by Janet Oshiro
The annual Dick Fitzgerald Two Mile Beach Run is more than a warm-up race for Mira Costa’s cross country team. The International Surf Festival event, held two Saturdays ago, is also a team builder and a fundraiser.
The soft sand race, which starts at the Hermosa pier on the dry sand, and goes north one mile to a turnaround at Longfellow Avenue, attracted nearly 100 runners this year.
The race has become a popular tradition for local runners.
“It’s pretty much the same people running every year; they’re committed to it and they love it,” said Anne Marie Hext, the assistant coach of the Mira Costa Cross Country team. “There are not a lot of sand runs down here.”
The Mira Costa Cross Country team, lead by Hext and team captain Shannon Hagedorn, make sure that everything goes smoothly.
“We need to have bib numbers, T-shirts for the finishers and medals. The cross country team does all of it. Our head coach, Renee Williams-Smith usually is in charge, but she’s on vacation,” Hext said.
The run not only serves as a way for the cross country team to practice before their season starts, but also allows the team to get acquainted with its competition.
“It’s mandatory for the freshmen to run and the upper classmen are supportive as volunteers,” said Hext. “The Palos Verdes Cross Country team usually participates also, but they had their own fundraiser today.”
Cross country alumni also help run the race, among them, former team captains Will Hollingsworth and Carly Yarbrough.
“It’s sort of a tradition — wake up, run a two mile race, start drinking at nine, and go to Six-Man,” joked Will Hollingsworth before he turned back to a bustling table, surrounded by frantic high school students recording times and names.
“We’re here to warm up the freshmen and get them ready for the run,” said Katie Fields. Katie and her sister Kristie, are another pair of former cross country captains.
Mike Spencer won the race in a time of 13:40.
“I’ve run this almost every year for ten or fifteen years,” Spencer said. “My kids are younger and they’re running in this too. I come out here almost every week.”
Sean Green finished second in 13:47 and Rick Dodson was third in 13:59.
Annie Seawright won the women’s division in 16:43.
But the star of the race was Zane Grenoble of Playa del Rey. The 9-year-old put the Costa cross country runners on notice by beating most of them and finishing ninth overall in 16:37.
“I haven’t run this race before,” said Grenoble. “I’m good at long distance and not many kids run long distance.”
After being informed of her team’s fundraising success and the dedication of both her team and the runners, coach Renee Williams-Smith said, “It’s good to know some things remain constant.” ER
