I saw the Newcastle Colour Run and thought that a 5km run would be a good way to recruit some of my friends into my running addiction! Registration (a bit expensive for a 5km compared to other events) was really easy online, and I was able to register all of us at once. An email was sent before the run with a confirmation you needed for pick up. Bib pickup was the day before at a local venue which was pretty easy. There wasn’t an expo for this event like other running events that I have been to. However in the race packet was my race bib, a cotton t-shirt that was pretty good quality, head band, tattoos, and a colourful bag.

The actual event was held at the Broadmeadow Race Course in Newcastle. On event day we parked at the nearby train station and walked about 15 minutes to the race precinct. There is a shuttle bus from Kotara Shopping Centre to the race precinct, but we found a park nearby with no problems. There were road closures around the race precinct so plan to arrive a bit early.

There are no corrals for this event, it is just a long chute that you just line up in when you arrive. They let runners go in waves and it took about 40 minutes to actually cross the start line, this was probably something they could improve on. They had a DJ keeping the energy up and keeping everyone entertained while they waited.

The actual course went outside around the racecourse on the local streets and then back in running around the racetrack and finishing inside the Broadmeadow Race Course. The whole course is very flat, but there was lots of people so it was very stop start. There are colour stations through the course spraying you with various colours as well as a snow station (fake snow of course!). At the end there is a DJ and music to entertain all the runners, and the usual food stalls.

This is definitely an event you do just to have fun with friends not to run a PR. I would definitely recommend this run if you’re looking to do an event just for something fun and colourful (and you’ll be sneezing blue/pink/purple/green chalk for a week!!).

The experience of a Run Disney event began at registration - for me it was a 2am alarm to register (being in a different time zone)!! I had read that these events sell out pretty quickly so I wanted to make sure I didn’t miss out. I was traveling all the way to Anaheim from Australia so I thought I might as well make the most of it and I entered the Pixie Dust Challenge - the 10km on the Saturday and the half on the Sunday. Run Disney events are quite expensive - especially with our exchange rate but it was definitely worth it!!

The race pick up expo starts on the Thursday before the event weekend. I collected my race packs on the Thursday afternoon and it was pretty busy. There was a race shirt for each event I was registered in as well as a Pixie Dust Challenge shirt. Of course I had to make some purchases at the expo - how could I not with so many great vendors!!

The actual race day was a very early start (4:15am!!) but a short walk from our hotel to the start line. There was so much energy and great costumes in the corrals to keep you motivated, and great entertainment at the actual start line keeping the runners excited.

The run starts outside the park on roads outside the park and over the freeway overpass and then back into the park. Inside the park there are lots of disney characters and photo opportunities along the way, there really is such a great atmosphere inside the park. There are lots of great volunteers if you're on your own and need help taking photographs. Once you have runs round the park, you leave the park and run on the streets of Anaheim. Don't worry there is plenty of entertainment and cheering crowds along the running route outside the park to keep you going!!

After running through the streets, the run reenters the park and finishes over near the Disney Hotels where we started. At the finish line collect your bling and snacks and enjoy the entertainment!! This really is so much fun and such great energy along the whole run!!

This is an out and back event, with some pretty good scenery along the way. There is a half, marathon, 5km, 10km and a 1km Caramello run for the kids. It is a great event for the family with so many different events. This event was held at the Cadbury Chocolate factory on the 11th of January, 2015, and I did the half marathon event.

There wasn’t an expo for this event, but bib pickup was super easy at a running shop in Hobart. There is plenty of accommodation in Hobart and ours was quite close to the running shop, so I walked up to collect my race pack. However it is really easy to find if you were driving.

There are lots of road closures around the event on race day, so allow a bit of extra time. I travelled for this event and wasn’t familiar with the area but it was really easy to find and the volunteers were really helpful with parking and directions. There are buses that run between the event and the Best Western in Hobart if you want to make it easier.

The course itself starts at the Cadbury Chocolate factory there are a few minor hills along the route which goes out along the road and back to the Cadbury Chocolate factory. There are several drink stations along the way with water and electrolytes, the lovely volunteers at the last drink station had jelly beans! The only downside would be the lack of bathroom stops along the route!!

Of course when you cross the line you get some chocolate and a medal and if that isn’t enough you can buy some chocolate from the Cadbury visitor centre shop!! After the run you can collect your free t-shirt. There are food stalls at the finish line catering for most food preferences.

I travelled for this event and the organisers provided so much information that it was really easy to find everything and get to the event. I would definitely recommend this race to anyone - it has chocolate and running, what more could you want!! If you have some extra time there are some beautiful areas around Hobart to explore.

This is a womens only event, where you wear your best splash of pink and raise money for breast cancer. The event was on December 7, 2014 at the Catani Gardens in St Kilda, Melbourne. We did the half marathon event but there is also a 10km and 5km to suit every running ability.

I travelled for this event so I opted to have my race pack sent out to me. Race entry includes your race bib, timing chip and a t-shirt. My race bib didn’t arrive in time before we left, but the organisers were great and gave me a replacement bib and chip on the morning of the event.

The event starts and finishes at the Catani Gardens and you do two laps of the course along the water and through the park. On the day of the event it rained and continued to rain for the whole run!! It was my friends first half marathon and we were completely soaked but had a great time! At the finish line we received our medal, which if course was pink!

We travelled to Melbourne for the event and found some great accommodation close to the start line which made transport for us pretty easy. There was a tram stop nearby if you need to catch public transport.

At the finish line there were the usual food stalls and a few running gear stalls. I picked up some 2XU recovery tights for a great price. This is a great event for a great cause! If you do this event check out Fitzrovia in St Kilda for an after race treat!!

Run Australia do a series of events in Australia where 100% of every registration goes directly to a local cause. I participated in the 12km Run Wollongong event on October 19, 2014, where the money raised was for the redevelopment of the Childrens Ward at Wollongong Hospital.

For my entry fee, I got a hat, t-shirt and my race bib. There wasn’t an expo for this event, the race bib pick up was at a local shopping centre. Pick up was so easy, there were no long lines and the volunteers were great.

This event was great for me and such a change because there was no travel involved, just a simple walk to the start line. No super early starts for this one!! The beginning of the event runs along the ocean with some great views and then through some residential streets before turning around and running back towards the start line. The majority of the run is pretty flat, there are a few minor hills but nothing crazy! The finish line is within the WIN Stadium, where your family can wait and cheer you across the finish line. There is no medal for this event. There are the usual food stalls at the finish line for some refuelling.

This event had some awesome views and raised money for a great cause! I would love to enter some of the other Run Australia events!