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Last year I gave away an entry into the 13.1 Los Angeles Half Marathon that just happened to be on my birthday.
My good friend Alyssa won the entry last year before I even knew! Even better is that she ran her then PR at that race! 
This year it’s the day before my {very big} birthday and once again I can’t run it, but would love for one of you to run it for me!
They have revamped the course described as:
Beginning at the Venice Boardwalk and ending at Playa del Rey, the half marathon and Karhu 5K race will take place amidst miles of inspiring ocean views and iconic scenery.
Sounds pretty good to me!
So you want to win a FREE entry?
To enter:
Leave a comment telling me about your favorite place to run. Is it on the beach? In the hills? In the middle of a big city? Pick one favorite place!
I will leave this giveaway open until Monday, December 19th at midnight California time and notify the winner on Tuesday, December 20th. Please only enter if you can run the race!
Happy running!
Also, if you want an extra chance to win a free entry, check out my good friend RoadBunner’s blog because she is giving one away too!
***13.1 Marathon series is paying for this race entry and I was not compensated since I can’t run the race! I just want to spread the runner love.
my favorite, and the BEST place to run in the whole world is Nisene Marks, in Aptos California. i run the trails in there almost every day and there’s no place I’d rather be
I love this place to, I run it often.
I ran the 13.1 last year- it was my first half marathon ever! I was injured for last years race, so I’d love to run it again, uninjured!!
That said, one of my favorite places to run is along the coastline. I love the smell of the ocean and the endless scenery that makes me forget how far I’ve gone
My favorite place to run is in the Oakland Hills. The skyline and the view of San Francisco is amazing.
My favorite place to run is my current running route. I start on Venic Blvd going west to the Venice Canals run with the ducks then head to the Venice Boardwalk run all the way to Santa Monica Pier and return. I see nature’s beauty in the animals, plants, sand, and ocean. I see human spirit with all the people I encounter including bad drivers, homeless people, and my fellow runners. Its a great way to start my day.
No Wait! A just told me about this giveaway!!!! THis was our first race together last year-or wait this yeat…! She made the treck to LA, and we ran! I now liVe in L.A. and so wanna run it again with the new course and all, fabulous training for the LA full! I hope your still giving it away! Holy smokey dogsssss! Well speedy I hope all is well and your staying warm in all your lulu. xo-Rad
oh wait, my favorite place? I favor the city, but after running the SB Marathon, where ever the roads take me are really me favorite place, I LOVE RUNNING
Can never get tired of running around Lake Merritt in Oakland, once I did 6 laps!
Would love to win the contest. PS today is the 13th so I believe your dates might be wrong…
This is NOT an entry, but I just wanted to say that running this race for you in January was a fateful, fateful thing! Meeting you, hanging with Rad, getting a new PR… I have sooo many good associations with this race.
My favorite place to run is along west cliff drive in Santa Cruz, CA. You run along the ocean and get lost in the beauty of the sea. It’s a daily adventure that I never get tired of.
Ooh…tough question. It is difficult to pick just one spot. I would have to say my favorite place right now is the trail system here in Orange County–I can run there from my house!
I ran this race last year. I am glad they changed the course (it was pretty boring), so I am really looking forward to see the new route.
My favorite place to run is in SF!!! I live in Detroit and we don’t have the hills like you do…amazing!
Haha, I’m actually planning on being in LA that weekend! And used to run exactly there! Consider me entered as of now – I’ll make a note on here on Monday if I should be removed from the lottery. Fun stuff
My favorite place to run is between the Rolling Hills of Fairfield CA a subdivision that is just that (Rolling Hills) and Lagoon Valley Regional Park in Vacaville CA. Lagoon Valley is full of paved and offroad trails for biking, running, hiking and walking. It is a connector between Fairfield and Vacaville in Solano County. It is with natural habitat and history. The beautiful grounds are appreciated and used for many local running events and local Fleet Feet training grounds. It even has a large dog park and horse stables, you can feed the Geese and ducks and play frisbee golf. However, this tranquility has been disturbed in recent years with a proposed residential development of Lower Lagoon Valley’s open space. The interests at stake in this development collide between the conservation of a historical and natural site, and the possible economic benefit for the City of Vacaville. While the odds are against Friends of Lagoon Valley, (2007 court decision pro development) they hope to be able to stop development for a little longer and ultimately completely. I too pray that they don’t take my favorite running place away!
