Tick Tock - One Week To Go!

Are You Ready?

The clock is ticking and the Hollywood Half Marathon is only one week away! The time is finally here for you to shine bright and be treated like a celebrity!

By now you should have completed your longest “long run."   Continue with your regular running program but there is no point in trying to squeeze in one last long run.  Your body will not benefit much and it will cause more stress on your body the necessary.  You have trained, gotten those miles in, and now it is time to relax! This week should be all about winding down and
                                                                                       saving your energy for the big event.

If you are getting really itchy to get a good workout in, think about cross-training this week instead.  Go for a swim or ride your bike on the days where your energy is tempting you to have a good sweat.

You can do some mental preparations this week as well.  Many of you already have your mental game routine ready. Some people like to look at the course map to see details, gains in elevation, etc.  If you live close to the course, think about driving it so that it is familiar to you.  Read those race day instructions, print out your registration for bib pick-up and start making a list of things to pack for race day.

Despite all the hype on the carb loading the night before, carbohydrate intake should actually begin Wednesday or Thursday.  Aim to increase your carbs by 60-70% and that doesn’t mean with beer which brings me to my next topic.

Keep your body hydrated.  Drink plenty of water this week and try to avoid excess amounts of coffee, tea, and alcohol.  If you are planning on bringing a sport drink with you, experiment with them now so that you don’t have any upset tummy surprises on race day.  Many runners like to get massages before a race, and if you are one of those people, do it before Wednesday.  They can be dehydrating.

Test run any of your new gear or apparel.  If you have a costume, a new hat, hydration belt, etc. wear them during one of your easy runs this week.  You don’t want any surprises or wardrobe malfunctions while you are out on the course.

Have a great week and try to contain your excitement for the big weekend!  We can’t wait to have you out at the Hollywood Half Marathon!

Behind the Scenes: Meet the Hollywood Half Pace Car

You can't have a red carpet event without some mean looking cars and the Hollywood Half Marathon is no exception!  We found a car that proved to be a perfect fit for the branding of the event and our company Superhero Events.

The car "Red Mist" was built specifically for the Red Mist superhero in MTV's "KICK-ASS".  Red Mist was played by Christopher Mintz-Plasse who most of you know as McLovin from the movie "Superbad."  This mustang features many custom upgrades including a one-off body kit developed by Rich Evans Design, a 550-horsepower 4.6 liter V-8 engine, custom made 20-inch wheels, and Lambo-style scissor doors.

"Red Mist" KICK-ASS Video Clip

The unveil video starred Race Directors Ken and Sabrina along with special guest Nadia Ruiz who is a professional runner and the First Lady of the New Year's Race.  Model/musician Sima Fisher and Indie Music Host and host of RunHollywood.com Jeff Dunlap, and Prince and Charles of PrinceCharles Entertainment were also on site.

In this video, Ken comes face to face with Michael Blackson played by body double Brian Simmons in a fun, 007 themed shoot.  All of which was filmed at Galpin Auto Sports Astin Martin Lounge.

 What better way to kick off the Hollywood Half Marathon. Let's all hope "Red Mist" evokes some extra speed as we run the red carpet!



BEHIND THE SCENES AT GALPIN

 

 

10...9...8...Countdown to Win a Free Jacket!

The Hollywood Half Marathon is now ten days away. Well,  maybe nine if you don't count race day.  At any rate, it is close and there are a lot of things going on behind the scenes!  The goal for this second year was to reach 8,000 runners.  We are over 7,000 and well on our way!

How can you say no to this bling?

This week we will be giving one lucky registrant a Hollywood Half Marathon jacket every day. Every person that registers will have a chance to win!  If you haven't signed up yet, now is the time!  Have friends that are on the fence about running with you?  Maybe this will help!

Register for the half marathon today (or tomorrow, or the next day...) and you could not only run away like a movie star, but you could run away with a new jacket!  Register now!

