This was my 6th year running the Screenland 5k. It was set up to start in a small park, which made it feel like a local race. Not a lot … MORE
This was my 6th year running the Screenland 5k. It was set up to start in a small park, which made it feel like a local race. Not a lot of fancy stuff, but plenty of vendors, a big open area to line up for the start, everything right on time. All reasons to return. Now, it is at the Ivy Station, lots of confusion about where things were, including the packet pick up tables, etc. But, the biggest beef was the 20+ minutes of chatter and introductions of various local people. This chatter went on for over 20 minutes including 15 minutes after the start time. Runners warm up and us the potties, etc in anticipation of a gun time pretty close to the actual posted time. Standing in a new, extremely narrow corral meant our muscles started getting cold, the potty plan went out the window and frustration grew as excitement and anticipation waned. Also, no one urging those with strollers and the walkers to move toward the back. It was a mess in there. I was already thinking I’d run the Screenland enough, but I’m over it. The course had a slight change that was actually welcome as we didn’t have to go past the start/finish as we ran the final half. It is a fast course. Minimal swag; I forgo the shirts. Nothing special. No food after, if that is important to you. Parking for free in the Ivy Station garage was nice.
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New start/finish area
This was my 6th year running the Screenland 5k. It was set up to start in a small park, which made it feel like a local race. Not a lot … MORE
This was my 6th year running the Screenland 5k. It was set up to start in a small park, which made it feel like a local race. Not a lot of fancy stuff, but plenty of vendors, a big open area to line up for the start, everything right on time. All reasons to return. Now, it is at the Ivy Station, lots of confusion about where things were, including the packet pick up tables, etc. But, the biggest beef was the 20+ minutes of chatter and introductions of various local people. This chatter went on for over 20 minutes including 15 minutes after the start time. Runners warm up and us the potties, etc in anticipation of a gun time pretty close to the actual posted time. Standing in a new, extremely narrow corral meant our muscles started getting cold, the potty plan went out the window and frustration grew as excitement and anticipation waned. Also, no one urging those with strollers and the walkers to move toward the back. It was a mess in there. I was already thinking I’d run the Screenland enough, but I’m over it. The course had a slight change that was actually welcome as we didn’t have to go past the start/finish as we ran the final half. It is a fast course. Minimal swag; I forgo the shirts. Nothing special. No food after, if that is important to you. Parking for free in the Ivy Station garage was nice.
Fun Race
This is a fun local race held the day of the Oscars with many people in costume. Think of it as a fun race and just go and have a … MORE
This is a fun local race held the day of the Oscars with many people in costume. Think of it as a fun race and just go and have a good time – flat easy course.
The Usual Great Production
Love this race, not too big or small. Close to home, well organized, flat, and they make it fun. Bands on the course, wide lanes. While I try to run … MORE
Love this race, not too big or small. Close to home, well organized, flat, and they make it fun. Bands on the course, wide lanes. While I try to run the tangent, and think I did a good job on this one, my Garmin and official finish times were off on the pace and finish. I figured it out when I saw 3.21 on my watch. Not a big deal, I was not running my best that day anyway, Achilles injury. First AG, 166 overall/941, I think. Fun medal with audio! See you again next year, Screenland.
Still a Great local race
This was my 4th time running the Screenland 5k. It is local, so easy to get to; it is in a TV/Film studio, the organizers got right. The course is … MORE
This was my 4th time running the Screenland 5k. It is local, so easy to get to; it is in a TV/Film studio, the organizers got right. The course is pretty flat, 3 long straightaways and 3 sharp U-turns. Three live bands on the course (Go US 99!), and easy-to-access packet pick up, inventive t-shirts/medals each year. The announcer is fun without being obnoxious. The mayor is there…Culver City is really proud of this event. Plenty of parking nearby.
Register soon for next year and get a rock bottom entry fee. Only beef: The race starts at 8:30 but awards are not until 10:00. For a 5k, it is almost certain that AG winners are done by 9-9:30. I couldn’t stay to get my 1st AG medal…It is about the 5th time in a couple years I’ve left races without an AG medal…45 min-hour is just too long to sit and wait when Sunday is full of chores. Still…I’m ready for next year!
So fun!
Second time running this young race. They have this thing dialed in! Course is very flat; not as much to look at as it sounds, but still a historic (to … MORE
Second time running this young race. They have this thing dialed in! Course is very flat; not as much to look at as it sounds, but still a historic (to filmdom) area. My guy walked it since he was fight a cold and said you can see some of the studio lots when you’re not flying by in a run. Beat my time from last year by 30 seconds since I knew how flat it was; no embellishing by the organizers. Not too large field but still great turn out by vendors with samples. Wide streets; 3 u-turns, but well laid out. Nice after race area, not too much stuff: water, oranges, some single pack granola. I highly recommend. 1st AG/ 8th masters women/32 female out of 517.
