Rudolph joins giant Santa along 101 freeway in Oxnard, holiday race set for Dec. 8

Sept. 5, 2013 - PRLog -- Oxnard, Calif.— In preparation for this year’s 6th Annual Santa to the Sea marathon and relay race, a 7-foot Rudolph –complete with flashing red light–has joined the legendary Santa statue that resides next to the 101 freeway in Oxnard. Race Director Mike Barber, a resident of Oxnard and former iron worker, spent hundreds of hours (around 325 hours) fabricating the reindeer built on a metal rebar frame. Artist Lisa Kelly volunteered her time to paint Rudolph. Barber also created three additional statues that keep Santa company. Participants will line up by Rudolph and Santa (at 2801 Ventura Blvd.) at the start of the race. The race ends at the Finish Line Festival at the Marine Emporium Landing in Channel Island Harbor.

To learn more about Santa to the Sea or to register for the race, visit www.santatothesea.com.

Santa to the Sea is a nonprofit event borne out of a desire to give back to the community. What started in 2003 as a toy drive to celebrate the relocation of the world’s largest Santa Claus from Carpinteria to Oxnard, has grown into a robust running event, toy drive, and community fundraiser. Santa to the Sea includes a sanctioned half marathon and a 2-person half marathon relay, plus 5K run and 1K kids fun runs. The Santa to the Sea Scholarship Fund partners with the Oxnard College Foundation to award $500 scholarships to local high school students and adults continuing their education at Oxnard College.