While I was out at the event to collect shoes for Dunk Your Kicks, I decided what the heck, I'm going to run the 5k. So I walked over to sign up. No line, really, very fast--took under 5 minutes. Several people changed distances as I was filling out the form to register, a quick matter of the registrar recording bib numbers and handing out a new distance sticker (bibs are color-coded by distance, to help volunteers point runners in the right direction).

Despite the warning that shirt sizes were running out (so go get yours now instead of at the end), there were plenty of both the cotton t-shirts and the tech shirts ($5 extra; since I have two tubs of tech shirts and my cotton ts are wearing thin, I went cotton). Cute design on the front, too. Those who registered by a certain deadline were guaranteed shirt sizes, and Brazen volunteers were there to hand out individual envelopes containing the right shirt. There were also plenty of shirts for the same-day registrants. Plenty of people were able to change sizes (these shirts run a little small--I got a large and it is going to be fitted), no problem. Right next to the shirts was bag check, always well-organized and rarely with a line to check in or out.

The 5k event seemed well-attended. (I confess I didn't arrive early enough to see the marathon start.) Unlike many trail/park races, the course for the 5k did not require any single-file running--nice for me, since I'm a fun-ner runner, not a faster one. Of course the scenery was gorgeous, with views of the hills and the lakes. I took a walk break to gawk at how amazingly beautiful Northern California is in early summer. We were lucky to get excellent early-morning weather, with the heat turning on just as we were finishing.

The 5k had a single aid station (shared by another distance) with water, electrolyte replenisher, and some snacks in little cups (I think pretzels and M&Ms--I didn't look carefully, since I didn't need anything). It was staffed by super cute kids and some adult minders :) The kids did a great job, and there was no waiting or traffic jam.

Speaking of kids, one thing I like about Brazen events is that they are family-friendly, and Western States was no exception. The 5k and 10k both had a decent number of kids running the event. Not just high-school-aged kids, but elementary school aged kids. (They got shirts in kid-sizes, too.) The 5k had multiple sets of parents and kids (or parent-kid), and I saw a few sets of kids running with other kids. Non-running kids were well-represented at the finish line, cheering on older siblings, parents, and grandparents. Several families had claimed the picnic tables a little further out from the main staging area, and were having brunch and holding signs.

Speaking of finishing, every Brazen finisher gets announced (to the extent the announcer can speak that fast) and a medal. No kidding. I ran a 5k and got a medal! I was not expecting this, but find it really cool--I know some people have an attitude about medals for a 5k, but I believe that ANY reminder that you ran an event can help buff your self-efficacy and get you out there to do it again. Just past the finish line medals, a well-stocked water station.

Since I was in no danger of placing or coming close to the course record (I'm there to have fun), I headed over to the pavilion with the post-race food. There are age-group awards going all the way down to kid-age brackets, and some kids were pleasantly surprised to get an age group award even if their bracket was small. (I was one kid who was one of two in his bracket--but he still pounded out a highly respectable time accompanying his mom in her race. How cool is that?) Brazen knows how to do post-race food. In addition to water and Ultima replenisher, I recall seeing the following items: bananas, oranges, popcorn, chocolate cake, vanilla cake, strawberries, other fruit (grapes?), Svenhard's bakery pastries, bagels (plus peanut butter and stuff to put on them), Mike & Ikes, M&Ms, Payday bars (cut into pieces, which I appreciated), and pretzels. I'm sure there was more stuff, but that's what I remember (not what I ate!). Oh, and like every Brazen race I've seen, a steady supply of well-frozen Its-It products (every flavor, plus this thing I'd never had called a Sundae Super, or something like that).

This is a great location for parking. Parking is included in your race fee (though I do encourage people to support the East Bay Regional Parks through membership and donations). There are two large lots, side by side, near the race staging area, a short walk from the start. There are also paved paths from the parking lot almost all the way up to the start, making it relatively-wheelchair friendly.

A gorgeous way to start my Saturday, I'm glad I decided to jump in at the last minute. Oh, and Brazen Racers donated TWO full boxes of shoes to Dunk Your Kicks benefiting Max Cure Foundation. Yup, it's a WIN for the day.