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Posts tagged ‘medal’

The Color Run (All-Star 5k)

I recently ran The Color Run a.k.a the happiest 5k on the planet and it was a blast!  I will start off by saying that I ran this race for free (more on that later) and it was held in a much more scenic location than last year – at the Waterfront Downtown!  It was also held a little bit earlier this year so that it could be in conjunction with the MLB All Star Weekend events.  The only downfall to all of this was parking.  Parking downtown is usually a drag and this day was no different.  It took me almost 20 minutes to find a spot, but I found a free one fairly close. And I even parallel-parked…like.a.boss. Holla!

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So on to the race.  Since I spent a little extra time looking for parking, I ended up running in the 8:00 am wave, which wasn’t so bad cause everyone seemed fun and I also ran with a fellow Stroller Warrior as well as my mini.  There was a DJ close to the start line getting everyone pumped and throwing out t-shirts and whatnot.  He couldn’t throw very well so I suggest he obtains one of those tshirt canister gun things for next year.  It would also make him look a whole lot cooler.  The race pretty much started on time and we were off!

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The course was a big loop through the Embarcadero and downtown.  It started off a little crowded as we were navigating through narrow pathways along Seaport Village, but it eventually widened up and I was able to pass others pretty easily.  The first stop was blue, then green with a water station and very enthusiastic volunteers.  The water stations also played heart-pumping music which really made the race feel like a party.

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I didn’t get too blasted at these stations although one of the blue volunteers did pelt me in the face and ear pretty good.  They also were very cautious not to throw any in my daughter’s face and she loved going through all of the color stations.  The next stop was orange and then we finished with pink before crossing the finish line.

We were greeted at the finish line with medals and extra color packets to throw around and directed towards a water/Gatorade station.  Then it was party time!  There was a large stage with a DJ (one that I actually liked) keeping the energy flowing with dance music and extra swag opportunities. There were also lots of photo ops with various props and signs as well as food trucks and even a cell phone charging station!  It was definitely a nice touch!  The Runicorn made an appearance along with the Anthony Sullivan – The OxiClean guy!

The event wrapped up around 11am and then it was time for the party to end. 😦 Overall, I really enjoyed this race much better than last year’s.  The location was much more scenic compared to last year’s race in the Qualcomm stadium parking lot.  There also seemed to be a lot more photo props and food choices.   I snagged a gourmet chocolate popsicle for $3 from Steel City Pops and it was delightful!

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Also, the race course was actually 3.1 miles which is great because last year it was less than 2.5.  The only bummers were the parking issues and there were more color stations at least year’s event.  I’m not much for gimmick runs, but I have fallen in love with the Color Run and will definitely do it again in the future!  It’s a great event for the whole family and a good excuse to get messy and go to a party at 8am!

*So, how did I run the race for free?  I volunteered at packet pick-up the day before the race!  It actually was a lot of fun as it felt more like a pre-party since everyone picking up their packets was super excited about the event and I really just felt positive vibes all around.  Packet pick-up was at The Headquarters in Seaport Village and I took a 4 hour afternoon shift.  Things got pretty hectic as it seemed like everyone came at once, but it was a well organized event and the craziness made the time go by super fast.  We were rewarded with water, snack bars, and a free race entry!  You can even volunteer with your kids so I recommend it if you are trying to save some money on race fees!  It’s also a great way to help out with an awesome event or obtain some volunteer hours even if you don’t plan to run in the race.

Now, what was the SWAG?!

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I will say, last year’s swag was a bit more exciting…but I still prefer this year’s event.

~A clear bag to protect your valuables from the color during the race

~A sweet headband

~A soft, stretchy tshirt (they are one of the few shirts I actually like to wear)

~Color Packets

~Tattoos

~Water cups – okay this isn’t really swag, but I thought these were the most adorable water cups!

~Sunglasses – Note: I paid $5 for these but I decided to splurge a little since I wasn’t paying for the race.

~A beautiful medal

~Amazing weather and awesome scenery!

