The Midnight Mission's mission is simple: To offer a bridge to self-sufficiency for homeless people…read morethrough counseling, education, training, and job placement, while also making available life's necessities: food, shelter, clothing, personal hygiene needs, and medical care. Now, this is definitely a charity I'm wholeheartedly on-board with. I mean, if you really want to help those in need, help those who help those in need. Places such as The Midnight Mission are really doing the work: they, in fact, served over one-million meals last year! My running for them, then, is the least I can do. So the run... This one burns! Although for whatever reason not quite 6.2 miles (at least according to my Garmin) this run through Hahamongna Watershed Park requires some grit. You'll love the trees and the shade and the greenery and serenity, but it takes work to get through this. It's hilly, a climb at times. And while it's a great trail--one that resembles more of what you'd expect on a hike--you must keep an eye out: divots; potholes; rocks and loose gravel; and very slim, one-laned routes. But, again, the park's beautiful. It's peaceful. And the run: energizing! This 5K/10K run was The MIssion's 2nd Annual (for this scenic run, stick to the 10K) and I hope to be included again next year! Mine -- 1:02:08.770 Placing -- 142/197 =]

I ran this race in 2011 and 2012 (both 10K distances), and am signed up again for 2013 as part of…read moreTour de Fit, however, only for the 5K. This year they have added a new option, a 10-miler course. The weather has historically been very hot, and I had somewhere else to be this morning so I couldn't commit to a longer distance...so I did the 5K and opted for the participant's medal rather than upgrade to a technical tee. Also, the 5K course was quicker and avoided the Tower Bridge altogether (which I have had enough of at Biggest Loser 5K and Shamrock'n Half this year already, thankyouverymuch). The race start allowed for lining up according to pace but I didn't see any actual pacers or group leaders at least for the 10-mile folks. All distances (5K, 10K, 10-mile) started at the same time which was crowded. The first mile was fine, but coming back up the bike trail along the river was hard because the trail was so narrow. Add in jogging strollers and you could only have about three runners across with not much room to pass without going on the grass (river side) or gravel (train tracks side). Not much shade either. Thankfully after that downhill parallel to I-5, the 10K+10 milers and 5K runners split courses at the entrance to Old Sac (they went across the Tower Bridge while we hit the cobblestones up the hill again toward mile 3) and it was smooth sailing from there. One more U-turn loop and boom you were back at the finish line in no time! 5Ks are fun and fast, and good to sprinkle in between my halfs (halves). Cap City is ok by me. The 10-mile sounds intense.

I didn't enjoy the race because it was too hot. During the run, I felt sluggish. Yes, the weather…read morecannot be controlled, but I didn't particularly like the course. There were minimal amounts of shade. I kept looking into the horizon to see if there was any shade coming up for a bit of relief to little avail. The race starts/ finishes at Crocker Park. A part of the course was along the Sacramento River. On the other side of the river were railroad tracks. A train passed by and the kids waved to the conductor. Speaking of kids, there were a lot of them running in the 5k and not just the Fun Runs.

Good if you want to experience the beer festival but not so much if you're here to experience a…read morerace. The race itself was poorly organized and executed. There are a few different distances to choose from: half marathon, 10k, and 5k, and a 1-mile which is differentiated by the bib color. The start times for each are not staggered enough so there is a lot of overlapping between the different distances which all go on the same course at some point. It was really confusing as there were no arrows and no mile markers. Some runners ran the wrong way and ended up doing more miles because the course was not clearly marked. There was a 1 miler that goes around the finish line and the course was to go the opposite way of the finish line; it was really confusing and I almost ran the wrong way to follow them as I finished. There were volunteers out there that would help guide the runners to the correct direction based on the bib. Some volunteers were great in guiding, others not so helpful so it was really confusing on which way to go. I did the half marathon. It's stroller friendly so I ran it with a double stroller. There is a part that is a bit bumpy by the trail next to the DGS building but it was short. I did enjoy the route that this half marathon offered. It was different than the usual course around Sacramento. The course goes towards Drake, Old Sacramento, and Discovery Park. Some areas are a bit iffy so on a regular day, I don't usually run in those areas so it was nice being able to experience it. There is a bit of looping to make up miles. The courses are not closed so they'll be other runners, bikers, and walkers on the course. It would have been nice to have signs out for a special event since there were some aggressive bikers at Discovery Park. There are also no road closures since the race isn't big enough. The race amenities were advertised as way more glamourous than they really are. The customizable bibs just have a blank spot for you to write on. The 7 oz tasting glass was plastic. There's free race photos but I only saw the photographer once at the start line. This is the first race I've done (and I've done many) that did not provide any food or even a water bottle post-race. There was no water at all at the finish and only sparking water if you went in the beer garden. Speaking of water, the aid stations ran out of cups so runners had to waterfall for a gulp of water. This was a first for me. I like their mission of supporting the local beer community and drinking locally but being built around a race, it was not carried out very well. I don't think I'll do this race again unless the weather is good and I'm wanting to do a half marathon with the stroller.

