St. Paddy’s Day Comes Early to Redondo Beach With March 3rd, 5K Race
Saint Patrick’s Day will come early in Redondo Beach with the Saint Patrick’s 5K Race in Redondo Beach. This 10th Anniversary of the race promises the best celebration yet of Saint Paddy’s Day with Hennessey’s Tavern, H.T. Grill, and Mickie Finnz coming aboard to host the official Saint Patrick’s Day 5K Race Party on March 3rd, and pre-event Celebration on March 2nd.
The Saint Paddy’s Day Kid’s Dash is dedicated this year in memory to Chase Stecyk, who passed away after succumbing to a tough battle with a rare spinal cord tumor. His family has been long-time supporters and participants in this event, so people are asked to come out to the race to support the family and friends of this amazing boy.
In addition to hosting the Saint Patrick’s Day post-event celebration, Hennessey’s, H.T. Grill, and Mickie Finnz in Riviera Village will host pre-event festivities all day during packet pickup for the race, and that evening. Runners showing their competitor bib, or proof of entry into the Saint Patrick’s Day 5K will be offered a half priced appetizer at Hennessey’s, Mickie Finnz or H.T. Grill, on March 2nd and 3rd. There will be the usual great food and drink specials normally offered at these restaurants. Hennessey’s will also be out at the race with a booth selling Green Saint Patrick’s Day T-shirts and apparel, along with providing the kids dash competitors with beads, stickers and bouncing balls. Every kids dash finisher will get a ticket for a FREE SHAMROCK LEMONADE at Hennessey’s, Mickie Finnz, or H.T. Grill.
The LA Marathon has just selected the 10th annual St. Patrick’s Day 5K Run/Walk and ‘Little Leprechaun Dash for the Gold, as an official warm-up race. The St. Patrick’s Day 5K Race, hosted by Village Runner, takes place March 3, 2013, in Redondo Beach, CA.
The race qualified as an official LA Marathon warm-up event due to its long history and reputation as a high quality event. “It’s a fun, tune-up sprint for the long distance runners competing in the LA Marathon,” said Mike Ward, race director for the St. Patrick’s Day 5K.
The St. Patrick’s Day 5K Run/Walk anticipates over 2,500 runners taking the starting line. The race is a community celebration, with participants often choosing to run or walk in full St. Paddy’s Day outfits completely decked out in shamrocks, lucky beads, and green attire. For the first time the race will feature a costume contest with gift certificates awarded in the costume contest to the winning individual costume and the winning team. Teams entries require five or more runners. After the race, runners’ friends and their families can continue the St. Paddy’s race celebration at Hennessey’s, Mickie Finnz or H.T. Grill in the heart of Riviera Village.
Entries are now open for the St. Paddy’s 5K Race! Prices are $35 for the 5K and $30 for the Kid’s Dash. Same-Day Registration for the St. Patrick’s Day 5K Run/Community Walk starts at 6:30 a.m., the Run/Walk begins at 8 a.m. and the Kid’s Dashes start at 9:30 a.m. Pre-race packet pick-up is Saturday, March 2 from Noon – 7 p.m. at the Village Runner in Redondo Beach. For more information and to register online, please visit www.villagerunner.com.
Currently the oldest race registrant is Dick Windishar at 82, and the two youngest registrants are each five years old, so this is truly a cross generational event. Portions of the proceeds from the race go towards the Redondo Beach Firefighter’s Community Relief Fund and to Running Programs at local Redondo Beach schools. Hosting the event is Mike Ward, the owner of Village Runner.
Media Contact: Don Franken (office)(310) 342-0260/(cell) (310) 962-3297 don@frankenenterprises.com
