I love races! I’m addicted to them! It all started about seven years ago when my girlfriend was training with the National Aids Foundation marathon training program to run her first marathon. She was running to raise money for Aids research and the foundation would cover her expenses to run a full marathon in Hawaii. How awesome is that?! I was lucky enough to get to travel to Hawaii with her to cheer her on and watch her accomplish such an amazing feat as completing a full marathon. I thought… If she can do it… SO CAN I! I registered with the National Aids Foundation training program and started training to run my very first marathon in ITALY!
I drove an hour on the weekends to meet with my group in San Francisco where I’d run based on a pace of 12.5 minute miles. We’d work together to keep track of when to walk and when to run and we’d also work to help motivate each other during the week when we’d train on our own.
It worked out that during our training the San Francisco Marathon was taking place and so we opted to have one of our long practice runs take place at the Marathon. We as a group ran the San Francisco Half Marathon and that is when I completed my very first race. Sadly, towards the end of my training, I broke my foot and was unable to attend the race in Italy. I was devastated. I continued to cheer my team on, but eventually lost touch and stopped running as I let life get in the way.
I picked running back up in 2009 when I completed my second half marathon and the rest is history. I’ve since completed a total of 20 races which include full and half marathons and a few 10k & 12K races. It’s something about being at the start line on a Sunday morning with thousands of people… all waiting for the buzzer to sound to release you into the streets of whatever city you’re in to run wild and see what your mind and body are capable of.
Here’s a list of my all time TOP 10 Favorite Races that I think you will enjoy too.
This 12k foot race is one of the most energized, crazy and fun filled runs that I’ve enjoyed running. It brings out people of all ages and let’s you dress up and go wild! Perks to running this race are an Under Armour race t-shirt and a finishers medal. Some years they don’t have the medals, but this year they did and I even took the kids with me. The girls LOVED it and want to do it again with me next year so you can even create new family traditions when running this race.
Bay to Breakers 2014
Second on the list of my top favorite races is the Big Sur Half Marathon. I lived in Monterey for about 6 years while I was in college and it’s one of the most beautiful cities around. You can’t visit Monterey without wanting to live there and I was lucky enough to get that opportunity. If you are ever in the area around November, which also happens to be the areas Indian Summer, then you must register for this race. Below is a description of the race from the website:
The out and back certified course begins on Del Monte near Figueroa Street and heads east on Del Monte Avenue along the Window on the Bay. Runners turn right on Camino Aguajito at the eastern end of Lake El Estero and then make the next right onto Third Street. After crossing Camino El Estero, Third becomes Pearl Street. Runners stay on Pearl until Alvarado where they turn right. At Franklin Street, runners turn right again and then left on Washington, left on Del Monte and pass through the Custom House Tunnel. After emerging from the tunnel, runners veer right onto Foam Street. They take Foam to Drake and turn right again and then left onto Cannery Row. They run the length of Cannery Row and then turn right on Ocean View Blvd. in Pacific Grove. At Fountain Avenue runners turn left and proceed to Lighthouse Avenue in downtown Pacific Grove where they turn right. They take another right at the Pacific Grove Post Office onto Central Avenue. At 17th Street runners turn left and continue down to Ocean View Blvd. and Lover’s Point. The next six miles are run next to the Monterey Bay. Oceanview becomes Sunset Drive just past Asilomar Blvd. Runners will make the turnaround at Asilomar Beach. They will return to Lover’s Point the same way (but in the ocean side lane) and then get on the Recreation Trail. Runners take the Rec Trail back to Cannery Row where they will again run down the Row to Drake. At Drake runners get on the Rec Trail again and take it to the finish at Custom House Plaza.
ENTRY FEE INCLUDES: - A unique ASICS technical fabric t-shirt in gender-specific sizing.
– A ceramic finisher’s medallion by artist Kathleen Kelly
– Bib tag timing by SVE Timing
– Food and drink at the finish
– A free Race Weekend Guide
– A two day Health & Fitness Expo
– Fluids, fuel and sanitary facilities on the course
– Live music and entertainment on the course
5 1/2 months pregnant!
