Author: bsweet321

Big Bunny 5K 2018 in Cupertino

The Big Bunny 5K was loads of fun. It was my first year doing it. I love themed races, and I wasn’t going to miss out on dressing up as a bunny. My outfit included a bunny shirt from Gone for a Run, FlipBelt Crops, Zensah leg sleeves, BibBoards, and Brooks sneakers.

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Expo

The expo was small with some local companies present. It included a local yoga studio, other local races, and informational booth with kids programs.

Swag

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I picked up my swag on race day. The line was very long. They did have a system in place, but they really needed more people helping out. The shirt was a dark blue with a pocket painted on the shirt. I have to say it was one of the worst race shirts I’ve gotten. This race did include a finishers medal and age group medals. There was a kids race on a smaller course, which was very cute.

Course

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The course was all through residential streets. They did not close fully those streets and we had to on a couple of occasions tell drivers to turn around. It’s amazing how stubborn people can be. The entire course was flat and some of the homeowners came out to cheer the runners on and wish them a Happy Easter.

Aid Stations

There was one water station along the way, which was plenty for such a short distance. There were some portapotties at the beginning of the race and none throughout the course.

Atmosphere

It was a family-friendly event. There were many mom, dad, kids, and grandparents running or walking together. There were raffle prizes at the end. The firefighters were there and encouraged runners as they made their way to the finish line.

Post-race

After the race, there was plenty of green areas for people to sit and recover and wait for the raffle prizes to be called. Kids had some toss games to play with and plenty of space to run around and enjoy the day.

A definite repeat for next year.

Movie Review: Godspeed: Race Across America

Disclaimer: I received a preview of the movie Godspeed as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

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The movie Godspeed: The Race Across America is a documentary of the journey of two cyclists: Brad Cooper and Jerry Schemmel as they face one of the toughest challenges in their lives, cycling across the U.S. The race benefited the creation of an orphanage in Haiti for special need children. This movie hits theaters May 22.

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Christian Themes

If the title of the movie didn’t give you a hint, there are Christian themes present in the movie. There were times where the cyclists were exhausted to the extreme and their crew prayed with them. It’s that faith in a greater power that gets us through the impossible.

Friendship

This was a two-man race. They trusted in one another and knew that each member had something valuable to contribute. There were times where Brad and Jerry disagreed with one another but didn’t fight about it, instead, they trusted that the other had both of their interests at heart and would make the right decision. It’s not worth it to fight and lose a friendship during stressful times.

Determination

Can you imagine cycling 3,000 Miles? I can’t. It takes some serious determination and grit to get you through to the end. Physical and mental exhaustion were present as they did not have an 8 hour night ever during the race and one point Brad even hallucinates. It was during these very hard times that the cyclists surrendered to their faith and trusted that God would guide them through.

Trusting in Others

I was surprised to see how many people they had in their support crew. Each cyclist had a group of people that were working on logistics, medical, mechanics, coordinating stops, snacks, and more. It was heartwarming to see some of their children in the crew, not only cheering them on but helping them accomplish their goal. It was evident that if time allowed, Jerry would have probably wanted to be more involved in the smaller details of the trip, but with how exhausting the ride, putting nearly 200 miles each a day, they had to trust that their teams were on track and they were working to help them get to the finish line. The crew did make some mistakes, but the demeanor of the cyclists was amazing. They just accepted it and focused on how to resolve the problem.

Truly an inspirational movie that is family friendly.

First Impressions: New FlipBelt Crops

Disclaimer: I received FlipBelt Crops as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews! All opinions are my own.

You might be familiar with the FlipBelt. It is a belt used to store items while you run, bike, exercise. I own one of the original FlipBelts and I can tell you that I was not of a fan of it. However, the FlipBelt Crops are completely different.

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These crops are not compression pants, which for me is a plus. I’m not a fan of having super tight pants on because then I’m focusing on how uncomfortable I am instead of on my race performance.

I was worried about how long they were because the weather for race day was going to be 80 F. I thought for sure I would overheat and have to stop, but I was so wrong. Thes material is one of the best features of these pants. Not only are they soft and stretchy, they are also moisture wicking, a feature that as a new runner has learned is very important, especially on long runs.

Length

When I put them on, I noticed that they were long on me. I’m only 5’4″ and they are longer than crops would be on me and the fit at an inch about my ankle. A little long, but not something a little tailoring won’t fix. For now, I’m leaving them long, because I’m liking the long pants look to them.

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Pockets

The belt pockets are attached to the crops and are not a separate piece. The front has a keychain plastic hook where you can clip your keys to. I have an iPhone 7 and it fit just fine in the front pocket. Their front pockets are long and stretchable so you can fit snacks, money, keys, and much more. The back of the crops has a zipped pocket.

At the end of the race when I was done taking my medal photos, I wanted to put away my medal, because it was too heavy for me to continue hanging around my neck. I remembered that I had a back pocket. To my surprise the medal not only fit, but it wasn’t weighing the back of pants down. I could feel that I had something there, but it was not bothering me.

I wore the FlipBelt Crops to run a 5K. The crops and the items inside my pockets stayed in place. I was never worried about losing or dropping something.

