This was hands-down the hardest half marathon I've run to date. The terrain was hilly, the course was dark, and the heat was unrelenting -- but the views! Taking place in the Nevada desert in summer heat, this day/night race is one-of-a-kind and not for the faint for heart!

Pre-Run:
I had originally registered for a spring race with Calico Racing, but I was unable to attend, so I switched my registration to Running with the Devil -- and the race management team was so nice and quick to respond! This is a smaller race team, so there is no large expo or pre-race day packet pick-up. 5k/10k/half marathon runners could register to run at either 7:30am or 7:30pm for a night run, while the larger distances only had a morning start option. Knowing desert heat, and looking for a unique running experience, I signed up for the night run. Unlike the day runners, night runners were required to wear BOTH a front and back reflective vest as well as a wearable lamp (or carry a flashlight). If you're staying in Vegas, the drive out to Lovell Canyon is simple to follow. It was easy to spot the race set-up right along the road, and parking was RIGHT AT THE START LINE! I picked my bib and shirt up, and we were on our way at 7:30!

The Race:
This course ran up Lovell Canyon Road into the desert for 6.5 miles before turning around and coming back to the start. For the first 4 miles, it is a deceptively tough steady incline before getting some relief with a few downward curves. The best part of the course came at mile 5 with a fast downhill curve into a valley. But, that steep downhill turn comes back to bite you on mile 7, as it is a HARD uphill climb. The ultimate reward came around mile 8.5, with a steady gentle downhill return to the finish line. In terms of nightfall, there was enough sunlight at 7:30 that I didn't turn on my vest light until about 8:15 or so. The road, while sparsely populated, does not officially close during the race, so there were times when cars would pass by. Being out in the middle of the desert is no joke -- even with the moonlight and a bright LED light, it was DARK! The temperatures did cool off a bit, and this year we had a exceptionally excessive heat wave with temps around 115 during the day. The night race did cool off a bit, but if you're not a Nevada-native, this can be really challenging to deal with -- especially without any wind to provide relief. The heat and low vision can really mess with you mentally here! The race organizers did a nice job with first aid assistance and PLENTY of water stops -- those were a real game changer!

Post-Race:
This post race was really special to me because I placed 2nd for the women's division of the night half! I received a lunchbox cooler (very convenient for storing things in this heat!) as well as a nice medal. The team had plenty of water and snacks available too! It was a small group, but I was impressed with all of the food and drinks they came prepared with for the racers! I actually got a bit light-headed due to the conditions, so I really appreciated all the aid!

Tips: (there's a bunch for this one!)
- It is HOT -- bring a water pack with extra water and don't pass up any aid stations if you are running without a pack. The night temps are deceiving and it's still hot out there! Especially without wind. Wear a bandana around your neck and dump water on it at each station to keep your neck and face cool!
- Make sure your light has enough batteries or charge to last you for the duration of the race -- mine was getting a bit dim toward the end!
- This road is a bit bumpy -- watch out for uneven ground, especially during the night race!
- Night runners are required to be reflective from BOTH the front and back!
- Pace yourself accordingly in anticipating of that tough climb returning up out of the valley
- Make sure your phone is with you and charged -- I was surprised to find that I had no cellphone service issues, even when out in the middle of nowhere. If you're concerned that you may need medical attention and can't locate a first aid station near you, you can use your phone to call the organizers! (They also paced the course often, so you are never truly without assistance!)
- If this is your first night race, or first high heat race, take your time, practice beforehand if you can, and watch your fluids!!!! (It's so important, I've put it on the tip list twice!)

Final Thoughts:
There's something so magical about being alone out in nature under the stars! As a Midwest transplant into a bustling city, being back out in the wilderness was a joy! But this one is no joke -- you really will believe you're running with the devil in heat like this!

This may have been hands-down one of the best races I’ve run in a long time! The on-course atmosphere was AMAZING! The Rock ‘n’ Roll race series is definitely a can’t miss!

