This race is super solid. It is the only "8K" or 5 miler I know of in Southern California. It's…read moregreat for people who don't feel a 5K is challenging enough distance but don't want to run extra long miles too. The course is a challenge though presenting a major uphill at mile 3 but also a series of rolling hills along the course. They open the race to an appropriate number of people so that you have enough space to run once you break away from the initial clump of people. The inclusions for this race is top notch. The race shirt, medal, and goodie bag are awesome. Being that it is hosted by the Brea Mall, the vendors that show up here are nearly unbeatable. There is not only your basic race freebies (bananas, liquid IV,water) but also pizza, desserts, and coffee at the post race hangout spot. I've had this race on my list for years and am very glad to be able to finally run it.

For me, medals are important. Ever since I'd received my first one back in 2014, I've continued to…read morechallenge myself, all so that I might drape yet another shiny medal across yet another medal rack. It's just that prior to 2014, I would have never thought I'd begin running, had never thought that I could. My medals, then, are accomplishment reminders, proof that when you set your mind to something, you can do it. However, with all of the runs I'd done, I'd always passed on Brea's 8K. The simple (and a bit selfish) reason was that there weren't finisher medals. I wasn't interested in race shirts and goodie bags, didn't care, really, for trucker hats or for post-race festivities. I just wanted a medal. I mean, running Brea is fine, and running with a great group of people for a worthy and applaudable cause is commendable. But selfish me wanted a medal. So when I saw that medals were included for finishers, I finally signed up. And I am glad I did. It was fun, close to home, and afforded easy parking right there at the Brea Mall. The medal was okay, but at least Brea's 8k had them. For me, it'll do. And I'll run again next year.

I did it :D my first half marathon, and I couldn't have picked a more magical way to do it than…read moreRunDisney's Halloween weekend at Disneyland Most of my training happened on the treadmill, which honestly taught me a lot about consistency and mental endurance. I followed the official RunDisney training program from their website and trusted the process--even when life was busy and motivation was low. Race morning was early (very early), but the energy, costumes, music, and Disney magic made every mile worth it. Running through Disneyland in the dark, then heading outside the parks with rolling hills, the heat that I did not prepare for was challenging--but unforgettable. These are the things that really helped me: 1. Enlist a buddy to do it with you. I somehow managed to persuade my oldest son to come with his mama. My son who is in his prime, who at the time just came back from officer training school (boot camp). He was jumping, singing, running circles around me during the race, yelling out motivational pep talks. It was kinda annoying and motivating at the same time. 2. Use the free pacers There are multiple pacing groups, and sticking with one helps you stay calm, consistent, and confident. It really helped to see a whole group pushing through. Being next them reminded me about Dory..."Just keep swimming... Just keep running!" 3. Arrive early + move up in your corral We arrived around 4:15 AM, which gave us time to settle in and get closer to the front of the corral--huge stress reducer. 4. Stay close to the start line if possible We stayed at a hotel near the start, walked over, and later met my hubby near the mall. Less logistics = less stress. 5. Go to the Expo on Day 1 Exclusive merch sells out fast (RIP glow-in-the-dark shoes). The expo is free, fun, and has lots of freebies. Pro tip: go again on the last day for sales. 6. Practice in your costume This is non-negotiable. What feels cute for 10 minutes may not feel cute at mile 9. I practiced in my Ursula costume a handful of times. I saw people ditching parts of their costumes. 7. Hydration is covered Water and electrolytes are provided on course. I didn't need to carry water, but some people prefer to--do what works for you. 8, Know the course You start inside Disneyland, then head outside the parks where the hills show up. Save your energy for those miles. 9. Pictures Make sure your number is visible. Photos come free with it. There a a good number of photo opp in the parks. Unfortunately we couldn't stop since we were the last coral. So we did "passing" video shots. You should practice doing this. 10. Volunteers The volunteers outside of Disney were awesome! Seeing the signs, hearing the encouragement, and grabbing the sweets helped a ton. Soak it in and it will keep you motivated I discovered that I hate running long distance. At the same time I also realized I like doing it at Disney and after the race I told my son lets do the Dopey Challenge next. Where you run the 5k, 10 k and half marathon all in the same weekend. Of course my sweet son replied, "sure thing mom as long as your paying." This race reminded me that you don't have to be perfect--you just have to..... "just keep running, just keep running, running....running". If you're thinking about doing a RunDisney race, especially your first half marathon, do it. Train smart, trust the plan, and soak in every magical mile.

