Costume Party Run Best Band Contest!

You came, you dressed up, you ran.  What makes running 13.1 miles in costume just a tad bit easier?  Having great bands along the way - and that we did!  Which band got your running shoes moving?  Which band kept you going and made you wanting more?  Cast your vote for the Best Band of the Costume Party Run!

Cast your vote using the survey at the right top of the page.  You can only choose one band so choose wisely!  Can't remember who was who?  Here are your choices:

Zephyris was most likely the reggae type band that you heard first.  They were groovin' right before the first parking lot loop.  Listen to them now.

Boondock Brothers rocked your socks off in the second parking lot loop.  Wish you could hear them again?  You can by clicking here!

Ghost in Pocket picked you up and sang you home to the finish line.  They were the last band you saw before you headed down the home stretch.  Jog (get it?  ha, ha) your memory by listening to one of their songs.

King Legend were heard loud and clear up and down Friars Road.  They had a lot of road to cover and they did it well with their rockin' tunes!  Does this sound familiar?

Now that you have relived all the great music entertainment from the Costume Party Run, it is time to cast your vote for your personal favorite!  Don't wait - the contest ends Sunday, July 14th and noon.

Costume Party Run: Preparing For the Biggest Bling of Your Life

The moment you have been waiting for is just days away. Costumes, comedy, craziness, and the BIGGEST BLING around is waiting for you. Are you ready?

 

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. With the summer heat, is it crucial that you don't over do it. 

 

Do some mental preparations this week as well.  Start chanting your mantra, get those tunes on your iPod and keep that goal in mind. Be sure to look over the course and all of the race day details so that the day before and morning of can be spent stress free.

Carbohydrate intake should actually begin Wednesday or Thursday.  It is fun to carb load the day before but your body will benefit more if you start increasing your carbs days before the race and not the night before. 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.  This is one of the most important details especially with the summer heat. 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 now so that you don’t have any upset tummy surprises on race day. 

 

Test run any of your new gear or apparel.  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. If you don't want to go jogging around your neighborhood in your tights and cape (I don't blame you,) give it a test run on a treadmill.

Have a great week and try to contain your excitement for the big weekend!  We can't wait to see you in San Diego and look forward to giving you all the laughs, wackiness, and bling that you can handle.

 

Click here for final instructions.  

Celebrate National Running Day With Superhero Discounts

How will you be celebrating National Running Day on June 5th? Going on a long run?  Running with a family member?  How about signing up for some of the funnest races around!  Now is your chance to get a superhero discount! Can't decide which race to run?  May we suggest you run them all?

Costume Party Run - Do You Really Wear A Costume?

Check out for the Do's and Don'ts of the Costume Party Run. Is it really cool to dress up? See what Marshmallow Man thinks.

Costume Party Run...Hidden Hills?

Are you wondering if the course for the Costume Party Run is flat?  Hot Dog Man will tell you!

Dressing Up For The Costume Run

The San Francisco Bay to Breakers is one of the oldest races in history that celebrates the human spirit. Since January 1, 1912, it had been one of the oldest running events where not only the serious runner participates. Each year thousands of costumed participants join with families, and weekend runners and walkers. As they make their way through the heart of San Francisco, energized by continuous bursts of live music, they are cheered on by thousands of spectators lining the route.

Since the inaugural Bay to Breakers, a number of costume-themed runs have popped up around the world. The London Marathon, has produced some of the best costumes as has runDisney events such as the Walt Disney World Marathon, Tinker Bell Half Marathon, and the Disney Princess Half. Other running events seem to evoke costumes simply based on the event date like many local Thanksgiving Turkey Trot, Christmas runs, and Halloween runs.

If running in an outrageous costume is on your bucket list, you don't want to miss out on the Costume Party Run. On July 7, runners will be coming out of San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium and running a half marathon or 5K in the whackiest costumes they can think of. Along with some crazy course entertainment, you will not want to miss this inaugural event!

Did I mention the medal?  Rumor has it that it will be one of the LARGEST medals in the country!

The Costume Party Run has chosen Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego and San Diego Youth Services. So get your costumes on because it's all for a good cause.

Here are some of running's WHACKIEST costumes. Can you top them? BuyCostumes.com is a great source for inexpensive costumes if you are looking for some inspiration!

Cruella and her Dalmations

Something's fishy!

Lady Lobsters

Snap, Crackle, and Pop!

