This year the Run Seal Beach organization has had a record turnout of participants, at the time of this article, pre-registration is closed and the late registration for $35 per entry is still open via active.com online.
This will last until either the race caps out at 5,500 adult participants or April 19 rolls around. Currently, the race is nearly 80 percent full. The kid’s fun run is also still available for registration for $18 and there is no cap on the number of participants.
There is another key reason that many participants are excited to be part of the race: the redone segment of the riverbed trail thanks to the Rivers & Mountains Conservancy $2.2 million grant. Since late 2011, construction at the terminus of the San Gabriel Riverbed trail has been underway. As reported earlier, the improvements are focused at the river mouth, but the bike path is being resurfaced and in many cases, completely redone all the way up to the CA-22 freeway. Thanks to the commitments of the City of Long Beach and other communities and agencies, the bike path improvements will be complete for race day.
This includes the critical section of the 10K race, which after turning on Westminster Boulevard, flows along the riverbed trail and then onto Marina Avenue and ultimately, Ocean Avenue for the finish.
Some runners have already commented on the springy, smooth surface. In a recent organizing committee meeting, both, Julie Konowitz and Kim Shearer thought the riverbed path would be an improvement.
“At the finish line, lots of runners have talked for years about how tough the last segment on the riverbed is,” Shearer said. “Now that it has been redone, we have had runners really excited and even come back to the race because of it.”
Run Seal Beach is on track to have its most successful year ever with record breaking corporate sponsorship, volunteers, community engagement and participants. Mary Alice McLaughlin, who has handled the vendor village in Eisenhower Park for the last five years said, “I can’t believe how excited everyone who has a booth is. They have been bitten by race fever and they all know this is the only event of its type in Seal Beach. It really is 100% volunteer commitment and sponsor support that makes it all happen. They are all so thankful to be a part of race day, and yes, we are completely full already!”
As a community reminder, please be aware that many street closures and no parking zones will be in effect during race day, April 21. If possible, please avoid driving in the Old Town area or near the race route during that morning. Be sure to check posted signs and the RunSealBeach.com website for the route and additional updates.
