I have run several of their races over the years. The Pacific Half Marathon (2012); the Old Agoura…read more10k (2013); and the Cheseboro Half Marathon (2014, 2017). The only race I haven't done is the 5k. All the races are very well organized and usually start at the exact announced time. You can usually pick up your bib and bag in the finish area but it's recommended that you arrive early. The alternative is to pick it up at the expo on Thursday or Friday before the race - that's a good option if you're local so there is less stress than if you had to pick it up the morning of. If you arrive early enough there is plenty of parking in the mall parking lots nearby but the later you arrive, the crazier it gets. There is a decent number of port-a-johns near the start area but the lines tend to get a bit long close to the start...so I would like a bit more of these. As for the races themselves, neither of them is particularly fast because each one include a significant number of hard hills or technical terrain. The Pacific Half is entirely on roads and has an almost mile-long hard climb between mile 3 and 4, and some hard rollers before and after that. Cheseboro is about half on dirt trails, with short sections of technical terrain, and a gradual climb from Mile 3 to Mile 8 (steepest part is after mile 7). Miles 9 through 13 are mostly downhill but there are still a couple of climbs that will get to your legs late in the race. The 10k has a gradual incline miles 2-3 and some hard short climbs late in the race. So unless you're new to running and or if it's your first race at the distance, don't expect big PRs on these races. However they are quite scenic and make for a great workout. One cool thing about this race: race pictures are free! Take that, LA marathon and Rock and Roll races... So why not 5 stars? Well over the years they have cut the costs regarding shirts and medals. For instance back in 2013, the Cheseboro Half runners got a very nice tech shirt designed solely for that race. The design, quality and color was very cool. This year, the shirt was generic for all races and it had the logo stuck on the shirt instead of imprinted - it makes it uncomfortable to wear it because of the fact that the logo is not directly "inside" the shirt. Also the medals are the same for all races - only difference is the necklaces.

I ran the Pacific Half Marathon this year and it was a spectacular race. The scenery all along the…read moreroad course is stunning! There are so many hidden gems along the run and the distraction really makes the time pass quickly. The course is quite challenging with lots of long, gradual uphills. I'm so happy that I did hill repeats as part of my training since I saw lots of casualties fall back. The water stations were supplied with lots of friendly, smiling volunteers and no shortage of water, electrolyte drink or energy gels. There were also lots of porta potties without lines. There were several volunteers stationed along the course cheering us on. There wasn't alot of community members out cheering like there are at bigger events but it was still a great event. The finish area at Chumash Park was bustling with excitement. I really wanted some Whole Foods pancakes after the run but the line was a good 30 minutes long. Pretty much all of the brunch food lines were long so in my need for some quick replenishment, I settled on a banana and an FRS electrolyte drink. The lines were so long because all of the different races end in the same location. Parking was a bit chaotic since my husband waited for me at the finish. Luckily we have a friend who let us have his parking spot in his condo complex so we only had a half mile walk back to the car. I'd definitely do this race again since it was so scenic and challenging and the staff were so amazing. Chip Time: 2:06:31

April 2011 Race at Castaic Lake…read more The weather couldn't have been better. The race itself: Awesome. This is no 5 or 10k race to sneeze at. The first half is uphill ALL the way. No joke, it will take your breath away. Lean forward and pump those feet. Prior to doing this race, I read somewhere that someone would have prefered more mud, less run. I'd have to agree, but boy, do they make you work for that mud! Words to the wise if you plan to do this race: -- long pants or something that covers the knees because when you're climbing over the walls, ladders, cargo nets, it helps you hike yourself over without worrying about splinters, rope burn, etc. -- If you're also not great at doing the crab crawl under the dry cargo net obstacle, it'll help protect your knees from the dirt and gravel. -- people were scaring me with stories of duct taping their shoes to their legs so they wouldn't lose their shoes. Nah. Didn't happen. Just lace up tight. -- I wore a baseball cap thinking I would salvage some of my hair. Stupid. Don't be me. The rim of my hat kept getting caught on the cargo net. In hind sight, I signed up to get muddy so what was i thinking? There's truly no way of avoiding it. -- Standard stuff, hydrate the night before, sleep well. -- While they provide hoses so you can hose down, when you get back to your car, you are still going to find mud in them nooks and crannies. We brought an Igloo cooler full of washcloths soaked in hot water. You'll thank me later. -- When in the mud, don't stop, don't think, just go! That's what you signed up for isn't it?! P.S. Well organized race. Great volunteers! Plenty of bang for your buck with the great dri-fit UVP shirt, Buff, cheeseburger lunch and PLENTY of restrooms and refreshments.