Just when we were in the swing of having them back, they're gone again. With the upcoming…read moreconstruction, it was announced there were not going to be anymore races for the foreseeable future here on the West Coast. This was the last race on Feb1 as the 5k and 10k took place the prior days. From what I gather from others, this can take many years to come back. I believe this was a new half marathon course at least new to me since the Star Wars Half days. This course was very refreshing, the stretch of it on Anaheim Blvd, running past the Packing District and the Ducks ice rink. The good thing about the "out and back" parts is seeing if you can spot the "balloon ladies" if it's a concern or maybe friends who run at a different pace or checking out their fits. I appreciated the DJ's and bands out there. They brought the energy! Everything was just so cute with the "It's a Small World Theme" but maybe I'm biased because I happen to love the color purple as in the bib, medal, and long sleeve tech t-shirt. It delighted me to see several runners dressed in this theme because I'm not creative enough to assemble my own costumes. PhotoPass photo opportunities were inside the park and some at the reunion area. These digital photos are included in registration and show up in the app same day. I must say the finish line replica photo op in the reunion area was a time consumer in the hot sun. Powerade was the electrolytes on course. I was wondering how they were able to get the taste and concentration consistent to realize they were being poured from the plastic bottles. Not too much to sample or any freebies at the expo if you compare that with other major race expos. The post-run snacks are not much nor memorable unless you count that nacho-like cheese from the box. IYKYK Yes, you pay a pretty penny just to participate but only you put a value on this experience. I would say if you're a Disney fan and have the means, to just do it one time for the experience but that dream has run out luck on this coast for now.

So this is my original review of the Pirates Run, which back in 2015 was first called the Rum Run…read more5K. Since Yelp won't combine them, for whatever reason, and they won't change the category from "Aquarium" to "Active Life," I'm posting it here and removing it from the Rum Run, which has only my review anyway. I'll then write an update since I have run them for two years. Originally written in 2015, for the inaugural: Aaaargh! Drink up, me hearties, yo ho! The eye-patched, pirate-themed Rum Run 5K was a blast. (Themed runs usually are.) This run was my first along Long Beach's new Beach Pedestrian Path, by the way, and it's kind of cool! I don't mean to disparage anyone, but I'm sure that having the new pedestrian path--and it's about 3 miles long--makes the bikers happy. (They've tended to believe that the original path was built solely in their honor.) Now everyone can be happy...for the moment, anyway. What was very cool about this 5K was not only the red Rum Run T-shirts ("The Shining" fans probably caught that), but the pirate-themed eye patches that each runner received as well. Nice touch! Detail is everything! And the fact that random runners--21 and up--were also surprised with free bottles of rum was another treasure! Now THAT'S quite a perk! There was also a skull-and-crossbones "pirate village" of sorts that runners wound through; and, afterwards, if you were so inclined, you may stay awhile and check out the event, take-in a few of the bountiful wares being sold and offered by fellow scoundrels. And why not, really? You get a little exercise along one of our beautiful beaches, making for a great event and a fun time for everyone. So Rum Run 5K and Long Beach's Pirates who promoted it, five stars and a hearty Yo-Ho!

