The Electric Run 5K – San Francisco

Worst experience I have ever had running. If you are not serious about running and are interested in an outside activity to do while high on drugs, this is the event for you.
When we got there, we quickly discovered there was no organization to the event. Volunteers were uninformed and poorly trained. The electric show was less of a show with a lot of dark areas during the course which had poor sound. Not only is that a waste of $ 55 but its also extremely dangerous. Of course it wouldn’t be as bad if in the dark parts there wasn’t also bubble machines that made the cement slick and slippery.
Tons of folks were falling down drunk or high on other substances, which was a little frustrating, not because I am bothered by the drug use but because the website explained that they had a zero tolerance for substance abuse and would turn intoxicated people away as it was a family event. Kind of felt that the event was falsely advertised.
After we finished the course, we went to try and get our t-​shirts since they weren’t handed out when we first picked up our bibs. When we inquired as of where to go to claim our shirts, a volunteer explained that they were no longer available. Thankfully another volunteer overheard our conversation and told us where to go which was back at the starting line. When we got there, the lady who seemed to be the coordinator, explained that she had already re-​sealed some of the boxes and apologized that the staff was poorly trained. She then explained that if we still wanted our shirts, we could rummage through any of the opened boxes which were unfortunately not labeled with the size it contained.
All in all it was a rough night and horrid experience, well, unless I was on drugs maybe.

The Electric Run was fun! I personally thought it was way better than its cousin, the Color Run (the Color Run got way too sticky and disgusting at the end).
My friends wanted to run the Electric Run after learning about it when we were signing up for the Color Run. I thought this would have been fun and interesting, so I signed up too. I was a bit hesitant since I had to pay $ 55 the day that registration opened! I paid the team fee of $ 45 but got $ 5 off for being a VIP email recipient. However, I had to pay a city and insurance fee of $ 5, a glow kit for $ 6 (could have just gone to Party City), and a processing fee of $ 4.70. And if you couldn’t pick up your packet, you had to pay $ 5 online when you ordered. Parking is not included in this, so it was another $ 15. At least the $ 15 you paid at the event. However, my wallet hates the thought of paying so many fees…
The day of the event, my friends and I drove early on in the day to enjoy San Francisco before heading on over to Candlestick. Traffic wasn’t so bad surprisingly, even though we got there at 7pm (the run was supposed to have started at 8:20pm).
And man oh man. It was SOOOOO cold! We stayed in my car until people started lining up. But all the excitement in the air and music helped by warming us up for the event.
The event was somewhat disorganized. Like the Color Run, people weren’t too sure where the starting line was or where one could pick up his/​her packets. Luckily, this time we found the start and got in closer to the front of the line before people had a chance get there. We were in the second wave. At the Color Run, we were in the way back and waited about 30 minutes to actually start. But at least the event people were throwing free glow stuff to everyone and the music kept us pumped! The run was supposed to have started at 8:20, but I believe it started around 8:40 or so. I really just wanted to get started!
While we were waiting, there was just so much color from the glow sticks. And the stadium was glowing with color! It was pretty amazing!
Once we got started, we ran quite a bit because the run started in waves. However, when we got to go through the gates to get into the stadium, there was no room, so there was a traffic jam full of people and had to walk. But I didn’t really care too much about that. This 5K wasn’t really about running for me. It was more party than running. My friends and I were just taking pictures most of the time.
There was only one water station, but I thought it was one of the prettiest things I’ve been. So glowy. haha
We got to go inside the stadium onto the field, and at the end, it was just like a rave with people and glow sticks everywhere!
It took us an hour and 10 minutes to get through the entire course. It wasn’t an exact 5K (I tracked the miles on my iPhone). It was a bit more than a 5K, about 3.3 miles. But after that, I was really sleepy (after being in SF all day). We didn’t get to stay too much for the music.
I was in awe with the glow sticks and the music somewhat. I had a lot of fun. But it was wayyyy too expensive and it was really packed going to the stadium.
No more novelty runs for a while for me.
Nothing beats running a timed 5K/​10K. Now, that get’s me really pumped (especially when there is food at the end)!