I know there is a Yelp for the Amazing Race Los Angeles...but need Amazing Santa Monica Race…read moredeserves it's on little piece of History... How do you describe spending your hard earned money on something that will drive you insane? yelling at others? pissing you off? making you run all around town? talking to strangers...? having people asking you what you are doing.....having a MIME Touch you as your running around in Venice Beach and you !@??#$!# at him...not knowing who he is...or your teamate telling one of the people giving you clues listen here we are really busy right now looking for a clue we can't help you! That was all part of the Amazing Santa Monica Race...that took just about a grueling 5 hours to compete....during the process you don't know what to expect... Bob was a great host, comedian, commentator, etc.... The only downside is the Santa Monica version is pretty new so we didn't have a ton of groups competing...positive side our team wins a medal cuz not enough groups are competing!! Okay 2nd isn't 1st...so I'm still upset! Try it...it's tons of fun!

Santa Monica Amazing Race was THE most fun activity I have done in the greater Los Angeles area in…read moreover the 2 years that I have been a resident. It is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, see the local scenery, and get a light exercise in (depending on how competitive you are). By far worth every penny for the 3-4 hours of sheer entertainment, puzzle solving, and team bonding. The host, Larry, was a true delight making the experience all the more fun and memorable. A MUST DO activity for anyone in the area or visiting! I'll definitely be signing up for the LA race soon.

In benefitting Train 4 Autism and the Culver City Education Foundation (CCEF), this race--now in…read moreits second year--certainly garners strong support! Along with the gracioius donations and heavy sponsorship, runners raised (at the time of this writing) upwards of $59,000. That's big time! And that's what great about getting involved. I mean, you don't have to actually run. You can walk. You can jog. You can "wog," if you like. But the point is that you are getting some exercise, and you're doing it for a worthy cause. (Running for charity is tax deductible, by the way.) Like I said: you could, of course, run. I did. In fact, this chip-timed 10K was my fastest to date: 1:04:44.6. However, there were many others who took a more relaxed approach: they walked, took their time. And on this morning here in Culver City, it was a beautiful morning to do just that. By the time that the 5K began at 8:00am (and the 10K a half hour later) the sun was already shining down upon the Washington Blvd. course, and the temperature was just pushing the upper 60's as runners took their marks. This out-and-back course is flat and fast, and the 10K is a double loop. Generally, I don't favor loops (I prefer scenic stretches) but the run is fun, and it's certainly social: over 1,200 devoted, shoe-laced participants registered, and hundreds of applauding spectators were there in support. Nice job, Culver City! You should be proud! =]

Great 5k and 10k running events (5 stars)…read more The Culver City 5k and 10k events were in its second annual event to raise funds for Train 4 Autism and the Education Foundation for the Culver City schools. -Registration online was quick -Donations were welcomed -Confirmation was quick -Email information was convenient -Facebook info was very nice -Website was really really good with lots of useful information -Morning event was memorable -Bib pick-up was easy -Port-a-Potties centrally located -Pre-race entertainment was fun -Mayor's speech was a little dodgy, but what do you expect from a politician who doesn't run? -Start time was ON TIME for the 5k -Got back just in time for the 10k ON TIME start -5k route was flat and easy and did it in 25:44 -10k route was 2 loops and i ran with friends -Lots of cool runners -Finisher's medal was cute, and I got 2 I really loved this event since it reminds me of a small town feel with about 400 runners. Oh, after I ran both events, and got my two medals, one of the ladies gave me a strange look and asked why I had 2 medals. I told her that I had run both event and showed her both bibs - ha! ha! ha! I definitely would return next year for the 3rd annual Culver City 5k and 10k runs, and run both.

