Latest reviews by Haley Gonzales

(2015)
"CIM - it's always a great race!"
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If you know anything about me, you know how much I love the CIM. This year was the 4th time I have run this race and I feel like it just keeps getting better.

The CIM starts in Folsom and you make your way to the State Capitol. The organization of this race is always amazing. Plenty of busses to take you to the start, lots of porta potties at the start, trucks loading your bags for gear check, plenty of room at the start to get in the pace section you want, road closures, photographers, finish line medals, water & food...it is the most smooth transition from start to finish. One thing that has changed that I thought was great was the bus transportation is FREE to the start. You just show up at one of the multiple locations and you are taken to the start line. You're also allowed to stay on the bus until 15 minutes before race time (7am start).

This year I worked the expo and I realized how much work goes into those things! The expo for CIM is big, lots of great vendors, they have an expert panel talking about the course and how to run it successfully and lots of great opportunities for photos.

The race its self is relatively flat. The biggest hill is actually within the first mile (I think it is the biggest). From miles 9-13 there are a few hills but nothing terrible. There are spectators everywhere cheering you on, lots of music, great signs so that always helps. Running through Folsom and Fair Oaks is nice. It is always pretty and green that time of year. From mile 12.8ish to 16 are the "middle miles" - that is what they call it. That is through Carmichael and is kind of the boring part of the race for me. But hey, it's only 3 or 4 miles. 17 and on is where it gets good. Mile 20 is "the wall" they have music, cheer leaders and LOTS of people out!

My favorite miles are 23-26.2 and not only because that is the end but because that is my neighborhood. I know the shops, the people every block and turn we make. There is more music, alcohol (if that's your thing!) a man dressed like Jesus with a sign reading, "THE END of the race IS NEAR". Running down L street is where you can really speed it up. It is flat as a pancake, you can see the State Capitol and you can feel the energy from everyone there. As you get to 8th street and turn the corner there is one more turn to make down Capitol Mall and there it is! The finish line, right in front of the Capitol! As soon as you cross you're greeted with your medal, photos, and directed to food. There is also a beer garden, but it isn't good beer so I've never participated in that part. I'm a beer snob. The Capitol is decorated with Christmas wreaths and the Christmas tree is up in front of the Capitol as well - so again, more great photos!

This year there were a lot of people I know that BQ'd at this race and I believe we had 14 Olympic Trial Qualifiers this year. This course is perfect for first timers - good crowd, pretty flat and overall a nice course. The weather is usually good too. Of the 4 times I have run this race it has rained twice (this year was pretty much 10 minutes of showers, so that doesn't really count). It is usually chilly, but sunny. I have heard that every 5 years it is stormy, but that wouldn't keep me away from this great race!

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(2015)
"Wine Country in Sacramento "
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2015 was the 50th year of this great little race! There are multiple distances at this race but I have only done the 20 miler. This was the 2rd time I have run this race, and it has always been during my CIM training and it just happens to fall perfectly on the date I need to run 20 miles. This race is very small, which I am still surprised by, but a lot of fun. I can't imagine there were more than a few hundred of us running the 20 miler.

Since I did not run this race last year, I didn't realize until mile 4 or so that they changed up the course a bit. Which I think I liked, although there was an out and back between mile 14-17 (around these miles) that I really could have done without. It is still a pretty course, but you kinda think you're done but it keeps going. At least that is how it was for me around mile 15. I think the way they flipped the course actually makes it seem like it goes by faster. Running the finish is great because you're on a downhill at the last mile. Sure, it isn't a steep downhill but after 19 miles you can tell it is more downhill and it is nice to be able to speed up a bit at the end.

You run though the vineyards in Clarksburg, which is the Sacramento area's little wine county. You run along the river too. I love the views at this race. Since it is in November it may or may not rain. This year it rained and it was COLD! But the serve a good lunch once you're done. Salad, pasta, bread and cookies. Your choice of drinks too. And of course if you bring extra clothes you can go wine tasting after! This race starts and ends at a high school so I really wish they would open up the showers for the runners after the race. I'd be more open to going wine tasting after. Using wipes after 20 miles isn't enough for me to want to go wine tasting. I ran Napa Valley Marathon in 2014 and we used their showers.