oh BUMMER… not entering because it’s the same day as RnR AZ, but otherwise I would have been all over this!
My favorite place to run is around a local park in LA. It’s shady, there’s a dirt trail option, and I don’t have to worry about waiting for the light to change. I like trails too, but don’t do them enough.
my fav place to run, anywhere my feet can tolerate. i run barefoot!
JOYfilledfamily{at}gmail{dot}com
My favorite place to run is actually right in my backyard- Golden Gate Park. I’d love to run the LA half. Such a great reason to fly down to visit my best friend who lives in LA
My favorite place to run is in San Francisco! Union square to the Golden Gate bridge. I wish I could run it every day.
oh I would love to win this! would be a great birthday gift! mine is Jan 11..!
OK favorite place to run is by the ocean.
thank you for this chance!
Hello,
My favorite place to run is Monterey, Ca. The weather is always amazing and the ocean is so beautiful. You can even do some quick shopping in the shops by the cannery if you need to. The paved trail down by the pier goes out past the aquarium and about 13 miles along the ocean.
So perfect.
Awesome! I would love to run the 13.1 Los Angeles race. My favorite place to run is in the foothills with a view of the mountains.
There are so many different places that I enjoy running, but my favorite would be anytime that I goto a new city, I must run in it and explore. There is something about seeing the city at a slow pace winding through the streets. It is memorizing!!!
sorry, i didn’t see the date and i will not be able to make it, so please do not consider my post.
I moved to LA in November and so far my favorite place to run is the Lake Hollywood Reservoir! The trail is beautiful and I love being able to see the iconic Hollywood sign.
My favorite place to run is along the boardwalk from Venice to Santa Monica. I love running towards the pier and being able to watch the sunset on the horizon.
This is not an entry. I would not be able to make the trip to LA. I just loved this post and so wish I could enter! And even though, I am not entering, I wanted to share my favorite place to run: Forest Park in Portland, OR. It’s beautiful and packed with trails. You can take the Wildwood up to Pittock Mansion for the most gorgeous view if the city. Anyway, good luck to the winner!!
I LOVE the Back Bay loop in Newport, but the metropark/reservoir on a Saturday afternoon when I’m in OH visiting my parents wins. I’d also love to go back to my old trail from college where I fell in love with running
Cheesy cheese.
I love running races in cities– it is the BEST way to tour a city! And better than city training runs, where you have to stop at every intersection.
I love to run on fire trails around my office at lunch =)
I love running along the ocean!
With my puppy…
My favorite place to run is on the trails at Rancho San Antonio! There are so many different trails to keep you from being bored, and the early morning views are gorgeous!
My favourite place to run is in the Marina in the city (San Francisco). Along crissy fields, up the hill and over the Golden Gate Bridge. Life comes into perspective when I’m on the bridge and if I’m lucky enough it’s a gorgeous day!
Dashing around the tourists and hard-core bicyclists is fun too!
I love running from Chrissy Field to over the Golden Gate bridge and back — you get a great hill in the run and its gorgeous (as long as there aren’t a million tourists to dodge)
I want in! I love halfs and I LOVE running by the beach and often barefoot in the sand. Sign me up for this one!
My favorite place to run is up the La Cienega/Sunset Blvd hill. Works my legs and lungs every time. I especially love the view when I reach it…I can see most of LA on a clear day!
