Pacifica Runners Ring in the New Year With 5k and Kids’ Run

By Kristi Nemes and Wini Linguvic

On New Year's Day Pacifica Runners presented the April’s Yoga and Pilates Studio New Year’s Day 5k and Kids’ Run.  

More than 100 runners showed up at Rockaway Beach at 10 a.m. on a beautiful sunny morning ready to run. The excitement of starting the year with a run was in the air as families greeted each other with hugs, handshakes and Happy New Years.

April led a quick warm-up to a broad spectrum of Pacifica Runners. The race began with the fastest kids and adults racing ahead followed by parents running with strollers, families running together and plenty of walkers enjoying the beautiful morning.

All runners ran along the beach trail of Rockaway and the Quarry paths and onto the Mori Point path cheering each other along.  After crossing the finish line, all kids received a “5k” toe token to put on their shoelaces to remember their accomplishment and show off to friends. Water was available for all finishers thanks to Fresh and Easy.

The festivities ended with a 0.14-mile kids’ mini-run free to all families. Kids of all ages participated in a relay with two runners leaving the starting line to return to make way for the next set of two. The littlest runner was as young as two and held her mother’s hand as she crossed the finish line to receive a medal.

Special thanks to April’s Yoga and Pilates and our generous sponsors that supplied twenty raffle prizes including two Geopalz kid pedometers, a pair of Hoka One One running shoes, a $50 Lole women’s clothing gift certificate, multiple BicBand hairbands, a Petzi headlamp, a half dozen Yankz shoelaces, a pair of Balega men’s running socks,  Yurbuds headphones and a yoga mat.

Pacifica Runner’s would like to give extra kudos both the walkers and runners participating in an organized run for the first time and the experienced runners looking for a personal record to kick off the New Year.  There were also some very impressive race times by both adults and kids and even parents with strollers! The first place winner was Matthew Patout at a time of 19:15.  Evan Quon (age 10) came in second, followed by Karen Cressa in third.  

Results of the run can be found at www.pacificarunners.webs.com/new-year-5k. 

Future Pacifica Runners Events

Every month Pacifica Runners lists a fitness challenge that is open to all.  For January Pacifica Runners challenges the community to run 14 days this month.

We are looking forward to a cross training clinic on January 12th with Tiffany Gustafson as well as an injury prevention workshop on February 9th with Dr. Brian Cook, date to be determined

Our next run is planned for March 16th.  Please save the date. Details to follow. 

To stay up-to-date with Pacifica runners, find out about upcoming workshops and events or to join the monthly challenges please visit them online at www.pacificarunners.webs.com or on Facebook (Pacifica Runners).