Santa Monica–Venice Christmas Run
Santa Monica, CA
- 10K, 5K
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
Mark your calendars! Santa is coming to town for the return of the annual Santa Monica–Venice Christmas Run this December! Experience this historic event in person as you dash down the beautiful streets of Santa Monica and Venice, California, including a long stretch along the famous Venice Beach boardwalk. Sleigh … MORE
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Moved down to the 5k for a couple reasons: I had a long run coming up on Sunday and the 10k didn't start until 8:30. The packet pick up on … MORE
Moved down to the 5k for a couple reasons: I had a long run coming up on Sunday and the 10k didn’t start until 8:30.
The packet pick up on Friday was just not cool…a small park on a street with no street parking and a $7 lot nearby…for a 1 minute bib pick up. After going around the block (not a quick thing in SM) I realized people were just parking in the NO parking area in front of the park, so I did too. Once parked, it was quick and easy to change from 10k to 5k get the shirt and go.
Cannot comment on parking for the race as I was dropped off.
Start area was great; plenty of potties, lots of room to get set up in the corral… and then the horn went off and I spent the first 3-4 minutes slamming on my brakes for or running around walkers…and I was near the start line! I respect walkers being out there and doing it, but PLEASE, why are you up front in a race that narrows right after the start? (Same thing at the SM classic). So frustrating when you are working toward a time goal; my first mile was slower than I run a 10k mile. It would have helped GREATLY if the guy announcing had mentioned walkers should place themselves accordingly instead of urging everyone to “move up!” “fill those spots”.
Anyway the course was through the boardwalk areas of SM and Venice, up Venice Blvd and a little stretch on Abbott Kinney. There were a few inclines, but nothing I’d call a hill and the finish was very cool as you came rounding off Pacific Ave to Windward, there was faux snow blowing and a nice wide area.
Plenty of water, flavored water, Naked juice, bananas… I could see lots of tents set up past the boardwalk toward the Ocean walk, but I had another 2 miles to run to meet the boyfriend for breakfast. I carried my medal (very colorful, not too big) and my naked juice in my hand as I ran.
I’d run it again, probably the 10k. I want to say I’d go right up front and put my toes on the start line to avoid the walkers, but then the really fast runners would be annoyed with me, too! LOL
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First timer. Fun race for Christmas. Runners dressed up and we're happy. The course was OK. Nothing special. One thing I don't like about is we had to run pass … MORE
First timer. Fun race for Christmas. Runners dressed up and we’re happy. The course was OK. Nothing special. One thing I don’t like about is we had to run pass the finish line and then turnaround last half mile to enter the finish line. I hope they change the route next year so we only see the finish line once we finish.
Santa Monica Venice Christmas 10K
Second time doing it. I am a local, run SM all the time. This race is always fun. Flat course. Couple sharp turnarounds (2-3ish) during the course which is sort … MORE
Second time doing it. I am a local, run SM all the time. This race is always fun. Flat course. Couple sharp turnarounds (2-3ish) during the course which is sort of annoying. But outfits are fun and weather is always perfect. Last 1.5 miles is tough because you sort of pass the finish but have to keep going and you also see the faster runners running back towards finish due to a sharp turnaround.
Santa Monica Venice Christmas 10K
First time doing it. Flat course. Has sharp turnarounds during the course- not my fave and it has the kind of finish where you pass by it but have to … MORE
First time doing it. Flat course. Has sharp turnarounds during the course- not my fave and it has the kind of finish where you pass by it but have to go out about 1-1.5 miles before returning which is somewhat of a mental game but overall fun race. Will do it again. SM is always a great place to run and great places to chill and eat after. Weather was perfect. Finish and start nearby. Parking- come early, fills quickly. bathrooms around.