Ever wonder what it's like to travel to Europe on a whim as a doctoral student with a full time job? Well, meet Johnathan! For under $1000 he took a relaxing trip to Europe inclusive of a few guided travel tours to break up the monotony. If you've been, are planning to go or, after reading about his experience here, now want to go- don't forget to tell us about! Enjoy! Name: Johnathan City: Houston, Tx Traveling Destination: Portugal and Spain Plane ticket: $450 Air B&B: $65 per night Experiences in Portugal and Spain: Priceless! I started off my trip to Lisbon, Portugal. What a beautiful city! It reminds me of San Francisco: rolling hills, great weather and a literal replica of the Golden Gate Bridge (25 de Abril Bridge). Lisbon is a city filled with lots of history, especially for people of African descent. At one point in the 1700's, approximately 10% of the Portuguese population consisted of slaves from West Africa. As you can imagine, there is still a heavy West African influence on the Portuguese culture. I highly recommend Air B&B's "Learn About Lisbon's African Roots" tour with Naky. You'll end your day with some traditional Cape Verdan food at the delicious Tambarina restaurant (get the smothered chicken dish and if Naky offers you Grog (drink) be ready for it to knock you out lol. My favorite part of the trip was another Air B&B experience (Cascais Day Trip: Cycle Along the Coast), which consisted of a bike ride in the picturesque little town of Cascais (pronounced Cass-kai). Words cannot describe how beautiful the area is (one word of caution; make sure you know how to ride a bike and bring some extra cushion for your backside!). After a few days in Lisbon, I flew to Madrid for the final leg of my trip. I'll have to say that Madrid wasn't as fun (to me) as Lisbon. It's a nice city, but I did not get to do as much. Part of that is because I just started my doctoral program and had a few assignments to do. I certainly did not get to explore as much as I wanted to. The best part of Madrid was the olive oil and wine tasting. I'll definitely be going back to Portugal and I would like to give Madrid another chance. Until then, happy travels! Are you interested in being featured in the ROTR Travel Inspiration series? Visit our Contact Us page to submit a request.

Hosting Philanthropic organization Goleta Education Foundation (GEF) supports the students, teachers, administrators and families in The Goleta Union School District (GUSD). GUSD covers the Goleta Valley with a population of approximately 80,000 in the City of Goleta and a large unincorporated area of Santa Barbara County. The more than, 3,700 students in GUSD are diverse in both socioeconomics and ethnicity. The Goleta Education Foundation offers support to schools in the district, with the goal of creating parity across all programs for a variety of learning groups, regardless of an individual school’s ability to raise funds to augment the district’s resources. GEF is currently an all-volunteer organization with no paid staff. Location: Santa Barbara California, City of Goleta Options 10K and 5K Multi-race - Adult 10K and 5K Multi-race - Kids 12 and under Lemon Run 10K - Adult Lemon Run 10K - Kids 12 and under Lemon Run 5k - Adult Lemon Run 5K - Kids 12 and under 1 K Fun Run - 13 and older Kids 1K Fun Run - 12 and under Organizational Effectiveness: I was able to register for the race up until the day before the event. When I arrived, it was a breeze to register. The starting line was festive with beautiful ocean front views. This is a medium/small community event with plenty of hospitality. The finish line was full of treats such as fruit, water, coffee and juice, all manned by local volunteers. You'll definitely feel the spirit of this city during the event. Trail/Course info: Held at beautiful Goleta Beach park, Obern Trail bike path. The trail is flat and through a wooded area. Experience: Overall it was a very pleasant experience. Fellow runners were friendly once they began to know you. There were plenty of eager jovial children at the starting line, a fun BONUS! The 10k trail could have used a few more directional signs through the primarily wooded trail to distinguish it from the other events. There were two water stops along the way of this very flat trail so get ready to be hydrated and run close to your personal best time. Leading up to the finish line there is a busy entrance into the park where officers will direct traffic. Be careful and make sure you pay attention to the correct path to the finish line. WOW factor: Of course the ocean side views will blow you away! However, you'll only get to see it during the start and finish of the run. Would I run it again? Given a shared passion for education equity, I would absolutely run this event again. How to register: https://runsignup.com/Race/CA/Goleta/LemonRun2018

