Event & Course Description: Saying it up front, I prefer trail races to city street races because of the views. I hope to do the Sharks Fitness Faceoff justice nonetheless. … MORE
Event & Course Description: Saying it up front, I prefer trail races to city street races because of the views. I hope to do the Sharks Fitness Faceoff justice nonetheless. Both the 10K and 5K courses started through a balloon arch on a side street next to the SAP Center (home of the San Jose Sharks). Runners turned left onto the Alameda (which becomes W. Santa Clara Street) and then right onto Market Street for a sort of out-and-back leg that looped around the Plaza de Cesar Chavez. Runners continued on Market St., past W. Santa Clara. It became Coleman Avenue, and just before runners reached Guadalupe Parkway 5K runners did a U-turn, retracing most of their steps. They turned back onto W. Santa Clara (no second loop around the Plaza) and circled around the park near the start/finish so as to finish by going through the balloon arch again. Where 5K runners U-turned 10K runners ran along a frontage street that paralleled Guadalupe Parkway and then turned to complete a loop through neighborhoods and back through the balloon start/finish arch.
Except for between miles 2 and 3, which was mostly between an elevated street and some vacant space, most of the 10K course was through pleasant small business districts and residential neighborhoods. 5K runners did not run through that not so beautiful mile. The business districts were more downtown-like, not industrial, and the neighborhoods were very pleasant older neighborhoods. One residential area had really nicely maintained 2- and 3-story Victorians. Most of the course had mature trees, and the out-and-back leg on Market was between fairly tall buildings, so the course was probably 75%-85% shaded. For what it was it was a mostly pleasant course.
Organization & Production: From first glance at the website to leaving for home after the race, runners’ only concerns would have been getting there, doing the race, and getting home. The national anthem was sung and Sharky (the Sharks mascot) was there. The 10K start was on time and Sharky was out on The Alameda to high-five (high-FIN?) passing runners. Every mile was marked and had aid stations “stocked” with water and plenty of encouraging volunteers. San Jose police had closed streets along the course, so runners never shared a street with cars. There was no finish area food or water, but there was a “health fare” that included activities for children. I didn’t check that out, so there may have been snacks at a booth or two (Safeway was a sponsor).
Bib: Bibs were color-coded, with teal blue (Sharks team color) background for 5K runners and gray for 10K runners (I did the 10K, so I have a bit of bib-color envy). The background picture is a photo of runners going past some bushes or trees. The race logo is at the top. The bib number is in the lower middle, and at the bottom are the San Jose Sharks logo and the distance. The gray color makes the 10K bib a bit blah, though I have to admit being pretty spoiled by some other races. It is nicer than plain white.
T-Shirt: Do I need to say it? The race T-shirt is …… teal blue, tech type. The front has the San Jose Sharks logo, with what looks like a laced up collar printed near the neck. The left sleeve has the race logo. On the back is a box with sponsors’ logos, and below that “17” (the year) in large white numbers. Definitely among the nicer race Tees I have!
Finisher’s Medal: To be honest, this is what attracted me to this race. It’s a hockey puck (insert Don Rickles joke here)! Printed on both sides (not stickers!) are a close-up of the shark’s teeth and nose from the team logo and “2017”. Encircling this are the name of the race and the name of the principal sponsor. Both sides of the ribbon have teal and black background colors. One side has “2017” and the name of the race. The other side has the url for the Sharks Foundation, twice around the ribbon. My description scarcely does it justice. It’s unique and cool!
My Results & Opinion of the Race: I try to rate and opine about races for what they are and not something else. The scenery for a street race will be different from that of a park trail race. A charity race and that of an organizing business are likely to have different amenities. For all the association with the San Jose Sharks hockey team, this still was a charity race, benefiting the Sharks Foundation. So my expectation for amenities are lower – swag and snacks and recovery food.
From what I saw (and I could have missed something), there was no food or water in the finish area. I did not venture over to the health fare, so there could have been some there. And the aid stations were water only. On the up side, the aid stations were at every mile. For the SF Bay Area climate, that many aid stations is unusual. The 5K course was laid out so that 5K runners saw the Mile 1 and Mile 2 aid stations. They were prepared for temperatures to be in the 80s or 90s, but the real temperatures stayed in the 60s, possibly the high 50s at start time. This and other activities also make the event kid friendly, and I did see a number of elementary age children who were doing the 5K.
The Race T-shirt and the finisher’s medal both rate among the nicest I have. The Tee resembles a Sharks jersey. If I tried to classify medals by type or theme – humorous, serious, unique – the Sharks Fitness Faceoff medal would be the first I have that I would classify as unique, in form and material.
All things considered I’d say the Sharks Fitness Faceoff is sort of a high-end charity race. There are amenities they could improve – hand out water to people as they finish, locate food booths near the finish area, electrolyte drink at aid stations, and maybe GU packets at some – but the T-shirt and medal definitely make it high-end as charity races go. The organization of the race was very well done. Next year’s Fitness Faceoff is a year away, so I can’t say I’ll definitely do it next year, but I will definitely consider it
Run, You Hockey Puck!
