Biggest Loser Race Series RECAP

On October 25, 2015 I had the pleasure of participating in my 3rd Biggest Loser Half Marathon north of Seattle in Lake Stevens, Washington.  The Biggest Loser Run Walk Race Series is a special one and always a ton of fun!  All 3 years I have participated in this Seattle area race the location has been different.  In 2013 the event took place in north Seattle starting at Gas Works Park.  Click HERE to read my recap of that race.  I wrote that post in 2 parts with the Expo in Part !... Read about the Expo HERE.  In 2014, because of construction in Seattle, the event was moved to Everett, Washington.  I wrote about that race too...read all about the 2014 event HERE.

My 1 EXPO shot... My daughter with Dan from Season 5 of the Biggest Loser

For 2015 the event was moved to Lake Stevens, Washington which is even farther north of Seattle.  Good for me because it meant a less then an hour drive the morning of the race.  I definitely took less pictures this year... thank goodness for the FREE photos that the Biggest Loser Run Walk offers.  YES... that is right... they have photographers on the course and at the finish snapping tons of photos and they are ALL yours for FREE!

 The medals for this race series are awesome!  Themes to each city they come to... even medals for the 5K Finishers too!

Half Marathon Medal Biggest Loser 2015 

Lake Stevens, WA - Oct 25, 2015

The pre race area for this race was set up great... vendors, tons of port of potties and a scenic setting there in Lake Stevens.   I did pay a little extra for the VIP Tent experience at this race... I had never done that before but thought the access sounded great and the snacks both before and after the race were included.  I was not disappointed about the food options... they had TONS of food both pre race and after... BUT the porta potty... the VIP one was a Handicap (a really big one) located right there in the VIP tented area.  I did enjoy the extra room but it would have been nice to have a couple more available at that location.  Just sayin... if you are going to take the extra  time to change clothes or whatever I shouldn't feel like I am holding up EVERYONE else from just going potty... I felt badly but oh well.

I will say that this race series is the MOST welcoming atmosphere for beginners and/or new runners (or walkers for that matter)... the generous time limit to finish is awesome and they CHEER you in at the finish!  Not to mention the BLING!  They have awesome medals!

Here I am showing off with ALL 3 of my Seattle Biggest Loser Half Medals and the Legacy Medal I received this year for completing all 3 Half Marathons in Seattle.

Pictures really tell the story... 

I had so much fun doing this race...  I was hoping for an under 2:30 time but oh well... with just a few hills (which I do not enjoy)  and I was happy with just finishing!   My chip time was 2:37 and I finished 6th in my age group!

I would definitely do this race again... I began doing this race thing in 2013... with my first Half Marathon in January of 2013.  I have now completed 19 Half Marathons to date and the Biggest Loser Half has been 3 of those.  My weight loss and fitness journey is ongoing but in a nutshell... I lost about 75 pounds between 2010 and 2012... with Weight Watchers... not really introducing much of a fitness plan.  I needed something to help me stay active and help me maintain the weight loss I had worked so hard to achieve.  I was introduced to the Run Walk Run program though Jeff Galloway and I was sold!    I complete all of my races using intervals... and use a little timer called a gymboss to alert me when to walk and run.  It works for me and I have never felt better!

The Biggest Loser Race Series is a great one and I would HIGHLY recommend it to any runner/walker... especially for newbies and or people who feel like they are slower then your average racer!  I seriously would have NEVER predicted I would be doing this 4 or 5 years ago... me a runner?  Really?  Yes - I am!  Get out there and participate... you won't regret it!

WINNER!!! Biggest Loser Half Marathon Registration Giveaway!

CONGRATULATIONS to 

Camiya Wilson!!!

Camiya won a FREE registration to the

Biggest Loser

Half Marathon (or 5K)

October 25, 2015

in Lake Stevens' WA

Woo Hoo!!!

Congratulations Camiya!

Stay tuned for more from

neverenoughdisney.blogspot.com

Race Entry! A Chance to Win! GIVEAWAY!!!