Amazing place to relax by yourself always your family long trails that feel safe…read more #LosAngelesMarathon www.angelhernandezre

If you're a member of a run group in the greater Los Angels area this is a must do as far as relay…read moreraces go. Whether you're racing for competition or just running for fun/social aspect, this event has what people enjoy about group/team running. Despite this race being held during the dreaded heat waves of the July summer in LA, the team atmosphere, & camaraderie of fellow running groups make up for it. The course is pretty challenging, it's starts off at the Old Zoo. The first mile & a 1/2 is all up hill to the peak of Griffith park, then there's about a 2 + mile stretch up top, then finally the last mile & a 1/2 back down. Parking near the old zoo fills up pretty fast, there's a lot more parking near the merry go round but it's a much longer walk especially for those bringing in coolers, chairs, & canopies to set up so if you can you should car pool for sure. Towards the end of the race there's an award ceremony for the top 3 individual finishers, & relay teams, & possibly a few awards for top performers in certain age division as well. Like I said if you're part of a team or running group this is a race you'll want to try, it's a challenge course, & a great post race environment to hang out and meet other people from the running community.

A two-day event combining bike rides, dog walks, kiddie walks, and regular ol' walks/runs. I…read moreparticipated in the 10k about three years prior during the Year of the Rabbit and again a couple weeks ago for the Horse. Many folks enjoy returning yearly for the full 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac. Lots of vendors in the festival area, including local school programs, community clubs, electrolyte packs, chewy vitamins, Yakult, and street food with grilled and chilled offerings. Parking the day of is no joke, as traffic is limited near the race start. I had to head up to the hilly residential areas for a spot. Lion dance and firecrackers were set for the 5k at 8am, while the 10k started about 45 minutes after. Even though it's been three years since I ran this, I still remember the hills. Sometimes I'd be Kate Bush-ing it while other times taking a much-needed breather. Passing through Elysian Park and grazing the edge of Dodger Stadium, there will eventually be a downward slope along with one or two more uphill battles before heading back to Chinatown. The finisher medal matches the shirt design of a horse with antlers that burns, burns, burns in a ring of fire. In addition, we get an apple, a banana, a bag of chips, a bottle of water, and if you're early enough some of Ohtani's Syncron. Alas! it had all but ran out by the time I reached the finish line. Overall, it's a fun run with good vibes from fellow runners and the local community.

Firecracker 10K & 5K is such an incredible annual event and a true community favorite. What makes…read moreit even more special is that the proceeds go back into the local community, which is something I genuinely appreciate and support. That's actually what originally got me into participating -- knowing it benefits the area makes it so much more meaningful. It's truly a family event. There's something for everyone -- a cycling event, 5K, 10K, kids' run, and even a dog-friendly event. The energy is always positive, well-organized, and welcoming for all fitness levels. It has become a family favorite for us, and we look forward to it every year. Highly recommend getting involved -- whether you're racing, riding, walking, or just cheering others on.

I've been running this course since it was the Santa Monica 5000, and it's still one of my…read morefavorites. There's just something about an oceanside race that never gets old--great energy, beautiful views, and a course that feels both fun and fast. I especially love that the 10K is now part of the Conquer LA Challenge! That adds an extra layer of motivation and makes race day feel even more special. The whole event has such a strong community vibe, whether you're racing hard or just soaking it all in. Only wish? That the LA Marathon would bring its finish line back to Santa Monica. There's nothing quite like ending a race by the ocean

I started on my running journey about a year ago. I initially started to help with losing weight,…read moreand found out I really love the running sport. I'm more of a back of the pack solo runner so I would mostly run on my treadmill. Of course as I got more into running, i started following other people in the running community on social media. Eventually, I decided I wanted to sign up for my first 5K. Living in Los Angeles my whole life, I knew I wanted my first event to be local. I am so happy I signed up for the Santa Monica Classic. It was an amazing event. Running by the beach was beautiful and ending at the pier was amazing. It was great weather and a great course and I could not think of anything more perfect to have done my first 5k with. Now, as I'm doing this review, I'm addicted to the training and running these races. I have done 3 5K's and will be doing my first 10k in 2 months. Then on to half marathons and hopefully a marathon.

As of 2018, I've run this half marathon all 9 years since it became part of the Rock n' Roll race…read moreseries. The course has changed throughout the years with the majority of them starting and ending in Downtown LA. This makes the logistics for this race very easy. You can actually take the Metro rail to get to everywhere you need to go and save a few bucks. Currently the expo is at the LA Convention Center. You'll need to pick up your race packet at the expo on Friday or Saturday before the race. They don't allow you to pick up bibs for other people so be sure to plan ahead! Since the race normally takes place around Halloween, it is appropriately themed. That includes the shirt as well as the finisher medals. They have almost always been pretty good designs. They provide post race drinks and snacks in the finisher chute. The post race celebration has been on the top level of the West Lot just next to Live LA. There will be a concert up there. You will be able to pick up your gear bag and enjoy 1 free beer in the beer garden. Make sure to bring your ID if you plan to drink.