Event & Course Description: Saying it up front, I prefer trail races to city street races because of the views. I hope to do the Sharks Fitness Faceoff justice nonetheless. … MORE
Event & Course Description: Saying it up front, I prefer trail races to city street races because of the views. I hope to do the Sharks Fitness Faceoff justice nonetheless. Both the 10K and 5K courses started through a balloon arch on a side street next to the SAP Center (home of the San Jose Sharks). Runners turned left onto the Alameda (which becomes W. Santa Clara Street) and then right onto Market Street for a sort of out-and-back leg that looped around the Plaza de Cesar Chavez. Runners continued on Market St., past W. Santa Clara. It became Coleman Avenue, and just before runners reached Guadalupe Parkway 5K runners did a U-turn, retracing most of their steps. They turned back onto W. Santa Clara (no second loop around the Plaza) and circled around the park near the start/finish so as to finish by going through the balloon arch again. Where 5K runners U-turned 10K runners ran along a frontage street that paralleled Guadalupe Parkway and then turned to complete a loop through neighborhoods and back through the balloon start/finish arch.
Except for between miles 2 and 3, which was mostly between an elevated street and some vacant space, most of the 10K course was through pleasant small business districts and residential neighborhoods. 5K runners did not run through that not so beautiful mile. The business districts were more downtown-like, not industrial, and the neighborhoods were very pleasant older neighborhoods. One residential area had really nicely maintained 2- and 3-story Victorians. Most of the course had mature trees, and the out-and-back leg on Market was between fairly tall buildings, so the course was probably 75%-85% shaded. For what it was it was a mostly pleasant course.
Organization & Production: From first glance at the website to leaving for home after the race, runners’ only concerns would have been getting there, doing the race, and getting home. The national anthem was sung and Sharky (the Sharks mascot) was there. The 10K start was on time and Sharky was out on The Alameda to high-five (high-FIN?) passing runners. Every mile was marked and had aid stations “stocked” with water and plenty of encouraging volunteers. San Jose police had closed streets along the course, so runners never shared a street with cars. There was no finish area food or water, but there was a “health fare” that included activities for children. I didn’t check that out, so there may have been snacks at a booth or two (Safeway was a sponsor).
Bib: Bibs were color-coded, with teal blue (Sharks team color) background for 5K runners and gray for 10K runners (I did the 10K, so I have a bit of bib-color envy). The background picture is a photo of runners going past some bushes or trees. The race logo is at the top. The bib number is in the lower middle, and at the bottom are the San Jose Sharks logo and the distance. The gray color makes the 10K bib a bit blah, though I have to admit being pretty spoiled by some other races. It is nicer than plain white.
T-Shirt: Do I need to say it? The race T-shirt is …… teal blue, tech type. The front has the San Jose Sharks logo, with what looks like a laced up collar printed near the neck. The left sleeve has the race logo. On the back is a box with sponsors’ logos, and below that “17” (the year) in large white numbers. Definitely among the nicer race Tees I have!
Finisher’s Medal: To be honest, this is what attracted me to this race. It’s a hockey puck (insert Don Rickles joke here)! Printed on both sides (not stickers!) are a close-up of the shark’s teeth and nose from the team logo and “2017”. Encircling this are the name of the race and the name of the principal sponsor. Both sides of the ribbon have teal and black background colors. One side has “2017” and the name of the race. The other side has the url for the Sharks Foundation, twice around the ribbon. My description scarcely does it justice. It’s unique and cool!
My Results & Opinion of the Race: I try to rate and opine about races for what they are and not something else. The scenery for a street race will be different from that of a park trail race. A charity race and that of an organizing business are likely to have different amenities. For all the association with the San Jose Sharks hockey team, this still was a charity race, benefiting the Sharks Foundation. So my expectation for amenities are lower – swag and snacks and recovery food.
From what I saw (and I could have missed something), there was no food or water in the finish area. I did not venture over to the health fare, so there could have been some there. And the aid stations were water only. On the up side, the aid stations were at every mile. For the SF Bay Area climate, that many aid stations is unusual. The 5K course was laid out so that 5K runners saw the Mile 1 and Mile 2 aid stations. They were prepared for temperatures to be in the 80s or 90s, but the real temperatures stayed in the 60s, possibly the high 50s at start time. This and other activities also make the event kid friendly, and I did see a number of elementary age children who were doing the 5K.
The Race T-shirt and the finisher’s medal both rate among the nicest I have. The Tee resembles a Sharks jersey. If I tried to classify medals by type or theme – humorous, serious, unique – the Sharks Fitness Faceoff medal would be the first I have that I would classify as unique, in form and material.
All things considered I’d say the Sharks Fitness Faceoff is sort of a high-end charity race. There are amenities they could improve – hand out water to people as they finish, locate food booths near the finish area, electrolyte drink at aid stations, and maybe GU packets at some – but the T-shirt and medal definitely make it high-end as charity races go. The organization of the race was very well done. Next year’s Fitness Faceoff is a year away, so I can’t say I’ll definitely do it next year, but I will definitely consider it