Since this was going to be my very first obstacle race, I chose to do the 3 mile course instead of…read morethe 6. I'm a frequent participant in 5 and 10Ks, but with the added challenge of climbing, jumping, crawling, and pulling, I wasn't so confident I would last all 6 miles. The organization of the race was awesome. I got a number of emails the weeks prior to the event informing me of packet pickup times, directions, and parking instructions. I wasn't able to pick up my packet the day before the race, so my pals and I drove to the race early in the morning anticipating traffic, parking issues, and a long walk to the start line. One of the MAJOR pros about the race is that if you drive a Subaru, there's no parking fee AND you pretty much get to park about 50 yards away from the start line. It. Was. Incredible. Once we got there, picked up our bibs, applied our sunscreen, and checked in our gear, we realized we had about another 2 hours before our 10:30am start. Luckily, there was another 3 mile group that was starting at 9:30, so we decided to just jump into one of those waves. Each wave started about 3 minutes apart, giving a decent amount of time to keep the flow of the course moving. The down side is that if you're in the 12th wave, you're starting about 30 minutes after your listed start time. That's a lot of waiting around. I thought the course was great. Not easy by any means, but not heartbreakingly challenging either. The divots in the grass were more challenging to overcome than some of the obstacles. I just kept thinking how embarrassing it would be if I injured my ankle from running through the park before I even got to the first challenge. I think there was no more than a half a mile distance of walking/running between each obstacle. This was nice because it didn't feel like I was laboring through any of the running stretches. The most intense obstacle for me was the cargo net wall...not because it was physically difficult or demanding but because when you get to the top, you realize how high off the ground you are. Not so pleasant if you have an issue with heights. The most demanding obstacle was hands down the heartbreak hill. It's 100 yards of a 60-70% incline. My poor calves! All you can do is keep your eyes on the ground and keep going. Once you look up and see you much further you have to go, it's over. The organizers strategically placed a water station at the top of the hill so you have a chance to catch your breath, drink some water, and appreciate the view that you just worked so hard for. I was told that there would be a lot of waiting at some of the obstacles, but the only one that I thought was time consuming was the sand bag haul. Maybe they can work on spreading that one out a little bit better. Other than that, I thought the course flowed really well. Some of these challenges were actually pretty fun. The inflatable slide, rock climbing wall, and hurdles were some of my favorites. As far as attire, I would recommend wearing clothes that are fitted. Loose tees and shorts allow excessive entry of dirt and mud into your nether regions. Think about how miserable it is to find sand EVERYWHERE after going to the beach...it's kinda like that. I wore a pair of worn out shoes knowing that they were probably gonna get trashed, and luckily, the event had a place where you can donate your shoes after the race. They also had a large rinse off station and changing tents. It's like they thought of everything! If you're at all uncomfortable with the thought of putting your body through this type of challenging course, do it! Just do it! It may be a little intimidating, but you will have a powerful sense of satisfaction once you complete it. You truly are much stronger and more capable than you think, and this race reinforced that for me.

Never took any classes here but have seen the offerings which look fairly priced for what you get…read more The center is located just outside Oak Community park and duck pond. They sell duck feed for 25 cents per baggie. I walk my dog in the open space and park area many times per week and walk the trails that run into the park or up above it. The uphills can get steep and give you a great workout. There are amazing views from the top of the trail!

Absolutely wonderful little Park. I'm having my wedding here in August! There is a gazebo,…read morecommunity room complete with tables, chairs, dance floor, and attached kitchen, you can throw a rock to the lake that is just down the hill, and the landscape is beautiful. Renee is the event coordinator and she is extremely helpful! The staff is very knowledgeable and wants to help make your experience there pleasant. The rental prices I feel are very reasonable for what it is. I paid 1,000 to rent the entire place (indoor and outdoor) for the day for my wedding. The rental packages can be cheaper depending on if you just want the indoor room or outside area, and how much time you need to rent. Regardless of what portion you rent out, the entire venue is very scenic and the photo ops are fantastic! I would highly recommend this place for a venue. Warning: they do not rent out on the weekdays because they have sports and classes that meet at the center and the weekends book up very quickly. If you're interested in this place you need to book 6+ months in advanced.

Such a beautiful and serene place to visit. We hiked the Paramount Ranch Trailhead loop. And it was…read morespectacular! The views of this place were breathtaking. We really enjoyed our hike. This trail I would rate as moderate because you do encounter a few steep hills and let me tell you, it's a work out! I loved it, you do break a sweat. So if you enjoy a challenge and appreciate the views, this is the place for you!

