit Magic Mountain Parkway and head in the opposite direction of Magic Mountain. Very soon after your exit, on your left side you'll see the Iron Horse Trailhead. From the road, you'll see the event. Parking's free, whether you park on the side of the Trailhead or across the street in the business section. Either way, it's close. So, let's get back to the Half itself. It's easy. Flat for the most part and fully paved, this race meanders and winds along the Santa Clarita River, giving runners and walkers a great view of the Valley. (By the way, strollers are welcome, and there's a relaxed, 5-hour cutoff time for the Half, so no worries if you'd like to take your time.) What's cool, too, is that the historic, 1898 railroad trestle bridge awaits your return! It's beautiful! On sight, race day packet pick up; an exciting Kids Fun Run; and a special Sugar Daddy pin for legacy runners (ones who've run at least two years in a row): there's more than enough draw to bring me back for next year's Father's Day Weekend.

This was my second half marathon and I truly loved it!…read more The parking was the easiest I've ever had at a race. Everything was very clearly marked and well organized. You had to pick up your packet at the expo the day before, which was mildly confusing and not as perfectly streamlined, but still good. I liked the feeling at the starting line. People were friendly yet cometitive. Everyone's heads were in the game but not so much so that they couldn't say hello to someone new. The National Anthem ceremony was a great patriotic moment, as a fire ladder raised a giant American flag. I wouldn't say the course was flat as flat could be. The Ventura half I did for my first 13.1 - THAT was flat! There were ups and downs that a high desert dweller like me isn't used to. Thankfully I'd been training on my dreadmill with an incline. Heck, the first mile of the race is damn near completely uphill. The grades aren't tretcherous, and the downhill parts suck more than the uphill...especially the final downhill right at the 13 mile mark. That was no fun. Finish line = really nice. A fun straightaway that when you're sprinting in attempt to shave a second or two off of your time feels like a racecar driving game. Good heavy medal. Good post-race snacks. The post-race escape was also quick and easy with no fees to pay and no traffic jams. The photos took about a week to upload and while I was impatient, they turned out to be worth the wait. Pricey, but good action shots. Will I run this one again? For sure.

The Santa Clarita Half Marathon is my favorite half marathon…read more Maybe these aren't the usual reasons someone would designate a race their favorite, but they are mine. One, easy access and parking. The race site and parking area are not too far from the 5 Freeway, and there is plenty of mall parking which is short walking distance to the expo and start line. If you've ever had to deal with confusing parking and taking a shuttle before or after a race, this is a real benefit. The expo is held at the Hyatt, which is also near the start. It's a manageable size, and the expo volunteers are very accommodating. I had to change my registration last minute from a full to a half marathon, and it was no hassle, no problem. The other great thing about the Hyatt being so close to the start is that there are clean - nay, luxurious - bathrooms to use before a race! This NEVER happens. The Hyatt is really generous, and you can just hang out there and sprawl out in the hallway. (One year it was pouring, so this added bonus was a lifesaver.) As for the race itself, it's the right size for me. I've been to super crowded races (hello, LA Marathon) to races where I was the only person on the road for a stretch (the inaugural year of the Wounded Warrior Half Marathon). This race is a nice size: plenty of people so you get that exciting race-energy, but you never feel bunched in or like you're going to trip over someone. The aid stations are good, and the people are friendly. Not much in the way of crowd support that I remember as the course didn't seem to go on too many main streets. This may be a drawback for some people, but while crowd support is nice, it's not a main criteria for me. Unless I'm just kicking it and doing the race for fun, I'm pretty focused while I'm running and tend not to notice a lot of extra stuff like that. The Santa Clarita half is a better-than-average course. Every course has non-scenic parts, so I guess it'd be the office park and freeway overpass in this case, but those were not unpleasant. Although not particularly known as a scenic course except for the paseos, I found it to be like a pretty neighborhood Sunday run. There is also a real sweet downhill from like the 8.5 mile point to the 12 mile mark (but an ugly uphill just when you think you're done!). The course is not hilly in general, so it's a good PR course. Other pluses are that it's held in November, which is generally good weather in Southern California, and great food giveaways at the finish. Good amount of photos available too. I've done this half three times, and I will do this race every year if I'm healthy!

