Flat, fast, festive race attracts the country's best runners

(OXNARD, Calif.) – Santa to the Sea, Ventura County’s most festive fitness event, promises to deliver an impressive showing of athletic ability as some of the United States’ best runners race the half-marathon on Sunday Dec., 13th.

The Santa to the Sea half-marathon is a USATF certified and sanctioned race, making it ideal for competitive racers looking for national rankings or official records. Certified and sanctioned races are also a great way for more casual runners to compare their times to other runners and courses across the country. Santa to the Sea defending female champion Emily Gordon will race Sunday in preparation for the 2016 Olympic trials, taking place in February.

Gordon, a member of Team USA Minnesota, covered last year’s course in an impressive 1:17:09. She made her mark on the distance running world in October 2013 when she won her first ever marathon – the Nike Women’s Marathon San Francisco – with a time of 2:51:44. Gordon is a Santa Clara, CA native and graduated from the University of Southern California Los Angeles with a degree in biochemistry.

Runners of all ability levels have the option of participating in the half marathon, two-person half marathon relay, or 5K races. The half marathon begins at Santa Claus Park in Oxnard and follows a flat scenic route to the Channel Islands Harbor finish-line festival and holiday fair. The 5K course starts and finishes at the festival, following a waterfront route through the harbor. Family friendly events include a holiday costume contest, kids 1K, diaper dash, kids’ fun zone, and an expo of fitness and holiday vendors.

All race participants are asked to bring an unwrapped toy to the starting line and all donations benefit Oxnard youth at the 12th annual Santa Claus Park toy giveaway on Saturday Dec. 19. The 2014 event collected over 3,000 toys, but increased community need has led organizers to raise the 2015 goal to 4,200 toys.

To register for Santa to the Sea visit www.santatothesea.com.

About Santa to the Sea:

Almost 13 years ago, Santa moved from his previous home on Santa Claus Lane in Carpinteria, CA to his new residence off the 101 Freeway in Neyland Acres in Oxnard, CA. So great was the community support of and efforts to assist with Santa’s relocation, that his new owner and Santa to the Sea race director Mike Barber, launched the annual Santa Claus Park toy giveaway in 2003. Recognizing the increasing need throughout the city of Oxnard, Barber launched the Santa to the Sea half marathon in 2008 to raise toys and funds to serve the youth of the community. Now in its 8th year, Santa to the Sea is one of the most festive races and largest one-day toy drives in Ventura County.