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Pomona, CA – Runners will be celebrating the holidays in festive fashion and burning off calories at the Holiday Half Marathon events at Fairplex in Pomona on Dec. 10 and 11. Saturday’s events include the Health & Fitness Festival, Holiday 5k and the FREE Penguin Waddle 1 Mile Kids Fun Run. The signature Holiday Half Marathon will be held on Sunday.
Participants of the 5K and Half Marathon will be awarded for their accomplishment with a Commemorative Snowflake Medal. More than 4,000 youth ranging from elementary to high school ages will be earning their candy cane stripes as well.
One thousand youngsters ages 6 to 12 will run the Penguin Waddle 1 Mile Kids Fun Run. Each child will receive a certificate and decorative Penguin Medal. The Kids Run is being co-hosted by Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center and supported by the non-profit 100 Mile Club whose mission is to challenge kids to run 100 miles throughout the school year. Kids interested in participating must register in advance by visiting www.RunHolidayHalf.com.
Additionally, more than 3,000 students from 175 Greater Los Angeles Area middle and high schools from Students Run LA will be running in the 5k as part of their training for the spring Los Angeles Marathon.
Participants in the Penguin Waddle, 5k and Half Marathon will have an opportunity to share the holiday spirit with others. The Holiday Half Marathon is a major fundraiser for the U.S. Marines’ Toys for Tots campaign. Marines will be on site all weekend to accept donations of unwrapped toys or cash for needy families. More than 800 toys were donated at the 2010 Holiday Half Marathon event, making it the largest single Toys for Tots donation in the Los Angeles area. Additionally, Marines will be leading the race with their Military Hummer and presenting medals to participants at the finish line.
The scenic half marathon course will start and finish inside Fairplex in Pomona, home of the L.A. County Fair and circles Puddingstone Lake and beautiful Bonelli Park. The courses for the 5K and Penguin Waddle remain inside the Fairplex grounds. The Health & Fitness Festival opens at 7 a.m. on Saturday and at 6 a.m. on Sunday. The Holiday 5K begins at 9 a.m. and the Kids Run at 10 a.m. on Saturday. On Sunday, the Holiday Half Marathon starts at 8 a.m. Registration for the 5K and Half Marathon will be accepted onsite both days. However, children must register in advance for the Penguin Waddle 1 Mile Kid Fun Run.
The sponsors for the 2011 Holiday Half Marathon include: Fairplex – Host Venue, Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center – Official Hospital, Dick’s Sporting Goods – Official Athletic Retailer, Michelob Ultra – Official Beer, and The Sound 100.3 FM – Media Partner. For additional information on the Holiday Half Marathon and related events please visit www.RunHolidayHalf.com.
About RUN Racing: Led by Olympic Gold Medalist Bob Seagren, RUN Racing specializes exclusively in the development, management and implementation of endurance, health, fitness and special events. RUN Racing events include the OC Marathon held in May; the Long Beach International City Bank Marathon held in October; the Dana Point Turkey Trot 10K & 5K held on Thanksgiving Day and the Holiday Half Marathon held in December. Follow RUN Racing on Twitter for event information (@RUNRacing) and find The Long Beach International City Bank Marathon and LA County Holiday Half Marathon on Facebook for interactive event information (Long Beach International City Bank Marathon and LA County Half Marathon).
About Fairplex: Under the direction of the Los Angeles County Fair Association, Fairplex is home to the L.A. County Fair, the largest county fair in the world, as well as The Learning Centers which encompasses Fairtime Learning, The Child Development Center, The Career and Technical Education Center (CTEC), the Junior Fair Board, and the Millard Sheets Center for the Arts. Fairplex also operates a diverse hospitality business with the Sheraton Fairplex, McKinley’s Grille, KOA RV Park, Finish Line Sports Grill, Cornucopia Foods, and the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel and Conference Center. The campus is also home to the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum and the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona; horse-racing and Barretts Equine Limited; as well as the Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition. For more information, please visit www.fairplex.com.
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