This collection of writings from one of the most revered writers to date, is dedicated to the Daughter in which she never had. It's filled with short stories, poems and essays describing her life experiences and what she learned from them along the way. Angelou is however, very careful in expressing the wishes for "her daughter" to gather her own independent lessons while traveling through this collection. She makes note that her daughters number in the thousands and are unique...her advice is for us all. Her wisdom pours over the pages unapologetically. Letters to My Daughter is a must read for every Angelou fan, young adult learning historical prominence and those looking to gain motherly wisdom in an entertaining way. Click the link above or book image to order a copy for yourself (or a friend!). Keep reading for a special video surprise! "I gave birth to one child, a son, but I have thousands of daughters. You are Black, White, Jewish and Muslim, Asian, Spanish-speaking, Native American and Aleut. You are fat and thin and pretty and plain, gay and straight, educated and unlettered, and I am speaking to you all. Here is my offering to you." ~Maya Angelou A favorite essay of mine from this collection is entitled: To tell the truth. Angelou advocates for unfiltered honesty in appropriate situations. She offers it can provide therapeutic healing, camaraderie and enlighten self-awareness...in her own no loving, no nonsense way of course. Check out the video below to a personal reading and let me know what you think. This video was brought to you by VideoScribe. I am looking forward to hearing what you think about this book. As always, when you are finished reading, connect with me on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook to let me know your thoughts, questions and/or comments. I love hearing from you all! What book would you recommend I read next?

I had a chance to read from this collection of Rupi Kaur for the first time a few months ago. I picked up this book during the few seconds of dead space between entering a checkout line at Target and actually checking out, instinctively opening the pages then reading the following: "The universe took it's time on you, crafted you precisely..." At that exact moment I knew Kaur had talent. It wasn't until later that night after devouring the entire book before bed, I learned that her talent lies in the beauty of simplifying complex feelings in to as few words as possible. A challenge few master, including myself. Complete with author illustrations, it's almost as if each poem in this collection is competing with the one prior to relay an experience using fewer letters, fewer words, less communication...maximum emotion. The collection takes the reader through a journey of love, in the words of the author: hurting, loving, breaking and healing. Continue reading for four of my favorite quotes, one from each part of the entire collection. I am looking forward to hearing what you think about this book. As always, when you are finished reading, connect with me on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook to let me know your thoughts, questions and/or comments. I love hearing from you all! What book would you recommend I read next? xoxoxoxoxo -Happy Reading My Friends :) RTOR For delightful reads by this author click below: Milk & Honey The Sun and Her Flowers "Terrified [of]...or in love with...it all looks the same" -the hurting "You look like you smell of honey...let me have a taste of that" -the loving "You were temptingly beautiful but stung when I got close" -the breaking "Out backs tell stories no books have the spine to carry" -the healing

Traveling comes with wonderful experiences however the Airbnb/hotel rooms aren't always one of them. Here we will list three must have items that will not only fit into your carry-on, but will also turn any home away from home in to a romantic oasis in less than 5 minutes (if only just to spoil yourself). Candles After a long day of sightseeing and adventure it's only natural to run towards a hot shower once you return to your digs. Dimming the lights and lighting a candle (or a few) always sets the mood for mentally winding down. These small travel candles by Aspen Bay are a great option. They come in five great scents and easily fit into any travel bag without taking up much space. Just light and feel the tension melting away. For those that are stuck in a hotel room and must remain flameless, we haven't forgotten about you. You can achieve the same effect with flameless candles and essential oils. These few flameless LED tea lights by Global Selection will mellow your mood in seconds just the same. Add a few drops of essential oils to your sheets and your are on your way to euphoria. These candles come in pack of 12 so you'll have plenty for home use and travel. Essential oils An alluring scent will surely set the tone for any room and give you that extra push to sink deeper in to relaxation. Just splash a few drops on your bed sheets before jumping in the shower and let the fan/air conditioning fill the room with luxury. These Bath & Body Works Aromatherapy Pillow Mists with Natural Oils come is multiple scents are great additions to your carry-on and can easily also be used to spruce up you neck pillow for the plane ride. Yes, please! Silk Bathrobe Slipping into something comfortable after your shower will certainly continue your quest for indulgent relaxation during your travels. While feeling great (and looking sexy) is a must, so is saving those coins therefore this super cute Old Shanghai Women's Kimono Robe is a great alternative to 100% silk, feels great, looks amazing, can be machine washed and folds unnoticeably into a carry-on. Hello convenience and comfort! These small simple additions to your travel bag will be sure to add a touch of relaxation, luxury and romance to your next trip. Enjoy!