For the kind of small, full of heart, fundraising 5K that this is, it gets 5 stars!…read more I have participated in SOAR's (Students Off And Running) MGM5K for the last two years and this is a very fun little race. It is a fundraiser for the aforementioned running club, which trains students on distance running and culminates with participating in the Los Angeles Marathon. This event has the easiest and most efficient parking and packet pick-up system ever. Parking is plentiful at the Bridgeport Maketplace (where the starting line/packet pickup/warm-up/expo is) and your car is literally a few hundred feet from the action. The packet pickup volunteers know what they are doing and before you know it you've got your shirt, bib, and swag bag. The warm-up is always enjoyable and I take away a new move each year. This last year they added a silent auction - great idea! Still bummed I didn't win that Disney movie basket. The course is a down-and-back route and is pleasant. There are lots of enthusiastic volunteers along the route, ready to "bead" you with the traditional mardi gras accessory. This race has a timed/competitive 5K, a fun run/non-competitive 5K, and a kid's Mini Madness 1K. You can also get your pooch involved as a 5K-9! If you do both the timed 5K and the fun 5K, you are awarded a Mega Madness goodie. Another improvement with the 2014 race was the finisher's medal. Thanks for the bling, guys! Chris Schauble from KTLA is very involved with SOAR, so you can expect him to be there and emcee the race. I look forward to participating in the 2015 MGM5K! :)

They have moved the start/finish a few miles south to the mall, and it's actually a 5k, 10k and…read morekiddie 1k but still with lots of reasons to join this event. For those in the running community, SOAR (Student's Off And Running) is Students Run LA's well-behaved cousin. This is SOAR's biggest fundraiser with their athletes not walking 5 across or cutting you off during the race, but instead providing race support. Water tables, bead throwers and just general cheering comes from their members. The course is 99% on the Santa Clarita trail system with a mix of asphalt, concrete and gravel. Cheering support is minimal (its a 5k & 10K so no biggie) but easy parking, painless packet pickup and the Red Bull girls handing out samples made me one happy runner! You can find lots of discount codes which will bring this race under the $30 level, a rarity with today's race fees. That will get you a decent goodie bag ,tech shirt, medal and knowing you're supporting a great charitable group. See you at the start next year!

The Color Run was so much fun!…read more This was my second 5K and there was a lot of people who participated. Parking was a little hectic due to traffic but we easily found a spot in the parking garage in downtown Ventura. Walking over to the race at the fairgrounds was easy. It was exciting to see everyone dressed in crazy colors and costumes. I felt like I was at a mini rave lol It was rough going uphill on the incline in the beginning but a breeze running down the incline towards the middle of the race. We received water bottles halfway and were provided nut bars and beef jerky at the end. I was forewarned by a previous color runner to not breathe when getting tossed and splashed with powder dye throughout the race and it helped because some people were choking on it since it clouded everything. My favorite part was finishing the race at the end where my friends and I joined the crowd at the stage and the DJ was playing dance music. He initiated us to toss our package of dye (that we received at the end of the race) when he dropped the bass and it created a colorful swarm of craziness in the air going with the music. It felt like that exhilarating moment when you go surfing in a wave and it entraps you but you still feel free (even though I've never tried surfing but that's what I imagine it to feel like LOL). Definitely recommend this 5K! :)

My husband and I are looking forward to participating in our first Color Run!…read moreApparently, this is suppose to be the "happiest 5k" ever...so the expectations have been set high! Let's see if they meet expectations tomorrow. :) Just wanted to put in a note here about the communications (primarily email) that have been coming from the organizers of this run; and it's pretty good. I've gotten at least 4+ emails in a span of 1-2 months leading up to this event, so I know what's happening and what to prepare in advance. I'll be back to update my review post-event, to share all the fun we had! (hope I'm not jinxing myself here)