Awesome spot for a walk and/or run and best of all...its dog-friendly! Had a blast with the entire…read morefamily. Did notice several small mounds of horse droppings, but hey...it's nature right? heh heh Watch your step! The trail was a bit muddy when we went last weekend since it had rained recently so keep that in mind. Other than that I'd say you are in for a treat! Pros: + Beautiful Scenery + Cool Old West Town + Church + Dog Friendly Cons: - Horse droppings on Trail Personal Notes: Great spot for Pokemon GO. Caught 5 Magmars!

as a racing fan, I'm kind of bummed that they've moved away from the racing focus however, it's…read morestill good family, friendly, and fun. They do different kinds of events. They also introduced ax throwing. They seem to have a pretty good eatery section now that you can hang out at while letting your kids have a ton of fun in the gaming areas in between races. The electric platform they use is wearing down and they just don't feel mechanically good anymore. I hope they update these things or at least do more maintenance eventually. The staff is always really good though so they seem to get that 100% right.

Super expensive i paid $93.96 for exactly 20 minutes ride each ride was 10 minutes…read more And $39.99 was weekday special regular price is $49.99 People of SYLMAR avoid this place!

Horrible event. Disorganized and total lack of communication other than irrelevant social media…read morepostings. They canceled the 5k yesterday, leaving everyone to presume that the half would be canceled as well. We had until 3 pm to pick up our bibs, and they didn't give an option to have them mailed out. Sometime after the bib pick-up was closed, they announced that the race was on. They then announced that we could pick up bibs the day of, for an extra $25 on top of the $200 already spent. This has never happened before in my 20 years of running. To be clear, this was not about the weather. This storm was a known event well in advance of the race. It was about the lack of communication, decision making, organization, and leadership. Recommend Malibu Moves. DON'T DO RUNMALIBU.

Lack of organization. I missed my husband's finish because of the shuttle. I spent in the line more…read morethan 1 hour and couldn't support my loved one at this moment. If you don't allow people to get the place by themselves, you have at least to organize a proper transfer for everyone. Disappointed!

(4th Half, 2015) The…read moreWest Hills Half, the newest of Elite Sports' races, has both positives and negatives (like most things, I suppose.) It was inaugural, and being so, glitches are to be expected. The negatives, for instance: 1. The Half course really wasn't a true 13.1. (My GPS clocked a 12.1.) Eventually ES plans for the West Hills course to include USATF certification, so some tailoring is in order before the next, but I didn't mind. Although as I was striding toward the finish line, I thought I was breaking past PR's by 10 minutes. Nope. 2. I registered early; however, the large tech shirts were emptied by the time I arrived. I emailed ES about not receiving mine, and they stated I would get one soon, that it would be taken care of. If so, I'll update and bump up the star rating. 3. There were two water stations that had run out of cups during the race, so no water. This mishap is a bit harder to ignore. 4. Volunteers are volunteers, and I applaud them for their support. At this race, there were plenty of teenagers helping out, and that's great! However, they lacked leadership and direction: I saw many sitting; others were goofing around. The positives, though: 1. The Half is an easy, not-so-scenic double loop. There's a hill, and it takes some determination and a continued push, but it's doable. 2. Another positive that I have to include is Elite Sports' "Endurance Challenge": running seven of their Half marathons awards a challenge medal at the year's end. I want that! For more information about the Endurance Challenge, check here: http://www.elitesportsca.com/Endurance_Challenge.html. Overall, not bad. Not the greatest Half I've run, but not bad. Next year, kinks worked out, this race'll shape up, I'm sure.

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.

Bottom Line: An awesome triathlon…read more I have had the chance to participate in this event a few times now and it was bigger than I thought it was going to be. Very professionally run but still relatively casual and fun. The venues for all three portions is awesome. The bike leg is longer than most other Tri's that I have done so it definitely benefits bikers, at least for the sprint. Great expo afterwards, lots of community support... I highly recommend this event!!

From the owner: Carpinteria is a beautiful beach town on the Central Coast located between Santa Barbara and…read moreVentura. The Carpinteria Beach, known as the "World's Safest Beach," is very special and has been rated the #1 swimming beach in California, due mostly to its Southern exposure and its protection by the Channel Islands. Swimmers will usually enjoy small surf and the absence of riptides at our unique beach. The bike course, an open course and large loop, travels along the foothills offering some spectacular ocean views. Both the olympic and sprint courses offer the participant a challenging ride, although the sprint course is also very well suited for the novice triathlete. The run course, also an open course, winds through some quaint Carpinteria neighborhoods and is mostly a flat loop course. The Carpinteria Triathlon is a benefit event for the City's Parks & Recreation youth programs. Proceeds will help to provide scholarships and additional equipment for programs such as Junior Lifeguards and our ocean recreation programs. This event is USA Triathlon Sanctioned.