And running with friends makes the Color Run that much sweeter!  Especially running with another Stroller Warrior!

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“Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof…” (Pharrell Williams)  Now that song can be stuck in your head, too. 😉  You’re welcome.

See you at the next event!

~SM

 

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The Super (Hero) Run

Last month, I ran the Super Run in downtown San Diego.  I learned about the run through Living Social so I only paid about $15 for this run.  It was advertised as a family friendly fun run with a scenic course along the Marina district and Seaport Village in downtown San Diego. Costumes were encouraged and the event benefitted the Down Syndrome Association of San Diego.

Packet pick-up was the day before at Road Runner Sports.  I was unable to attend, but I heard it was pretty chaotic with long lines and disorganization.  Parking the day of the race was a bit tricky because downtown parking is always a pain; however, I know of a secret parking lot so that made things a lot easier. 😉  I ran this race with my 3-year-old daughter and my friends from my Stroller Warriors group.  Fun runs are always way better when you do them with friends.  It was a pretty crowded event on a narrow pathway, so passing people was not easy!

This was not a timed event, which was a good thing because there were times that you were forced to walk due to the large crowds in the small areas.  I even saw a couple holding hands while walking during the race, so I would not consider this a competitive event by any means.

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It definitely was an excuse to dress up like a super hero and walk/jog with some family and friends.  Since I had to walk during many parts of the run, I was able to take lots of pics!  It was a gorgeous day and there was lots of beautiful scenery so get ready for photo overload!!!

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There were lots of signs throughout the course directing us to the right path and also some friendly and enthusiastic volunteers cheering us on along the way.  After the run, we snagged our medals and met up with the other ladies and kiddos from our group.  We headed over to the vendor area where there was a big bounce house for the kids to jump around and let out some more energy.  There was also a DJ that played fun music and tried to keep with energy going, but I never really saw anyone on the dance floor.  These poor 5k DJ’s just don’t seem to get any love. 😦

I almost forgot to mention my favorite part of the race…and that was getting to wear these dope socks!!

 

Overall, this was definitely a FUN run and I would do it again with my kids and friends!  I do wish that it had been a bit more organized and maybe on a wider course, but it wasn’t bad for the price.  So what was the SWAG?!

~ A cute medal

~A rad cape

~A couple of coupons

~Sweet scenery

See you at the next run! 🙂

~SM

 

 

 

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The Mardi Gras Run!

Last weekend I participated in the Mardi Gras run (a Wiz Event) and it was definitely a fun, but smaller event.  This race had 4 options: 15k, 10k, 5k run, and 5k walk – I chose the 5k run.  The 5k was $40 and I used a $5 off discount code which brought the total with tax back to about $40.  I don’t normally spend this amount on a race, but I love Mardi Gras (I’m from Southern Mississippi) aaannnd the medal is pretty dope.  Wait til you see 😉

The race was advertised as a “big celebration with jazz music and more great tunes”.  I would say it was more of a mediocre get together with a retired DJ.  You tried your best Mr. DJ, I give you a gold star. 🙂  The event was held at Hospitality Point in the Mission Bay area.  Parking was free and it was fairly easy to find a decent spot.  The venue was a bit smaller than expected, but the course was scenic and easy to follow.  Much to my surprise, however, there were only three Porta Potties along with one women’s bathroom and one men’s bathroom.  I really anticipated more bathrooms given this was expected to be such a huge celebration.

 

The course had nice support from the volunteers and water along with beads and leis were offered at the halfway mark.  The DJ kept up the energy as each finisher crossed and we were met with medals and water as well as bagels, peanut butter, and bananas.

There were a few vendors, but again I expected a bit more…and there was a photo booth along with a food truck offering authentic New Orleans cuisine. Some participants dressed up in festive costumes so I really enjoyed the vibe of this race, but was definitely expecting a bigger celebration.  I felt that there could have been a bit more energy (this is supposed to be Mardi Gras after all) and maybe even some activity stations for the kids.  I didn’t order anything from the food truck because I wasn’t really craving fried food at 9am after running 3 miles and food was not included in the registration price.

