What happens this Saturday, April 9? The 42nd Annual Run Seal Beach series of events! For 42 years, people have been running, walking and focusing on the Seal Beach community every April for the annual 5K/10K and since 2005, the 1K Kids Fun Run.
“I am so thankful for the tremendous support of the city, our sponsors, our volunteers and our board for this year’s event. I am not sure that we will sell out the entire race, but it will still have all the joy and fun regardless. Just keep signing up online – there is still time,” said Greg Phillips, president of the Run Seal Beach board of directors. “The community has embraced us, and all of us are glad to be at our 42nd race, with a team looking to the future while still keeping the best of the learning of the past.”
The run takes a year of planning from the all-volunteer board of directors, an operational race day team and hundreds of volunteers on race day. Michelle Samuelson, race director and the Kids Fun Run & Zone chair, said, “We continue to strive to make our event the best it can be regarding fun, community engagement, fundraising and most importantly safety.”
Community members may not realize, but the Run is truly not only a community love, but it is also a nearly full-time job.
Deb Machen, who leads vendors and has managed the website and social media, said, “It truly is a labor of love and as a group of volunteers, we all seem to treat the Run as a small business client, with all the deadlines and pressure that goes along with it. A director and I were just talking, and right now the saying is ‘all Run Seal Beach, all the time!’”
Thankfully, Run Seal Beach is one of the largest grant-giving organizations in our region. Funds go to a variety of non-profits, particularly in the sports and recreation sector.
The entire Los Alamitos Unified School District is the principal beneficiary with over 48 percent of the total funds raised over the last 14 years. Other major recipients include the City of Seal Beach recreation department, police, lifeguards and other Seal Beach and Los Alamitos-based non-profits. In general, grant recipients range in awards from $500 to just over $8,500. With a larger board and a larger grant committee, there is hope to disperse money even more broadly through the community.
A big question is who the fastest runners might be this year. Kathleen Phair, who has won fastest female Seal Beach resident for several years, may cinch it again this year, but who knows?
Run Seal Beach also must thank the sponsors, particularly two new sponsors, Fresh Cut Creative and Golden West Medicare Health Plan at the Gold level.
Dana Neucere, Board Treasurer, was particularly excited to have Golden State, as they provide medical insurance to many in one of our most densly populated communities, Leisure World. She said, “It is great to have them and Fresh Cut Creative brand new this year, as the sponsor base of the Run continues to evolve and reach new partners.”
Additionally, AES Alamitos, Anytime Fitness, F&M Bank, Alamitos IPA, Dekra-Lite and the Sun News & News Enterprise all have joined at the Silver level. Look for F&M’s bottled water as well at the finish line. Bronze sponsors have expanded as well this year with Southland Credit Union, Dendreon, Wicorek Family Dentistry, Phillips Steel, Republic Services, Seal Beach Podiatry, the Seal Beach Lions Club, Richards, Watson & Gershon, Bay Hardware, the Kyle family, O’Malley’s on Main, Long Beach Memorial Community Hospital, the Seal Beach Chamber of Commerce, Sea Air Federal Credit Union, Ned’s Produce, Shey-Harding Executive Search, Clif Bar, Glowacki Chiropractic, Pepsi Co., Main Street Cyclery, Alternative Surf, Harbour Surf, and Tru Moo. Gina Phillips, part of the finish line coordination team and supporting vendors said of Tru Moo, “People may not realize, but chocolate milk is one of the best recovery drinks after a race!”
The “Legacy” or 10 plus years sponsors from the above lists include the Seal Beach Chamber of Commerce, Dekra-Lite, Wicorek Family Dentistry, O’Malley’s on Main, Ned’s Produce, Alternative Surf and Harbour Surfboards.
“Enduring” have been with the Run for six to nine years, and they are Shey-Harding, Seal Beach Podiatry Group, Richards, Watson & Gershon and AES Alamitos.
Greg Phillips, said, “As the event has grown, our sponsors have been as principal as our volunteers. Though we have a changing face of some sponsors this year, we are very thankful for them being a part of the race – both long term and new. As other organizations need sponsorship dollars, our community becomes both more collaborative and competitive in securing sponsors. We hope to continue to give away another impactful sum during the 2016 grant period.”
For more information on event registration and general information go to www.RunSealBeach.com as you will still be able to register through Friday, April 8. This is a new feature brought to you through RaceWire, the timing company that partners with Run Seal Beach. So don’t think it is too late, please register now, as those dollars just go back into the community.
For registration questions, please direct those to registration@runsealbeach.com The entire Run Seal Beach family would like to wish the 5K-10K runners/walkers and the 1K Fun-Run children a safe race day while promoting our community’s health and fitness. For more information, visit www.runsealbeach.com See you at the Start Line!
