UCLA True Bruin Move and Groove 5K

Great event geared towards faculty, staff, and students at UCLA (but you can run, too, if you aren’t one of these). I’m a staffer at UCLA and when I received the email about the event, I thought, why not? The price is inexpensive ($ 25 early/​$ 35 day-​of) and all proceeds benefit the Staff Assembly through the Healthy Campus Initiative.
The SWAG is ok… not the greatest quality, but good for the price you pay. You receive a cotton t-​shirt, drawstring backpack with coupons for local restaurants like Garlos and Jersey Mikes, and a medal.
We ran the 2^nd annual, and it seemed very well organized. The route was hilly but mostly shaded, an out-​and-​back around most of north campus. There is one water station at the turn-​around with very small partially-​filled Dixie cups. At the end, there were bottles of water and snacks.
Parking is $ 12 in lot P4 (steps from the starting line at Wilson Plaza) so it may be good to make plans to walk to breakfast in Westwood and get your money’s worth.
Super event, but I’m not sure I would participate again next year since it is a popular date for other runs in the area (i.e. Coaster Run).

Why couldn’t I have been a Bruin?
Man, I wish I’d been handed my degree here at UCLA. The campus, it is beautiful: green lawns manicured, ivied bricked buildings poised proudly and embedded with prestige and wisdom. Just walking along the university’s paths – ones traversed for over 90 years and counting – you’re bound to feel smarter. I did. =]
However, even though I am a Titan (albeit, not necessarily the most loyal) I support the Bruins. I support them, even though, laughingly, they would have dismissed any attempts of mine to climb to their rankings straight out of high school. (That’s my fault entirely.) I support them, even though – for two years straight, and up until the «no tailgating» regulations were set in place – I had USC season tickets, held them up high for all to envy. And not only that, but I support the Bruins because their Healthy Campus Initiative – an integrated, campus-​wide effort to promote and develop healthy lifestyle choices and practices – supports community. (Our registration fees and donations contributed to this effort.)
Damn those Gators!
Neverthless, there were – among the many helpful race day volunteers – 908 runners, all excited for an early morning run throughout the campus. I beat 681 others! Haha! Yeah, so I only came in 227^th, but that’s not the point. What’s important is that I kept within my 10 minute/​mile pace. I was 30:30:3 for this 3.1! This «Move & Groove» was inaugural as well. I was thrilled to be there, completely proud to be handed my Bruin finisher medal (wish it was a diploma), and I will be sure to step up next year as well. Great job, True Blue!
30:30:3
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