Are you searching for healthy recipes for your travels? Look no more... Mason Jar Arugula Salad Make this the night prior for an awesome #lunch the next day 😋. Threw it in my bag just before leaving the house. Add ingredients to the Mason Jar in the order listed below. ***** Juice from 1/2 of a 🍋 Olive oil Salt Pepper Avocado Green lentils Quinoa Tomatoes 🍅 Arugula Spinach Sunflower seeds🌻 (add just before serving) Banana Nut Bread #Banana Nut Bread🍌🍌 with added protein -travels great! I woke up one morning to a few bananas on death row; #leftovers from the week so I put them to good use (#recipe below). However #coffee came first of course ☕️ . . . 2 eggs (or flax eggs) 1/4 cup sugar 1/4 cup vegan protein powder 3 ripe bananas 1 tsp. Baking soda 1/4 tsp nutmeg 1/4 tsp. Cinnamon 3/4 cup almond milk 1 tsp. Vanilla 1 tsp salt 1.5 cups wheat flour 1/2 cup chopped walnuts . . Combine wet ingredients into blender. Combine dry ingredients into a large bowl, mix and sift into the blender (I use a small metal pasta strainer to sift). Blend just until mixed. Fold in chopped walnuts. Pour into greased (sprayed) loaf pan. Top with chopped walnuts. . . #Bake 45 min at 400 degrees F. Let cool on cooling rack for 20 minutes before serving. Oatmeal Protein Pancakes Oatmeal Protein Pancakes, I added walnuts and blueberries. This is the only pic I have because they went pretty fast... . 1 cup oats 1 Banana 2 Eggs 1/2 cup egg whites 4 teaspoons baking powder Pinch of salt, pinch of cinnamon 1-2 scoops vegan protein powder 2 tablespoon flax meal 1/2 cups almond milk Put everything through the blender on medium/low speed until well mixed. You may have to occasionally add extra almond milk as you pour. Top with anything you like! Enjoy!

My husband’s Wife is a novel centered on how traumas can affect our individual life journey and intersect when least expected. Lily is a lawyer who blossoms late in life as measured by societal standards, a bit of a plain Jane if you will. Determined to leave behind a family secret she marries ED for a fresh start and new leaf on life. Her very first murder case invites twists and turns into their lives in which they would have never expected, uncovering lies and opening the door for revenge, murder, and betrayal. When her husband takes on a new wife in a bazaar twist, Lily is forced to appraise her choices and shameful past before retribution. Lily, Ed and Carla- the child of an Italian immigrant neighbor who is struggling to adjust living in a new country -respectively are prime examples of what happens when decisions are made in the presence of societal expectation without addressing past mental and emotional hurt. Click Here to Purchase This Book On Amazon! This is the first book I have read by Jane Cory. There are several plots to keep it interesting as Lily struggles with her marriage, work-life, past family trauma and new relationships. The plots seems to work into each other relatively well. The book is well written, gleefully Britain, and periodically eventful. Beautifully written monologues direct the story with peppered character dialogue. I truly enjoyed experiencing the relationship between Carla and her mother. Both flawed individuals protecting each other the best they know how and extending unconditional love. This was a beautifully added subplot. It took me a few weeks to finish the book. Reading a few pages of the novel each night helped me over the lulls to later devour the twists and turns. I would also recommend this book as a great read among the ever growing “vacation” book stack. I am looking forward to hearing what you think about this book. As always, when you are finished reading, connect with me on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook to let me know your thoughts, questions and/or comments. I love hearing from you all! What book would you recommend I read next? Xoxoxoxoxox -Happy Reading My friends! ROTR

