4th of July weekend is coming up real fast. As runners, I know we all have the urge to race on major holidays and 4th of July is a perfect time for that ! 4th of July this year is on a Tuesday, so if you are enjoying your long weekend, be cognizant of that. Staying sober for a good race day 3 days in a row during a long weekend could be stressful! I have lived through it  few times! So where are all the good races in OC? I got you covered in my today’s blog. If you have a race you love, let me know, and I will make sure to udpate the blog with the info! All the races have race day registration/bib pickup not to interrupt your long weekend plans!

Freedom Run at the Rach – Lader Ranch, CA

Ladera Ranch is beautiful, and none of us go that way unless we have to meet someone that lives there. This race could give you an excuse to go upto check all the cute neighborhoods in Ladera Ranch. Few of my friends ran this race last year and had a lot of good things to say about it. Course is not super easy super flat, but not a bad course. Its beautiful place to run for sure! Its one of the popular runs around south county, and gets about 1500 entries for 5k and about 300 entries for 10k. Its a competitive course, so you will find lot of fast runners!

Link: http://www.runladera.com/

Registration: 5k – $30, 10k – $40

Plus: Race day packet pickup, onsite registration.

Crown City Classic 5k/12k – Coronado, CA

I ran this race last year. If you live in OC, its just out of the way for a early morning drive and the parking in Coronado can get real sticky, but if you don’t mind the drive, and the adventure to find parking in Coronado, this is really beautiful race for 4th of July. The course is next to the waters, and the race starts under a giant US Flag. Finisher medals for everyone. Race day registration and race day packet pickup makes it one of the easy races to do. It does get pretty fast runners out, and it has been a 4th of July tradition in SD, so expect a good crowd!

Link: http://crowncityrun.com/details/

Registration: 12k – $60, 5k – $50 (Use code RACESHED17 for 15% off)

Laguna Niguel Family YMCA – Run in the Parks – Laguna Niguel, CA

This race would be my favorite one to do. Its local (right behind Endurance House in Laguna Niguel!), and plenty of parking, nice and easy course. If you are a dog parent, you can bring your dog for an additional $15 on the course! its produced by renegade race series – so I am pretty sure the finisher medals will be nice and cute!

Link: http://www.ymcaoc.org/run-in-the-parks/

Registration: 10k – $40, 5k – $35 ( +$15 if you want to bring your dog!)

Surfcity Run 5k – Huntington Beach, CA

Surfcity races has special division for Huntington Beach residents, and another division for rest, so if you have friends in HB, use their address(with consent of course!) to register if you want to increase your chance of placing. The course runs through 17th st/Main Street and little bit around PCH for a brief minute, so you will get the HB run experience if that means something to you!

Link: http://www.surfcityrun.com/

Registration: 5k – $40 ( Use code RaceGrader5 for $5 off)

Orange Park Acres 4th of July Races – Orange, CA

Orange Park Acres is another race I hear lot of people talking about in the running circle.(Yes there is such a thing!). They got pretty solid sponsors. This would be a good race to do if you live around Orange.

Link: http://www.orangeparkacres5k.com/index.html

Registration: 10k – $40, 5k – $33 (USe code RaceShed for 10% off)

Anaheim Hills FireCracker 5k/10k – Anaheim Hills, CA

This is a local city council organized run. From last year’s pictures it seems a lot of fun! There are lot of events that day there – a dog show, parade! So you could make it a day out of running and staying for other events!

Link: http://www.anaheimhillscommunitycouncil.org/#container_uk4tzv3

Registration: 10k – $45, 5k – $40

Lake Forest Chargers 5k – Lake Forest, CA

A collectible Chargers Tshirt and a chance to PR at this PR friendly course might convince you to run this race.

Link: https://lakeforest5k.org/

Registration: 5k – $30(non student), Student – $15.

(Best Value) Woodbridge Village Association 5k – Irvine, CA

This is a local Irvine race, which is also our SCRR/Snail’s Pace run groups club race. Its super cheap if you opt out from tshirt.($15 y’all!)

Link: http://www.wva.org/HOA/assn21440/images/Run%20Waiver%20Form%202017.pdf

Registration: 5k – $15 without tshirt for non-residents.