iCureMelanoma 5K

Today I participated in this 5k with a team from Access Change Fitness + Nutrition. I was proud to be on this team and on hand to honor so many brave people battling melanoma. You could either run or walk the 3.1 miles that went across the school field and up a street leading to a nice trail walk. There were also several companies there to give out samples, offer chances at winning prizes and provide information about a variety of topics. My team was incredibly supportive of not only our members, but everyone there. Spending the time walking and talking with them was incredibly rewarding. I look forward to joining this team again next year and participating in, and supporting, such a worthy cause.

For the last two years my husband and I have journeyed down to southern CA for a one day 5K event: the iCureMelanoma 5K in Fullerton. This fundraising event holds a special place in the hearts of my family. We lost my cousin, Erik Halonen, to melanoma in 2014, the first year we participated in the run. That same year our cousin Staci took 1^st place for women in the competitive run. They have an early competitive run, and then a walk/​run that starts an hour after that. No matter which time you’re run begins, be sure to get there early because parking is limited (pssst — carpool if you can!)
Lots of vendors are passing out samples and coupons and sunscreen. Dermatologists will also schedule free cancer screenings for registered participants the day before the event. Everything about this is geared toward a healthier today AND healthier tomorrow.
The run was well-​organized and finishers receive a medal as they cross the finish line. It was a lot of fun and we look forward to participating for many years to come. Registered teams also get custom shirts with your team name.
Go, Team Erik! xoxox We love and miss you everyday.

Love this 5k — all the people — the 70+vendors and more. I especially appreciate the attention to remembering those who are fighting the battle of melanoma cancer! We love you iCureMelanoma 5k! See you next year! By the way — I LOVED my medal, tshirt and awesome goody bag!

Small and local charity race that was well organized, great trail race, and awesome vendor booths. Highly recommend this race.

All runs are generally for charity, so I run.
Even better, the iCureMelanoma 5K was in Fullerton and very local, so I ran.
As far as the event, I was actually pretty impressed with the abundance of vendors: Medii Kitchen, Zpizza, Snail’s Pace, Sports Clips, Mother’s Market & Kitchen, The Butchery, The Vitamin Shoppe, and Chick-​fil-​A, to name very few. Why, even S.W.A.T. was there in support! And the goodie bag, completely full: CeraVe, Eucerin, and Dove samples; and coupons for Hopscotch, Matador Cantina, The Vitamin Shoppe, Wow! Nutrition, TLC Mobile Spray Tanning, Medii Kitchen, The Butchery, Snail’s Pace, Muscle Milk, etc. (The list lengthens.) It seemed as though the locals really pull for this event, really stand by it. Pride, you know? And that’s the beauty: everyone coming together in support of a cause. Again, why I run.
There are two 5K runs, by the way: the «Competitive» and the «Open.» If your mile is 9-​minutes or less, you are welcomed to run the Competitive. Everyone else – including strollers, walkers, and kids – race the Open an hour later. In between runs, you’re not only afforded extra time to enjoy the event’s freebies (Mother’s Market’s kale salad and The Butchery’s BBQ chicken were delicious!) but there was also a dove release ceremony – very beautiful and touching – families and friends releasing doves in the name of hope.
The run was refreshing as well: beginning at Laguna Road Elementary School, hopping onto the Juanita Cooke Greenbelt & Trail, and then looping around Laguna Lake before heading back. I had never before explored this area of Fullerton, so the run became somewhat adventurous. After now having been, I’m certainly returning.
So, then, why the 3-​star?
Again, I run for charity. And if only a T-​shirt comes with registration, that’s fine. If there are no medals, fine. My problem, however, is that this event promised «medals» for all finishers. Again, that’s great. But you cannot promise medals, and then distribute tags (see photo):
. The medals, if they’re offered, make such a difference: that’s why they’re called «bling,» right? Runners are so proud of them. But upon the heals of such a great event, one for such a worthy cause, the tags – the ones touted as «medals” – were disheartening. I would rather the event had possibly called them «awards» instead, or maybe not even had them at all. I would have been happier to not have expected anything. It just wasn’t the memory I wanted to leave with.
That said, Fullerton, this was a fun run! But let’s not stop there. Let’s have another!
My time: 31:08.
Overall place: 11.9%
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