If you're feeling antsy and am looking for a great way to burn off that extra energy....go run in…read morethe Folsom Lake Run Series!! Held at Beals Point in Folsom, CA, it offers a 3.1 mile run, 7 mile run and an 11 mile run. They had a nice set-up in place and if you didn't pre-register, no worries! Plus, the best part is, they give free B-12 shots! The run is actually out on the trails, so there will be some uphill/downhill and it was quite muddy when I went, but it just makes it more fun. Bonus? They provide free food and raffle prizes at the end.....yah for Rubios and Freebies!

Background: The race is an annual event organized by Golden…read moreValley Harriers- a Davis running club. It's an international exchange race with their sister city, Inuyama, Japan and several runners from Inuyama came to run the race. This explains their race logo, which is the Japanese character for RUN in calligraphy. Money raised is given to local running programs including the local high schools. Used shoes were also collected for the Short Term Emergency Aid Committee. Parking was not an issue. It was a smaller race- less than a 1,000 runners. The registration was $27, which included a tech t-shirt. The race was held at the Davis Commons. Taiko drummers were present at the beginning of the race. The course was narrow at some parts, but I'm glad it was well shaded. Afterwards, Whole Foods Market provided runners with a light breakfast. Race results were posted shortly after the race as well as photos, which you can download for free. It was an enjoyable race overall.

My third year running the Labor Day races, but the first time at the 10K distance! My running buddy…read morewon two comped race registrations from a Whole Foods raffle so she asked me to join her in the 10K. I always love the tech shirt designs and the race organization in general. The construction of the Davis Commons parking lot was a drag, with the race start/finish moved from its original spot by Bath and Body works. I didn't have a good view of the taiko drummers or hear the announcer recognize the runners from Japan. The 10K started before the 5Kers but the start lineup by pace was still crowded along the bike path. Garbage truck ahead of us on the residential route along Cowell was...challenging olfactory-wise, as was the stretch past Albany where the birds nest and...defecate. However, the new solar apartments was a nice way to cross Drummond to get over to Willow Creek Park. I'm kind of sad we didn't use the I-80 pedestrian overpass from there though. Volunteers were amazingly peppy. The 5K leaders totally passed me up before the course split. I was pretty slow paced since by the time I crossed the finish line, the kiddies were lined up for the start of their race. D'oh! The Whole Foods-provided breakfast (yogurt, cereal, fruit, etc.) never disappoints, as well as coupons for 2 for 1 deli sandwiches or a free box of Popsicles. I didn't win the random bib number raffles though. A good way to spend the holiday...getting up early to drive to the city I work in, to run 6.2 miles...haha.

For a large event, the parking and check-in process was as smooth and easy and it gets. Everything…read morewas clearly marked and there were plenty of volunteers to guide anyone that had a question. We had planned to run this in costume but a freak injury caused me to run it alone and naked. Ok, not actually naked but emotionally naked. Considering this was my first mud/obstacle course, I had some anxiety about having to go solo. I'm a runner, so I wasn't worried about endurance. I was concerned about my upper body strength. I had no problem at all. To be honest, it was a bit too easy for me. It took me a little under an hour to complete the course. There was one obstacle, a board at a 90 degree angle with a rope, I was fine until the rope ran out. Luckily, a nice gentlemen ahead of me turned around, grabbed my hand and allowed me to get a footing on the top. There were 24 obstacles on this course. A lot of them were hills, mud, low walls, tunnels, tubes, barbed wire & logs. The more challenging obstacles were the high walls near the end. The trench hops were pretty scary, you do not want to fall down in there. The best obstacle was the suislide into the mud, so fun! There was a bit of a wait for the communal showers but it took awhile to get all the mud off, so it was expected. They have a huge area to hang out in after the race. Complete with food, a live band, bounce houses and a mechanical bull. My tips: Be comfortable with lifting your own weight over obstacles and wear a swimsuit under spandex clothing. Bring: antibacterial liquid (there is no where around the porta-potties to wash your hands), sunscreen, a change of shoes, handy wipes and an older towel. I can't wait to be back next year, in costume!

