Grab your road bike and tent - Wildflower is here!

For Team Zoomzer, Wildflower Triathlon marks the beginning of triathlon season. For some, particularly the Team in Training crowd, this is their A race, but for many more it is just the first of a jam packed racing season. There are lots and lots of people dressed in TNT purple.

Wildflower is a must for any triathlete within driving distance of Central California. Yes, it is rather pricey, the camping is extremely overpriced, the location is in the middle of no where, and you are stuck at the venue between the hours of 8am and 4pm each day - but I think almost every triathlete would agree that you have to do it at least once. What made this event fun was not Wildflower per se, but the people we went with. Our triathlon team, Santa Cruz Traithlon Association, had a huge tent camp with about 50 people. We all cheered for each other, drank it up after our races, and cheered for the Cal Poly naked runners Saturday evening.

I can't say that I would have ever signed up for this race, for the afore mentioned reasons, but we were originally doing the Treasure Island Triathlon in San Francisco in November 2007 (run by the same organization at Wildflower) and five days before the race a super tanker crashed into the Bay Bridge spilling oil into the Bay. This made swimming conditions unsafe and the triathlon was canceled, then last minute changed into a bike/run event. We weren't interested in going since the smell of oil was overpowering, so Tri California offered us half our entry fee towards another of their races. We picked Wildflower. Otherwise, I don't think I would have paid $100 for the mountain bike sprint triathlon and another $100 plus for the camping site.

Whatever, sometimes having fun costs money! If you had a great time (or a not so great time) at Wildflower in the past or in 2009, please leave your review of either the mountain bike sprint, olympic distance tri, or half ironman tri. http://zoomzer.com/search?search=wildflower&location=Lake+Nacimiento%2C+CA&month=&x=0&y=0

Grab your sunscreen, sleeping bag, and tent - go to the bank, take out some hundreds - and have a great weekend!

Human Race races again in Marin

On May 9th more than 4,000 runners and walkers will meet for the always enjoyable Marin Human Race in San Rafael, California. Per their website, this race is the largest collaborative fundraiser in Marin County and has raised millions of dollars since 1983. The course is a mostly flat American Track and Field certified looping 5K. There are over a dozen local bands playing along the course and there are four free kids' races: 50-yard, 100-yard, 200-meter and 400-meters. Yes, you read that correctly... free races for your kiddos! All children finishers receive a ribbon. How cool!

My family and I used to do this race in the 1990's when we lived in Marin. If I remember correctly, it used to be run in Greenbrae/Larkspur Landing and you'd run along the bike path. Start and finish were in the ferry parking lot. I am almost certain that this is the same race that got moved to a new venue. After the race they always had great music, a pancake breakfast, and lots of fun booths/displays to browse.

Running in the Human Race is a great way to give back to the Marin community. The race is able to pass about 90% of all donations raised to the community and last year returned over $350,000 for the benefit of 115 nonprofits and schools. That's even cooler than the free kids' races.

If you are looking for something to do on Saturday May 9 head out to the Marin Human Race to either run, walk, donate, or volunteer. You'll be so glad that you did! And after you do the race please stop by Zoomzer and leave a review of the event and let others know about what a great time you had! http://zoomzer.com/races/view/122

Happy racing and fundraising!

It's time to Gallop with the Gauchos in Santa Barbara

This weekend marks the second annual running of the Gauchos Gallop 5K and 10K at the UC Santa Barbara campus lagoon. That's right, a lagoon. Thank goodness it is not a triathlon, they might make you swim in it. I sat next to that lagoon once, completely hungover, attending a UCSB graduation in the boiling heat. Tough times. Ok, back to the point...

Here's the blurb from their site - Race alongside the pounding surf of the Pacific Ocean and past many UCSB landmarks. Bring your pooch for the pre-race Dioji Dog Dash and then drop them off at the Dioji Doggie Lounge. Celebrate your finish in style at the Finish Line Festival, with music, vendor booths, Woodstocks pizza, an awards ceremony and raffle for great prizes. A doggie race! Oh I am so in... if Zoomzer lived in Santa Barbara. Do you even know how happy our pooch Boomer would be to be included in the race? He'd probably pass out from excitement!

If you are in the area and are looking for something fun to do this weekend, definitely check out these two great races and all the other cool events http://www.gauchogallop.com/ and when you are done don't forget to review the races at Zoomzer.com!

Gaucho Gallop 10K review page http://zoomzer.com/races/view/536
Gaucho Gallop 5K review page http://zoomzer.com/races/view/537

Happy Galloping!

Come on out for the 2nd Annual Brainerd Jaycees Run for the Lakes this Friday and Saturday!

Where is Nisswa, Minnesota? In all honesty I am not sure, I've only been to Minnesota once for a whirlwind business trip to Minneapolis - which, if I may say, is one heck of a cool city! Check it out sometime and don't forget your running shoes. Nothing starts your day better than a cool morning run alongside the Mississippi River! Ok, enough about Minneapolis, today we are talking about Nisswa, located about 145 miles north of Minneapolis. Nisswa is home to the second annual Brainerd Jaycees Run for the Lakes this Friday April 24 and Saturday April 25. Zoomzer won't be at the race - we'll be at Big Sur - but we thought we should offer three reasons why all you Minnesotians or whatever you call yourselves, should check out this cool race!

1 - It is so afforadable!! Any marathon that costs $50 for late resistration is a deal. That alone should be a reason to show up Saturday morning!
2 - You run on the Paul Bunyan Trail - that just sounds rustic and cool. Keep an eye out for Babe the Blue Ox!
3 - It looks to be a flat and fast course. According to the race website total elevation gain is something like 8 meters. There are going to be some PRs this weekend.

After you've raced please stop by Zoomzer and leave us your feedback. We'd really love to hear what you thought of the event! http://zoomzer.com/races/view/1847

Big Sur Marathon this weekend

It has probably been said one too many times, but I think it is safe to say that Zoomzer.com has officially been launched. By "officially" I mean we spammed the 1000+ people in our email list and asked them to check it out. Response so far has been fantastic, except for one small personal debacle. Otherwise, all is grand in Zoomzer land and this weekend we are off to promote the site and cheer on our friends at the world famous Big Sur International Marathon in, you guessed it, Big Sur, California. Only two people have reviewed this race so join the fun and add your comments http://zoomzer.com/races/view/99 It is a great opportunity to brag about your performance and to let the race directors know what you thought about the race.

Big Sur is a race beyond my ability at this point in time. Come on, I have some legit excuses that I refuse to mention here. Although the Zoomzer team has raced a couple of Ironmans, there is something particularly daunting about this race. My mom and uncle have competed in it a few times and said the gravitational pull on some of the tight corners make for one heck of a tough run. Yes, the views are second to none but they both said this race kicks your booty. On the race homepage there is a quote that absolutely resonates with Zoomzer- Finishing a marathon is a life-changing experience…finishing Big Sur will enrich your soul - anything that enriches my soul, sign me up. Oh wait, I didn't train and I think it is sold out. Next year?

Keep an eye out for the "Review THIS Race - Zoomzer.com" signs being held up along the course. Don't just look at the view, look at us! We'll be there at the end cheering for all you amazing finishers. Please let Team Zoomzer know if you see anyone competing in the marathon wearing a pair of Sketchers tennis shoes. We have a bet going that someone - there has to be someone - will run in a pair. Take a picture and let us know!

Happy Zooming all you Racers! Good luck and let's see a PR at Big Sur. And Polly you can go Sub-4, you rock!