Pre-Run:
I signed up for this run as part of the Remix Challenge back in late 2020, amid a lot of in-person racing uncertainty. Originally set for June, I received word it was moving to October. At the time, I had purchased race insurance, and I actually used it to cancel my registration after numerous people told me most RnR races were being cancelled. Of course, this one stuck, so I re-signed up for the Remix Challenge again! This race offers a GIANT expo (if you’re a RunDisney runner, this will all feel very familiar to you), and this one took place inside the San Diego Convention Center. The expo was very straight-forward and provided plenty of signage and volunteers to help any lost runners or answer any questions. After receiving our bibs and shirts, we passed through the official RnR shop and then onto the expo floor, filled with booths and photo opps. If expo shopping isn’t your thing, this expo is VERY easy to get in and out of! (On a bit of a bizarre sidenote, make sure you double-check your merch – I found and notified staff that a large number of their smaller souvenir items (magnets, pins, bottle openers) had “Half Marathon” misspelled as “Half MaraTON!” The team was kind enough to mark everything down due to the error, but when I told them, I was apparently the only person to catch the error, and the expo had been open for multiple hours by the time I arrived!)

The next morning, I made a point to get up EARLY to catch an Uber to the start, since I did not drive to San Diego. I’m not sure if it was due to my hotel location, or to the race morning in general, but it was VERY difficult to book a car. I ended up searching multiple ride-share apps, spent about 15-20 minutes waiting, and ended up paying extra for priority pickup on Lyft because I was nervous about missing the starting line. When my driver pulled up to the recommended drop-off, it was a MADHOUSE. Most runners chose to use ride-share services due to the lack of parking near the start, and my driver was fortunately able to find a place to pull over for me to exit, but there were cars backed up down the street and all the way to the exit ramp. Take this as a GIANT CUE to plan ahead!!!

I arrived with enough time to spare, including a bit of a walk from my drop-off spot to my corral. That walk was about 5 minutes tops, but if you’re cutting it close, the last thing you want is to SPRINT to your corral.

The was plenty of music at the starting line and announcers from the 5k were back to hype up the crowd. I thought it was really cool that the race had a spanish-speaking announcer too to make the starting line festivities more inclusive!

The Race:
Like the 5k the day before, this race implemented a new starting pattern. In addition to all runners being placed in corrals, runners were then filed up to the starting time mat in mini corrals, about 15 across. A systematic siren let one person from each of the 15 mini corrals go at once every 10 seconds or so. This was done to create a staggered start and prevent starting-line congestion while also being socially distant and COVID-friendly. Personally, I liked this method – it was quick, spacious, and they even placed a photographer right out the gate to get a clear shot of each runner taking off!

The runners of both the half and full marathon took off at the same time and ran together on the course for the first 8.5ish miles before splitting off. The course starts running north before turning down University Avenue until about mile 2.5. From there, runners turn north up 30th Street and weave around Mountain View Dr. in Normal Heights. At mile 6, start a square zig-zag down toward East San Diego reaching the full and half marathon split off point. Half marathon runners continued south heading into Balboa Park around mile 10 for a nice, fast descent toward B Street. The final mile runs east, finishing at Union Street. After the course split, those who chose to run the full marathon headed back west and weaved their way all the way out to Mission Bay, turning around just outside of SeaWorld. Runners then headed east toward Linda Vista before turning south down through Balboa Park and to the Union Street finish line.

I noticed something interesting once the course split. There were numerous signs and a man with a bullhorn notifying runners of the split, however, numerous full marathon runners missed the info and kept running with the half, only to discover their error MILES later! Many had to turn around, run BACK to the split and THEN continue with the rest of the course! With that being said, this may be the most important tip of this race – watch where you’re going!!!

The real magic of this race came from the course atmosphere. There were 20 race-sponsored music and entertainment groups along the courses and numerous local organizations and people coming out to entertain and cheer on runners! Some of my favorites included a Tom Cruise Top Gun impersonator at mile 2, a Ron Burgundy impersonator at mile 6, a drag show at mile 1.5, and the hard rock band around mile 11! As for “unofficial” entertainment, there were cheer squads, local clubs, and my personal favorite, the homes on Mountain View Dr who turned their driveways into run-through bars, pouring shots for runners as they passed! That was my only “aid” stop of the day, and it was the best!

