2013 was the 4th annual Concord Police Association's July 4th "Stars and Stripes" 5K. I am so glad…read morethat I chose a hometown event that supports the Monument Crisis Center (http://www.yelp.com/biz/monument-crisis-center-concord) for my first 5K! The event was well coordinated with good communication by the planners before and after. It was especially nice that we could pick up our bibs and such the day before. The volunteers, of which there seemed to be a ton, were all extremely supportive and helpful. Since the course goes mostly through neighborhoods (with streets closed) it was also nice to see so many people outside their homes, cheering everyone on. A special gratitude shout out to the family who were standing outside their house at the top of a big hill on the route, pumping disco hits and offering to hose us down. You, my fellow Concordians, are wonderful people. After completing the 5K, we stayed in Todos Santos Plaza, grabbed our usual spot on the patio at EJ Phair and enjoyed the parade. One area for possible improvement... The event continues to grow each year (there were over 600 people registered this year) so it would be nice if they added wave times to pace out the participants, especially to get the runners in front of the walkers. I'm looking forward to participating again next year!

At the end of every 5k my husband and I hold hands as we run through the finish line. (Ok, I know,…read moreI know...cheezy...but I love it.) This was the first 5k my husband and I have run where our names were called as we crossed the finish line together. It was so cool to here the announcer say: "And here come Amy and Casey (P) from Concord". We met our goal of completing another 5k, once we'd only registered for the day before. I found out about the 5k in my hometown a few days before it was to take place. I didn't mind paying the higher entry fee (it was still only $30) but it did mean we couldn't pay $7 extra for the nicer, non-cotton shirts. We did still get a goody bag filled with tons of great stuff! Thanks to all the nice sponsors. The CPD organized this event. If you missed the online registration deadline, you could still register in person at the police department the day before the event. I sent my husband to do this and he said it was an easy process. On the morning of the 8am run (Happy 4th of July), we parked at Todos Santos Plaza and listened to the clear voice of the announcer over the loud speaker. We even saw the A's mascot: Stomper!! Then 3-2-1.... we were off! We ran a mostly flat course around Concord near the downtown plaza, high school, and John Muir hospital. A BART driver honked and waved at us as the train flew by. It was so much fun. The water station volunteers were friendly and many of the police men and women that stood with volunteers around the course cheered us on. We walked and ran and enjoyed watching the families around us. A 40 minute finish wasn't very competitive, but we were just there to have fun. Some people brought dogs, which were not allowed. And we also saw lots of strollers, which were allowed. So it was definitely a family event, and the no-dog rule wasn't really enforced. Saw some kids on scooters as well. After the run we bought breakfast for a $5 per plate donation for two pancakes and two sausages and a juice. A parade followed the 5k at 10 am, so we had to wait around a while for that to start, but it was nice out and we talked with other runners and families. Thanks CPD for helping to organize this event. We heart Concord.

I'm really glad that the event organizers emailed us shortly after the race to explain what…read morehappened yesterday. I arrived about 10 minutes early for yesterday's 7:30 a.m. 5K start time. I was a couple blocks from Civic Park as I heard the race countdown. I ran the rest of the way to find nobody at the start - the time was already 2:04. They started early?! The beginning part of the course was really muddy so you had to go walking-speed slow, but I made up some of this time later, especially with all the wonderful encouragement I received along the track from College Park HS students. The kids volunteered to stand around the course with signs and words of encouragement, and even their school mascot at Walden Park! A giant purple falcon will make you RUN! I ran through the school yard, on the trails, up and down the Robert Schroeder Bridge, and finally, back to Civic Park. My ending time was 35:50. Minus the 2:04....33:46 - my fastest run in a long time! So, what happened? Some a$$hole drunk driver crashed earlier that morning in Concord (actually at the intersection where I live - which is notorious for fatalities and terrible accidents). The streets were closed and the 1/2 marathon was shortened by 3 miles, so they changed our start time to prevent the majority of both race's runners all ending at the same time. It was great to hear my name announced as I crossed the finish line and received my awesome medal. That's fun! And there was a photographer at the finish (as well as many others along the course.) Lots of awesome snacks and beverages were gifted to us, and McKinnon massage school students were there giving free (amazing) massages. I found a friend who flew into town just for the 1/2 marathon, gave her a hug, and went home to crawl back into bed. Wonderful, well-organized race - especially since they had to deal with rain-soaked fields and one stupid, selfish, drunk driver.