I love running on San Diego trails towards the beach. My in-laws live there and whenever we visit, I make sure to run the dirt paths set back from the freeway and love seeing the little rabbits on my runs! The scenery is green and quiet – a stark difference from my city runs in LA during the week! Thanks for giving away an entry!
I LOVE running down the waterfront esplinade in Portland! There are always tons of runners and running groups out, so i’m never alone and the view is gorgeous!
I love running on the treadmill. Okay, that’s a lie
I’m originally from Ohio–where I did, indeed, fall in love with running on the treadmill one very snowy winter a few years ago. Now I’m living in San Diego and run near the water every chance I get!
I just started running in the last 6 months, so I haven’t run very many places. So far my favorite place to run is outside the city on the edges of development near the mountains in Vegas. So peaceful & beautiful. I also ran on a vacation in CO @ the Broadmoor hotel which was gorgeous!
Love running near the Reagan Library. Has great views. Nothing beats running near the beach though!
I love running any place new – I love the sense of adventure and seeing something new.
I love that you are doing this! My favorite place to run is from Sunset Beach all the way to Newport Beach and back on the beach/bike path. All year long it is beautiful no matter what time of day it is. You can even camp along this path
The scenery of this run keeps you entertained no matter how many miles you have to trek that day. Just did this run last week. The broke college student that I am loves that there is free parking in Sunset and at the Bolsa Chica wildlife preserve across the street too. Happy running everyone!
Wow…favorite place to run…this is HARD.
This is a bit of a cop out but my favorite place to run is the last mile of a race when I know I’m having a good race. The crowds are cheering, I know that a good run is within my grasp and it’s so painful it’s awesome
. I really feel alive!
My favorite place to run is the country roads near Ashland City, TN. It is so peaceful and quiet, (unless you wake the dogs at mile 6) there are rolling hills, beautiful landscapes, the neighbors don’t mind if you stop by (as long as it is not too early) and will allow you to use their bathroom. Most people know me, depending on the season, they wave as I pass by in the early morning as they ride their tractors in the field. The traffic is slim to none no matter what time of day.
VERY tough question – it brings to mind lots of races (where I only ran once), plus lots of old favorites that I’ve done many times in training runs. I would have to say my favorite though was on the deck of my cruise ship in the middle of the Caribbean – I ran 13.1 miles as the sun was coming up, and it was SO incredible to run in the middle of the ocean!
(Though my Garmin showed me as only having gone like 1/2 mile, since we were moving the whole time – ha!)
My favorite race was when I ran at Long Beach and broke four hours. I can still read that recap and get teary
My favorite place to run is through the city of New Orleans! When running through the French Quarter it is phenomenal to enjoy the architecture and history. Then of course the people watching is hilarious. In the morning, watching the revelers leaving the bars is always humorous! Christmas eve some of us will just have a run through… Will sing carols… All in red and green tu tus…. A few party goers are going to scratch their heads that morning!
I love to run at the beach.
Being from the Midwest, and now living in San Diego, I love running the boardwalk along the ocean. It never gets old! After a few years, I still catch myself thinking, “I can’t believe I live here!”
I love running by the beach. I don’t live close to the beach but when my family is on the sand relaxing or swimming in the water, you can find me doing my run!
My favorite place to run is Diamond Valley Lake in Hemet, CA. It’s the middle of nowhere, but I ran my first marathon there, and it’s so pretty…right at the base of the San Bernardino mountains, huge lake, and soft dirt path.
My favorite place to run is an area between salinas and Monterey where fort ore use to be. There are about 83 miles of trails which offer beautiful scenery.
Please include me in this contest
I think the Long Beach bike bath is my favorite place to run
WINNER!!!! Email me for the details
Since I am spoiled in San Diego, I can’t say that I have one favorite spot to run, just being near the water is great! I do, however, love to run as the sun is going down so it’s dark out when I get home. It’s quiet, unhurried, and we have the best sunsets regardless of which side of town I’m running at!