On October 25th, 2015 in Lake Stevens, WA 

The Biggest Loser Run Walk Race Series is returning to the Seattle area!!!

  Would you like to WIN a FREE entry for the Half Marathon or 5K?

Come back for more chances each day!  Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*** Disclosure: The Biggest Loser Run Walk Series is sponsoring this race entry giveaway by providing a unique, single use coupon code for the winner. Winner must register themselves for the race . No travel or accommodations will be provided. Winner will receive registration code at end of contest.

This contest is open through September 14, 2015 at 12:00am PST.  A winner will then be chosen from all of the entries via Rafflecopter and notified by Never Enough Disney.  The Biggest Loser Run Walk Race Series will then be notified and a unique code will be issued for the winner.  Never Enough Disney will distribute the code to the winner.  The winner will then be responsible for registering for the event on their own.

If you would like a code for 15% off registration to the Lake Stevens, Washington race I have been given a code from the Biggest Loser Run Walk to give out to the readers of Never Enough Disney... just comment below and I will be glad to send that code on to you!

Coming back for the 3rd time! Love this Half Marathon!

The Biggest Loser Run Walk Race Series is a popular racing series that traverses the country each year.  It has gained popularity on the shirt tails of the ever popular TV reality series... The Biggest Loser.  Directly from the Biggest Loser Run Walk site they state - 

"The Biggest Loser RunWalk is a non-intimidating race series designed to challenge America to get fit. You’ve been inspired by the hit reality show “The Biggest Loser,” now it’s time to get off the couch and hit the pavement and achieve your fitness goals. This race series will include a challenge for everyone.

We believe that anyone and everyone can be an athlete and invite you to take part in an inspiring event for all fitness levels."

I was immediately drawn to this Half Marathon after I completed my first Half in January of 2013.  I had LOVED the show on TV so why wouldn't the Biggest Loser Half be a great experience too?  So after I returned home from my first Half Marathon adventure at Disneyland in 2013... I found this one and registered.  Staying committed to the fitness goals I had set for myself was so important so it made sense to find races that I could do locally and do it!

I did write some blog posts about my participation in the Seattle 2013 Biggest Loser Half Marathon HERE and HERE... in two parts.  Then again in 2014 I decided that compared to Disneyland this race series that would come to my area was one of my favorites... so I did it again in 2014 and I wrote about it HERE.

In 2013 - the Race series took place right in Seattle and took off from Gas Works Park on the waterfront in Seattle.  It was definitely a challenging but fun course around Lake Union... and then finishing back where you had begun at Gas Works Park.  I did that particular race with my younger sister and for someone that doesn't usually run with anyone else (me  - I am the solo runner) - it was fun to experience it with her.

2013 (with my sister)

I loved the experience and set a pretty good PR that day also!  My friend Carrie participated in her VERY FIRST Half that day too and found the experience awesome!

Carrie at the finish of her FIRST Half!

Fast Forward another year and a few Half Marathons later... I found out the Biggest Loser Race Series was coming back to the area but this time to Everett... which is a suburb north of Seattle and actually quite a bit closer for me then even Seattle had been.  I registered again knowing I would have a terrific experience and be surrounded by a super supportive atmosphere on Race Day!  It did not disappoint!  The course started out on the waterfront in Everett at the Port of Everett and traversed the neighborhoods above the Port and then ended back down at the Port.  It was not particularly a scenic route except for the beginning and the end but once again a good course that had such an encouraging atmosphere!

2014

So I bet you guessed that I am going back for more!  Yes!  2015 - October 25th - The Biggest Loser Run Walk Series is coming back to the area!   This time the race will be taking place in Lake Stevens, WA.  They keep getting closer and closer to my house!  So exciting!

I want to say in closing that before I began my run/walk fitness journey I didn't believe I could do it.  There has been a lot of encouragement along the way... in the form of internet, people and events like this one!  I couldn't have done what I have done or what I am doing without events like this to work towards!  This Half Marathon will be my 20th!  So if you need that extra boost to get going... sign up!  You won't be sorry.  The Biggest Loser Race on October 25th consists of a 5K (3.1 miles) or the Half Marathon (13.1 miles).  Yes YOU Can!