The Surf City Marathon takes place in beautiful Southern California in Huntington Beach. This race is pretty level as you run along the famous PCH, Pacific Coast Highway. I’d run this race again for the medal alone as it is an awesome surfboard medal! This race also holds special significance to me as it was the very FIRST marathon I ever ran! FULL 26.2 miles and my reward was a trip to Rosarito Mexico right after where I ate the best food and got a full body massage and facial. What more could a girl ask for?!
This spectacular oceanfront course is an exclusive Southern California favorite! Run by the famous Huntington Beach pier and continue through scenic Huntington Central Park. Observe native surfers in their natural habitat as you hit the beachfront running path at Bolsa Chica State Beach.
More than 2,000 volunteers and several surf bands will be along the way cheering you on and making sure you have plenty of nourishment and energy! Where else will you get cheers from a surfer?
Course Highlights
- Marathon Start Time 6:30 a.m. – 4 Waves -
4) Salinas Valley 1/2 Marathon
I just ran this race for the first time and I hadn’t trained in over a year anything. I just had my baby… well he’s almost 6 months old now and this was supposed to be my race for motivation to get back into running. Well week after week went by and all of a sudden it was race day. I was petrified that I wouldn’t be able to finish it, but I just kept one foot in front of the other and was able to complete this beautifully scenic run. This is one race that I will run every year because it is so well organized and has a winery of all things at the finish line. The other thing I loved about this race is that they offered coffee and bagels in the morning pre-race and had shuttles and free wine tasting at the finish line. Did I mention that you also get a wine cork finishers medal?! This is sure to be an all time favorite of yours too if you love to run and love wine!
Celebrate the beauty of the Salinas Valley while experiencing the influence of cool coastal air from the Monterey Bay along our rolling 13.1 mile course. Runners and walkers start at the historic Soledad Mission, and then wind through lush row crops and vineyards at the foot of the beautiful Saint Lucia Mountains along Foothill and River Roads. Participants cross the finish line at Pessagno Winery where a spectacular finish festival awaits them. Finish Festival. The course is USATF Certified (certification # CA10002TK).
Celebrate the beauty of the Salinas Valley while experiencing the influence of cool coastal air from the Monterey Bay along our rolling 13.1 mile course. Runners and walkers start at the historic Soledad Mission, and then wind through lush row crops and vineyards at the foot of the beautiful Saint Lucia Mountains along Foothill and River Roads. Participants cross the finish line at Pessagno Winery where a spectacular finish festival awaits them. Finish Festival. The course is USATF Certified (certification # CA10002TK).5) The Dipsea Race
I ran this race as a training run before I ran the San Francisco Full Marathon back in 2010. I had NO idea what I was getting myself into when I signed up for this 14 mile trail run which starts in Mill Valley and ends at Stinson Beach. Then if you want to get crazy you run the DOUBLE Dipsea which circles back to Mill Valley and me being as wild and crazy as I am… I ran the double. I also ran with the scratch group – all men – and waived the timing advantage given to women for running this race. I wanted to be challenged and this race does just that! This made my favorite of it’s history and the beautiful scenic route. From the site;
A Brief History of the Dipsea Race
by Barry Spitz
One summer day in 1904, several members of San Francisco’s venerable Olympic Club set off for the Dipsea Inn, which had just opened on the Pacific Ocean sand spit now called Seadrift.
They took the ferry to Sausalito, then the train to their starting point, the depot in Mill Valley. A wager was made as to who could make it to the Inn first. The challenge proved so exciting that Club members decided to make an annual race of it.
The first Dipsea was held on a rainy November 19, 1905. More than 100 runners registered for what the Examiner proclaimed as “the greatest cross-country run that was ever held in this or any other country.” Oakland high schooler John Hassard arrived at the Inn first, with Cornelius Connelly, one of only two scratch (no head start) runners, second.
In many ways, the Dipsea remains remarkably akin to that first race and a runner from 105 years ago would likely be able to find his way today. In 1907, the course was slightly shortened, eliminating the final run on the sand. From 1965, head starts, formerly individually assigned, became based strictly on age. Women were officially admitted in 1971, although they had been running the race since 1950 and all-women’s Dipseas held from 1918 through 1922 actually outdrew the “men’s” editions.