If you are frequent flyer here at readingontherun.com you already know that this was my second time running the Sergeant Keith Ferguson 5k across the Brooklyn Bridge. See my prior post for information on location, organizational effectiveness, trail/course info, etc. This event started in 2015 with about 100 runners. Now the registration list boasts over 1000 runners/walkers lining up to support the legacy of the officer who died in the line of duty. Proceeds support the Sergeant Keith Ferguson Scholarship Fund and the NYPD Foundation. For this run I came prepared for the "boardwalk like planks" and uphill motions with my light weight Nike Flex run shoes. These made the transition from the concrete to the planks much more seamless. The cloth material helps the shoe to feel like socks-as if you don't actually have a shoe on at all! Also, the ultra lightweight design helps when gravity is working against you up that hill. The most enjoyable parts of this run, though there are many, are the breathtaking views and the camaraderie in the atmosphere. Sgt. Ferguson's mother was in attendance and took the time to meet as many people as she could with a welcoming smile. Students in the NYPD ESU specialized training school ran together in a pack format in honor of the slain officer. Prior to the run, officials from the city took the time to speak kind works and hold a moment of silence for police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty. All around this event is top notch and I recommend it to any active wanderlust visiting NYC in August. I hope to have the honor of running it again. How to register: http://www.keithsrace.org Check out @readontherun Instagram for more pics!

Have you ever met someone and within the first 5 seconds of being in their presence, you either trust them completely or not at all? Well, apparently there is a formula for that- here's why... "If we can learn to trust one another more, we can have unprecedented human progress." ~ Frances Frei, Harvard Business School professor Building trust is an important part of business. There are New York Times best-selling authors traveling the globe teaching business gurus how to build it frequently, quickly and lucratively. At the very base of all theoretical knowledge surrounding why trust is important in business, it boils down to one principle, in my opinion: Trust is necessary for building true heartfelt relationships that can serve as a foundation for a solid partnership. This applies not only to business settings but in all forms of relationships. Frances Frei, Harvard Business School Professor gave a very inspiring TED talk this year about how to build and re-build trust based off of her short stint at UBER, leading change for the better. Her basic triad can be applied in any setting, she encourages. Frei compassionately communicates that presenting your ideas while being your authentic self and showing true empathy for others is how trust is built over time. If one of the elements is lacking or begins to wane, no worries, there are ways to re-build that element within the relationship. Frei inspires us because she reminds us that every interaction with another is an opportunity to make the world incrementally better. She understands and truly believes that everyone can change for the better and is worthy of a chance at redemption. She travels the world being her authentic self with no apologies encouraging us all to build trusting relationships to further enhance the human experience. No one achieves greatness alone and healthy productive relationships are the only way to build momentum to achieve your unique brand of greatness. Watch Dr. Frei's TED video below to be inspired...Trust me! This post is a part of the ReadOnTheRun-Uber Talks series in which we will feature strangers that inspire us along our journey. Let's make an effort to be conscious of the people we meet throughout our journeys, spreading the spirit of curiosity, promoting empathy to the journey of others and sharing a bit of ourselves with those around us.