The Rock n Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon was pretty good. Picking up your race packets at the…read moreConvention Center was pretty easy. There was lots of parking. Getting your actual packets was FAST. I only had to wait in line behind 1 person. There was PLENTY of volunteers staffing this event so it was easy to get us in and out. The photo-op was pretty cool too. They had an Elvis mask for you to wear.. and pose with other Elvis'. Past the packet pickup - in the expo.. there were lots of vendors..with TONs of free samples to give away. Most of the vendors who were here, were also at the San Francisco Marathon. There was four rows of vendors. It was.. alright. You had an opportunity to register for other RnR events for $15 off, or for next year's RnR LA for $20 off. Now, getting to the race Sunday morning was not too painful. We were dropped off, so I can't really comment on how efficient the shuttle was. From the drop off point, you had a mile to walk to get to the start line. Not sure how everyone else did it, but a lot of people were going in from the back making their way up to their corral. So, if you were in corral 1, you had to walk past all the runners in each corral. Now the race. I think they did a pretty good job with the waves. There weren't really any bottlenecks. A few hills. Big huge mile markers which you couldn't miss. Water and Cytomax every mile or so. And one station (mile 8ish) with Gu. The course was nice. Especially running through Griffith Park. At the end of the race, there was a nice photo opp for runners... on the "red carpet". They also handed out bagels, bananas, oranges, and granola. For liquids, Cytomax and water. Also outside near the Staples Center, there were food trucks! The Dim Sum Truck and I forget what else. There were about four of them. And the beer garden... was not really a beer garden. A little lame. Still, I feel this was a pretty good race. Not too hard, considering my only long run prior the the race was 7 miles a month out. Lots of people dressing up in costumes. I saw the KISS guys and about 4 Elvis'. Also saw a Guitar.. and 3 Disney Princesses! :)

Good Afternoon form sunny Los Angeles , its about 1348hours over here and I wanted to give a review…read moreon my first LA BIG 5K it was a fun and beautiful route , I unfortunately did not race it but walked it as I had the LA Marathon that next morning . So I would say from the walk it was a very nice route a little hilly here and there but not anything too wild. The only thing that is wild is the parking if you decide to sleep in and try to get to the dodger stadium around 530-6am and after just sacrifice and come early and sleep in your car!

I've ran this course a couple of times and its one of my favorite 5Ks for a couple of reasons: its…read morewell organized, easy parking at the Dodger Stadium, nice run through Elysian Park with some hills up and down, and great views of the city. I ran it this year in 2025 for Westside German Shepherd Rescue to fundraise for this wonderful non profit organization that rescues dogs. There are many other orgs to support but I chose this org to run for since its where I adopted my rescue German Shepherd dog from! This event normally happens before the marathon so it's a great way to have a nice run before the big day and pick up your bib for race day. Because the event is so well organized, it's easy to come a little bit earlier same day as the 5K to pick up your bib and shirt for it. Huge shout out to all the volunteers that make this race a great one!

First time runner of the Hollywood Half/10K/5K and can't wait to run it again next year. My Dad ran…read morethis last year and loved it so much, that he made sure Jay L and I ran it with him this time around. While the 6am start time seemed a bit early, it ended up working out just fine. If anything, it kicked off a whole weekend of justified relaxation. Okay, here are the essentials: Race kicks off at Hollywood/Highland and ends at Vine between Hollywood/Sunset, so park near the latter for a fast escape. There are plenty of metered spots, so no need to deal with overpriced lots. While there are port-a-potties around the course, buy a beverage at the McDonald's on Hollywood before the race and use the restroom in relative cleanliness and comfort. While you might get all pumped up about completing the turn onto Gower, slow your roll because that extra stretch going west will humble you. Overall, enjoy the run and take in all of the costumes. Great event and can't wait to run again next year!