The first limitations on number of entries and on route selection were placed in 1977. In 1983, the race date was fixed as the second Sunday in June.
In 1993, a Hall of Fame was established to establish some of the race’s legendary heroes, such as Jack Kirk, “The Dipsea Demon,” a two-time winner who ran every Dipsea from 1930 until 2003. Jack Kirk passed away in January of 2007, at the age of 100.
One summer day in 1904, several members of San Francisco’s venerable Olympic Club set off for the Dipsea Inn, which had just opened on the Pacific Ocean sand spit now called Seadrift.
In many ways, the Dipsea remains remarkably akin to that first race and a runner from 105 years ago would likely be able to find his way today. In 1907, the course was slightly shortened, eliminating the final run on the sand. From 1965, head starts, formerly individually assigned, became based strictly on age. Women were officially admitted in 1971, although they had been running the race since 1950 and all-women’s Dipseas held from 1918 through 1922 actually outdrew the “men’s” editions.
I ran this race with one of my best friends for her first race. It was a blast! We dressed up and giggled and played and just had fun at the event. The staff was great and they gave out tiaras as the race medals. If you’re looking for something to do in San Francisco and to help raise awareness and funds for the Aids Foundation then the Big Gay 10k is for you!
All proceeds from the Big Gay 10K, A Run & Walk to Fight AIDS directly support San Francisco AIDS Foundation.
Our mission is to end the transmission of HIV in San Francisco and improve access to care through education, advocacy, and direct services in communities most vulnerable to the disease. We are proud to offer all of our programs at no cost to our clients through the generous support of our many community partners and individual donors. Learn more about the impact your support makes on our work at SFAF.org, or on our Facebook page.
If you want to get dirty and like obstacle courses this is your race! I live nearby so I thought I’d give this a shot and I’m so happy I did because it was a blast. It’s only 3.2 miles so honestly anyone can participate and you don’t need to be a runner to do this. Just go out and have fun with it because that’s what this kind of race is all about!
The Ranch Romp is an exciting, fun-filled day for race and fitness enthusiasts who are looking for a new physical and mental challenge.DescriptionThe event takes place on May 4th, 2013. It is located on the beautiful Pepper Tree Ranch in Hollister, CA, has over 600 acres of undeveloped terrain that will be transformed into 3.2 miles of challenging obstacles, mud pits, water crossings, rope climbing and more mud!
The obstacle course and mud-tastic mud pit will offer you an exhilarating and rewarding adventure that you can experience individually or thru the camaraderie of teamwork. While the course is definitely tough this race will even pull the slothiest of humans off the couch. We expect every type of participant from the elite athlete to the guy who won’t even take the stairs over the elevator. Anyone can do it!
The venue and multi-loop course is perfect for spectator viewing and creates a fun opporrunity to cheer on friends and family as they run, climb, jump, crawl and muscle their way through the obstacles. Racer’s will cross the finish line caked in mud, with a huge smile plastered across their face.
The Napa Valley half marathon is a flat, scenic, out-and-back course starting near the Napa Valley Marriott in Napa, CA. The course starts and finishes near the Napa Valley Marriott at the Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Church, 2590 Trower Ave, and runs on (mostly) flat roads along the Napa Valley. You’ll run past vineyards and see awe-inspiring views of the mountains to your left and right as you run in nearly perfect race conditions.
About
We Run the hills of San Francisco and the streets of DC.
We are here for all of your Run Nike Women Series needs.MissionWE RUN _____
Company OverviewThe Nike Women’s Half Marathon SF will take place on Sunday, October 19th 2014.
For more information please visit:http://www.runnikewomenseries.com/
or send us your questions at runnikewomen@nike.com
DescriptionThe Nike Women Running Series is committed to producing environmentally and socially responsible events and has teamed up with the Council for Responsible Sport to certify the Nike Women’s Half Marathon San Francisco as a sustainable race.