First mud run and now a fan! My dad signed me and JL up and we were really worried about the…read morebacteria and possible infections from the mud. JL had a friend that got an infection from some other mud run (not affiliated with this event) . Happy to say we ended up freeeeee from infections (Coming to America reference) but with a ton of sore muscles. Good pain, of course. The obstacles were a lot more difficult than we expected, so be warned. Every time we thought the course was close to being finished, we saw another canyon or obstacle that needed to be tackled. You'll end up helping others through getting over obstacles, as some of them were pretty challenging. Of course, there were also the fun kind, like the big water slides and the really surprising false-bottom ditch at the end. That was really fun to watch people walk all tough and then be humbled by the drop. Of course, there were downsides. The mud had kind of a funky/rural smell, but we got over it pretty fast. Just keep your mouth shut and try not ingest it. The wood climbing walls were tricky, in that some of the step boards were missing and I was worried about splinters. Ouch! My elbows, knees, and shins got all banged up due to the obstacles, but it was my own fault for not wearing arm and leg covers. Finally, parking was $10 cash and the nearest ATM was at one of the gas stations by the freeway exit about 15 minutes away. Come prepared and bring cash. Overall, we had a great time and tested our limits, Would love to do another one in the future.

That was a great event! I bought a Groupon for $37.50 per person for this mud run. Parking was an…read moreadditional $10 or $15 if you wanted to park closer to the start line. Not worth the extra $5 in my opinion. They had live music with a DJ spinning all sorts of music. A booth to check in and get your bib, a food truck, beer vendor, Rockstar energy drinks vendor, free t-shirts and drinks, and picnic tables. The food truck was too expensive! Standard burgers cost about $9. I brought my gym protein and drank that after the run instead. The event had 30 obstacle courses! It was challenging, but a lot of fun too. The trail was set up with great instructions to guide the runners without getting lost or confused. Great job to the team for putting this event together. One thing really bothered me! There were two young kids giving away Rockstar energy drinks at the finish line and at the same time puffing on cigarettes! They were blowing smoke in the direction of the runners coming out of the last obstacle course and that really ticked me off. I care about my health, as do most of the people at the event so having smoke blown into our face at the finish line was a slap in the face. Taking a star away from the event for not paying closer attention to this. Other than the two clueless smokers, this was a very enjoyable event.

I'll write a more in-length review later, but for now…read more.. Super flat out-and-back course which was really nice but at the same time had some not-so-pristine moments (roadkill...stinky water treatment plant...stuff like that). THE MOST AMAZING post-race snack table ever! I mean seriously. Someone posted a picture of it, and it really deserves 6 stars. This race isn't getting 5 stars because: A) having to pay for parking (THANK YOU to the parking gate guy who worked with me when I couldn't pony up the full bill!) B) I had to pay extra to pick up my packet on the morning of. Not sure where the "VIP area" that was included in my $20 extra charge was supposed to be, but, either way I wasn't going to be able to drive from Lancaster to Ventura two days in a row to so the extra $20 was a necessary evil. C) The final mile was a mess. I'm chugging along trying to tell myself to just keep running, but the course at that point was on the beach path where people were just meandering. It was a struggle to stay in the game and keep focused while dodging strollers and random beachgoers. All in all, I might just have to do this race again next year!

Such a great course to run. Whether you're a seasoned runner or this is your first half marathon,…read morethis race is sweet. This is my second time running the Ventura half marathon, the course changed a bit to make it easier at the finished line. Now is mostly all down hill. Process of signing up is quick and easy. They are great at maintaining you in the loop on updates as the date gets closer. Parking at the fairgrounds was so close to the finish line and $5 was a steal. You get a nice shirt, medal, a bag and some protein goodies as your swag bag. Also, Nuun water and honey stinger where provided through out the run (at designated aid stations). Afterwards you can get your free breakfast ( waffles, pineapple, strawberries- just make sure they're not in your teeth before you take a picture like I did ) pretzels and beer, haha. Walk around some of the tents and visit with local businesses. Check out mile 26 for all your running everything. Photo ops, too. Get your BQ at the full marathon.