20th Annual Village Runner 4th of July 5K Festivities Grow
by Don Franken
The 20th annual Village Runner 4th of July 5K Run/Community Walk, and Firecracker Dash for Kids celebrates America’s birthday. A July 4th, 20th birthday celebration for the event would not be complete without a Pre-Event Party, a post-event Celebration, and prizes!
Hennessey’s Tavern, H.T. Grill, and Mickey Finnz in Riviera Village will have food, and drink specials going for the event. The Pre-Event Party will begin at noon on July 3rd to coincide with the start of packet pick-up at Village Runner. The Hennessey’s pre-race party will continue into late into the evening. The Post-race Celebration will begin immediately following the race. There will be special offers for everyone, including the kids, so the entire family can enjoy these festivities.
South Bay Galleria is the latest to sign up as a Village Runner 4th of July 5K race partner. They will have a Text-to-Win contest at the event. Runners and walkers at the event can text to win a total of $500 in gift cards. There will also be two $100 gift cards as raffle drawings for adults attending and also two $50 gift card raffle prizes for Youth participants in the Firecracker Dash as well as for kids running the 5K. The South Bay Galleria Kid’s Club will be partnering with the Village Runner 4th of July 5K to promote health and wellness for kids at the event. CPK in the South Bay Galleria will be donating a free kid’s meal to each kid participating in the Firecracker Dash or in the 5K. The families of the kids are required to be present while the kids are dining.
Entry is now officially open for the 20th annual Village Runner 4th of July 5K Run/Community Walk, and Firecracker 5K in Redondo Beach. Early Registration Prices for adults and kids running the 5K are $30. For additional information and registration, please visit www.villagerunner.com.
Land Rover South Bay came come aboard as a major race partner for the event. theRemedyPharm, Providence Little Company of Mary Hospital Torrance are all new sponsors of the event. Hennessey’s Tavern is a long-time sponsor of the race. The Sound 100.3fm will broadcast live from the race. They are a new presenting media sponsor of the Village Runner 5K Run.
The Village Runner 4th of July 5K has other new festivities for the 20th annual edition including hosting a two day Health and Fitness Expo at Riviera Village in Redondo Beach.
The 4th of July 5K Run/Community Walk and Firecracker Dash will celebrate its 20th anniversary this year with an expanded “Red, White, and Blue” Costume Contest. There will be a Parade at the race of the previous 20 years men and women’s 5K winners. All runners who have run all 20 editions of the event will be recognized on stage with a special ceremony.
The race takes place on July 4th at 8 a.m., starting and finishing across from Village Runner at Riviera Village in Redondo Beach, CA. The race has become one of the largest races here in Southern California, with over 4000 runners expected for the start of the race.
Senator Ted Lieu will serve as honorary race host and official starter of the 5K. Senator Lieu, a Torrance resident, represents nearly one million people. L.A. County Sheriff Lee Baca, leader of largest Sheriff’s Department in the United States, has entered the 5K run. Baca is long time runner and physical fitness enthusiast.
“The course for the event is fast, flat, and scenic,” states race director Mike Ward. “Runners come here to set PR’s in our event. Put on your most fun 4th of July outfit and celebrate by running the race and coming to our post-event party,” added Ward. A portion of the proceeds will benefit local cross schools cross country and track and field programs. The Redondo Beach Firefighters Association is also a race beneficiary. Leading up to the race, weekly training runs and running socials will be held. All participants will receive a 4th of July Run T-shirt. There will be chip timing, age division awards and cash prizes to the top three overall male and female runners in the 5K run.
Registration for the race is now open. Packet pick-up, along with the new, pre-race Expo, will be on July 3rd from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Village Runner store in Redondo Beach. ###
Thank you to our 2013 Race Sponsors!!
