There will be a sea of green along Garnet Avenue on Saturday, March 15 when thousands of runners take to the street for the seventh annual San Diego Leprechaun Run.
The event begins with a 5K race at 9 a.m. followed by the Kids 1-Mile Run at 10:30 a.m.
The online registration fee in advance is $59 for the 5K and $35 for the kids race at sandiegorunningco.com.
Those who on race day will pay $65 for the 5K and $40 for the kids race, said Eric Marenburg, San Diego Running Company’s chief running officer and co-founder.
“We anticipate close to 2,500 (participants),” Marenburg said. “We are on track for it being a record.”
He said the Leprechaun Run is the smallest of the three races held in Pacific Beach each year. The others are the Pacific Beach Half Marathon & 5K (set for Oct. 4 and 5) and the San Diego Santa Run (Dec. 13).
There is still time for those who want to participate in all three races this year to enter the Run PB Challenge. Those who complete the challenge will receive a special medal in December in addition to the three individual race medals.
As for the “swag” race participants will receive at the Leprechaun Run, those who enter the 5K get a T-shirt, finisher medal, chip timing, custom bib, complimentary drink ticket (ages 21-plus) for a beverage at Mavericks Beach Club or 710 Beach Club and free photos. They also have the option to purchase green striped socks for $15 and green/orange/white wristbands for $7.
The kids run is for youths 12 and under, who may be accompanied by their parents at no additional cost. The kids will receive a finisher medal, green sunglasses, chip timed result and race bib.
There is no need to actually run in the 5K. It is a stroller friendly event, according to organizers, who just ask those who plan to walk or go at a leisurely pace to start toward the back.
Both races will start and finish in front of the Bank of America, 912 Garnet Avenue.
There will also be awards in the 5k for the top three overall male and female finishers, plus top three male and females in each age group, spanning from 14 and under to 80-plus.
Marenburg said this year his company has partnered with Operation Smile for the Kids 1-mile. The organization provides free surgeries for children with cleft palate and similar birth defects. He said the corrective surgeries not only help with the children’s physical issues, but also build their self confidence. Race participants have an option to fundraise for Operation Smile when they .
On March 15, from 5 a.m. to noon there will be no parking on Garnet Avenue between Mission Boulevard and Ingraham Street nor on Bayard Street between Hornblend Street and the alley north of Garnet Avenue. There will also be no parking from 8 to 11 a.m. on Cass Street between the alley south of Garnet Avenue and Turquoise Street.
As for street closures on March 15, from 5 a.m. to noon there is no vehicle access to Garnet Avenue between Mission Boulevard and Cass Street, along with Bayard Street between Hornblend Street and the alley north of Garnet Avenue. Closed from 8 a.m. to noon will be the section of Garnet Avenue between Cass and Ingraham streets. Closed from 8 to 11 a.m. will be Cass Street between the alley south of Garnet Avenue and Turquoise Street.
