Memorial Day is traditionally a time for backyard barbecues and relaxing weekend getaways. This past Monday, however, my holiday morning looked a little different. At 5:30 AM, my alarm woke me up and I got ready to head to the starting line of the Laguna Hills Memorial Day Half Marathon. Thirteen point one miles lay ahead of me. It was a distance I had never officially tackled before, but after two months of dedicated, early-morning training, I was ready to see what my legs c

Some vacations are memorable because of the destination. Others are memorable because of the experiences you have along the way. Our recent trip to Maui, Hawaii was both. My wife and I were able to book an incredible getaway thanks to a great deal through Costco Travel. The package included accommodations and even a food voucher at the beautiful Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, which made the experience feel even more luxurious. This was our first time returning to Maui since our

I completed the Murrieta 5k in March 2026. Just one week earlier, I had pushed my body through the mud, obstacles, and exhaustion of the Tough Mudder with my cousin Matt and Garret. I figured the 5K would feel easy in comparison, but I was still sore and exhausted from the previous weekend. Race morning in Murrieta had the perfect community-run atmosphere. Families gathered near the starting line, runners stretched in parking lots, and volunteers hustled around setting up con

Mud, Sweat, and 95 Degrees: Conquering the Lake Elsinore 15K Last Saturday, I voluntarily crawled through mud, scaled massive walls, and ran 15 kilometers in a furnace. If you’d asked me how I felt at mile eight, I might have just pointed at the sun and groaned. But looking back? Completing the Tough Mudder 15K in Lake Elsinore was one of the most rewarding, grueling, and flat-out fun experiences of my life. The Heat Factor Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the weat