Review: 2015 Halloweenathon

What: 2015 Halloweenathon
Where: Aloha, Or.

When: Oct. 31, 2015

Distance: 5k

My dad always loved Halloween. 

He was the guy who didn't dress up for Halloween, but he always started making plans for Trick or Treaters in mid September. Seeing the kids dress up and giving them treats was probably one of his most favorite things ever.

I always think of my dad on Halloween. It was a fun day. So I always try to do something fun with my dad in mind that day.

The Halloweenathon made for the perfect fun thing to do this year. 

Landing right on Halloween was a plus! And that it was put on by the spooktastic folks from Uberthons made it even a bigger plus. I always love Uberthons' events. They are some of the most family-friendly... and slow moving folks-friendly... in the Portland area. 

Plus you got to wear a costume! Hello, fun! Hello, dress up! At the last minute, like the night before the run, I whipped together a sad looking Wonder Woman-inspired costume. Not the most awesome, but it did the trick. Made me feel like a kid again and made the experience even more fun!

This year's race was back at the Reserve. Last year's race was supposed to be there, but it got moved at the last minute due to to a scheduling conflict. I am sure glad it was back. The Reserve course is one my favorites (even though it's got some ups and downs) because it's completely paved. No mud. Last year, my shoes were a muddy mess.

This year, you could run for time or you could run mostly for fun and take part in a number of challenges along the way as part of the Run For Your Bones II challenge. The challenges looked like they were a lot of fun, but I make no bones (ha.... get it) about being slow. The first few I passed had lengthy lines when I went by so I decided to just bypass them and keep going. 

At the Finish Line, our names were read as we crossed over the sensors. We were handed our medals and treated to high 5s by Darwin from the Uberthons team. Thanks, Darwin. I sure appreciate your encouragement.

What we got:

A big honkin' Uberthons medal. Always so fun! This one has a blinking light. There were also pins for top age-group finishers. (And because this was a Halloween race, there was a costume contest and prizes given for that.)

We were also treated to a trip down the Uberthons Nacho bar after the race. Chips, cheese, beans and a lot of other tasty fixings! ;) 

Final thoughts:

Like always, Uberthons did not disappoint! Their races are always well put together, family-friendly and friendly to speedy folks and slow folks. I appreciate that a lot! Looking forward to the next Uberthons event!

Review: Rock 'n' Roll Vancouver

What: Rock 'n' Roll Vancouver
Where: Vancouver, BC

When: Oct. 24, 2015

Distance: 10K (Half Marathon races available the next day too)

This was a bucket list item of sorts for me this year.

After completing both Portland and Seattle Rock 'n' Roll runs this year, a trip to Vancouver meant the opportunity to score a bonus medal from the Rock 'n' Roll series. Whatever the distance, if you completed all three stops, you could score a Cascadia medal.

When I mentioned that I was thinking of going, my running buddy's ears perked. I was just going for the Cascadia medal as I am just mostly a short distance girl. But she completes a lot of half marathons in the RNR Series and would qualify for even more medals by going, including the coveted World Rocker medal, so a road trip we planned. ;)  

My pal signed up for the half marathon and the 10k. I just did the 10k.

The 10k happened on Saturday, while the half was the next day. I am slow. She is speedy. Usually, I assume my spot at the back of the pack and say, "I'll meet you the finish line. Good luck!"

She decided this time to go slow with me as she was doing the half the next day as well.

Because this run happened the week before Halloween, we were encouraged to wear costumes. I decided to be a "crazy" American and dressed in red, complete with a tutu and visor. The white and blue came in the form of dollar store pompoms and an assortment of stars and tulle bows (on the back of my hydration pack and on my visor and shoes). My pal was the patriotic M&M! ;) 

The course was flat and fast. It was along Vancouver's Seawall.

When a visiting Canadian friend of mine mentioned before the race to me it was along the Seawall, I must admit that I wasn't that impressed. I figured it would be like Portland where there's water. You walk and run by the water but you deal with traffic too.  Boy, it was sure not like that all. It was dream!

The Seawall has a path for walking and biking. No cars. It literally takes you right along the water and beach. The whole 10K was impressive with beautiful views of the water, sand and the city in the background. 

It was very flat. Let's be honest: I'm a total weanie when it comes to hills. If there were hills, I feel they weren't noticeable. At one point, a runner quipped as she went by me that she was so happy that we were going downhill at that point. Immediately, the thought passed through my head, "If that was a hill, this is my dream race." Hee! 

One thing the RnR series does so well is provide live music along the course. There wasn't really an abundance of music during this race, but there was some. I particularly got a kick out of the Elvis act toward the end. I regret not stopping for a quick selfie with him, but at that point, my mind was focused on reaching the Finish Line so Elvis and I simply exchanged high 5s as I buzzed by him.

What we got:

Of course, we got a medal. The RnR series is great at having opportunities to earn bling and bonus race bling. For completing the Portland and Seattle races as well, we received a bonus "Cascadia" medal.

Runners who completed both the Vancouver 10k and the half marathon received a special Vancouver RnR spinner medal. Also, if you completed a half marathon in the USA previously and the half in Vancouver, you could bring home a World Rocker medal. (And there was also the opportunity to earn those awesome heavy medals for those taking part in the half marathon. For my running buddy, it was RnR Half #9 this year! For real!)

Besides the bling, we received a tech shirt. And we received coupons for a free beer in the Beer Garden after the race.

Final Thoughts:

It was so fun! It was a lot of work completing three runs to get the bonus medal, but I'm so glad I took part! Also, big props to Lisa, an RnR Ambassador for Vancouver. I remember talking to her in Portland about the run. She made me want to take part, just because of her enthusiasm. I had never met her before but she definitely made an impression on me. I saw her at the race during the weekend talking to other runners and giving high 5's to folks as they came in on Sunday after the half marathon. I've done a lot of runs and rarely have I seen a race ambassador take such an active row aole in cheering other runners on (even us slow folks) and be so involved. Thanks, Lisa, for your excitement!