For the last 13 years, it has been our honor to put on Title 9Ks. Our events are different, and we like it that way! Over time, our run series has grown a fan base, visited different cities and become one of the only run events to continually celebrate dedicated stroller divisions. This year, it is with great excitement that we announce we have added even more fun to our series.
Tagged: t9k
Why We Title 9K
In 2003, when the inaugural Title 9K starting gun rang out in the clear blue Boulder sky, we did not yet know what sort of evolution was to take place. We did not know that first Mother’s Day would spawn a run series that would grace lives in different cities, or that it would become such a big part of who we are as a company. While our races have grown over time, the root of why of we Title 9K has always remained the same.
WHAT IS THE TITLE 9K?
Fun runs with colored dust or costume themes did not yet grace every weekend as a commonplace affair when the our run series was born. The Title 9K was created as a celebration of women and girls in sport, a pavement party in honor of active living. We wanted to have an event that welcomed women of every pace, one that celebrated the new mother walking with her baby jogger with as grand a cheer as the gal who broke the finish line tape.
OUR RACE IS DIFFERENT – AND WE LIKE IT THAT WAY.
While it is a run event, no Boston Qualifier times will come from our courses, and we are okay with that. The Title 9K series is different, and here are some of the reasons why:
- 9K distance: At not 5K or 10K but 9K long, our events are an automatic personal best for the more competitive runner, or a great challenge for she who is making the move to get off the couch and over the finish line.
- A place for every pace: The minimum pace to keep in order to finish is around 35 minutes per mile (or about 26 minutes per kilometer.) This means that even most recreational walkers can enjoy the entirety of our event.
- Stroller divisions: Roll on, mother runner! You and your single, double or even triple-wide baby jogger are welcome. (Yes, we’ve seen them out there!) All Title 9Ks offer two categories just for baby joggers, one each for walkers and runners.
- the Ragamuffin Run: Why not get the kids in on the action too? Our free pre-race Ragamuffin Run offers kids a chance to take part in the action! Three divisions with age-appropriate distances are offered: the Rumbling Reds (ages 2-3,) Blazing Blues (ages 4-5,) and Yahoo Yellows (ages 6-8).
- Prize divisions: While every finisher comes away with a finisher’s prize, we offer four big main prizes for our events. The first woman, girl under 18, and baby jogger runner over the finish line each receive a great prize bundle. Speed isn’t the only way to win at the Title 9K: the fourth prize bundle is awarded to the winner of ‘most inspirational story,’ written on why they run.
- Race expo and goodie bag: The back of every Title 9K race tee is not a billboard, and there is no entry fee for our expo. Expo vendors offer up educational information, free samples and schwag. Our reusable goodie bags, popular at T9HQ as lunch totes, are stuffed with snacks and other goodies contributed by vendors with a local focus. No paper coupons or flyers here – just the good stuff, like samples of our favorite sunscreens, run fuels, snacks and the like.
- Picture proof: All course photographs are posted after the race free of charge, and every race expo features a backdrop, complete with photo booth props, so participants can take a Title Nine catalog cover photo.
WHY WE TITLE 9K
Ultimately, the Title 9K is about celebrating the participants: YOU!
Of course, we also have a lot of fun, too.
Plus, who could say no to some of the greatest fans and cheerleaders out there?
The question now: when are you joining us?
Why do YOU Title 9K? Share with us below!
Ready to run? Register now and get training with our 9 Weeks Till T9K training plan!
View additional photos from past Title 9K events here.
Why Not T9k?
What do 60 and 186 have in common?
They’re the number of days left till our Title 9k Boulder and Title 9k Bay Area!
With 60 days left till our 12th annual Mother’s Day Title 9k race down at the reservoir in Colorado, there is still plenty of time to register and join in on the fun! If the Boulder race is too soon, there’s over three times as many days left till the 5th annual Bay Area Title 9k, which means there is plenty of time to prepare, whether it’s your first-ever event or you’re gunning for a personal best.
Have you seen course pictures from past T9ks? Or pictures from the photobooth we set up at the expo to ensure everyone gets a chance to be on the cover of a Title Nine catalog? Plus, who doesn’t love Luna Bars, one of our favorite, long time expo and goodie vendors?
Check out this race recap from Life Laugh Eat Run, or this one from CompulsiveRunner. Scrinina feels the T9k is more than ‘just’ a race, and while Run With Chocolate needed to give herself a little pep talk to get herself going, she crossed the finish with flying colors!
Still need convincing? Maybe this video will help.
(Video not working? Click here to watch it.)
Whatever your pace, there’s a place for you at the Title 9k. Won’t you join us? We hope so!
See you out there!
Why We Run
At our recent Bay Area Title 9k, Why Not! Girl interviewed women to find out why they run and what motivates them.
From elite runners to walkers, from spunky run angels to serious baby jogger mamas, every participant at every T9k has their own reason for getting out there and moving. What moves you?
Finding Oneself in Leading Others
This post was created by Amy, a Marketing Coordinator for Title 9 and enthusiast for all the things Title 9 stands for – including most important of all, it’s customers. If you have an idea for a post or would like to connect with Title 9 shoot her an email.