Know of someone who wants to get involved but doesn't want to run? We still need volunteers are cheer groups to come out on race day and lend a hand!  For more information you can contact kelley@superheroevents.com or check out our page for volunteers!

Be sure to keep your eyes glued to this blog for information about the Hollywood Half After Party, featured runners and running groups, and the latest on celeb sightings!

Two Weeks To Go: Time to Taper

With the Hollywood Half Marathon being just under two weeks away, it is time to start tapering your training runs. Some people have their own schedule that they follow religiously before a half marathon and, if that works for you, now is not the time to change it.

If this is your first half event or if you still haven’t found the perfect tapering schedule, here are some tips to try.

Your last long run (somewhere between 10 and 13 miles) should have already been completed in the past week.  This is to ensure that your body has enough time to fully recover and reap the fitness gains from the long-run trainings.

At this stage, your runs should gradually become easier and less in volume as your prepare to run the red carpet on April 6^th. There is no need to cut back on the frequency at which you’ve been running because your body is used to it but you do want to decrease your mileage.

A general rule of thumb is to decrease your mileage by 25-50% by the week prior to the race. Any easier way to go (without any calculations) is to run 30-40 minutes from here on out, each time you run.

While you are out on your runs these last two weeks, you can focus on running mechanics and form, take your running apparel out for a test run if you are wearing something new (or a costume), and simply take it easy.  If you want to play around with speed at this point, don’t run any further than a 5K distance each time you run.

Be sure to get your rest days in between your runs and don’t be afraid to take an extra day off if you are battling an injury. It’s countdown time so treat your body well and mentally prepare!  You are about to become a star!

Be A Star At The Hollywood Half - Run on Us!

This year, the Hollywood Half is ready to roll out the red carpet. All participants, whether running the 5K, 10K, or the half marathon will be treated just like a star. Why? Because you deserve it!

There are so many wonderful stories that we have received about why people have chosen to participate in this year's event. Some people are dedicating their runs to others, such as those running with Team Run3rd.  Others are running to raise money for causes like autism, animal rescue, and cancer. This certainly makes our name Superhero Events even more fitting.

We are looking for a few more stars to run alongside those that are already registered. There are so many causes and reasons why people run - and we want to hear about them!

Do you think you should be a star? 
Tell us your story about why you want to run in this year's Hollywood Half on April 6th. Superhero Events, along with your help, will be selecting one lucky runner to receive a complimentary entry to the race. Are you already registered but know of someone who isn't?  Share their story and win them an entry!

Post your "Why I Should Be A Star" story in the comments section below along with your email.  Then help spread the word by posting the contest on Facebook and Twitter.  The more the merrier right?

On Saturday, March 30th, a star will be born when one lucky winner will be chosen to run the red carpet, on us, at the Hollywood Half. Good luck and start training because you just may be running a half marathon on April 6th!

All entries must be received by Friday, March 29th at 9:00 p.m. PST.

Hollywood Half - Just Around the Corner

Your chance to run down the Walk of Fame and through Hollywood is fast approaching! Superhero Event's next themed race in Saturday, April 6th and is is one that you don't want to miss.

What better way to tour the streets of Los Angeles than by RUNNING! This exciting event features a friendly 5K, and leisurely 10K, and for those of you that want real celeb status, a half marathon.  Participants are encouraged to come out dressed to impress - as their favorite celebrity. Who speaks to your inner Hollywood?

If running down the famous Hollywood Blvd. and Sunset Dr. isn't enough, the run will be raising money for the Los Angeles Youth Network and Convenant House California.  Although those at the official charities, there are many charity groups participating for their own cause. Team in Training, Autism Speaks, and run3rd will all be out there running with meaning.

Sean Astin, Andrea Barber, and Joey McIntyre were amongst the real celebrities who chose to ditch their normal red carpet way and take on Hollywood in their tennis shoes.  Who will be there this year?

The Hollywood Half is near capacity, so don't wait! Get your red carpet running fashion and register for this fun, themed race today.  You won't want miss out!

Check out the half marathon course preview!