Michelle Boone's Staging Area

This is a nice event with a half-mile Kid’s Fun Run and untimed Adult 5K. The location is very nice. It is in a large park that has lots of parking. The course is mostly dirt (some gravel). Some of it runs along a creek and some is beneath tree canopies. I signed my waiver and picked up my tee the day before. On the day of the race, I was given a wristband and sent to the start line. No bibs, bagels or bananas. But finishers do get a root beer float. I enjoyed this no-fuss run that is held for a good cause.

The race was good. I paid extra for a bus ticket from the packet pickup to the start line…worth it. The packet pickup was smooth, but different than most. Instead of giving my name to the bib-hand-outer, I looked up my own name on a list and recited my bib number to someone who handed me my bib. Then I walked to a table to choose a shirt from stacks sorted by gender and size. I wasn’t offered safety pins; I searched for them and choose a few from a box near the end of the table. Talk about DIY. The early morning bus ride was smooth. About 4 or 5 local school district buses caravanned to the start area. It was cold there. The 5K start was a little ways from the drop off. We ran past the Folsom State Prison property, with its coiled razor barbed wire-topped fencing. That was cool and creepy at the same time. The finish area was good. There were a few vendors, including a chiropractor giving free body scans and therapists giving free massages. The post-race snacks were good and I took advantage of the foam roller area. There was a padded area with a bunch of foam rollers you could use and a professional you gave tips if you wanted them. All at no charge. The live band at the finish was great! They call themselves Cash Prophets. The return bus ride was fine, too. Buses left the finish area one at a time every so often. You had to search for the return buses, though. They were tucked around a corner from the festivities. I’m glad I participated.

The weather was nice, sunny and slightly breezy. The runners were of all ages and abilities. We crossed the start line when one of the race officials, without a microphone, said “Go”. The course was flat and easy to follow. Post-race snacks were good: fruit, water and energy bars. There was no awards ceremony. Instead, runners went to the awards table and found out where they placed. If you won, they handed you a trophy.

This one is time number two for me. The short-sleeved tech tee has a great design…much better than last year. There were give-aways and prizes galore. Our bib numbers were entered into a multi-prize raffle that took place before we arrived. So, you went to the prize table at some point during the morning to see if you were a winner. The organizers bought too much food this year. Bagels & cream cheese, donuts, apple slices, cookie snack bags and bottled water were plentiful. In fact, the announcer asked that folks leave with a bag or bagels or box of donuts. The top three winners in each category won, along with medals, an entry to the Elk Grove Turkey Trot. How nice! (I came in 4th…bummer). Many of the runners know each other and the announcer seemed to know most of the winners. I was impressed when he said to us before the race that he had walked the course that morning to see how the rain had affected the course. He warned us of some potential trouble spots. This is an okay race that is a stone’s throw from home. I’ll likely enter again.

This was my first time in the 10K distance. I did the 5K in ’13 and ’14. Prior day packet pickup was easy. There is a free parking section and, for 3 bucks, you can park about a mile closer to the start. The weather was perfect, sunny with a slight breeze. The start was not recorded by the timing chip on our bibs, just the finish. The race master gave good instructions about trail markings and splits for the 5K, 10K, half and 30K. We all followed a bicyclist to the first fork. About a quarter mile after the start, we came to a crawl as runners walked across the first foot bridge. The hills are steep with uneven footing and you have to dodge horse poop in some areas. There was water and fresh watermelon at the aid station. The start/finish area had three tents: Fleet Feet Sports, Altra Shoes and a post-race leg massage area. The race fees benefit local high school cross country programs. There was music, energy, finisher’s medals for the three longest races and lots of good post-race food, including tacos and ice cream!

The races began and ended at a baseball stadium, which made for good parking, good viewing and good sporting vibes. There was plenty room for all the hubbub surrounding this event. Because there were 4 distances in this event, the prior-day packet pick up was very busy. And if you picked up your packet on race day, you handed over 5 bucks. There was lotsa merch for sale and the Blerch creator was signing autographs. Refreshments included bananas, potato chips, Nutella sandwiches, Clif Bars and white cake with green icing.

This event was hosted by a local non-profit. A few runners wore costumes because we ran on Halloween morning. There were nice raffle prizes; they pulled bib numbers. There were also great prizes for each age group winner: smart phone, wireless headphones, wireless earpiece and power pack. Wowzers!

This is a must-do for Oakland Raiders fans. What a big deal! The race began and ended at the team’s stadium. The parking was ample, the paraphernalia was abundant and the energy was over the top. Some entrants were runners who weren’t fans and other entrants were fans who weren’t runners. But, everyone had a good time. The award ceremony was very nice. Winners got generous gift certificates to the Raider Image store and posed for pics with Raiders legends wearing huge Super Bowl Championship rings!

This was the first-ever Golden Arches Run in Sacramento. The proceeds benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities and Shriners Hospitals for Children. The 10K course was fine, just a few slight inclines/declines. I was glad to see three water stations along the route. They were called “Run Thru’s” and had the familiar structures and overhead signage like outside the restaurants. Each finisher got a miniature Happy Meal box with our finisher’s medal and other goodies inside. In addition to watermelon, Powerade and chocolate milk, there were cheeseburgers at the finish. That didn’t appeal to me at 9AM. There were many vendors and many people. Sacramento temps in August are usually warm and this day was no exception. We finished just in time before the mercury hit 80 degrees fahrenheit. I’d participate again.

This is a paved course through a residential neighborhood with large beautiful homes. The course has a few slight inclines/declines and it begins and ends in the area cemetery. It is a popular race that is part of the Buzz Oates Race Series. Because of this, the field is always tough. There are quite a few vendors, a free photo booth and the refreshments are good.

This was an okay event. The swag was okay; the finisher’s medal could have been larger and more interesting. The pre-race expo was a smaller than I expected. The location was nice. Washington Park is enjoyable.

This was a nice race. It was a sea of pink and there were good vibes everywhere. The pre-race pep talks were good and the post-race expo was great. There were booths for medical organizations, snacks and drinks. There was even a booth for the upcoming California State Fair. The awards ceremony was nice, too. There were age group awards and survivor awards. It was a nice time.

This was a new location this year. The course was very fast with two hairpin turns. We ran in the street and on a bike/walking path. The weather was warm by the end of the event. There was quite a few vendors and the awards were okay. Many more half marathoners than 5/10 K’ers. I would do this one again.

The Lucky Run is another of A Change of Pace Foundation’s quality events. The participants create a sea of green with their attire and accessories. The parking was easy, the aid stations were fine, the re-fuel was great. The oranges were scrumptious! The weather was very, very nice and the announcers were professional.

This is a popular race on the Sac State University campus. There was a lot of fanfare with a local high school band playing before the race. There were lots of vendors, too. I was surprised to find that the post-race meal was hot dogs, tater tots and cake. I guess that was in the spirit of the Super Bowl. I think there was beer, too. The weather was cold and the start line was crowded. The snafu was that the course was inadvertently shortened to 2.9 miles. Oh brother! This race is sponsored by California Family Fitness.

The CCR is a popular race in the Sacramento Area. There are runners of all abilities and the production crew are true professionals. Parking can be a bit hectic. It is important to watch for potholes on the paved roads that surround the orchards. The scenery isn’t spectacular; but it is pleasant. Currently, this is my favorite event.