The race organizers really took the participant feedback well. The 2017 event was excellently…read moreorganized, with the turns clearly marked with course markers. Extra props for the RA's quick response back to my question about switching from a 10k to half marathon. They are really responsive!

I've always had an awesome time running with ONGRID. I've brought my vehicle to two events with…read morethem, one at Sonoma and their other at Thunderhill. Both events were organized well from start to finish, which made the days smooth and stress-free. Check-in is quick, drivers' meeting were clear, and the staff keeps everything moving without feeling rushed. Track time was solid with good spacing between cars, so you could actually focus on driving instead of constantly dealing with traffic. The staff are approachable and helpful, whether you're newer to track days or more experienced. Overall, Ongrid events are well-run and driver-focused with a great atmosphere. As a grassroots style organization, there's no elitism, just driving for the sake of driving. Their multi-day festivals are always fantastic value, with tons of unexpected extras included.

Great club to track with when you are experienced however was very surprised to see brand new track…read moredrivers in the beginning group without any instructions! Wow talking about a problem waiting to happen. Suggest instructions so that they get get the right training to ensure they are protecting others.

I'm a huge fan of the shorter Zoom races that Coastal Trail Runs puts on. The majority of their…read moreraces are on gravel, crushed rock or dirt trail and my joints are so grateful! Also, the races are typically more low key than other options ...so parking, registration lines, and race traffic are never issues. And the noise level is minimal... other races commonly have music volumes that are uncomfortably loud. Check them out!

If you're looking for a healthy and fun weekend activity, Coastal Trail Runs has events planned for…read morejust about every weekend on the calendar. Not ready for a marathon? That's OK. They also have shorter runs, starting at 5K. Beautiful state parks and national forests are the backdrop for their runs. We recently participated in the Diablo Run on the Clayton side of Mt. Diablo State Park. A small registration fee included an awesome shirt, which we picked up the day before the event at a convenient and local Sports Basement. An additional $6 for parking was paid on the day of the event. Volunteers directed us to a parking area. A well-organized team explained the courses (4 mile, 10 mile, 1/2 and full marathon runners all started on the same trail at the same time). I was afraid we'd finish last, but our hand-in-hand 51:35 finish was 20 minutes after first place, and 34 minutes before the last 4 mile runners. We didn't do bad! The trail was marked and easy to follow and we had a great time. Photos were taken as we crossed the finish line and we were given healthy drinks and treats. Plus lots of words of congratulations and encouragement. No matter what you believe your level of fitness to be, you can do this! Sign up for a 5K, walk/run it, and be amazed at how proud you feel when it's done. I can't wait for our next run! This is my new favorite group and I love having a healthy activity to share with my husband.

Wow! It seriously amazes me what both my mind and body can achieve. I entered this run simply with…read morethe intent to complete just because it was different to the usual flat Half Marathon's. With an injured knee I didn't expect to even place but ended up walking away with another 1st place medal under my belt. Happy Days! This event was 3 different races: Half Marathon - Very Challenging 10 Km - Challenging 5 Km - Easy Registration: I registered online which was pretty easy, however due to the time on their website being set forward by a few hours I was charged more than I should have been. It's no big deal though as it wasn't a huge amount, just something to keep in mind for future events. Packet pickup was available the day before or on the day, I opted for on the day and upon arrival discovered it was a fraction under 1 mile from the parking so before I had even started the event I had done almost 3 miles. The Course: The Half Marathon course was indeed a challenge. Not so much the incline's and decline's but the course. With the exception of about 2% of it which was tarmac road it was all dirt, rocks, sand and mud so being very agile was a must. One wrong step and you could seriously injure yourself and on some parts of the trail end up falling down the side of the Mountain into a ditch (There is no real definition of a Mountain but given the height many will class Castle Rock as one as it reaches almost 3,000 feet). This run confirmed something to me and that was I seem to excel at uphill running, downhill however is not my friend. With the uneven surface and loose rocks downhill is a real challenge not to loose your footing. Teamed with a knee injury the impact was incredibly painful in some parts. My advice - don't play the bad ass if you have an injury. Around mile 6 was when it hit me, the track became very narrow and went from uphill to very steep downhill and took you off into woodland where you were going over rocks, tree stumps and vine. I honestly thought I might have to pull out at the next aid station and had to limp for around 2 miles until the Aspirin kicked in letting a couple of people overtake me. The views were however worth it. From the top of Castle Rock you could see for miles, it really was breathtaking in more ways than one. Aid Stations: There were just 2 for the entire course and were located at 2.6 and 7.1 miles stocked with water, sports drink, snacks (Cookies, Chips, Trail Mix ect) and energy gels. Post Race: Post race awards were given for various age groups along with drinks and snacks for everybody to refuel. Drinks included Soda (no Diet or Zero. Boo!), Sports drink and chilled water with snacks of Cinnamon Rolls, Brownies, Chips, Trail Mix, Candy, Cookies and Orange slices. Nothing really took my fancy and it would have been nice to have some Banana's for everybody as they're both my pre and post run snack of choice. I could have probably fought somebody' for a Banana and chilled glass of Milk or Bowl of Greek Yogurt, instead I had to wait until I got home. T-Shirts: These are quite nice, I did like the Red color but would have loved a Pink one like last years. II'm just not sure of the quality as once I finished the run I noticed that mixed with sweat (I know.. sexy, right?) the color had ran and turned the white straps of my Camelbak pink to match the rest of it. Would I do this race again? Hell yeah! It was a good event, well organised and clearly marked out.

