Redondo Beach’s Riviera Village will be a sea of green this Sunday when more than 2,000 runners are expected to participate in the 12th Annual Village Runner St. Patrick’s Day 5K Run and Community Walk.
Prior to the 8 a.m. start of the race, the event features a Race Expo and Costume Contest where green-clad runners will don a variety of unique St. Patrick’s-themed outfits.
“We are expecting over 2,000 runners to take the starting line this year,” said Mike Ward, race director and founder. “It is a fast, mainly flat, scenic course and runners often run their fastest 5K time in this race.”
The race includes chip timing, t-shirts and age division awards for the fastest times. There will also be a team competition where the team with the top five fastest combined times will earn a special award. The top three male and finishers win cash prizes.
Olympic hopeful Lucas Verzbicas is the defending champion, taking a break from training in Chula Vista to win the 2014 race with a time of 14 minutes, 55 seconds.
Redondo Beach running icon Nathalie Higley captured last year’s women’s division posting a time of 18:06.
This year’s event will honor another accomplished runner from Redondo Beach when Redondo Union High School senior Amber Gore is presented with the inaugural Trailblazer Award.
“Gore is our first ever Trailblazer Award winner because she is a unique, talented, amazing young runner who inspires others,” Ward said.
Last fall, Gore won the CIF State Division 2 Cross Country Championship state championship in cross country and is leading the Sea Hawks into what is expected to be a successful track season.
“Amber Gore is an incredible athlete with amazing range. She has run 57 seconds for the 400-meters, 2:10 for the 800-meters and is a state champion at 5000-meters in cross country,” Redondo head coach Bob Leetch said. “She is the most accomplished runner in Redondo history. Amber is a throwback to athletes of old. She has great manners, is polite, and is articulate. Amber is a perfectionist. She even has beautiful handwriting,”
The USC-bound Gore also boasts a 4.4 GPA and was humbled when notified of being selected as the first winner of the Trailblazer Award.
“It is such an honor to be receiving this inaugural award from the community,” Gore said. “Unfortunately, I will not be participating in the St. Patrick’s Day 5K since it follows our Nike Invitational.”
Following the 5K race, kids ages 4-12 will compete in the Chase Stecyk Leprechaun Dash for Gold at 9:30 a.m. The race honors the memory of Chase Stecyk, who grew up in Redondo Beach.
Race participants are encouraged to wear green in honor of Chase’s favorite color and for his favorite holiday, Saint Patrick’s Day. At the age of 11, Stecyk died of a tumor that paralyzed him from the waist down.
Proceeds from the race will go to charities supporting the memory of Chase Stecyk, in addition to helping local high school cross country and track teams.
Entry fees are $40 for the 5K; $30 for the Kids Dash. Registration is available online at villagerunner.com through Thursday, March 12 and at Village Runner, 1811-A Catalina Ave., on Saturday, Mar. 14 and on race day beginning at 6:30 a.m.
An awards ceremony and post-race celebration will be held at Rock & Brews on Pacific Coast Highway.