SoCal Pirates Run 5k is organized by Caren Ware, who is a National Champion and world class…read moreathlete, a USA Track & Field Level II Coach. The race itself can be a real race, or fun race depending on how you want to do it. The race is 5k, and chip timed, and you get all the things that come with a real race, which is age group awards, time/pace at the end of the race, and your time doesnt start until you cross the start line ( so ignore the crowd etc). ITs also a fun activity for familis, as its at the beach, and everyone is encouraged to wear costumes. ITs at Bolsa CHica Beach, so if you live close by it could be a family/fun activity. Unlike most races, this is on a Saturday which I absolutely love, Most races are on sunday, which means you have to spend entire saturday worrying about the race day, but this one can be super casual! The medals were beautiful! and this particular race, I saw lot of kids run the race, and a 3 year old got a medal for his under 6 age group - the most adorable thing! and every one gets a finisher medal, which I am all in support of! that is how every race should be! It costs about 35$s, but you can look up discount codes, and also sign up old school skipping internet, and save money on processing fee. Being an Athelete, I think Caren has the most relaxing policy with bib pickups. You can pick up on the day of the race (yay!), and if you pick up the day before you can pick up for others in your party with little proof(Yay again!). The tshirts we got were cute, and so were the beverage cozy!. All in all, its a fun easy race, and if you are doing serious races, take a time off and do it, and its such a nice little break - everything you want in a race + fun!(No beer tho, being state beach and no alcohol policy.. !)

I LOVED this race -- it may be because I grew up in Lake Forest and went to El Toro High School…read moremany moons ago, but I loved it none-the-less. So small and fun! I now live in Aliso Viejo, but I made the short drive over to run this race and it was so worth it. This years race was at about 1300 participants, which has steadily gone up the last few years (I did read that they anticipated 1800 people, but maybe that includes spectators and volunteers). Race is $30 for adults, $10 for students, $25 early registration. I love that they promote kids to run, despite that most that sign up are in Cross County, and 99% of the people in the race will get trumped by the 16-year-old HS Cross County kids running the 5k in 15-16 minutes. You can sign up day-of, which is awesome! Proceeds go to ETHS, hell yes!! 2014 was the 20th year of this race, which I loved too. Participants also get a nice participants shirt, which I actually liked and will gladly wear around the house. Everything about this race makes me smile! Race starts at 7:30am. I got there about 6:55am, and parked by Ralph's. There was plenty of parking in the lot, so nothing to really worry about. They also had plenty of volunteers holding signs showing you were to park as well, so you can't get lost. There are no porta-potties at the start of the race, so you have to go into Ralph's to use their restroom if you need to go before the race. Pre-race there was a DJ playing tunes that will get you pumped up. They also had local students that sang the national anthem....awesome!! Race started promply at 7:30am. The course is described as flat, but after mile one, I was cursing the whole way. Who knew how many inclines and declines Lake Forest has! Mile one is pretty much a decline (which was awesome and I was feeling pretty confident during this mile), but mile two and three where intermixed with steady inclines and declines. I slowed down during these two miles, but I was able to somewhat keep my pace up with some others around me, and we were all there helping each other out to finish. I love races because of this -- all about teamwork! I did hear that this race is closer to 3.25 miles as well. With the mix of inclines/declines, and the race being a little longer than the traditional 3.1 miles, no wonder my finish time was about 2-3 minutes slower than what I was training at. Oh well. Overall, I loved the course and was happy with my finish time. On a side note, this race does allow your four-legged fur babies to race as well....I did see about five K-9 buddies running the course as well. So sweet! I'd consider running this race again next year! It's a good way to start off a holiday and you support a great city and High School!! Happy running!

