This was my 3rd year doing this race and it always delivers! Last year, it was rainy and cold so I was excited that it was a warm and sunny day this time. The event is family friendly (includes a stroller division) and it benefits military families with children affected by autism. I ran with my running group, Stroller Warriors, and we had such a large team that the organization provided us a tent/table area with snacks. It was nice to have a meeting spot with my fellow mother runners.
Race breakdown:
Expo: Packet pick - up was the evening before at Woodstock Pizza or you could snag your bib the morning of the race. I had a friend pick my stuff up at Woodstock, but I heard the pizza was fantastic!
Pricing: Ranges from $25-$45, but they offer promo codes the months leading up the race so I paid around $30 which isn't bad for a 10k!
Parking: Free parking is available in lots surrounding the event. The later you arrive, the further away you will have to park. I parked about .5 miles away which wasn't bad because it gave me a chance to warm up on the way to start line.
Course: The 10k begins first, and the 5k starts about 30 mins later so that everyone finishes on the same course without congestion. The course is flat and goes around Fiesta Island in Mission Bay. The views are nice, but it can get a little boring if this happens to be your training spot. There were a few water stops and some energetic volunteers and cops directing traffic and cheering along the way. One downfall is that there were basically no spectators until the finish line, so you don't have that extra energy.
Post-race: Lots of vendors handing out a generous amount of products, samples, and coupons. There were a couple of contests that included: highest fundraiser, largest team, and best costume. Since the event was held during Easter weekend, they also provided an Easter egg hunt with an appearance by the Easter Bunny! My daughter loved this part of the event and talked about the Easter bunny for the rest of the day.
Swag: Everyone received a medal and a shirt. I scored some extra swag at the post-race party and there were lots of snacks and full-size drinks for everyone. There was also a beer garden, but I didn't check it out because I had my 4-year-old with me...but it was a packed area so I'm sure it was great!

Overall: I really love this event and would do it again! I like the cause that the race supports and I especially like that the race course is stroller friendly since I usually push my daughter during races. The post-race festivities offer bounce houses, coloring tables, and other fun stuff for the kids and family. This is a really fun event to run with your family and friends! Check out my blog for more details and pictures!