Run for the Crown 5K & Kids 1K (Corona, CA)

What city do you really live in? I'm not talking about your address. I mean the city where you shop, where you go to have a nice dinner, and the one you feel most connected to? It helps to feel loyal to the city you sleep in when you work there as well. For me, that big transition came five years after living in Corona. It happened when I changed jobs, from Orange County to one here in Corona. Since then, my appreciation for the city has grown.

Corona Parks and Recreation has a lot to offer its residents, such as classes and community activities scheduled throughout the year. During the month of May 2007, the Corona Parks and Recreation Department hosted its 21^st Annual Run for the Crown 5 K Run. This was the first year in which I participated. Prior years, I would take my kids for the 1 K run and cheer for my husband in the 5 K. The 5K is a small neighborhood run where some participants took a dog or double baby stroller. Other race events tend to be too large and they have strict rules about joggers and dogs that they enforce. The run for the crown still has a small town feel with plenty of opportunity for runners to win medals or finish closer to the top of their category than at other larger events.

They also have a variety of family team categories you can sign up for. If you come in first place in that category then you get a medal. My husband and I signed up for the husband and wife category. We didn't even come close to winning but it was the first time we were able to sign up as a team in a race event. The best part about the team categories is that you are still eligible for individual age and gender division categories. In the individual categories they award runners up to 5^th place. In the majority of races we've been to only the fastest runner or fastest three runners in that age/gender division receive medals. As one lady put it, "it's the luck of the draw". Last time she and her son won the mother son team. "It all depends on who comes out to run that day." They also have a brother sister team, brother-brother, and father-daughter and just about every combination you can think of.

The race is held once a year around May 12. I did notice that the race grew in participants this year from last. This year was also the first year in which they offered chip timing. This part is really cool. They give you a microchip, which attaches to your shoes and goes through 2 sensors, one at the starting line and one as you finish. This way it doesn't matter if you cross the finish line a few seconds behind other people. Your race begins when you first cross the starting line mat. There is a raffle at the end of the race where participants can win gift certificates from local restaurants to a basket full of goodies

This year's Run For the Crown might be canceled due to funding issues. I hope the city plans to bring back a local favorite next year.

You can visit the Corona Parks and recreation site for other local community events.