South Bay residents run in 11th-annual St. Patrick’s Day 5K event

By Anna Real
Staff Writer

A sea of green swarmed the coast as runners from across the South Bay participated in the 11th-annual St. Patrick’s Day 5K run on Sunday in Redondo Beach.

The participants dressed in green from head to toe and ran throughout downtown Redondo Beach.

“The St. Patrick’s Day 5K is a great community event,” race director Mike Ward said. “Adults and children look forward to participating in the event every year.”

Manhattan Beach Village Runner usually hosts the run, though Rock & Brews sponsored the event this year. The restaurant also hosted the after-party, where runners can go to eat and win raffle prizes after the race.

“Rock & Brews has such an easygoing and fun atmosphere,” sophomore Steve Sandoval said. “It is definitely perfect for an after-run celebration.”

South Bay residents Lukas Verzbicas, Eli Rodriguez and Stephen Pretak won first, second and third place, respectively.

“It was really fun, and I enjoyed the atmosphere,” freshman Sara Gustafson said. “There were 1,300 people racing, so it was congested, but once you got out onto the route and past the walkers, it was fine.”

Prices to join the race ranged from $25 to $35 and went up as the event neared. Some of the money raised went to charity, while most of the profit went to race expenses.

“We give 20% of the proceeds to local running and educational programs,” Ward said. “This event has a good cause and is a great way to bring people together.”

The course, which was mainly flat with few hills, started on Catalina Avenue, Redondo Beach, circled the beach, and turned around at Elvira Street in Redondo Beach back to the finish line at Catalina Avenue.

“I was excited for a flat course because I don’t really like to run hills,” Gustafson said. “I didn’t really plan to win and just wanted to run for the thrill of running a race and to have fun.”

To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, the runners were encouraged to dress up in costumes or to wear green. The race gave out gift certificates to Village Runner for the top three best St. Patrick’s Day costumes.

“The best costume I’ve ever seen was when a 10-year-old boy dressed up as a leprechaun,” Ward said. “He had orange hair and a cool outfit. The whole event was really spirited.”