Sports
Run Along the Shoreline on Christmas
The MB Yuletide 5K Run/Walk and Kids Dash begins at 3 and 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 25. You can register on race day or just turn out to watch.
Celebrate Christmas and the winter solstice at one of the
most unique running events in Los Angeles: the 10th
annual Manhattan Beach Yuletide 5K Run/Walk and Kids Dash held on Sunday, Dec. 25 at the Manhattan Beach Pier.
The extremely low tide provided by the winter solstice, which just happens to coincide with Christmas this year, will give racers a chance to compete on hard packed sand as they run to 45th Street before heading back to the pier.
“I can’t think of a better way to spend your Christmas,” said event
organizer Jeff Atkinson. “Running along the sand in one of the
most beautiful places in the world as the sun goes down and the lights
come on should make for a memorable event.”
Participants can select from two races: one at 3 p.m., the other at 5:30 p.m. One race could get you home in time for Christmas dinner, the other puts you on the sand, the glow of the MB Pier holiday lights adding to the aura.
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Kids can run in the adult race or compete after the 5K in age-appropriate distances: Elves Dash 1K, ages 7-12, Little Elves 400m, ages 3-6, and crawlers 50m, ages 2 and under.
Participants will be given an event T-shirt and glow necklaces that should make for a beautiful holiday spectacle. The entire race course will be lit by luminarias, according to a race registration website. Awards will be given to the top five finishers in every age division.
“We have something for everyone,” Atkinson said. “If you want to go all
out, you can or if you just want to walk and take in the scenery, you can
do that too. It’s just a fun event for everyone to be a part of.”
To sign-up on race day, you can register from 1 to 5:15 p.m. at the MB Pier. The cost of the race is $35 for adults and $30 for kids.
Find out what's happening in Manhattan Beachwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
"Our family traditionally has dinner on Christmas Eve and then a brunch on Christmas morning," said Atkinson. "So this is a great way to get some exercise and spend some time with the family. It's going to be a lot of fun!"
The MB Yuletide 5K is the sister race to the Manhattan Beach 5K, which is held in June.