Post-Race:
A big race comes with an even BIGGER after-party, and this one did not disappoint! Finishers received NUMEROUS post-run snacks and fluids upon crossing the finish line, as well as multiple photo opp stops for race photographers to take a photo of you basking in your victory! From there, runners were directed down the hill toward the waterfront where the party was in full swing! There was a selection of live music, as well as numerous tents and booths from the expo back to support the runners. Racers were also treated to a post-run beer garden hosted by the weekend’s sponsor, Heineken 0.0. All runners received a free non-alcoholic Heineken beer, with alcoholic Heineken varieties available for purchase. There was also an official RnR pop-up shop as well as a tent for runners to get their medals engraved. It was a TON of fun!

Tips:
-WHAT YOUR SIGNS! This feels like a weird request but I was SHOCKED at the number of full marathon runners I saw on the back part of the half course who had mistakenly taken the wrong turn and had to run all the way back to split to continue on the right course. So unless you love the idea of running an ultra, take a look at the map before race day to make note of the split placement and WATCH FOR THE SIGNS!
- All runners are required to show a proof of vaccination, or a negative COVID-test within the last 72 hours prior to participating in the race or entering the expo. This rule also applies to any guests attending the expo with you,
- If you visit the Heineken booth at the expo, they will check your ID in advance and provide you with a wristband that will allow you to skip the ID check at the post-race beer garden!

Final Thoughts:
From the on-course entertainment and crowd enthusiasm to the pre-race expo and post-race festival, this race was big, bold, and oh so much FUN! I’ve been bit by the Rock ‘n’ Roll bug, and I now see what all the hype is about! Can’t wait for my next RnR race!

After a year of no in-person racing in Southern California, it was so refreshing to be back together and this event was a great way to kick it off! From the smaller crowds, rolling start times, and AWESOME belt buckle medal, Caren Ware Events put on a safe and fun event!

Pre-Run:
I registered for the race online. The race management team sent numerous emails detailing pre-race packet pickup, COVID rules for safe running, and general event info. I chose to pick up my packet on race-day morning since I drove down from LA. Because this race was themed, I chose to fully lean into it and I dressed up in an inflatable horse costume! The race management team had lots of fun photo backdrops set up at packet-pickup. Parking was PERFECT -- it was in the same parking lot as pre-race staging and there were plenty of spaces available! If you know me, you know my 3 pillars of race parking (easy to find, cheap/free, close to the race start) and this was one of those rare instances when all 3 happened!

The Race:
Up the road and around the corner from parking and pick-up was the race start. Runners were able to run anytime between 6:30-8:00 am. The course was a super straight-forward out and back loop along the waterway. 10k/5k runners ran the entire course together, with 10k runners continuing beyond for a larger loop. This course was a mix of concrete sidewalks and dirt pathways. Due to the altered race format, the pathways were shared with non-racers. This usually wasn't an issue, but there were a lot of bikers on the path during the 2nd half of the race, and some of them would ride a bit too close to runners. This is not at all an issue with the race itself or race management, but it is something to note if you're planning to walk, run with a stroller, or run/walk with pets (this race is both dog/stroller friendly). The first half of the course runs along the river -- it's more of a dried-up riverbed than a river, so the scenery isn't really remarkable until you near the golf course later down the path.

Post-Race:
The post-race festival started off with a BEAUTIFUL, themed medal (we had the choice between gold or silver at the finish line) that converted into a belt buckle! From there, the post-race festivities continued back over by packet pickup with the previously mentioned photobooths as well as a mechanical bull!

Tips:
- Parking is every runner's dream, but it does require a tad bit of side street weaving if you aren't familiar with the area.
- Try to plan on running earlier in the start time window to avoid the bikers and runners that share the road. They tend to arrive a bit later in the morning.
- There isn't a lot of shade on this route, so don't forget your sunscreen and a hat/sunglasses!

Final Thoughts:
Caren Ware Events hosted a wonderful, intimate and fun race that is perfect for all running levels and a safe racing experience for anyone itching to get back into SoCal in-person racing! Will definitely return for another event hosted by this awesome team!