Run For Love Yoga & 5K

Who knew starting my Sunday morning off early with beach yoga would be amazing? Not me! I was surprised by how great I felt after the yoga session. It really helped me center myself and prepare for the 5k portion.
The view during the run portion was amazing, but I never doubted that it would be. It was great to see runners from the same and other events.
The event was early enough that there was plenty of free parking, and plenty time the rest of the day to relax and enjoy yourself.

RUN for LOVE and YOGA
I used to run but I can’t say I love it. I actually NEVER LOVED it but I knew it was a GREAT way to burn a bunch of calories quickly. The ONLY problem with that formula was it made doing yoga harder for me because all my muscles were tight and yoga is partly about stretching and leaning out muscles while you breath. The other REALLY BIG issues I had with running was it made me a carb-​a-​vor meaning all I wanted was BREAD with butter ALL THE FRICKIN TIME! Why? Cause I need it for energy to run! A really bad diet plan for me!
But this event was right up my alley because I could walk the 5k and NOT run plus anytime there is a chance for me to do yoga I’m in and to top it off I got to give toward a GOOD cause. Check, check and check!
I was REALLY excited to have won an entry ticket and got to bring a plus 1, but I had already donated anyway because it was a good cause and I like to help people and this was for kids! How can you NOT want to help kids?
Since I got to bring a plus 1 I asked Shawna C who I know has been wanted to get into yoga! I figured this would be a REALLY moderate or entry level yoga because there would probably be several peeps that had never done it before. This way we both would get in some exercise and she would be able to try yoga out again. Plus we were going to be at the beach and I LOVE, LOVE doing yoga outside! It adds another element to it and REALLY makes you have to focus on your breathing because se you have the gawkers, extra noises and maybe some of nature dive-​bombing and zooming by your ear all in an effort to get your focus off breathing and on to that annoying little fly making faces and giving you the finger as it passes by over and over again.
We get there and eye-​spied some tents near the main Alfredo’s location so we park and walk over but I was WORNG and it was another walk for fertility. I was wondering why an event for kids would be giving out a bunch of First Responds prego test. So we got back in the car and drove down the street to the correct location, parked and walked over to check in.
Each Unilocaler got a FREE sweat band with check-​in and everyone got a bag of goodies complete with Unilocal bag, healthy chips, coupons, hand sanitizer, and water bottle. If you work out all the time water bottle tend to come in handy.
Once everyone had arrived and check-​in Armando gave a little speech and told us his story how someone had helped him when he was a kid and now as an adult he was playing it forward. VERY COOL!
Then we started are yoga session which lasted 30 mins to warm up the body and prepare it for the run/​walk! So GREAT! I was sweating like a piggy despite being outside and the slight breeze. After yoga everyone got ready to do the run/​walk. Shawna C and I quickly went back to the car to put our things in so we would not have to haul it with us. By the time we got back we had sadly missed the start and began to our walk.
SUCH a PRETTY DAY OUT! So many peeps out walking, running, riding their bikes and just ENJOYING the beach! We chatted while we walked and it went so fast before we knew it we were back at the start line and had finished the race. Since we started a little after everyone else we were last but it was still fun and we got some exercise.
There were FREE massages if you wanted one at the end and a guitar and singer for entertainment at the finish line! Boy what a set of lungs the singer had! Her voice was like NOTHING I had ever heard before and she had a very interesting take on notes. I can’t say that I had EVA experienced anything quite like it before. I was also able to snag a few extra bags of healthy chips since they had a lot left over which was GREAT!
Overall it was a really GREAT way to relax my mind since I had had a very trying «Joys of Homeownership» morning dealing with a main pipe that burst at my house. I REALLY GLAD I got to participant in helping out some kids!

I wanted to be part of this event because I needed to get up and start moving. I had hurt my leg on my last run in July. I really had not exercised since… I love the yoga that was before the run/​walk. It made me realize that I need to stretch and get my body going. I could not believe how much better I felt after the yoga session. She asked us to make an intention, and at that moment I knew it was to get moving again. The calming music was a bonus. I decided to walk and not run and it was perfect. The beach was a beautiful backdrop.
I appreciate the free parking and the goodie bag. I took the pasta chips to work to share and EVERYONE LOVED THEM!!!
Check in was as easy as could be and the shirts are super cute. THANK YOU.

I always enjoy my time at Unilocal events and this was no exception. Thanks Ryan, Armando and sponsors for hosting!
The event was early enough to guarantee parking in the otherwise packed area of Long Beach.
Check-​in was a breeze and receiving goodie bags is always fun. I especially like the recyclable tote bag and the hand sanitizer key chain. We all received «Run for Love» shirts, which definitely unified us and was great in determining who was on our «team.»
First off, Yoga! This was my first time practicing yoga on the beach and loved it! At first I was a little distracted, but after the breathing exercises and the soft (live) music, I was in the zone. Precise instructions from Jenny plus the fresh ocean breeze gave my practice that extra oomph I’ve been missing. After the final shavasana, I felt so rested and at peace… I wish we had a little more time to enjoy this part before the run.
The wog (walk/​jog) was fun. I’ve been trying to get into running, so it was encouraging to run with others. There were lots of runners on the beach, but I looked for people wearing the «Run for Love» shirts to gauge my pace and to encourage others with, «way to go ladies,» and «almost there!» during the course. I received the same encouraging words which was nice.
Mabel K. and I had to get going after the run, so we didn’t stick around for the festivities afterwards (I heard there was free massage).
Great event and looking forward to next year’s! Thanks again — great way to start my Sunday!

Darn my phone wouldn’t allow me to check in! But what an awesome morning, I had fun! Yoga was great, I have to get into this.
Parking this early was plentiful and best of all free. I like this area, I bike here often and enjoy heading down to Shoreline Village and back.
The day was beautiful, yoga was relaxing with great stretches, the run (walk for me) was great and all before the path got really hot and crowded. There was another walk beginning as we were ending ours so I was thankful we did ours before all that.
Thanks Armando, what an absolutely great cause you put your heart into, thank you Ryan C. for sponsoring another great event and for the goodies and actually to all of the sponsors involved in this thank you! Thanks Jenny for the yoga workout and for the calming music. I fell asleep at one point, geeze.
Great seeing Ryan C., Ryan P. and Veronica C. Unilocalers ROCK!