Event & Course Description: The Valentine Fun Run benefits the City of Campbell’s Parks and Recreation Department. Both distances use the Los Gatos Creek Trail, and start in Campbell Park. … MORE
Event & Course Description: The Valentine Fun Run benefits the City of Campbell’s Parks and Recreation Department. Both distances use the Los Gatos Creek Trail, and start in Campbell Park. The 5K, which I walked, went about a mile and a quarter, almost to Los Gatos Creek Park, crossed the creek on a bridge, ran past Campbell Park, turned around, and ran back, crossing another bridge back into Campbell park. The 5K course is like a long, very squashed oval, with a short out-and-back tail. The 10K course (which I’ve done in past years) is out-and-back mostly along one side of the creek, with a small loop on the other side of the creek through some marshy area for a sort of turn-around. Except for this loop, both courses are paved, and are flat, except for some rolling near a street under-crossing.
The creek side of both sides of the trail has an almost rural feel, but the other side of the outbound trail has well-landscaped condo complexes and a mobile home park along it. When the 10K course goes past Los Gatos Creek park, runners pass the park and some percolation ponds (and maybe some geese). On the other side of the creek (from the 10K and out-bound 5K course) is a freeway. The trail is lower in elevation from the freeway, so it isn’t too noisy, and the visual is bushes and trees.
Organization & Production: Campbell’s Parks and Rec people have been doing this and a Oktoberfest themed event for quite a few years, so it’s well done. Registration is through the city’s online “store” (= no processing fee). Aid stations were water-only and suitably spaced for participants who aren’t experienced/frequent runners. I didn’t partake, but I did see a table with coffee and bagels in the start-finish area before the start of the event. Timing was done by SVE Timing, a very solid outfit. Finish times were posted online by the next day. Parking at the start/finish park is limited (possibly not even enough for volunteers), but there is a large shopping and business park about a quarter of a mile away that allows parking near business buildings that are not used during weekends.
Bib: The bibs are color-coded by distance (yellow = 5K; blue = 10K) and feature the artwork described below.
T-Shirt: The race T-shirt is black poly-cotton, very nice to the touch. The artwork has an athletic shoe, with “46th annual” above it, a heart where the shoe logo would be, and “Parks Make Life Better” at the toe. Below the shoe are the race name and “Campbell Parks”. All in all, it’s a very nice shirt (especially for an event with a low registration price).
Finisher’s Medal: OK, I’ll ‘fess up, I described it as a “mehdal” in a FB group. The medallion is lightweight metal, probably from some sort of sports awards catalog. In the center is a nicely done custom sticker with the race artwork. BUT, this event has a very low registration fee (with no processing fee tacked on), and the proceeds benefit City of Campbell Parks Department, which, among many other things, maintains the part of the Los Gatos Creek Trail that goes through Campbell. So I’m OK with the medal (besides, I’ll wear the Tee many times, but not the medal).
Finish & Recovery Area: The last 20-30 minutes of my walk it started to sprinkle and gradually became a fairly steady shower. So I really didn’t look around the finish area much beyond getting a bottle of water, my finisher’s medal, and then find a covered space to see if I won an age group medal (not even close!).
My Results & Opinion of the Race: I’ve been a bit lazy the past couple of months, in a couple of ways. This was my first running event since early December last year. I DNSed a New Year’s Eve Day event, due to rain (that turned out to be a downpour & washout) and procrastinated too long to register for a January event I like. I also lazily adapted half of my 2022 Rave for Campbell’s Oktoberfest Fun Run for this Rave. Anyway, I didn’t push myself, but still got a decent finish time.
Would I do this event again? Well, the event has been on my possibilities list for years, but another race organizer I particularly like always has had an event on the same day. So I’ll have to say it’s a “Maybe”, but not because there is anything wrong with this event.
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Great Family Fun Run
Event & Course Description: The Valentine Fun Run benefits the City of Campbell’s Parks and Recreation Department. Both distances use the Los Gatos Creek Trail, and start in Campbell Park. … MORE
Event & Course Description: The Valentine Fun Run benefits the City of Campbell’s Parks and Recreation Department. Both distances use the Los Gatos Creek Trail, and start in Campbell Park. The 5K, which I walked, went about a mile and a quarter, almost to Los Gatos Creek Park, crossed the creek on a bridge, ran past Campbell Park, turned around, and ran back, crossing another bridge back into Campbell park. The 5K course is like a long, very squashed oval, with a short out-and-back tail. The 10K course (which I’ve done in past years) is out-and-back mostly along one side of the creek, with a small loop on the other side of the creek through some marshy area for a sort of turn-around. Except for this loop, both courses are paved, and are flat, except for some rolling near a street under-crossing.