I was really excited for another inaug race. Typically these inaugs are smaller and I appreciate…read morethe non-bottlenecking that usually occurs with the bigger races. From the horror stories of race packet pick-up, I'm glad I opted for the mail service - $15. Besides 1 day for race packet pick-up?! C'mon!!! Race morning, the parking situation was a bit confusing. I pre-paid my parking for $10, but race day they were charging $15. There was only 3 lines open at the time, but when 530a rolled around, they decided to open up 1 additional lane. So many cars trying to get in. All lanes should be open. Corrals were not easily identifiable, in fact, was anyone assigned a corral? I just saw times on a stick. I decided to jump in with the 7-8 min pacers. I have to admit, the first couple miles were awesome. We ran thru Universal Citywalk and it was all downhill. I was enamored by all the pretty lights of Citywalk, and clouded by the Hollywood stars. Basically the route is a roundtrip on Cahuenga, Hollywood Blvd and Sunset. There were potholes to watch out for and steady inclines. What bothered me is the fact that they ran out of cups at the hydration stations - WHAT?! Runners were using their hands for cups or drinking out of the jugs. And there was only 1 station that provided Vitalyte, which totally messed up my race day routine. I didn't care for the scene. Basically you're looking at empty rundown buildings. The last 2 miles were torture - I was doing 14 min/miles. Here is when you start cramping due to the very steep incline on Cahuenga. Tears of pain when you cross the finish. I was spent. I was heartbroken I didn't see my childhood crush, Joey Joe; however, I did see Sean Austin from Lord of the Rings!!! Unfortunately, he was the only "star" I saw. What limo bus? I saw only 2 driving around, the lines were horrendous, and you're better off walking back to your car. Most of the runners and spectators walked up uphill a quarter mile to the parking garage anyways. Leaving was horrible. We opted to get breakfast off Sunset Blvd, and what would have taken 10 mins took almost an hour due to the sucky traffic and all the closed roads. Def NOT a flat race and there's no way to PR this muttha... Hollywood Half next year? Pass... ================================================= STATS: Chip Time 2:06:37 Overall Place 1746 / 6094 Gender Place 722 / 3815 Division Place 142 / 685 Age Grade 52.4% Pace 9:40 1st 5K 26:55.7 2nd 5K 27:35.7 Last 6 9M 1:12:06.3

Abetterworldrunning.com promotes and emphasizes a very relaxed and easy-going, personal racing…read moreexperience. And it is! Sure, their events are somewhat informal, but they're fun and very affordable. I mean, the 5K alone was practically half the cost of most registrations: only $18.00! Included: goodie bags (without the bag), the usual bananas, gels, waters, etc., and a sparkling finisher medal (one for everyone.) Offering no special awards or t-shirts, this eco-friendly, fun-run "fiesta" is then able to keep costs low, and I can definitely appreciate that! Winding alongside Crescent Bay Park, this flat, looped course begins on the beach's walking path and--just north of the Santa Monica Pier--eventually merges onto the Marvin Braude Bike Trail (http://www.yelp.com/biz/marvin-braude-bike-trail-los-angeles?hrid=NI7M1spp6udTsNyqFK3IzQ) before turning around and heading back again. Of course, you'll be sharing the road with other sun worshippers making their own morning pilgrimages, but that's another reason why A Better World Running's events are kept pretty intimate--100 to 150 runners at most--so as to not congest the walkways and bike paths with respect to other pedestrians, runners, and cyclists. Metered parking on a Sunday morning isn't clocked until 9am, and since the run begins at 7am, available spots are in abundance. Check-in and bib pick-up are in the cul-de-sac below Ocean Ave., so park directly upon Ocean, and walk down to the beach. The run is not chip-timed. Instead, official times and places are recorded manually, and results are posted on A Better World Running's website later the same day. (I use my GPS watch anyway.) A list of upcoming runs is also on the website, and for regular participants, every 5th race is free! Added, all pictures that the event photographer takes are free to download on their Facebook page; and, finally, a portion of the event's proceeds are donated to The Noakes Foundation, ECHO, and Kandar Kids. So you see, there's not much to not like. What I liked is that it was an easy, early morning workout at the beach...and I received another medal! =] My 5K time: 29:52. Calories burnt: 469.