More fun than tough, this one is for any adventure runner! The fast ones do it in 30 minutes. An…read morehour is average. 2 hours if you need to. Some ran, some walked. People are breathing hard while other are laughing. I got sidelined by a foot injury, but I'll be back for the next go round! Post race is refreshments, clean up, beer, and music. Good times people!

The Inaugural Biggest Loser 5K RunWalk ("Get Fit, Get Ready!") race came to Sacramento...West…read moreSacramento, technically. Whether or not you keep up with whatever season of the TV show we're up to these days, you should at LEAST know that people lose hundreds of pounds to win the title. FYI, a ton is like, 2000 pounds, so it wouldn't be right to say they're losing tons of weight unless you consider the group of contestants as a whole. Anyway, instead of just letting America sit on their couches and watch the TV show give tips on eating right and working out, they decided to start organizing races across major U.S. cities, ranging from 5Ks, 10Ks, obstacle/mud courses, and half marathons for REAL PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND ME to sign up for, participate and have a good time not being afraid of healthy exercise activities. Honestly I hadn't planned on doing this race (I already had Lucky Run in Davis as well as Shamrock'n) BUT my mom just lost 30+ pounds and her first "practice" run was the Elk Grove 5K Fun Run put on by the Running Zone, and this Biggest Loser Race was a very fitting first "official" race for her to do. I had to come out and support...although I probably could have taken it easier. The Race: Biggest Loser RunWalk e-mail newsletter provided discount codes for registration (the one we used was around the New Year's Resolution time) and all FAQs were answered there or on their website. Packet pickup was held at Fleet Feet Sacramento and the technical shirts (INCLUDED with race registration, no upgrade needed) were a wonderful orange color (representing the winning team from this season, the Orange Team) with bright green shamrocks/clovers on them and a prominent one on the back with Fleet Feet Sports emblazoned at center. The race start/finish was at Raley Field. We got there early for parking purposes, and much like I experienced the next day at Shamrock'n, the real bathroom stalls and enclosed stadium upper level were great to keep us out of the cold as we waited for the race to start. It really was a great morning for a run. From outside Raley Field we crossed the Tower Bridge gateway, through a little stretch of Old Sacramento, up the road parallel to I-5S, along the river bike trail, up R Street past the Capitol Mall, and eventually back across the Tower Bridge to finish ON THE FIELD. Live music/bands were great, volunteers enthusiastic with signage and cheer, official race course runner photos were available FREE to download, complete with "Biggest Loser" overlay and high quality, indexed by bib number. Also included in reg was a heavy duty, colored enamel MEDAL for all participants (even the ribbon was custom printed to say "Sacramento" with clovers). Yeah, walking up the bleacher seats from the finish line was a rough "cooldown" but every runner got a banana, pretzels, almonds, etc. divvied up in baggies distributed at the concession windows. Didn't see Dinger but you could also take photos with the winners of the BL season, with the official BL backdrop, the infamous scale from the show's weigh-ins, and more. If this was my first 5K race ever, I would have fallen in love with running (and started with high standards). It was St. Patrick's Day weekend, which means the costumes were all-out and music pumping to set the energetic feel. Hopefully they come back next year, and maybe with more distances to offer!

I'm not big on sports or Giants, but I'm down to do a race if there's a medal involved. It was cool…read moreseeing runners from other cities come do this race because of their love for the Giants though. We made it to the race just on time, but due to one start time for 5k and 10k, it took awhile to cross the start line. The course was relatively flat. It ran along the Sacramento River and ended at Raley Field. The only complaint I have is having to go up the stairs after the finish line. The race was a good way to start the day.

I am so disappointed with this race. I will never do this again. It's dangerous because they…read moredon't stagger. 10K runners are put in dangerous conditions where they can actually get injured from the lollygaggers and people who where headphones walking. I shouldn't just day 10K but anybody serious about their running. This is not a race for us. Most of all I am disappointed that no dogs were allowed to finish. They couldn't stop from the race (public streets) but the finish line they did. Why I have no clue. The field was blocked. Dirt just dirt. Really to all the dog lovers ban the Rivercats. They are not dog friendly. My dog is my inspiration and they denied her. She's very well trained and was more respectful then most of the people that were there. I won't do this race again. Not just because of my dog it's dangerous to serious runners. To those who do enjoy yourselves and be safe'