Running for Autism Awareness
Last month, I ran the ACT Today! for Military Families 5k/10k for the third year in a row and it did not disappoint! I really love this event for a few reasons: 1. It supports military families and autism awareness. 2. It’s family friendly and offers fun activities for all ages. 3. The course is fast and flat which makes it much easier to push a stroller – and Bonus: There’s even a Stroller Division! So here’s my race breakdown:
Pricing: The pricing ranges from $20-$45 depending on your distance and how early you register. But they do offer a few promo codes throughout the year so be on the lookout! I paid around $30 for the 10k, which is a fantastic deal!
Expo: There are two options for packet pick-up: Pick up at Woodstock Pizza in Pacific Beach the evening before OR pick up the morning of the race. I had a friend pick-up my bib at Woodstock, but picking up the morning of the race is really quick and easy too.
Parking: Free parking is available all around the event location. The later you arrive, the further you will have to park. I parked about .5 mile away in the dirt “Sun Runners Lot” and it allowed me to warm up on the way to the start line.
Race Course: The course runs around Fiesta Island in Mission Bay so it’s a pretty flat and scenic route. The weather was nice this year so it made for an enjoyable run. The 10k starts a half hour before the 5k so that everyone is funneled into the finish line area around the same time. I like that it’s staggered that way and the course was not crowded at all.
Course Support: There were a few water station, energetic volunteers and police officers directing traffic and cheering us on. If you notice in the above pictures, there was one thing missing: Spectators! There were spectators cheering us on around the Finish Line area, but none on the course. It wasn’t a huge deal, since the course was peaceful…but it would have been nice to have that extra energy at times.
Post-race: After you cross the finish line, you are given a medal and a volunteer will remove your timing chip from your shoe. Then you are free to grab water and fruit. This event has a lot of vendors and they were all generous with their products and free samples. There were also some areas for the kids to do crafts or jump in a bounce house. And since it is an event that benefits children with autism – there was also a quiet zone to accommodate children with sensory sensitivities. And like I said in the beginning, there are activities for all ages…meaning: There was also a beer garden! I didn’t get a chance to sample any adult beverages because I had my daughter with me, but it was a packed area so I’m sure it was tasty!
There were also a few contests that included: highest fundraiser, largest team, and best costume. Winners received gift cards and free wine from One Hope Wine.
And some free hugs!
Since this year’s event was held during Easter weekend, there was also an Easter Egg hunt and appearance from the Easter Bunny!
So what was the SWAG?!
I love the color of this year’s t-shirt and the beach ball is still going strong in my house. Not pictured: lots of other drinks and snacks that got consumed before the photo. 🙂 And I always count scenery as swag! Plus the Easter Eggs that were filled with stickers and coupons. Also, Naked Juice is pretty delicious!
And of course, the medal!
I also ran with my running group, Stroller Warriors and because we had such a large group they provided us with a tent, table, and extra snacks! Score! It was nice to have a meeting spot for everyone before and after the race.
Overall, I really enjoyed this race and would totally do it again next year! So grab your family and friends and get prepared to register for next year’s event! Start your own team or begin a fundraiser and you could even win a prize!
See you at the next event! 😉
~SM
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