This was my very first triathlon and it was fantastic!…read more 1. Race is very organized. Volunteers are spectacular and clearly know what's going on. Post race BBQ was delicious. 2. Location is BEAUTIFUL. I can't believe I had never been to Bass Lake until this past weekend for the triathlon. This little gem is tucked away near Oakhurst, just south of Yosemite. 3. Course is challenging but scenic. You are at an elevation with rolling hills for the run and bike portion. The lake temperature is perfect. I can't wait for next year! Thanks to everyone that was a part of the Bass Lake Triathlon!

I LOVE love LOVE this race! It has something for everyone....ultra marathon, regular marathon, two…read moredifferent half marathons that you can enter into as a walker or runner, and even one that you can split in half and do as a team relay (two person). The accompanying events (a fitness expo and after race amenities) are awesome....as is the organization (plenty of port-o-potties, water stations, etc). And with each racer receiving a shirt, and finishers receiving sweat shirts, medals, brownie sundaes, breakfast, massages, and a trip to the wine/beer garden after (I'm always too tired to enjoy this), this is one of the most swag-rich races in the state. Of course, having it in my own "backyard" doesn't hurt. I've done the race twice in the past, and look forward to bettering my time next year, and the year after that!

Two Cities Eye-Q Marathon and a Half was the most exciting marathon in California yet. Dean…read moreKarnazes was a phenomenal speaker and motivator. It was definitely a treat to have him as our guest speaker. I don't think many of us know or understand his accomplishments. The man is legendary. Overall, I thought the course was fairly flat and fast. It's a small race ( 200-250 Ultra, 400-450 Full, 3800 Halfs, and many many relays. (6,000 runners / walkers with 1,500 volunteers) This marathon is quite new to Fresno. This was just its 3rd running, so you can imagine how many newbies are here. I don't mind it but I'd wish they knew common etiquette. I do, however give kudos to all who have tried running, supported, and volunteered for this event. Without it, it would be meaningless. I was impressed on how well it was run, although, I felt some of the organizer could of done better. I also really appreciated that the marathon only cost $90 ($75 half, $65half relay) and had the best swag. I got a long sleeve black / blue technical shirt, a racing cap, a finisher's medal and a sweatshirt! Not to mention all the goodies after the race... Definitely, a recommendation to all new runner due to course, it's not challenging at all unless you do the Ultra. My advice- train better (w/ a pace setter, a team), smarter with technology, , mentally, physically, emotionally, and diligently. Slow and steady wins the race. "Drive less, run more, and save the planet for tomorrow." - Stanley K For other marathons throughout California, check out: http://www.halfmarathons.net/race_calendar_california.html OR around the world: http://www.halfmarathons.net/ For a good read: pick up The Courage to Run - "A guide to running for your life" by John " The Penquin" Bingham ( Great for anyone starting off ) or: Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen ( Ideal for intermediate ) Are you 50 miles in 50 days...ready? :) Hoorah! Good Luck! And please don't think Fresno suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), because most days, we don't! :)

This was one of the location races I wanted to check off my bucket list, and it did not disappoint…read more Who wouldn't love visiting and running through beautiful Yosemite to Bass Lake. We stayed at the Best Western Plus st Oakhurst and caught the shuttle in the morning about a 10 minute walk away, that took us to the start line. We started timely and the course was beautiful. I would say the first 5 miles were the hardest because I did not train for trail running, but I wasn't trying to PR so I was just taking my time and enjoying the scenery. All in all, if you love location races, I would definitely recommend this race. The only thing I would have done different was to go to the expo a little later in the day. I arrived pretty much when they opened and some of the vendors were not set up yet. No food vendors were up and no smore's section was set up yet. I saw some of the vendors arriving as I was leaving.

Getting there: To get to the start line, we had to drive to…read moreYosemite High School and get shuttled to the start line, which took about an hour via shuttle. No, you are not able to drive to the start. Experience: This was my first half, or even race in general and it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Our wave time was at 6:00 AM I believe and from our campsite as bass lake, we were 30 mins away from Yosemite High School, where shuttles take racers to the start line. The shuttles were over an hour late causing us to miss our start time. At first we thought this was going to be a big deal, but when we arrived to the start we realized it didn't matter. We were able to finish the race in about 3 hours and 30 minutes, beating the sweep time of 4 hours. Tips: - Get to the shuttles early. It takes an hour to get to the start and parking gets crazy at the high school. Plus, the shuttles were not on time.

(Half #19, 2015) The…read morename says it all! It was a half marathon, and--paired with heat and two mighty hills--it was hell! Well, hell, it was only about 95°F at peak, still incredibly hot and not a cloud in the sky; but it wasn't as bad as it could have been, I guess. By around 10am, the temperature had just reached the low 80's. But I'm telling you, those two hills--those upward climbs beneath the relentlessly beating sun--took their toll. You've no one to blame but yourself, though. You knew what you were getting into. Nevertheless, I'd come prepared: I purchased a hydration pack, slipped on a pair of shades, and hit the road just moments before the sun had risen above the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. The swag is awesome, by the way: * Gender specific tech shirt ** "Hell of a Half" Finisher's Medal (finishers only) *** Spenco Sandals ($50 Value) **** Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle ***** Running Visor (for those who sign up early) ****** Hot breakfast at the finish line ******* Disposable Chip Timing ******** Personalized Race Bibs (early registrants) And that's not all. If you've decided to challenge yourself in Exeter, you'll certainly want to have registered for Sole2Soul's Race Series: along with running "Hell of a Half," you'll also want to run the "Heavenly Half" in Auberry and end with the "Judgment Day" Half in Bakersfield. Completing all three races in the same calendar year offers even more awards: ***** Soul Series Medal **** Soul Series Jacket *** VIP treatment at "Judgment Day" ** Name announced as a Series Finisher at "Judgment Day" * Race Medal Holder I've run to date both Heaven and Hell. Judgment Day is around the corner! And I have to say that this series, Sole2Soul's--has easily been one of my definite favorites.

Opening day/night of The Big Fresno Fair (note you must have a clear bag now instead of a purse or…read morebackpack, but they'll give you a tiny complimentary one if you don't have one). I'm missing the horse racing though (as they don't have horse racing this year). I really enjoyed that part of the fair so hopefully they'll bring it back next year. IDK? I'm here tonight to see Joan Jett in concert. So far spent, $20 parking,$15 entrance fee, $11 for a plastic cup of J. Lohr Cab and $15 for a Corn Dog. & $9 for Elote corn... Oh, and I ran into Jack Sparrow ;D

Took the boys with me this year, as my eldest daughter ventures off with her friends on the rides…read more My daughter sends me a video of some girls fighting in line to go on a ride. Of course anything for the kids because for them price isn't a concern. They enjoyed every moment of it just being out and about with the scene. I helped myself to some local whipped honey and bee pollen. The corn dog and curly fries brick was about $25 and the grilled corn was $7. The sea lion show attracted many people and a lady going around with bubbles had the kids jumping with joy, my toddler enjoyed both. If you look past the food, there's still much to enjoy. I just got food items that my kids would enjoy. I'll be going to the RnB Concert this week so we will see how that goes, I kind of scoped if there was any new vendors. I think I'll just be going for the usual smoked turkey leg and sticky cinnamon roll:)