So cute & so good for the community! 1mi from my house but…read morewe still drive every year. Must take bake pkwy up to Toledo, make a right on Toledo, then a left onto Serrano and drive up until you see the road closure. Plenty of free street parking! $30 adult registration $10 student registration Day-of registrations taken until 7:20am! Proceeds benefit ETHS! There's a DJ pumping dance tunes, a small expo of local businesses and lots of lightening fast high school kids to chase. I loved the national anthem sung by local students, the sweet message from the Lake Forest Mayor and seeing all ages in red white and blue running for our sweet little city. I added my run map. The green dot is the start line at Serrano - course goes down Lake Forest, U-turn at Jeronimo, back up Lake Forest, right turn onto Toledo, u-turn at the far end of ETHS parking lot, back down Toledo, right turn back onto Lake Forest & ends at Serrano. A little more than 5K (3.1mi) but I stopped my map at 3.1 for my own PR reference. Hehe The course is technically pretty flat but my legs say it's really "decline, incline, decline, incline, decline, incline, decline to the finish. Because it's a few u-turns, if you climb a little gradual incline you get rewarded with a little gradual decline. If you're in the area, want to support adorable little lake forest, and want a 5K PR. Go for it! There are medals for top 3 finishers in each age group and lots of walkers as well. Love seeing people of all ages and fitness levels get out and support the city on the 4th!

My first time doing a mud run so I didn't really know what to expect. While I have some…read morereservations about the event, we did have fun which I guess is all you can ask for. For first timers, here are my lessons learned: - The mud permeates your clothing and shoes and it is nearly impossible to clean. Do not try to wash the cloth in your washer/dryer. It will coat them with a mud residue. Try rinsing your cloth in a bucket repeatedly until the water begins to clear up. Alternatively, wear clothe that you can trash after the race. They also accept shoes for donation after the race. - While a photo of you coated in mud might be great Facebook material, it is nearly impossible to capture and you run the risk of destroying your gear. I had the clever idea of putting my iPhone in a waterproof case. Well that worked fine until I took my first plunge into the mud. With the case coated with mud, my phone was useless. Same for sports watch - if you want to track your distance, put in a zip lock. - The obstacles are all really optional. But you should do as much as you can unless you're physically unable to. If you have the attitude of trying not to get dirty, don't even go. You're not gonna have fun and you'll look like a stick-in-the-mud. - Bring a change of clothing and flip flops. There is a shower area. 'Shower' is a generous term as it consists of nozzles on garden hoses with a weak flow. It will take a while to rinse all the surface mud off. While you're doing this, there are a row of people behind you scrutinizing your every move and wishing that you hurry up. - Do not bring anything white. I was naïve enough to bring a white canvas bag to hold our clean cloth. Was not my smartest move. - Do print out your confirmation and the scan code. It will make your check-in much more smooth. - Carpool if you can. You will save the $10 per vehicle and reduce the parking congestion. - Unless you're in the elite category, don't worry about your time. You're not timed anyway and there are waits at many of the obstacles. Just relax and enjoy the experience. - Don't believe the website warning about prices going up if you don't sign-up by a certain date. Every time that date arrived, it was extended. The price actually never went up. - Treat the medals with extreme care. 2 out of 3 medals broke by the time we got home. Hopefully these tips make your experience just a little enjoyable. Just go and have a great time and don't be a stick-in-the-mud!

Spent way too long trying different options to get the cyber Monday deal to work. Frustrating…read more Emailed them 3 days ago about and no response. God forbid you buy and have issues. No cs.

This was my groups favorite ride! Cars land in general is very well themed and takes you into the…read moreworld of Cars. For the actual ride, the start with a jaunt through the town of Radiator springs was so cute. The more thrilling part of it was very fun and "racing" the other car was an added touch. My pro tip is to do the single rider line after riding once with your group. There was a point where the normal line was 100+ mins and the single rider got us through in 5 mins.

This is a very popular ride, so long wait lines throughout the day. Using lightning lane passes…read more(need to purchase separately) it saves a lot of time. We were able to get to the ride under 10 minutes. The ride is sitting inside a race car that goes around park and in final quarter, it goes against another race car in a Nascar like track. I actually moves at a high speed that I felt the additional G force. Really cool and safe way of speeding without getting a ticket. Both indoor and outdoor portions of the park resemble the set from Cars movie. The staff members also dress up in pit stop crew uniform. Overall a really fun ride without any scary parts.

