People run races for all different reasons – the challenge, the course, the atmosphere, the conditioning and sometimes even just for the medal (no shame in running for bling, IMHO).  

Today I’m proud to announce that I’ll be running the 2nd Annual Run Hard Rock Cafe 5K on November 8th to help benefit homeless youth in Los Angeles…and so could you.

Run Hard Rock Cafe 5K, Run Hard Rock Cafe Hollywood, Los Angeles, My Friend's Place

Learn more right here: RunHardRockCafe.com

 

I’m not sure that many people know that the Run Hard Rock Cafe 5K exists to benefit My Friend’s Place, a very small organization that assists and inspires homeless youth to build self sufficient lives.  Maybe you heard about My Friend’s Place because of Miley Cyrus at the MTV Video Music Awards raising awareness about the 1.6 million youth who are homeless in America.

My Friend’s Place is a small organization that does big things – MFP  served over one third of the homeless youth population in Los Angeles last year with nearly 30,000 meals, over 540 linkages to on-site and off-site medical care for youth and continue to do intensive case management and move homeless youth into housing.

When I ran the 1st Annual Run Hard Rock Cafe 5K last year, I had no idea that the race was for charity.   I was new to Los Angeles and I was  just excited that I got the unique opportunity to run down Hollywood Boulevard – Hard Rock Cafe is the only 5K to have ever shut down the world-renowned street.  I was dazzled by the race bling and was absolutely oblivious that Run Hard Rock Cafe 5K was a local community expansion of the Hard Rock Cafe philanthropy mission statement of LOVE ALL – SERVE ALL®.

 

Love All Serve All, Hard Rock Cafe, Run Hard Rock Cafe 5K

 

Once I learned more about the community and charity components for the Run Hard Rock Cafe 5K at the Hard Rock Cafe Media dinner I attended earlier this year, I knew I needed to do more than just run the race in 2014.  I approached HRC to ask if I could help spread the word to the Los Angeles community the best way I knew how, blogging so now you’re looking at the new Blogger Ambassador for Run Hard Rock Cafe 2014!

Hard Rock Cafe 5K

Oblivious me after Run Hard Rock Cafe 5K 2013

 

If you live in the Southern California area, this is a race that you don’t want to miss.  

Participate in this unique race for the Hollywood community in one of the following ways:

1.  Register for the Run Hard Rock Cafe 5K on Saturday, November 8, 2014 at 7:00am.    This flat unique course is a great first race to run, walk or even PR!  Walk or run or stroll and you’ll get one of these super cool medals*:

Finisher Medal 2014

 

*I will run or walk with anyone who lets me know they’ve registered.  

Bring friends and family (strollers and kids are welcome to participate); there will also be kid-friendly activities available!

 

2.  Give to My Friend’s Place by purchasing exclusive Hard Rock Cafe pins and shirts at the race that benefit MFP.  You can also volunteer, give directly or in-kind donations.

RHRC, My Friend's Place

 

3.  Volunteer at the Run Hard Rock Cafe 5K race.

RHRC 5K Volunteers

Maybe you don’t want to run, walk or stroll this course but want to help out.  Race production takes a lot of effort and any help is appreciated.  Just so you know, there are few things better than watching happy people finish races with their heart.

 

For more information so you can help spread the word, please see the following social media outlets/hashtags:

Hard Rock Cafe and Run Hard Rock Cafe 5K:

RHRC-Course-Map

 

My Friend’s Place:

My Friend's Place

 

Whether you run/walk/stroll, give, volunteer or spread the word about this unique race, I thank you in advance.  Please let me know if you’ll be there at dark-thirty (aka 7am) on Sat. 11/8 at Hard Rock Cafe Hollywood because I’d love to give you a big hug!

 

Disclosure:  I was furnished with complimentary race registration (worth $45 at the time, registration is currently $50) by Run Hard Rock Cafe but have donated to My Friend’s Place.  No other compensation has been provided.  I’ll reiterate that I approached Hard Rock Cafe to become involved in this effort so clearly all opinions expressed here are absolutely my own.