April: Nike+ She Runs LA 10K

It’s about time the women of the City of Angels got their very own Nike race… Later this month you can run a virtual 10K via Nike+, help a worthy cause (Students Run LA) *and* get to celebrate your 10K run afterward with a big party at the Nokia Theater in Downtown LA.

The 10k virtual run starts on April 27, 2011 at 4:00pm and runs are to be synced via Nike+ within the following 24 hours. A 10K race in the middle of the work week? Why not, I’m hardcore like that – I might even make it a late night run just because…

To register: http://signmeup.com/sherunsla

$35 for students $50 for general public

Race To-Do: Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon & 1/2 Marathon

Run The Strip At Night

This year is my first year running a competitor series event (best known for their Rock ‘n’ Roll races). As such, looks like I am running San Diego, Las Vegas and most likely Los Angeles. These not being an all-inclusive list of all the halves I want to run this year… I am already out a ton of pennies.

Even so, I am utterly *dying* to run Las Vegas. Why? This is their first year doing the 1/2 Marathon and Marathon at NIGHT on the strip! Seems almost worth the initial $121 registration fee.

When: December 4th, 2011

Where: Las Vegas, NV

Registration Link – Registration is currently closed but will re-open March 31st.

Weekend Runaround: Hike Me To The Moon, LA Marathon’s Cheer Alley

Hike Me To The Moon

I’m all about the nighttime running/trail events. There is a new inaugural hike happening at Runyon Canyon this weekend hosted by ROCK TODAY. For $15 you will be taken (in different pace groups) up along Runyon for a scenic sunset hike… all ending with a private party in the hills. Not bad! Tickets must by purchased by Friday the 18th on their eventbrite page in order to attend.

Not running the LA Marathon? Why not go out and support all your friends and favorite celebrities! Some of the most notable celebrities this year: Edward Norton and Flea.

LA Marathon traffic is enough of a cluster eff as it is… so if you are confused as to where to go check out and support your favorite runners start off with heading over to the K-Swiss Cheer Alley as they attempt to break the Guinness World Record™ for ‘Largest Cheerleading Dance.’

I figured since I’m not marathoning this year, I might as well be a part of a record breaking event!

5 Marathons To Try in Los Angeles / Orange County

Me at Malibu Half Marathon

Although Southern California is not known for having a high concentration of runners, there are several world class races to choose from. The great weather year round helps too. Thinking of making Los Angeles or Orange County the place for your destination race? Here are top 5 picks.

Big Sur Marathon – Named one of Runner’s World’s top marathons to run a few years running, this is the most drool worthy course in California.

Surf City Marathon/Half Marathon/5k – One of my personal favorite races. Fast, flat out and back course mostly along PCH. Always sells out with a great race participation vibe.

Catalina Eco Marathon – This is race is on my hitlist. Really challenging trail marathon on Catalina island. (One of the few races in California that can boast about you being able to run with buffalo.)

Malibu Marathon – The course will kill your soul but the views of the beach and the water crashing over the rocks in Malibu will distract you from the pain of your soul dying. I LOVE this course. It’s a cool, hip local race to boot with some awesome locals who run it.

LA Marathon – Running from Dodger Stadium to the Pacific Ocean? Featuring majestic Los Angeles based landmarks this race is a must (plus you might see a celebrity or two).

A Very Los Angeles Christmas To You Too!

I believe I got to see a couple of Los Angeles’ most iconic places through the back-to-back races I ran this weekend.

Saturday I got to run through the Santa Monica and Venice beachfront town and boardwalk.  Though the usual California sunniness was drenched in rainy weather, you still got the sense of  the picturesque, Los Angeles beach-side lifestyle. Sunday was all about the Los Angeles movie industry, as I ran a 10K through movie sets old and new on the Universal Studios backlot. It’s not ALL that Los Angeles has to offer, though I would probably recommend this to people visiting here as a unique way to see those iconic things that Los Angeles is known for.

