Run through SAFECO Field! Yes Please!

We had so much fun the other evening running a fun 5K through SAFECO Field in Seattle benefiting Mariner's Care and their Refuse to Abuse charity!  I participated in this fun event last year but my daughter wasn't able to run last year because of age restrictions.  This year they changed the policy on age of children and made it possible for any children to run as long as they could finish "under their own power".  Makenna and I headed down for this fun evening race in our matching Sparkle Athletic skirts!

We arrived and took advantage of the FREE parking for running participants in the Mariner's official parking garage.  Made our way to the Bib pick up, got our bibs and bags quickly and then headed back to the van to dump our loot.  We quickly attached our race bibs... got our stuff together and made our way back to the start line to find some friends who were also there to participate.

Makenna got #888 - She said it was because she is 8 years old! 

I call that LUCKY!  What a fun number! (and she is adorable!)

 

 

 We waited for a bit at the start line and soon it was time for the race to begin.  There were slightly over 1000 participants.  The race organizers did not have corral assignments but just asked that folks line up with faster runners to the front.  Then they let the runners go in groups of about 75 or so at a time having a minute or so between groups.  We were in the 4th or so group and off we went.  Makenna did such a great job staying with me this time and taking the walk breaks when my interval timer would sound.  At about miile 2 or so she was tiring a little and asked to walk more then the timer was calling for but it was no big deal... we were there to have fun!  And we did!

 

The Medals were so much fun... little baseballs!

There are not a lot of races that can measure up to the "fun setting" (except for runDisney but that is another story)!  This race took us through the entire park and even across the bridges onto the top two levels of the parking garage.  So much fun to run through the Suite hallways and then down to access tunnels that the players use!  Then the finish took us out onto the actual field and the final steps are from Home plate to about 3rd base!  Access to the Medals and the after race treats was up through the Pitching area. 

So much fun!  I loved doing this race again and doubly loved it because my daughter could do it with me!  Loved it!



Have you ever run through a Major League Stadium?

Where would be your "dream spot" for a fun run? 

Who is your favorite person to get out and run with?  Or do you like to run with anyone at all?

Play Ball! Run a 5K through a Baseball Stadium!

Last Saturday evening the 20th of July I got to do something not everyone gets to do!  Run a 5K through a major league baseball stadium!  SAFECO Field in Seattle was holding it's 2nd annual "Refuse to Abuse" 5K to benefit the Mariner's Care - Refuse to Abuse.  I missed last year's Inaugural running of the Refuse to Abuse 5K but I won't miss it again!  This race was so unique and fun!

 

I drove down to get to Seattle to get there with enough time to pick up my bib and get organized.  My 7 year old daughter came with me... she is too young to run this year (you have to be 8)... but friends of ours were also coming and had offered that she could hang out with her husband and younger son while we were participating.   

She would have to wait until next year.  We stopped at bib pick up and I easily got my bib, shirt, and goodie bag.  The gal that helped us even let my daughter have a goody bag too because she had wanted to run so badly.  So nice.  Below is a picture of the package pick up area.

We met our friends and waited around for the big line up!   So much fun to run into some runners I have met through the #teamrundisney group on Facebook and also from participating in the Tinkerbell Half Marathon Weekend last January at Disneyland.  If you want to read about the Tinkerbell Half... click HERE.  Especially fun to see my friend Rachel who lives here and I had met at Disneyland last January.  Here is fun split photo of the 2 of us.  One side is from last January in CARSLAND and the other from this race.  Isn't she adorable?!  Another friend - Kristi was there too but alas... no photo.

We gathered for some photos and waited around for the line up and the start.

The race started at 7pm... and we were off!   Here are some photos from the race...

Looking across to the parking structure.  I can't take the credit for this photo... I found it on Facebook.

Running this race was really unique... we began on the ground level on the south side of the parking structure... circled the stadium and then entered the stadium on the south side again and circle the concourse... felt so good running through the cool shade of the main part of the stadium.  Once we had circled the stadium once the route led us across the foot bridge to the parking structure.  The route then circled the 2nd to the top level of the parking garage and then proceeded to the top level.  It was warm and slightly humid that evening.  After completing the circles of the parking structure the route brought us back into the stadium and up to "Suite" level.  The route had us run right through the "Hit it Here" Cafe' and the through the hallways that lead through to the Suites.  Before we hit the hallway I was looking forward to air conditioning... nope... it was VERY stuffy and warm in the suite hallways.  Oh well.  We continued across the west side of the stadium and then down the spiral ramps to the field level.  The course then led us through the long wide hallway that is by the club level... past the team locker room and gym.  Then out on the warning track of the field by right field.   Led us along the warning track past home plate and then to the finish by 3rd base!  It was so awesome!

  

 

My friend Carrie finishing strong! 

A group of us after the finish!  This race was so much fun!   A nice medal for a 5K and a terrific time!  A sure thing for next year's race schedule!