The 2010 Road Running Grand Prix kicks off with the Redondo Beach Super Bowl 10K race, on February 7, 2010, in Redondo Beach. An awards ceremony will be held after the 10K race to present medals and trophies to the Grand Prix winners. Medals are also awarded to all runners who competed in at least four Grand Prix races in 2009.
The Southern California Association USATF has announced the 2010 Road Running Grand Prix and Championships series. The 2010 series builds on the success of the inaugural 2009 series by adding more races, including a new USATF Road Mile. The 2010 series includes some of the most popular races Southern California, with around 45,000 runners in total participating in the races.
- 02/07/10: Super Bowl 10K
- 02/28/10: Brea 8K Classic
- 03/21/10: Los Angeles Marathon
- 05/16/10: Santa Monica Classic 5K
- 07/04/10: Semana Nautica 15K
- August 2010: SCA Road Mile
- 10/10/10: Santa Monica 5000
- 11/07/10: Santa Clarita Half Marathon
- 11/25/10: Dana Point Turkey Trot 10K
Brea 8K, February 28, Brea: There are plenty of reasons to participate in the 19th annual running of the Brea 8K. The 8K distance offers respite from the typical 5K and 10K races that dominate road running, and the course has some moderate hills to keep your training honest. But the best part is what comes after you cross the finish line: Orange County's Finest Finish Line, with food provided by Brea's best restaurants. Far beyond bagels and orange slices, there is freshly prepared food, and plenty of it! As a Grand Prix Scoring Only race, the Brea 8K also offers a $5 discount to USATF runners who register early online. Get out there, run your heart out, because three weeks later will come the most talked-about race in Los Angeles history, the new Los Angeles Marathon!
Los Angeles Marathon, March 21, Los Angeles: The 25th annual running of the Los Angeles Marathon promises to be the running event that forever changes marathon racing in Southern California. The “Stadium to the Sea” course starts at historic Dodger Stadium and finishes by the Pacific Ocean. The course winds through the icons of Los Angeles, heading towards the fresh air and cool ocean breezes of Santa Monica. In fact, there is a slight downhill grade to the overall course. As the 2010 Southern California Association Marathon Championships race the LA Marathon is reinvigorating long distance running among the elite members of the SCA.
Santa Monica Classic 5K, May 16, Santa Monica: After running the marathon of a lifetime, SCA members get a six-week break before picking up the speed again at the Santa Monica Classic. This fast 5K benefiting Heal the Bay is a great change for runners with legs tired from long training runs. In addition, the 5K has a special youth emphasis, with additional medals awarded to the younger runners. And top runners will again be eligible for awards as the Classic race is the 2010 Southern California Association 5K Championships race.
Semana Nautica 15K, July 4, Goleta: The road running Grand Prix again returns to the Santa Barbara area with this wonderful 15K race. This is one of two races repeated from the 2009 schedule. Why? It is just about impossible to beat the scenic course, run riverside, and along the tree-canopied streets of Goleta. The 15K distance also challenges runners’ pacing, finding a perfect spot that is slower than a 10K pace, but faster than the half marathon. And, as a Grand Prix Scoring Only race, the Semana Nautica 15K also offers a $5 discount to USATF runners who register early online. The race also offers a “no T-shirt” option, taking an additional $5 off, making this one of the best deals in running!
USATF Road Mile, August: If the new LA Marathon is generating the most buzz in the greater running community, the new USATF Road Mile certainly has members of the SCA talking. There has long been a need for a competitive, fast road mile event in the Southland, and the 2010 Southern California Association Road Mile Championships will answer the needs of runners wanting to challenge themselves to run their best mile. In addition to being a Championships race, SCA USATF members will also be eligible for a $10 discount at registration. The details of the Road Mile are still being finalized, so expect further updates in future issues of California Track and Running News.
Santa Monica 5000, October 10, Santa Monica: If speed is what you need, run this 5K! The Santa Monica 5000 lays claim to being the fastest 5K in Santa Monica, and they have the course record to prove it: Phillip Reid (M-22), 13:59.5 and Belainesh Gebre (F-20) 15:47.1, from 2008. And in 2009, six men finished under 15:00, and four women finished under 17:00. As with other Grand Prix Scoring Only races, USATF runners get a $5 discount when registering online.
Santa Clarita Half Marathon, November 7, Santa Clarita: After some revisions, Santa Clarita offers a newly USATF-certified course. While Santa Clarita has always been regarded as a scenic course, the full and half marathon now takes advantage of newly open trails along the San Francisquito Creek. We are proud to have the USATF certified and sanctioned half marathon event as our 2010 Southern California Association Road Half Marathon Championships.
Dana Point Turkey Trot 10K, November 25, Dana Point: For the third year in a row, the race calendar closes with the super-popular Dana Point Turkey Trot 10K. With a field limited to 4,000 runners, this race sold out in 2008 and 2009. USATF members can save $5 off registration with this Grand Prix Scoring Only race, but be sure to register early! This will be the final opportunity for runners to add to their 2010 Grand Prix scores.
More Information: SCA Road Running Grand Prix & Championships
SCA-USATF CONTACT:
Wayne Joness
Chair, Open Athletics Long Distance Running Committee
Southern California Association/ USA Track & Field
Cell: (310) 600-5332
Email: runner@joness.com