The moment I walked in to urban air I immediately felt the welcoming environment. Especially this…read moreone employee named Adrian kindly and very professionally welcomed me in and guided me as I was new to urban air. He was very helpful and energetic. I would love to come back again soon!

I was very confused on what to do because its my first time going and the employee named Adrian was…read morevery helpful I saw him later on at the zip line and he was very efficient and helpful

"Rocky Ridge" Half Marathon: Fun, with Magic Sponges & only Minimal Loss of Brain Function…read more Okay, okay, maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration. I was pretty much conscious for the entire race, and completed the half marathon without resuscitation or medical intervention. Yes, yes, I admit I laid on the ground at Aid Station 3 for a few minutes, but I was just relaxing. Plus, I wasn't trying my hardest. The Rocky Ridge half marathon takes place at Las Trampas Regional park. It's a brutal course, with tons of elevation changes--especially this fun area called "Del Amigo Trail." I'm still having nightmares about Del Amigo. The Brazen Racing team did an excellent job at coordinating this event. Signing up was easy and the course was well marked. There were multiple Aid Stations, well staffed and supplied with anything you could possibly need. The paramedic was waiting at the Finish line, which was encouraging. All the people were super encouraging. There were ice cream sandwiches and all kinds of fun treats at the end of the course. My favorite memory is of mile 9.5. Just before crawling up a steep, hot, asphalt road, they have a bucket full of water and sponges. By that time I was sort of delirious, but regained partial use of my faculties after a few drenchings with the sponges. I tried to bring the bucket with me, but they forced me to give it back. Anyway, the race is still sort of a blur. I don't know how I finished, but I'm pretty sure there was something in those sponges.

Terrible communication etiquette.Signed up for a race.Been trying to get in touch with anyone for…read morelast two weeks.No response to multiple emails.Hope the races they organize aren't as disorganized.Not sure why they even have a 'contact us' page if it all just a black hole.

This was such a fun event! There were a lot of participants, even though it was one of the smaller…read moreraces I've ever participated in. There were a few snacks and drinks for post run refreshments. Coffee and donuts and fruit. Most importantly, it was a lot of fun. Many police officers from the area volunteered along the course. We saw lots of Rodeo PD and other agencies too. It was a run, walk, and roll, so it was very wheelchair friendly. Kops for Kids did a great job. The course was nice and the shirts were cute too. Hopefully it. Gets more attention and more participants next year.

Fantastic place! My 7 year old son and I have been here 3 times this month alone. The park is small…read moreand charming, with enough variety of rides to keep the kids entertained. It's offseason now so there are no wait times, we can ride all 7 rides in under an hour. The staff are wonderful, very accommodating and friendly. Prices are fair given the amount of fun rides available, and the overhead costs the park likely has. We'll be Pixieland regulars for a long, long time. If you have young kids you must stop by.

Pixieland was fun! A small kiddie amusement park. Roughly 1-2 tickets per ride. If you have a…read moretoddler they will still need a ticket and an accompanying adult. However, you can easily spend $30-50 in a short span of an hour. I have mixed feelings about the vacancy of this place. We went on a Saturday afternoon but there were only a handful of families there l-- leaving the much of the park vacant. It was nice because we didn't have to wait in line or fight for parking lol but time also flew by quicker. I'd come back once in awhile as it was nice and community-oriented. I just let my kiddo run around since there wasn't a lot of people and it's generally pretty small.