This was the slowest 5k I've run in years...but had fun doing it. The race is run on the hard-pack sand left by low tide (get it, Glow-tide?). You start … MORE
This was the slowest 5k I’ve run in years…but had fun doing it. The race is run on the hard-pack sand left by low tide (get it, Glow-tide?). You start under the pier and head north and turn back at the half way point. While you are given glow sticks, this does not help you see the sand/ground but you can see other runners which is very helpful on the return to avoid running into oncoming participants. The set up is very basic: a couple folding tables up on the pier with bibs if you didn’t pick up early. Then you head down to the beach. I wasn’t feeling too great and almost cancelled but my guy was running it (a rarity as he doesn’t care for morning running, so this evening run was perfect for him). I decided to just do it and enjoy the night. At the end, the top 5 finishers in each AG was supposed to get a ski-cap but they were giving them to everyone, which was pretty cool of them. I did get 3rd AG even with my leisurely pace…indicative of the low turn out. The t-shirts were black with a silver foot print. There were cookies, and other goodies on the tables after; it was a help-yourself affair. If you are around and need a holiday run, this is a fun one.
Please login to reply to this review.
Dark, cold, slow fun
This was the slowest 5k I've run in years...but had fun doing it. The race is run on the hard-pack sand left by low tide (get it, Glow-tide?). You start … MORE
This was the slowest 5k I’ve run in years…but had fun doing it. The race is run on the hard-pack sand left by low tide (get it, Glow-tide?). You start under the pier and head north and turn back at the half way point. While you are given glow sticks, this does not help you see the sand/ground but you can see other runners which is very helpful on the return to avoid running into oncoming participants. The set up is very basic: a couple folding tables up on the pier with bibs if you didn’t pick up early. Then you head down to the beach. I wasn’t feeling too great and almost cancelled but my guy was running it (a rarity as he doesn’t care for morning running, so this evening run was perfect for him). I decided to just do it and enjoy the night. At the end, the top 5 finishers in each AG was supposed to get a ski-cap but they were giving them to everyone, which was pretty cool of them. I did get 3rd AG even with my leisurely pace…indicative of the low turn out. The t-shirts were black with a silver foot print. There were cookies, and other goodies on the tables after; it was a help-yourself affair. If you are around and need a holiday run, this is a fun one.
Surf and Sand at SunDown
Here is the website's official description: "Course Description The Yuletide 5K starts and finishes under the Christmas lights of the Manhattan Beach Pier. Race out and back north to the … MORE
Here is the website’s official description:
“Course Description
The Yuletide 5K starts and finishes under the Christmas lights of the Manhattan Beach Pier. Race out and back north to the jetty at 45th Street. The miles are marked with splits and “kick” markers from 400m to go guarantee your best finish. The super low tide creates a perfect running surface of hard packed sand like a dirt road so running with or without shoes is an option (the faster athletes tend to wear shoes). One can even wear track spikes! Baby joggers work great and are encouraged as the kids love being that close to the sea. ”
That decribes it pretty much – You are running on the beach at low tide. It’s beautiful and there is a nice causal atmosphere. I have been running better lately but this run always kicks my ass! Maybe because it is always that I always do a run earlier or those couple of cocktails or I wasn’t made for sand.
I’ve always found inexpensive metered parking close by. The registration is on the beach to the right of the pier. It’s not a cheap run but it’s different. You get a T-Shirt and they have been handing out those party store glow stick pipes you can make a necklace out of. There are unusual snacks – candies; chocolates from samplers. No medal.
The path gets dark but never too dark. They have light sticks out marking the path and it is beautiful and peaceful.
The promoter was lamenting that as nice as this run is it hasn’t grown much in size and I told him he should promote earlier – even though I’ve ran 240 runs and I try to do this one every year it always catches me by surprize a week or two before the event. I suggested doing an email blast and creating a Face Book event in September.