PS - They also offer a Kids Mile Run... and they get a medal!  I love it when I don't have to do anything to motivate my kids to be active!  They had so much fun doing this!

Would like a chance to participate in this event? 

I have been given a code for my readers to receive 15% off your entry to the Lake Stevens, WA - 
Biggest Loser Run Walk 2015
Just comment below and I can make sure you receive that discount code so you can register at the discounted price. 

Stay tuned! 

A chance to win a FREE race entry to the Lake Stevens, WA Biggest Loser Race coming up tomorrow... 
right here!!!

**The opinions in this article are completely my own - I did receive a free entry for the Biggest Loser Half Marathon in Lake Stevens, WA on October 25th, 2015 for becoming a Blogger Partner with the Biggest Loser Race Series.

Biggest Loser Half Marathon - Everett, Washington

Well... on October 12th I participated in the Biggest Loser Half Marathon just south of my home in Everett, Washington.  I did this race in 2013 too but it began in Seattle... I asked around at the race and found out that some of the reasons they moved it north to Everett this year was... 1. construction at Gas Works Parks in Seattle, 2. complaints from neighborhoods of noise in Seattle... hmm - whatever the reason (s) I liked that it was closer for me.  The route... I would put it in the category of "hilly"... I have been known to pick races because of the "flatness" - I do not have any love for the hills.  That aside... I did okay. 

 

The other thing I should mention is that way back in the summer I signed up for this one... I realized that I had signed up for 3 Half Marathons in 6 weeks.  Yep... that is run one... skip a weekend... run another one... skip a weekend... then run the last one.  What am I ... nuts?  Yep - pretty much.  This race was #2 of that threesome and #12 in my total Half Marathons to date.   The first installment was the Bellingham Bay Half that was on September 28th.  The one coming up is the Snohomish River Run on October 26th.   I have never run the Snohomish Race before - but did do the sister race the Snohomish Women's Run (Half Marathon) last May - that was a good race - nice and flat.  Check back to see how I do...

The Biggest Loser Race Series is a really fun race.  Very well partnered with the TV reality show and a very inspiring atmosphere.  The Half Marathon course began at the Everett waterfront at the The Port of Everett.  Another Half I have done begins at the same spot... Heroes Half that I have done twice and wrote about here and here.  The routes were almost completely different though.

 My friends Carrie and Lynn at the start!

 

We showed up about 40 minutes prior to race time - used the restrooms and made our way to the very loud start area.  The race series also included a 5K which was set to begin 30 minutes after the Half Marathon.  So... the start area was quite congested prior to the race.  I wish there had been a better way to line up nearer to the desired pacers... if you didn't get there early you just had to line up behind the people that got there right before you did.  It all worked out though and once the race began everyone spread out.

Like I said before the course was in my opinion "hilly".  Despite that... I ended up with exactly the time I had in 2013 when I ran this race in Seattle... on a different course.  How did I do that AGAIN?!  On a different course too!  Crazy!  I was SOOO hoping to break 2 Hours and 30 minutes... but I will have to be happy with my 2 hours and 36 minutes. 

This was Half #12 for me... I can't believe it!  How did I get here... the girl who HATED running!  I really point to one thing that makes this whole idea even doable for me!  Jeff Galloway!  His run/walk/run method is the way this whole crazy thing sounded doable to me... I have stuck to it and it works!  Staying injury free and enjoying the journey.   Is it easy??? ... NO WAY!  There is LOTS of effort involved... lots of "do the training even when you don't feel like it" moments... But oh so worth it! 

Coming in to the FINISH!  Always the most awesome moment!

 



My younger 2 kids (Makenna and Luke) after they finished the kid's race!

 



The Half Marathon Medal!

I love this race series... next to Disney it is hands down my favorite local race atmosphere for the start and finish as well as so encouraging on the course.  I highly recommend this series to anyone who might be interested.  You won't be disappointed!  So much fun!