Neighborhood Schools to be Rewarded for Showing their Spirit

Nov. 27, 2012 - PRLog -- The Santa to the Sea Marathon & Relay is challenging five neighborhood schools along its race route to create a festival-type celebration in their neighborhood to cheer and entertain the runners during the Dec. 9 race. Runners will determine the top three neighborhoods, which will receive cash prizes from $500 to $2,000. The challenge is sponsored by GenOn, Mandalay & Ormond Beach Generating Systems.

“One of the goals for the Santa to the Sea,” said Mike Barber, founder of Santa to the Sea and race organizer, “has always been to showcase the great City of Oxnard and the great neighborhoods we run through. This challenge is a festive way to celebrate the energy of Oxnard.”

The half-marathon’s fast and flat course begins at the giant Santa located at 2801 Ventura Blvd., goes through the strawberry fields in Oxnard and a new business park before heading to downtown Oxnard and the Historic District, then ends at Marine Emporium Landing at the Channel Islands Harbor.

The five neighborhood schools along the race route include Nyeland Center Boys & Girls Club, Rio Rosales School District, Caesar Chavez School, Ocean View Junior High and Hollywood Beach School. Students and their families around these schools are encouraged to get into the holiday spirit by cheering on the runners, recruiting bands, wearing costumes and decorating the route -- anything to impress the runners and spread holiday cheer.

Runners will receive an online survey immediately after the race to vote on which neighborhood impressed them the most. The first-place neighborhood will receive $2,000; second place, $1,000; and third place, $500.

For more information or to register, visit www.santatothesea.com, or call Mike Barber at (805) 485-7233. Race participants must pre-register; there is no race day registration. Registration fees are as follows: half marathon is $75, two-person relay is $150 per team, and the 5k fun run is $45. Race day packages can be picked up before the race or on the day of the race with our VIP package for an additional charge of $20.00.  

Santa to the Sea is a nonprofit event that helps collect toys for underprivileged children in Ventura County and raises money to provide students with scholarships to attend Oxnard College. Marathon participants are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy (of at least a $10 value) to the starting line. All proceeds and gifts will be donated to the 9th annual toy giveaway at Santa Park on Dec. 22.