One of the best parts of my job is having the opportunity to cross paths with some amazing individuals. I collect their stories because they are a true inspiration and they remind me to take the time to be grateful for the simplest, most natural things, such as being able to walk and run. I like to share these life stories with you with the hope to warm your heart and bring you a smile. In the end the lesson remains the same: The sky is the limit. Not very long ago I receiv

How would you feel if you slept through your alarm on race day and missed the start of the race? Would you panic? Berate yourself? Just go back to bed? Would you cut yourself some slack? Along the course of the Malibu Half Marathon, the author grapples with the internal landscape of how we talk to ourselves when things don’t go quite as planned. Read more from the essay in Runner’s World. #running #raceday #halfmarathon

Shortly before 7 a.m. on Nov. 5, a large crowd gathered, stretched and waited anxiously at the starting line of the Malibu Half Marathon and 5K Walk/Run, hosted this year at Zuma Beach. At the very front of the pack was 17-year-old Johan Sanchez. The cross country and track runner, who attends Ramona High School in Riverside, is preparing for the CIF State Cross Country Championships. This was his first time running the annual half marathon, and he was there for more than jus

"Methinks that the moment my legs begin to move, my thoughts begin to flow." - Henry David Thoreau Your race is fast approaching and you have trained diligently for this moment. You have consistently ran multiple times a week. You have postponed social plans to squeeze those extra miles out of the day. You have (somehow) crafted a sacred balance of work, life, and running. Your legs are ready to take on race miles and now it is time to examine how to keep your mental muscles

After weeks of training, you are ready to face the coastline of Malibu and tackle 13.1 miles of some of the most beautiful running scenery California has to offer. With race day fast approaching, let’s take a look at 13 tips that will help you complete your half marathon. Start With a Plan and Stick to It Before the race, have a clear set of goals based off of knowledge your training established. For example, if you have been training to complete the half marathon within a ce

"Almost 7 months after the 2016 Malibu Half Marathon & 5K I was looking at a picture of Steve Walker and his guide running the Half Marathon. Stories like his are what help us be reminded to never give up, no matter how big is the obstacle. A special thank you goes to Carl Finer whose words captured Steve's story and made us all part of his journey" Erica Sep 29, 2016 - Marine veteran, two-time Ironman finisher, and blind athlete Steve Walker will be running the Malibu Half M

It's a world of Heroes As a race director I often have the opportunity and the honor to come across some of the most beautiful and inspiring stories. It is a privilege to discover and be able to share with the rest of the world the journeys and accomplishments of such remarkable people, and how running has represented a powerful life-changing catalyst for so many of them. Every time I have the opportunity to be among runners I like to ask them about their story and how life l

This letter was written in 2015 by a brave and courageous 59-year-old woman who was diagnosed with stage 4 kidney cancer with bone metastasis. She was also my beloved mother and best friend, a wonderful human being who I looked up to my entire life. She fought her disease until her very last breath with pride and dignity. And although she never made it to the finish line, I hope that her words will continue to inspire and challenge people around the world to remember and to a