Meet Tatiana (@fitwithcurves), a Houston, Texas based personal trainer who decided to take her workouts across the Indian Ocean to Thailand. Thailand has been one of my favorite travel destinations so far on my life journey. Tatiana and I have been friends for years so you know I had to get the details of her trip. Also, as a bonus, I've included her workout videos from the trip. Enjoy! Where to? Houston --> Dubai --> Phuket Thailand --> Chiang Mai, Thailand --> Bangkok Why did you go?: One of my clients told me about this all-girls travel group and like most, since I love to travel I had to join. One of the first trips we chose was to Phuket, Thailand. I’ve heard great things about this country, so I just had to go. How did you prep?: I spent about a month looking for airline tickets and because our trip fell on Memorial weekend we paid a little more than usual. I decided to go with Emirates with a layover in Dubai, because....who doesn’t want to experience the beautiful city of Dubai? How much were your flight costs?: Houston to Dubai to Phuket (Round Trip): Emirates ($1300) Phuket to Chiang Mai (Round trip): Air Asia ($123) Phuket to Bangkok (Round trip): Air Asia ($50) The flight from Houston to Dubai was expensive in my opinion because it fell on Memorial Day weekend. The weekend before and after was $700 round trip. I was locked into that weekend because I was going with a group. Price your trip around cheaper airfare if you can. Thinking of taking a solo trip to Thailand? Grab your copy of the Solo Girls Travel Guide! Where did you stay?: Hotel in Chiang Mai: Movenpick Hotel on Phi Phi Island: ChaoKoh Phi Phi Hotel & Resort Hotel in Phuket: Hotel near the airport (can’t find the name) I booked my hotels last minute (I'll share more on this later) but I have no complaints. Surprisingly, it was easy to find affordable, comfortable hotels on short notice. What did you pack? I traveled with only carry-ons because I knew that I would do most of the trip solo and wanted to make sure that I could move around freely. Dubai: I wasn’t disappointed in my airline choice one bit. My flight left on time and arrived on time. The food on Emirates was so tasty even adhering to my vegetarian diet. I took a night tour when I got to my hotel in Dubai since my layover was 14-hours. I would highly recommend it. Find the top 10 night tours of Dubai: here. Chiang Mai (Day 1) Arriving in Chiang Mai, I did not have a definitive plan, but I knew I wanted to see several temples, the elephants and to visit the night bazaar. Out of the three cities I visited in Thailand, Chiang Mai was one of my favorites. I chose a driver at the airport to take me to my hotel near the night market and restaurants. Although he barely spoke English he was so friendly, and I felt comfortable asking him to be my driver the entire time while I was in Chiang Mai. I arrived in Chiang Mai around 1 pm, checked in to the hotel and headed off to see the White Temple. My driver knew that I wanted to see as much of the city as possible, so we stopped by a market on the way to Wat Rong Khun (White Temple). I had no idea that the white temple was 3 hours away from Chiang Mai (located in Chiang Rai) so the ride was a bit longer than expected. However, once we arrived it was breathtaking. We arrived just before closing so I had very little time to take it all in, but it was so worth it. It took us 3 hours to get back to Chiang Mai and my hotel. I had just enough time to shower, change and head out to the night market the first night (what is the night market?). Day 2 Chiang Mai (Day 2) My Driver picked me up early around 9:30 am and we headed to see the elephant sanctuary, Baan Tong Luang Eco-agricultural Village and several other temples. Elephant Sanctuary: It was raining when I arrived, so I was the only one there for the tour. I enjoyed it because I got special attention. I was able to learn about the rescue sanctuary, feed the elephant, bathe him and even had the option to ride his neck bare if I wanted (I don't play when it comes to large animals, so you know I had to decline). Long Necks and other Tribes at the Eco- Agricultural Tribe Village in Chiang-Mai: I loved this tour, it was like nothing I've ever seen before. I was able to experience how they live and I got a little emotional. They live with so little and appeared to be so happy. I was able to read about every tribe and even talk to the members a little- well, those that could speak a little English. I was able to try on the neck piece that the ladies in the long neck tribe wore and I could not believe how heavy it was. I was most amazed at this little school that the children attended. It was so small, but so effective. Temples: On the way back from the eco-agricultural tribe village my driver stopped by the silver temples so that I could go in and see. Just like the other temples it was gorgeous. I was able to have a plate of my favorite vegetable pad Thai right outside of the temple. My flight on Air Asia left Chiang Mai on Tuesday night around 10 pm and I arrived back in Phuket at 12:00 am the next morning. Bangkok (Day 3): I met the girls from the travel group at the Chiang Mai airport around 9 am to get ready for our flight to Bangkok which left around 9:30 am. When we landed we went straight to the Airbnb and off to the Grand Palace. Grand Palace: We meet a little lady at the front of the Grand Palace who tried really hard to hustle us out of our money in order to be our tour guide for the Grand Palace. She actually offered a great deal complete with attire since we were not dressed appropriately to enter. Proper attire includes long sleeves as well as loose-fitting bottoms. Our money was well spent because we loved her. She was knowledgeable and feisty all at the same time. The temple itself was intricate, detailed and beautiful. After the Grand Palace, we ate at a Thai restaurant nearby and visited a little market for a bit. The group split up and we decided to take a "tuk-tuk" (what is this? Car?) to the Big Buddha in Bangkok and to the sky train so we could see the city. Both destinations left us disappointed. (Travel Warning) Clearly, the "tuk-tuk" driver was just trying to get our money as well as a commission by stopping by a tailor shop. Apparently, the city was giving tuk-tuk driver gas and a gift card for taking us to tailor shops that day. He failed to tell us the Big Buddha in Bangkok was under construction and that the sky train had so many people on it getting off work on a Wednesday trying to get home, that we could not see the views of the city out the windows. After the sky train, we headed back to the Airbnb walked to nearby convenience stores for snacks and headed out to party in Bangkok. Partying in Bangkok on Silom rd.: This was an experience. At some point the drinks kicked in and all seemed normal. We danced the night away. Afterwards, I only felt comfortable eating from street food that we saw being cooked right in front of us and we were a little sketchy about that as well. Not many pictures of this...what happens in Bangkok, stays in Bangkok!) Phi Phi Island, Monkey Beach, Maya Beach (Day 4) Woke up on Friday morning and took the taxi to the dock to take the ferry to Phi Phi Island. I got there right after the ferry left, so ended up opting for a speedboat instead (Bonus!). Had I not I would have had to wait 4 hours for the next ferry. I booked a hotel the night before on booking.com, " Chao Koh Phi Phi Hotel & Resort". The room was beautiful, and the staff was friendly. I stayed on the island the entire Friday night ate dinner, went for a run, and worked out on the beach. I felt completely safe the entire time. I woke up Saturday morning and booked a tour to take a speed boat to 7 other beaches including lagoons and Viking’s Cave. Workouts Of course I had to find time to workout and represent for my @fitwithcurves family! Check-out my videos below! This trip will always be one to remember. It was amazing to see the differences in culture, food, and way of life. I enjoyed every part of it and would go back anytime! Note about booking my hotels last minute: You won’t hear me mention the name of the travel group because although I’ve heard there are many professional, well-organized groups this one was not. The Organizer overbooked, and I found out 1 day before my trip that I was going to have to sleep in the bed with another woman I never met because the rooms only had 1 bed. I like my personal space, so I quickly declined and asked for a refund for my room. Happy Travels Friends! Xoxoxoxoxo, ROTR Are you interested in being featured in the ROTR Travel Inspiration series? Visit our Contact Us page to submit a request.

