Back in 2012 I decided to try something new - running races. My  first event was a local trail run put on by the Zoomers Running Club. The exhilaration of completing the 5K coupled with the spark that comes from lively competition gave me a whole new appreciation for running. Over the next few years I would take part in 15 more such events while taking photos of the races and writing stories for their newsletter. Zoomers is more than a race promoter, they are a community of local runners. They hold a casual group run every Thursday night at Englewood Beach ( Check here for updates ). They hold an annual awards ceremony for their own race series along with other social events. Most importantly they support each others ambitions. The Twisted Trails Series is proud to sponsor the Zoomer's efforts and events. I have dusted off my running shoes and signed up for the same race where I started four years ago, now called the Trick or Trot 5K . This is a Halloween race so the...

14 Year old Darielle Costa for the Win! You never know what will happen when the Zombies come out to play. On Oct 19th, 2013 runners enjoyed the 2nd annual Bocca Lupo Howl at the Moon 5k. What makes this race special is that it is infected with the spirit of Halloween. This chilling trail run was especially magnificent as the festivities started in the inky darkness of early morning illuminated by the light of the harvest moon. Who dared to take on the fright? 241 runners set off the line just before sunrise fully aware that evil was creeping through the woods, awaiting delicious hordes of tasty athletes. The Zombies were exceptionally hungry and creative this year. Screams could be heard at several parts of the race course as bloody ghouls, often very young in age, jumped out of the bushes to surprise their victims. Zombie attitude from Lauralyn & Fawn Brashear Englewood residents made a statement in support of this hometown race by taking some top spots in the c...

Failure is both a beginning and an end. A couple weeks ago when I attempted my first Florida mountain bike race and then crashed during the first lap, I was deeply disappointed. However, my motivation on that day was fuzzy at best. Two weeks later I took part in my first ever 5k running race but this time my motivation was crystal clear - I was not going to fail again. We arrived at the Ann Dever park in Englewood, Florida at the crack of dawn. The dark pavilion was humming with early morning chatter as runners confirmed their registrations, accepted their goody bags, pinned numbers to their shirts and zip tied electronic tags to their shoes. The Howl at the Moon 5k was sponsored by the Bocca Lupo grill in Port Charlotte and was coordinated by the Zoomers Running club. The Zoomers did a fantastic job organizing the event. There was a friendly and relaxed group start, a well marked race course plus helpful volunteers along the way. A brightly colored finish line was se...