Faces

Toothbrush and Toothpaste

Nesquick will give you some speed!

Roadkill Rita

Inspired? REGISTER NOW!

The Costume Party Run is 3 Months Away - Find Out How To Train

Maybe you just ran the Hollywood Half Marathon.  Or perhaps you wanted to run the half marathon but decided to run the 5K or 10K event instead.  Maybe some of you thought about running in one of the events but didn't train for it and missed out. 

Whatever description best fits you, the Costume Party Run is just three months away.  And this is just enough time to train for a half marathon.  So get those running shoes on, and start planning your costume.

To follow this training program, you need to have some base mileage.  What does that mean? That means you should already be running or doing run/walk intervals.  This program can also be followed if you just completed the Hollywood Half Marathon and are making the Costume Party Run your next half marathon event.

Mondays:  Monday should be your rest days.  Mondays are hard enough.  Rest is also critical for recovery and injury prevention so no matter how great you feel , be sure to rest up.

Tuesdays and Thursdays:  After a warm-up (light jogging or brisk walking for 10-15 minutes,) run at a moderate pace for 2-5 miles.  A moderate pace is a pace slightly faster than your long distance pace. Depending on where you are at with running will depend on how many miles you run.  For example, if this was your first 5K, start running two to three miles on these days.  If you just completed the half marathon, run three to four miles on these days.These runs should build on mileage so that you are running four to five miles two weeks before the Costume Party Run. 

Wednesdays:  In the beginning, Wednesdays should be rest days. As you get stronger and your runs get longer, use these days to cross train.  You might walk, bike, swim, or hike on these days.  Workout for 30-45 minutes at an easy-to-moderate effort.

Fridays:  Do a cross-training (CT) activity (biking, swimming, elliptical trainer, etc.) at easy-to-moderate effort for 30 to 45 minutes. If you're feeling very sluggish or sore on Friday, take a rest day. It's important that you're feeling strong for your Saturday long run.

Saturdays:  This is the day for your long, slow, distance run.  Start with running three miles.  Each week run one mile farther.  These runs should be at an easy, conversational pace.  Use the talk test.  You should be able to talk in complete sentences as you run.    

Sundays:  This is an active recovery day.  Your exercise choice should be at an easy pace.  You might go out for a quick, easy jog or a walk.  This will help loosen up your muscles after your long Saturday run.

If you follow this schedule, the Costume Party Half Marathon is well within your reach and we would love to have you! So start that training and register now! How can you turn down that Disco Ball medal?

This program is a guideline for runners who are at a beginner level or who have just completed their first half marathon.  As always, you should check with your doctor before starting any training program or if you have any medical conditions.

Win a FREE entry to the Costume Party Run

Want to win a FREE entry to the Costume Party Run?  Head on over to our Facebook page and caption this photo by leaving a comment.  The comment with the most likes by Monday wins.  Easy as pie!

Click here to go to the Costume Party Run Facebook page.

Staying Motivated Until We Meet Again

After having made such a big accomplishment Saturday, you may be wondering what's next. Maybe you run all the time and this race was just part of your routine. Or maybe you trained long and hard for this event, making crossing the finish line that much sweeter.

What keeps you running?

Whatever you see in your running future, it is important to stay motivated. Now that you have established a fitness base, you should be able to maintain it by running three days a week.  Try running three to five miles on two of those days and use the third day to challenge your distance. This will help you increase your distance to a longer event or, if you completed the half marathon, help you maintain your mileage. 

Think about signing up for another race.  We love those of you that have already signed up for next year's Hollywood Half Marathon (and if you haven't yet, you can register here,) but it is a year away. It is common for runners to use this as a strategy to keep them motivated. If you feel a little unmotivated, think about doing another type of race such as a challenge course or mud run, or sign up for a different distance.  Perhaps after running our 5K, a 10K sounds like a motivating goal. Maybe after just completing a half, another one sounds like too much.  Why not look for a 5K fun run in your local area.

Cross-training is also a good option.  Mixing biking, walking, or swimming will help give you variety but allow you to maintain your fitness level. And when in doubt, grab a buddy.  There is nothing like a partner in crime to keep you going. 

We are looking forward to our next event, The Costume Party Run, and hope to see you all out in full force.  Whether this is your next race or you have a few in between, don't let your hard work die.  Be sure to keep up the running and stay motivated until we meet again!