This Saturday morning, April 21, with an expected attendance of more than 6,000 participants, the slap of rubber running shoes will be heard as the Run Seal Beach events takes place in Old Town Seal Beach.
From the nearly 500 kids running a 1K at 7:30 a.m. to the capped out 5,500 participants in the actual Run Seal Beach, 5K/10K run and walk, this race is by far the largest event, which the non-profit has ever done in its 38 years of producing the race.
The non-profit organization, Run Seal Beach, has raised more than $750,00 within the last 10 years of its 38 years of operation.
The funds are plowed back into the comunity for sports and fitness facilities and programs and other specified charities that go through the application process.
For visitors, race day is special and has a charm all its own, just like Seal Beach does in coastal California. In researching the actual history of the run, the race is actually one of the most consistently produced, if not one of the longest running (pun intended) 10K events in the US. Only the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race has been going longer, at 40 years in 2012.
Many community members and business owners, like Diana Brunjes, owner of Bay Hardware on Main Street, look forward to the run as one of the best days in Seal Beach. “As an avid runner and marathoner, the 10K is just a beautiful race. I look forward to it all year. Rounding the corner on Ocean and seeing the views and all the spectators and other runners is part of what I love most,” Brunjes said.
Even those who have been producing the event wonder if Alan Grant, owner of Z Pizza, also on Main Street will able to pull out a fifth consecutive win of the 10K race. If he does, it would be a new record for the run.
Bill Ayres, the race chairman emeritus, who produced the race for decades, had several key suggestions for visitors and participants:
1.—Pick up your registration packet as soon as you can. Just go to the Marina Center at 151 Marina Drive to get it on Friday, April 20 from 3 – 8 p.m. If you do need race day pick up, you must be there from 6:30 am – 7:45 a.m.
2.—Remember the Kids 1K Fun Run starts at 7:30 a.m, so if your child is running be in position no later than 7:15 am for line up.
3.—No bib, no time. This year, for the first time, the Run is using RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology. The chip is imbedded in your bib, so you must have it on your person or you will not be timed.
4.—Know your mile time. The race starts in waves with elite runners going first and slower runners in subsequent waves (7 – 8 minute miles, 8 – 9 minute miles, 9 + minute miles) and then the walkers. Please be courteous to other runners by actually being in the correct group.
5.—There will be no race day registration. Due to the tremendous level of participation, the event has already capped out. Registration actually sold out earlier this week.
If you are driving into town, be sure to park outside of the racecourse area and consider parking in the Crab Pot parking lot in Long Beach or the beach lots in Seal Beach, just off of Ocean Ave (at 1st Street, 8th & 10th.) It is very important that you do not park in any way which blocks private drives or in commercial / business lots on race day. It is very likely you will be towed if you do.
The Kids Fun Run will be started this year by Valerie Pincek, winner of the 1K Fun Run design contest and principal McDonald of McGaugh elementary.
Continuing this year, as in years past, Bryce Tuner and Beach Fitness will be conducting a warm up and stretching program starting around 7:40 a.m. in the grass near the corner of Marina and First Street.
Also, be sure to prick up your ears for the national anthem performed by John Heideman of Grace Community Church at 7:45 a.m. Mayor Mike Levitt and Bob Braley of Energy Tubulars will actually start the main race this year at precisely 8 a.m.
The race is going to be the best one ever and a jewel in the crown of Seal Beach for 2012. All of us, the sponsors, participants and volunteers are the reason for its success. Happy race day!
Seth Eaker is a member of the Run Seal Beach Board of Directors.