SM-V Christmas Run IMAG0008

This is what Christmas is like in Santa Monica!

Santa Monica-Venice Christmas Run: So the skies had opened up prior to the weekend, and by Saturday morning, there was some good steady rain, with several sudden downpours. Not great for the freeways here, as my early-morning commute to the beach was marred by two accident sites. Be careful when driving in the rain!! When I finally got to the race, some announcer was putting the racers through yoga moves. There was a lot of talk about the rain, but people were in good spirits. It was not crowded at all, with the crowd feeling closer to that of a neighborhood run. The races are set up as a couple of waves. the 10K was earlier, at 7:30am. I ran the 5K, which started at 9:15am.  The race course took us through the beach house neighborhoods, made up of houses that probably are time-shared more than they are permanent housing. We also ran through downtown, passing by hip restaurants and hip murals. The Venice Boardwalk, normally a river of hippies, tourists, and merchants, was strange to see relatively quiet and empty. Just a few people hanging out, probably wondering what all these crazy people were doing up so early running in the rain. I have to say the volunteer cheering section for this race was sort of half-hearted, but people were still extremely nice. You did get a lot of free samples of bars and snacks and drinks and things. The shirt was a long sleeved tech tee, designed by a big-time graphic designer. If you like courses fast and mostly downhill, you would like this. Oh, and parking was 7 bucks. They were trying to encourage people ride their bikes or take the bus. This actually was not my favorite race. Well organized and friendly yes, but something felt missing. Of course it’s all subjective! I think I would have preferred getting a course with more beach views, though the choice may have been for practical reasons, or a matter of tradition. When I went back to the car, I got a pretty nice view of the wet beach, the classic thatched fencing and the squat little lifeguard house, and the sea gulls and pelicans swooping around.

Just like a tourist! But not! Notice most people are walking. This is the uphill portion of the race.

Just like a tourist! But not! Notice most people are walking. This is the uphill portion of the race.

Say No To Drugs race at Universal Studios Backlot: Oh I liked this one! I like to think they structured this race like a movie. They start off giving you a bunch of great stuff, teasers: you get to run through a bunch movie sets, whetting your apetite for more. It’s all on a nice easy downhill. Then the sets drop off and you’re in movie producer land, those squat little office buildings and assigned parking, with the names of producers like Noah Oppenheim inscribed in order of importance, probably. This part is a little less interesting, but the surrounding moutains/hills are quite beautiful. No rain, but it’s still kind of misty and cloudy. Peaceful. Then comes the conflict, the battle. It’s you and the monster hill! Just when you thought it was bad, it gets worse! Through this climactic period, you’re back running through the movie and tv show sets, but this time it’s all up hill. Oh, they are really teasing you now. Can you really still enjoy the scenery, while also dying from exhaustion? The smart thing to do here is just to stop, stand like a tourist in front of the sets, one of them the Bates Motel sign, and have your friend take a photo of you looking sweaty like you were just running away from a psychotic killer. And finally, right when you thought you could not take it anymore, the FINISH sign emerges from the curved edge of the hill, and suddenly you hear the cheers. And just like that, it’s over! Unless you signed up for the 10K. Then you get to do it again! So yes, this was one of those courses with variety – not just in the scenery, but also in the challenges to the runners. If that’s what you like, then this has lots to offer. Again, it’s a unique way to experience those quintessential things Los Angeles is known for. Btw, the volunteer cheering section throughout the race were rather over-the-top enthusiastic, in such a great way. Not sure how much race directors have control over these types of things, but we happen to have some great cheerers, many of them screaming and cheering us on the way you would a sports team or a rock star. It was kind of crazy, and they were doing it with just as much enthusiasm when I passed them the second time.

So there it is. A couple of races that are just as much about Los Angeles as they are about the holiday season. I hope both these races will be around next year, especially the Say No To Drugs one, which I think isn’t guaranteed to be at Universal Studios every year.

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