Birthdays are a bit mysterious, don't you think? The consensus is that we are another year older...that our being is somehow incrementally closer to an unknown destination. Yet, we don't really know how long our consciousness has been a part of the universe- this intelligently designed scheme of chaotic perfection. Do we? I have been fortunate to experience extraordinary souls throughout my journey thus far, in which to learn, laugh, cry, heal, create, enjoy new experiences and discover. Some were for a season, others have been a lifetime. Some truly saw me before I discovered myself. Some discovered themselves in parallel. Those closest to me realized my strengths, weaknesses, and prepared me for the world before I knew of the challenges ahead. If I have ever told you that I love you, please know that it is true. If I haven't please know that still, it is true. We are all connected much like the elements of the earth- uniquely necessary. Love comes in many forms: Parental, familial, fellowship, romantic, platonic, symbiotic...just to name a few. We need one another to create the beauty in life for the present and the future. There is so much beauty in all of our differences, quarrels and unity in creating change for the better. For those of you that have sent well wishes my way rather publicly, privately and/or silently- Thank you for thinking of me. I can only hope that I have positively impacted your journeys in a fraction of the way you all have impacted mine. Let us continue to check on one another with love of all kinds. R.I.P Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain...and all of those for whom we do not know of... xoxoxoxo, readontherun

2018 Susan G. Komen race for the cure event supporting woman's cancer research. Location: Begins at the Eakins Oval, Philadelphia Museum of Art: 2451 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA 19130 Options: 5k Run 5k Walk 1 mile Fun Walk Organizational Effectiveness: The organization of this run was very good. These particular races are done at various times throughout the year in varying locations and tend to be very large. If you are breast cancer survivor there are exclusive events and gifts that are offered. You can even register at a discounted price! Trail/Course info: The course was predominantly flat for the first mile however sharply after the 1 mile marker we encountered a steep hill just around a sharp turn so you never see it coming! To credit of the race planners there is a water station just before you turn the corner. Once you are up hill (incline is about a bit more than 1/2 mile) you'll run over the highways and down hill to a beautiful lake. Overall the scenery was good and the race was challenging enough. Experience: As with many races this size, the starting line was a bit crowed so you'll likely encounter some slowed traffic at the beginning of the run. However, once you hit your stride the scenery is a beautiful array of suburban mansions along the park area, then on to a backdrop of a mystified peaceful lake. If you visit this site often you all ready know that I live in my wireless lightweight Beats headphones during my runs and use them to play my race playlist with optimal sound quality which allows be to better pace myself. Combining the beautiful scenery and my tunes were a match made in heaven! The post race activities were amazing however there weren't enough race bags for everyone so if you couldn't carry it all in your hands then you just missed out. WOW factor: The wow factor for me here was the post race activities. There was an ice cream social, coffee truck, pretzel stand, marching band and so much more! Also, the museum is a great location for pictures. Would I run it again? Yes, of course! How to register: Find one in your desired location here: https://ww5.komen.org/RaceForTheCure/ Check out @readontherun Instagram for more pics!