Versatility

In addition to running, I also travel a lot. I have an upcoming trip where I am planning on taking these crops with me. In a foreign country, I try to not carry a big purse and be as minimalistic as I can be. With the FlipBelt Crops I will be able to put my ID, money, credit cards, and phone, and still, have room to spare. I would say that these crops are not limited to just running, they can be used in a variety of situations from running errands, playing sports, and travel.

Want to try them out? Promo code BIBRAVE saves you 25% off FlipBelt Crops.

 

Food Truck 5K Weekend

Disclaimer: I received free entry to SV Half Race as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

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While the race weekend is called Silicon Valley Half, it’s not just a half, there will be other distances as well, like a 5K and a 10K. It will be a weekend of epic fun, here’s the schedule:

Saturday: April 14th, 2018

  • 2:00pm – 3:00pm: 5k Packet Pickup
  • 2:30 – 7:30pm: 10k/Half Marathon Packet Pickup
  • 3:00pm: Food Truck 5k Start
  • 3:30pm – 7:30pm: Local Live Music & Local Food Trucks
  • 4:15pm: Silicon Valley Kids Run
  • 6:00pm: Sunset Yoga
  • 7:30pm: Food Truck Music Festival Ends

Sunday, April 15th, 2018

  • 6:30am – 7:45am: Gear Check open for 10k/Half Marathoners
  • 8:00am: 10k/Half Marathon Start
  • 8:00am – 1:00pm: Post-Race Festival Open
  • 10:00am: 10k/Half Marathon Awards Ceremony
  • 1:00pm: Post-Race Festival Ends

Some of my personal favorite events include the Sunset Yoga on Saturday and of course, the live music and food trucks! I love having a variety of food choices right there after the race. I somehow always manage to be starving after a run.

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Can’t make it on race day? No, problem. There’s a virtual option. In fact, while my BibRavePro partner Catherine runs the Half on Sunday, I’ll be running it virtually. You can even use the promo code for the virtual race. Promo code BIBRAVE gives you 10% off.

What kind of race swag will you get if you run?

Half Marathoners Receive:

  • Custom designed Runner’s Bag (pictured below)
  • Quarter zip long sleeve tech shirt
  • Finisher medal

10k & 5k  Runners Receive:

  • Long sleeve tech shirt
  • Finisher medal

 

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Heart & Soles Run 2018

Heart & Soles was a local San Jose race that took place on March 24, 2018. It had two distances: 6K and 10K. The starting line was located on the campus of Santa Clara University. I arrived early and had no problem finding a parking spot. There were plenty of people already there. As I walked over to the event, I noticed that there were several tents set-up. There were a variety of vendors present at the event from beef jerky sales, other races, to athletic shoe stores. There was a large section with complimentary tea and coffee. There was a sweat check on site.

I did the 6K. The route took us out of Santa Clara University campus and onto closed off streets. We eventually arrived at Avaya Stadium, Home of the San Jose Earthquakes, where our route looped inside the stadium. That was the best part! I had never been inside that stadium and enjoyed the experience. The team mascot was present to take photos with the runners and there were plenty of good photo spots within. The route then turned back and return back the same way we went out.

In the end, we were handed our medals and they were a variety of Kind Bars, apples, and water to get rehydrated. There were both runners and walkers and even dog owners. It wasn’t a high-pressure race, instead, it was a good event to get some exercise without it being intimidating or stressful.

A Weekend of Racing Fun With SV Half

Disclaimer: I’m promoting the SV Half as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to find and write race reviews!

It’s called the Silicon Valley Half, but it’s not just a half marathon, it’s a 10K, 5K, and a weekend full of fun activities. The event takes place April 14-15, 2018.

Use Discount Code: BIBRAVE for 10% off

Do you like getting medals?

The SV Half allows you to earn up to 3 medals in one weekend! 
1️⃣ Saturday, Food Truck 5k
2️⃣ Sunday, 10k Run/Wak
3️⃣ Sunday, Half Marathon
4️⃣ Bonus Medal for running both Saturday and Sunday

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Half Marathoners also receive a runner’s bag.

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Go Green St. Patrick’s Day Race

This was a small local race with less than 300 runners. I picked it because it was close by and because of the theme. I love holiday or themed races. I enjoy dressing up and seeing what the other runners come up with.

The weather was 41F at the starting line. Way too cold for it to be Spring, but at least it wasn’t raining.

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Swag

All runners received a long-sleeved technical shirt. Women’s shirts were white and men were grey. I wondered why the race was called Go Green and yet our shirts weren’t green. There was no finishers medal in this race. Instead, runners received a pint glass. Runners who placed in their age group received a bottle opener medal.

 

Course

The race was at Hellyer Park in San Jose. The course was paved and flat the whole way. I did have to make my way around other walkers, runners, bikers that were on the same route.

Aid Stations

There were two water stations along the 10K route. The cups were filled with water and ready to go. I hate having to slow down and wait for someone to pour the water. Luckily, I didn’t have to go through that this time.

Atmosphere

Many people came to the race dressed up in something related to St. Patrick’s Day whether it was green, leprechauns, or some other character. There was even a group dressed as French mushrooms (that’s the white costumes). I’m not sure how that fits into the theme, but it was festive.

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Post-race

After the race runners, 21 and older could enjoy a beer in their new pint glass. There were plenty of fruit and snacks to refuel on as well as bottles of water. Overall, I thought the race was well organized and well done.

How did I do?

Not bad. I was happy with my results.