I wish this race would get a little bigger, I think people are missing out. However, I also like the smallness of the race too. You pretty much know everyone running - oh, which is another great thing about the out and back that they added. It is great seeing people you know cheering you on & you're cheering for them at the end of a race. That is where you need it most!

This is a race that should be on your list if you live in the Sacramento area!

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(2015)
"Sacramento's BEST Community Run"
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Ahhh...RTFTH. This race really is Sacramento's best and biggest community race. There are usually around 27k participants. You pretty much run into everyone in town that you know. It is actually the biggest Thanksgiving run in the Country!! What you need to know about this race:
1. With 25k+ people, yes it is crowded! If you are racing this then you need to get the timed bib when you sign up. If you are doing it for fun, then no worries! The crowd does thin out a bit towards the middle.
2. Parking can kinda be a pain if you're not familiar with the area. They did have a bike valet. I think that was new this year.
Onto the review. I seriously, absolutely LOVE this race! I have done both the 10k and 5k. This year I did something a bit different and ran the 10k for fun. No racing today. It was majorly congested at the beginning and while I don't mind taking it slow and having fun it started out way too slow for me. But if you weave your way around people you can get going at a decent pace.

The course is beautiful. Running through East Sacramento in the Fall is great. Colorful trees, beautiful East Sac and Midtown houses. The last 4 years I have run this race the weather has been nice and clear. This year was freezing though! The community is out there with food, water, MIMOSAS, Bloody Marys...If you're running this for fun then it doesn't get much more fun than this race. I think I only saw one official aid station for the 10k which is a little crazy to me, but at least the community is out there for you. After the race there is a band playing music, snacks and drinks. You are pretty much walking or bike riding distance to a few places that are open so it is a good chance to get a post race drink and food.

The best thing about this race is that it benefits The Sacramento Food Bank. By running this race the community is able to help thousands of families in need. From the runners, race organizers, volunteers, people out cheering, it really is the best of Sacramento's community.

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(2015)
"Small race for a great cause"
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How is there such a great race in Sacramento that is so small? This was my first year running this 5k and I really enjoyed it. First of all, it is for a great cause.It raises money for My Sister's House, which seeks to eliminate domestic violence in the Asian and Pacific Islander community through family education, and by increasing the self-determination of Asian and Pacific Islander women.

The race is in William Land Park. There are many races in this park each year and I never get tired of them. Great views, fun and fast course and the spectators are great. There are a lot of things going on at this race which was great. Music, dancing, food...There were a lot of booths. Everything from pregnancy testing to massages. This really felt like a community run and I liked that. They have a lot of information about the Asian culture and I liked that too - from the food to the pre race festivities. As I mentioned it was a small race, so I came in 5th in my age group without really trying. But this is a great race if you want to try and PR. William Land Park is great for running! My only complaint is that there were a lot of walkers in the front. My sister and I moved to the front of the line because of that but we still had a few people get in front of us and they walked. So that was a little weird and rude, but as I mentioned it is a small and not so serious race. Perhaps best for new runners.

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(2015)
"Fast Half in Sacramento "
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I titled this "Fast Half in Sacramento" because you will be running with some fast people!! Also, this race goes by pretty fast, must be the scenery.

2015 is my second time running this race. Great race! The management is, once again, Capital Road Race Management so it is very well organized, great aid stations and there was a beer garden this year...although I finished around 8:40am so I didn't really feel like drinking a beer.

The race starts and ends at William Land Park which is a beautiful park in Sacramento. You run through Downtown Sac and near the Tower Bridge, then along the river for a bit. Some people have said around mile 4 and then again mile 7-10 isn't that nice. But I love it. You run by some railroad tracks and the section of the trail by the river we run on can sometimes have homeless people but I have never seen them out there on race day. Last year I don't remember bands playing but this year they were out at a few points in the race. I always love having bands play at races so that was a nice touch!

Once you cross the finish you are given a medal, water and are greeted by a lot of food! Strawberries, granola, sandwiches...I didn't partake in any food, however because I didn't see any vegetarian options - I wanted a fat sandwich or something, not just strawberries. It is possible I missed it. If you want to know what it is like to run a local Sacramento race, you need to race Urban Cow. I think all of my running friends were out there! Great first race because of the course, spectators and post run celebration. It is also a good course if you are trying to race a half marathon and wanting to improve your previous times on this course. Definitely another recommend Sac race!

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