The creek side of both sides of the trail has an almost rural feel, but the other side of the outbound trail has well-landscaped condo complexes and a mobile home park along it. When the 10K course goes past Los Gatos Creek park, runners pass the park and some percolation ponds (and maybe some geese). On the other side of the creek (from the 10K and out-bound 5K course) is a freeway. The trail is lower in elevation from the freeway, so it isn’t too noisy, and the visual is bushes and trees.
Organization & Production: Campbell’s Parks and Rec people have been doing this and a Oktoberfest themed event for quite a few years, so it’s well done. Registration is through the city’s online “store” (= no processing fee). Aid stations were water-only and suitably spaced for participants who aren’t experienced/frequent runners. I didn’t partake, but I did see a table with coffee and bagels in the start-finish area before the start of the event. Timing was done by SVE Timing, a very solid outfit. Finish times were posted online by the next day. Parking at the start/finish park is limited (possibly not even enough for volunteers), but there is a large shopping and business park about a quarter of a mile away that allows parking near business buildings that are not used during weekends.
Bib: The bibs are color-coded by distance (yellow = 5K; blue = 10K) and feature the artwork described below.
T-Shirt: The race T-shirt is black poly-cotton, very nice to the touch. The artwork has an athletic shoe, with “46th annual” above it, a heart where the shoe logo would be, and “Parks Make Life Better” at the toe. Below the shoe are the race name and “Campbell Parks”. All in all, it’s a very nice shirt (especially for an event with a low registration price).
Finisher’s Medal: OK, I’ll ‘fess up, I described it as a “mehdal” in a FB group. The medallion is lightweight metal, probably from some sort of sports awards catalog. In the center is a nicely done custom sticker with the race artwork. BUT, this event has a very low registration fee (with no processing fee tacked on), and the proceeds benefit City of Campbell Parks Department, which, among many other things, maintains the part of the Los Gatos Creek Trail that goes through Campbell. So I’m OK with the medal (besides, I’ll wear the Tee many times, but not the medal).
Finish & Recovery Area: The last 20-30 minutes of my walk it started to sprinkle and gradually became a fairly steady shower. So I really didn’t look around the finish area much beyond getting a bottle of water, my finisher’s medal, and then find a covered space to see if I won an age group medal (not even close!).
My Results & Opinion of the Race: I’ve been a bit lazy the past couple of months, in a couple of ways. This was my first running event since early December last year. I DNSed a New Year’s Eve Day event, due to rain (that turned out to be a downpour & washout) and procrastinated too long to register for a January event I like. I also lazily adapted half of my 2022 Rave for Campbell’s Oktoberfest Fun Run for this Rave. Anyway, I didn’t push myself, but still got a decent finish time.
Would I do this event again? Well, the event has been on my possibilities list for years, but another race organizer I particularly like always has had an event on the same day. So I’ll have to say it’s a “Maybe”, but not because there is anything wrong with this event.
Campbell park run
if you walk the Campbell park then this is the same course. parking is very limited. it had a very nice medal and had a cool tech shirt. would do … MORE
if you walk the Campbell park then this is the same course. parking is very limited. it had a very nice medal and had a cool tech shirt. would do it again
Fun Valentine Run
Great local race. Flat easy out and back race along the Los Gatos Creek Trail. Finishing Medal combined football and hearts, what's not to love about that, but wait there's … MORE
Great local race. Flat easy out and back race along the Los Gatos Creek Trail. Finishing Medal combined football and hearts, what’s not to love about that, but wait there’s more, a cute girl cut dri-fit shirt. A good amount of vendors and well run. You do have to share the trail, but when all is said and done you can walk to downtown Campbell for lunch.
I <3 the Campbell Valentine's 10k
This was a really fun race on a totally gorgeous day. The City of Campbell races are always a good time and this was no exception. Things started on time … MORE
This was a really fun race on a totally gorgeous day. The City of Campbell races are always a good time and this was no exception. Things started on time and there were no issues to my knowledge. The swag was pretty good including 10% off at Sports Basement. That said, the t-shirts don’t seem to be the greatest material. The after-race snacks were good and it’s just a generally family friendly atmosphere. Good stuff.
Personally I started out a bit too fast and forgot to drink any water the morning of the race (doh!). I was doing great for the first 3 miles and then started feeling it in the last 3 miles. I pushed as hard as I could and kicked strong at the end, but couldn’t quite get under the 1h mark (my A goal). I did make a new 10k PR (my B goal)!
Simple course
Well organized simple course loops through Campbell Creek Trail. Parking is a bit of a walk, you can find parking at Pruneyard mall. The race shirt is a tech shirt … MORE
Well organized simple course loops through Campbell Creek Trail. Parking is a bit of a walk, you can find parking at Pruneyard mall. The race shirt is a tech shirt and has held up wash after wash. My only complaint is part of the course is run on the sidewalk over the overpass and is a bit narrow.