This was a super fun area of the park. Disney did an amazing job of replicating Radiator Springs…read moretown's setup from the movie. They had Flo's cafe, the cone motel, the paint shop and some of the other fan favorite spots. The main road was name Route 66 and there were plenty of signs all around. There were two official photo pass spots in this area. Radiator Springs Racer was a very popular ride. There were few other small ones and a character meet up spot as well. There were also multiple merch shops full of items from Cars movies and characters, plus souvenir items for Route 66.

Theme: Based on the movie, Cars!…read more Ambiance/Decor: Love the ambiance! It's a fun section of California Adventure. They also deck the heck out of the place when the holidays (Holloween/Christmas come around. Restaurant/Quick Eats: 1) Flo's V8 Cafe for sit-down quick-service meals: Is a large, Route 66-themed diner serving home-style comfort food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. If you need a place for AC, this place is for you! 2) Cozy Cone Motel for grab-and-go snacks: Cozy Cone Motel consists of five distinct orange traffic-cone windows, each offering different quick snacks and beverages. I've had the chili cone and mac n cheese but would prefer the chili cone over the mac. There are some tables and chairs to snack on. Cozy Cone Motel 1 - Churros Pull up to the premier place for churros, Ramone's "Pear of Dice" Soda, coffee and other assorted beverages. Cozy Cone Motel 2 - Ice Cream Cones Treat your taste buds to a cone at a cone! You'll find delicious soft-serve ice cream in chocolate, vanilla and chocolate-vanilla twist flavors, as well as a variety of refreshing beverages. Cozy Cone Motel 3 - Chili Cone Queso Fuel up with flavor-packed "conecoctions" like Chili "Cone" Queso and a Bacon Mac 'n' Cheese Cone. Cozy Cone Motel 4 - Frozen Cone-Coctions Cruise on up for chimichangas and then chill out with a high-octane lemonade or limeade for Guests 21 and over. Cozy Cone Motel 5 - Popcone Make a pit stop at Cone 5 to pick up a Popcorn Scoop with your choice of flavored popcorn. Attractions: There's 3 rides for you to go on. 1) Radiator Springs Racers: A fast-paced, story-driven racing ride through Radiator Springs and around Willy's Butte. Super duper fun! Wait time is usually 90+ mins, but last sunday it was only 30 minutes. Ka-Chow! 2) Mater's Junkyard Jamboree: A whipping, square-dancing tractor ride where the trailers spin in circles. Don't really have to wait long to go on this ride. It's enjoyable! 3) Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters: A ride where dancing cars glide and spin smoothly across a trackless floor. Haven't been on this ride, but I think I might go on the ride next time I go. Cars Land For Thought: This place has slowly grown on me. Love the chill vibes that this section gives off.

First of all, a score of 4.25 stars is the rating for this trailhead. Open trails that lead into…read morethe hillsides of the Murrieta CA area that's also interconnected to the Cleveland national forest. Currently, in June, its dry - no streams. Trails are twisty, rugged, steep downhill and uphill . Some trails are loose gravel and weak soil- careful, one can easily loose footing. Pathways are filled with brush and can mildy be abrasive. Steep hills and rock climbing over large boulders will be part of the hike. Once on the upper trails, its a roller coaster ride of fast trails.. There are 3 main trails - lower os the Cole trail - main trail is the wiashal trail and the surrounding trail is big rock scramble. The main trail would be the wiashal trail and cris crosses the entire range. Initial trail of Cole is around 2 miles... including the big rock scramble would be another 2 1.5 miles and the wiashal trail is around 4 miles or more. On a good walk jog run bike or horse ride - from 2.5 miles to 10 miles can be expected- depending on your skill level. This path is easy moderate and difficult. Parking can be accessible via street parking via Cole canyon entry or wiashal entry or by Clinton Keith road - only thing missing... signs - markers- maybe a bench or two ..a water fountain at the entrance or a map... all those would have given it a better score...