I did try a sample of the Arctic Zero frozen dessert.  I tried the salted caramel flavor and was surprised at how tasty it was since it was…are you ready…lactose free, gluten free, GMO free, fat free, and Kosher.  Basically it was made from swan saliva and unicorn blood, but it wasn’t bad.

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Also, let me just say…the organizers of this race clearly have never been to an actual Mardi Gras celebration as there was not one drop of alcohol in sight! Overall, I would say it was a well-organized race with a decent attempt at recreating a Mardi Gras party, but sadly it fell short in the celebration area.  I do feel that it could be improved and I hope to see a much bigger celebration in future years.

So what was the SWAG?

Your eyes are not deceiving you…That is a light up jester hat!

Shirts were offered for an extra $10 so I passed on that one.

A string of beads and a lei.

Free professional pictures.

Beautiful scenery cause I always count that as swag.

And a rad medal.  15k participants received the same medal, but with a fancier ribbon.

I would mostly likely do this race again because I’m a sucker for unique medals…but maybe they will at least have Daiquiris at the next one.

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

~SM

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The Color Run! (San Diego)

Well, I experienced my first Color Run (not to be confused with Color me Rad) last weekend and it definitely exceeded my expectations! I wasn’t sure what to expect exactly as I don’t typically participate in gimmick runs, but I thought I would give this one a shot as it’s a pretty hyped up event.  If I only had one word to describe this run, it would be: FUN! It pretty much combined two of my favorite things: running and celebrating.  Just imagine going for a run and then ending it with a big party!  I have run several 5k’s and this was by far the most laid back race with the most energy.  Now, if you are super competitive and like to see your race time published all over the internet, then this race might not be your cup of tea.  But if you are just looking to go for an easy run and experience something new, then this race is right up your alley.

The race is started in waves including a runner’s wave (for the more competitive folks) and a DJ keeps the energy flowing in each corral.  Then you are released and off to each color station where volunteers are more than thrilled to cover you in as much dyed cornstarch as possible.  This particular race included a “shine” station at the end, which was basically just silvery, shimmery cornstarch.  Once you cross the finish, you are given a medal, granola bar, water, and more color packets to keep the fun going.  Then you can head over to any or all of the backdrops for many excellent photo ops.  One of the most exciting parts of the race is the stage that is manned with a DJ and encourages dancing and more color bombing.  Heart-jumping, fist-pumping music is played loudly to provide a great club experience and it almost makes you forget that it’s only 9:30 in the morning.  I ran with my toddler and somehow she managed to sleep through the entire thing!

This is definitely a family-friendly event and I recommend running it with friends (which is what I did) as this is an event that you will not want to experience alone.  I also recommend bringing a towel and keeping your phone and any other precious belongings in a ziplock bag or other protective covering.  Now, with every pro there is a con.  One thing I did not like about this race was the location – Qualcomm Stadium.  It sounds cool because it’s where the Chargers and other college teams play, but running around a pot-hole filled parking lot isn’t exactly ideal.  Also, according to my Garmin, the race was only 2.6 miles which as a runner kind of irked me because it is not a true 5k…but, it’s a “fun” run so I’ll accept it.  I’m not sure if I will do any more gimmick runs as they are not as rewarding for a runner as chip-timed runs; however, I would probably do this run again!

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P.S. The color washed out of my clothes easily and came off the stroller with a quick rinse from the hose.

So, what about the SWAG?

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  1. Color Run shirt – which was very comfortable and I plan to wear it again
  2. Foil tattoo
  3. Sweet colorful headband – (not pictured cause I didn’t want to take it off)
  4. Super awesome medal-for you bling-lovers
  5. Extra color and shine packet
  6. Post-it notes with a coupon
  7. Crystal light packet for water
  8. Kind bar
  9. Water balloons
  10. Various coupons and discount codes for future local races
  11. Reusable clear plastic bag – which could be used to protect your belongings during the race.

Run Happy, my friends! 😉

 

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