Already our 3rd Annual Bay Area Title 9K is coming up next month which makes me realize that its truly incredible how things pan out. Two months ago I had no idea that I would be lucky enough to start working with the Title 9K team, and on top of that, meet the people that I have. One gal in particular, Miss Irma, has blown me out of the water. In my attempt to market the race in any way I could I found a local running club in San Jose and reached out to their director in hopes of something, anything. Little did I know on the receiving end was an energetic, kind, and motivated mother passionate about running with others. I’ll stop now and leave you with Irma’s rendition of the birth and development of not only the Mom’s Run This Town San Jose chapter, but Miss Irma herself. Cheers my dear, here’s to you.
Every person experiences life changing events (LCEs) in their life – both positive and negative. As a social worker and runner, I firmly believe in the power of exercise to undo the negative effects of LCEs. I started running after I got married not only because I needed to lose weight, but to do something that was just for me, amidst the togetherness of a committed relationship. I continued to run through the pre-mature deaths of my twins, Lucas and Larissa, and then after the births of my daughters, Sophia and Samantha. As a mom, running took on new meaning. I wanted my kids to know that “being healthy” doesn’t just happen – you work hard for it, like everything in life that’s worth working for.
I thought I would be done with any significant LCEs until my kids went off to college. Wrong!! Last year, my husband got a job in the heart of Silicon Valley, San Jose, CA. The stress of moving across the country and being away from all our family and friends took a toll on me – I gained 15 lbs and had the hardest time adjusting to our new life here. So, I started running again after the holidays. The problem: running alone is not my forte and the runs for the local running groups didn’t fit with my schedule. If I were to run first thing in the morning or after work hours, I would have to bring sleepy and/or hungry kids in the jogging stroller. And who wants that at their 7 AM run or 6 PM run? Not me – and they’re my kids!
What was a running mom to do? Enter Moms RUN this Town (MRTT) – a FREE nation-wide running club for moms, by moms. The name intrigued me because I believe moms (and women in general) run the world and if we had the opportunities to do it on a larger scale, the world would be a much better place. Since there was no chapter in San Jose, I contacted the founder and found myself as the new chapter leader of Moms RUN this Town-San Jose!
At first, I recruited moms who I became friends with through my kids. Mid-morning, we would run with our jogging strollers, then let the kids out to play and have lunch. Exercise time for mom and the kids get a play date – a match made in heaven!
My first consistent running partner was Ellen, mom of 2, who hadn’t run for over 5 years. Yet, after only 2 months, we completed a 5K in less than 35 minutes – a PR for both of us! After that race, MRTT took on a whole new meaning for me. I made up some fliers and put them out at local running stores, coffee shops, supermarkets. Then, I got really bold and started handing them out to women I saw running or walking with a stroller or with kids. I became part of a larger group of like-minded, strong moms who did RUN their corner of the world.
Junella, has young four kids, works part-time, and gets up at 5 AM to run since she is training for a marathon and a 5K obstacle run in October. Patricia, who has grown kids, has run/walked a half marathon every month since June of this year. Melanie is mom to a 4-legged “kid” and is training to run her first marathon this October. Truc-Co last ran in college (over 10 years ago, but she’ll tell you it was only 5 years ago!), yet since joining MRTT, she has been running 3-4x/week while pushing her 2 year old in a jogging stroller! She has signed up for the Title 9K (her 1st race), a half marathon and a 5k obstacle race. She has also perfected the art of opening snacks and juice boxes and picking up various toys that have been tossed out of the jogging stroller all while maintaining a 9-10 min/mile pace.
In the 3 months since our group started, we’ve grown to include 30 women with varying running backgrounds (1st time run/walkers to experienced racers) and in various stages of motherhood (1st time moms with new borns to older moms with grown kids). We’ve created a community of running moms who inspire and support each other. Every time I log on to our Facebook page and read their posts and comments, I am humbled by their strength, dedication and kindness. We each know what it takes to make the time to run when you’re a mom.
For me, MRTT was what I needed to get back on track to the healthier life I wanted to have. It was not just the physical act of running that helped to mitigate the negative effects of my LCE. It was the social, mental and emotional connections made through running (and specifically from running with other moms) that contributed to my life adjustment and satisfaction.
When I found out about the Title 9K race series, I thought it would be a great first race for our newer-to-running moms but also for our seasoned-running-moms. The fact that it was for women only and accommodated strollers was a bonus! Most of us have only run with strollers and most races don’t allow them. Also, having it be all women gives it more of that community, “we’re all in this together, no matter what your pace may be” feeling. Lastly, since 9K is not usual race length, we’re all sure to PR!!
MRTT, Title Nine and the Title 9K Race Series all have the ideal of women as powerful and influential at their core. We matter – to our families, our communities, our countries and the world. Our lives are full of LCEs
that can threaten to stop us, but the rhythm of running keeps moving us forward one step at a time.
If you’re interested in joining Mom’s Run This Town San Jose you can find their information here. Live in another part of the country? Find your local chapter here, or become an Irma and start your very own!