Getting into their Grove
Okay, this is a local hometown race. It is extremely easy to get to this race and their are plenty of cute shops and eateries to hang out in the … MORE
Okay, this is a local hometown race. It is extremely easy to get to this race and their are plenty of cute shops and eateries to hang out in the morning and afterwards. Unfortunately, due to construction this year, Culver City Studios was off limits and Sony hasn’t been on board since the initial year HOWEVER, a professional company managed it this year. This means a GREAT shirt, an AMAZING medal and a great little expo. The thing that makes this race so great is the PRICE and costume contest. I paid $20 to run this race. I prepaid for next year for $15! You can’t beat this race for the price!
Third Year In A Row
I love this neighborhood race...maybe because it's my neighborhood. It's fun, friendly and well organized. Just a nice way to spend a Sunday morning. MORE
I love this neighborhood race…maybe because it’s my neighborhood. It’s fun, friendly and well organized. Just a nice way to spend a Sunday morning.
Sweet local race with happy people
I signed up for this race a couple months ago for 2 reasons: It was local and I worried that I'd be slow to get back to running after the … MORE
I signed up for this race a couple months ago for 2 reasons: It was local and I worried that I’d be slow to get back to running after the PHX marathon and needed a “carrot” to work for.
I picked up my bib on Saturday but realized Sunday that wasn’t really necessary. The start area is well laid out and pre-registered runners didn’t have to wait long for their bib. I had a support person to hold my stuff.
The start was on time, there was a rainbow balloon arch, weather was pretty perfect (cool but sunny). I had planned on making this a true fun run by taking my phone for photos of movie studio scenes but it turned out we only ran by them (not sure why I thought we’d run in, the organizer certainly didn’t suggest that on the website), so at the last minute I decided to just run it as fast or slow as I felt…this was the last 5k in my current age group, bittersweet.
There were runners in costume (there is a costume contest). I wanted to do a Freddy Mercury costume (as he looked in the Live Aid concert) but just couldn’t find time to get it together…I think it would have been a winner! The race plays on the day-of-Oscars and the movie studios in the neighborhood.
The course is flat, just enough turns to make it fun (and give you a break from morning sun in your face) and the finish is on a red “carpet”. They try to call out everyone’s name… and there was no crowding.
The medal is pretty cool, not huge but it has a rotating “3” and good color. The shirt is pretty standard.
The booths with food were just right: apples, bananas, water, some breakfast bars from Sprouts. Super friendly volunteers.
The results table had about 10 notebook computers to find your time immediately, and a single line to get to them, so there were no mobs of people cutting in at the tables.
I had such a good time (and a good finish time!) that my Bf said he’d do it next year and we will plan a team costume.
I’m signing up today!
First Year Was Better
You've gotta love a race through movie studios held on the morning of the Oscars. There were plenty of creative costumes that made for a fun environment. The course was … MORE
You’ve gotta love a race through movie studios held on the morning of the Oscars. There were plenty of creative costumes that made for a fun environment. The course was very flat and quick with plenty of room to break away. Love the finisher’s medal!
However, several aspects of the race struggled to match the previous year’s quality. For instance, last year’s shirt is still one of my favorites from any race I’ve run. This year’s shirt was much poorer quality with paper thin fabric and odd sizing/fit. More importantly, the race itself featured very few elements that made last year’s event so much fun. While last year involved running through multiple studio lots with a variety of character interactions/ photo ops, this year had a very short pass through a single studio lot with nothing special other than some live music. Last year’s finish had costumed actors from Gone with the Wind to energetically greet you on the red carpet finish line while this year had only the red carpet itself.
A Pleasant Surprise!
The Culver City 5K was one of my favorites but 2014 was the last year of that event. When I heard about this event I had to do it for … MORE
The Culver City 5K was one of my favorites but 2014 was the last year of that event. When I heard about this event I had to do it for old time’s sake (including a visit to a great dive bar – the Tattle Tale).
Held on the day of the Oscars the Inaugural Screenland 5k celebrates the movie history and centennial of the city and includes and map of “100 points of lore” to spot along the way (you would have to walk the course to truly appreciate that but I did spot a few things). Like past Culver City runs there is a great sense of community and this was a great production without being too slick. You never lose track that the volunteers are making this magic happen.
Many dressed in costume and the overall theme seemed to revolve around “The Wizard of Oz” which was filmed around there. The course features runs through Sony and Culver Studios with photo ops with Smurfs and Ghostbusters and such. There were divas and directors and people breaking out in song. Musicians played original arrangements of “Wizard of Oz” classics. I didn’t expect all the effort and it was wonderful and had me smiling as I ran. Great Effort!
The course itself was flat and fast with timing from Chronos Tracking. Nice medal at the finish. Only one water station was poorly manned and I had to skip it instead of having to do a full on stop while they poured more cups.
The expo was local events and services and freebies (Sprouts in particular was VERY generous).
Inaugural run – will they do it again? I hope so. I think they would be hard pressed to capture the unique innocence I experienced today… I would want it to exactly the same next year! I wish more people could have experienced what I did today.