The Run Seal Beach Kids 1K Fun Run will be held on Saturday, April 13, as part of the larger Run Seal Beach event. The Kids Fun Run had meager beginnings. According to Seal Beach’s Bill Ayres, the Kids Fun Run has been part of Run Seal Beach for about 20 years. However, prior to the 2003 race, the Kids 1K run had an average of fewer than 20 participants each year. The program was an afterthought to the race, and in fact, the kids were held behind the 5/10 K runners and left standing all alone at the start with a couple of parents and volunteers to run with them to the 1K finish line.
In 2003, Run Seal Beach volunteer Janie Tellkamp, along with current board director Elizabeth Kane, decided to create a race day event for the youngsters. They established the Fun Zone, which allowed parents to run the 5/10K and kids to be in a safe, fun atmosphere after their race. What makes this unique in the running world is that now the parents don’t have to choose between running with their child or running with adults. The Fun Zone keeps the participants’ children safe, entertained and secured in a single area.
About that same time, the Kids Fun Run T-shirt contest was developed, as was the Kids Run Mascot, “Sammy the Seal.” Through a partnership with the Los Alamitos Unified School District—which includes Sammy the Seal attending assemblies and promoting the T-shirt contest and run—McGaugh has become a partner in the Kids Fun Run.
Six-year-old McGaugh kindergartener Tom Curd is running for the first time on April 13. He’s more of an ice skater, but just wanted to try the run this year. He doesn’t actually know how far the run is, “but probably to the jetty and to the pier. I think that’s about 5 miles.” He says it will take about 5 minutes to finish. What’s on the race morning menu for Tom? “Pancakes … and spinach”.
Veteran 1K participant Kate Colby, 6, will compete for the third time on April 13. She participates, “because it’s good for you. It’s good exercise.” Kate runs with mom Bridget and sometimes with her big sister Ella. Kate’s favorite thing about the run is “to be with her mom and be healthy.” No training for Kate. She just gets out there and runs. How long is the race? “Probably like 3 or 2 miles. It will probably take an hour.”
She eats cereal or eggs before the race. Her favorite morning fare is cinnamon rolls, but not on race day, of course.
Now under the leadership of Michelle Samuelson, over 350 kids participate in the Kids Fun Run each year and today they lead off the race. The Fun Zone is now a fenced off area with as many as 350 kids and 60 volunteers. The runners are accompanied by Los Alamitos High School athletes (soccer and lacrosse players, swimmers and water polo players) who encourage the kids, keep them on the racecourse and guide them to the fun zone. In addition, the Dance, Cheer and Song students manage the fun zone activities, and games and help make sure the kids have a fun, safe Run Seal Beach experience.
According to long-time Kids Run volunteer Lauren Tellkamp, who did her own stints as Sammy the Seal, “The Run Seal Beach event is a symbol of our beautiful community. It represents health and fitness, friendships and teamwork, but most importantly; community spirit … There isn’t a single athletic area in the Seal Beach community that the race hasn’t helped in one way or another. It’s a huge accomplishment that we can be proud of as a community.”
Sue Dvonch is co-chair of the Kids Fun Run.
