OXNARD, CA. - Join the race! More than 3,500 runners are expected to participate in this year’s 6th Annual Santa to the Sea Half Marathon, 2-person relay race, 5K run and 1K kids fun run on Dec. 8.

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 10th annual toy giveaway at Santa Park on Dec. 14.

All races start at 8 a.m. on Dec 8, except the 1K kids run which starts at 8:45 a.m. The half marathon begins at the giant Santa located at 2801 Ventura Blvd., Oxnard, goes through the strawberry fields in Oxnard and a new business park before heading to downtown Oxnard and the Historic District and ends at the Marine Emporium Landing in Channel Islands Harbor. The 5K run and 1K kids fun run start and finish at the Marine Emporium Landing. The 5K course goes along Oxnard Beach Park to Rehab Point, where runners turn around and then head back to the finish line.

All participants must register before the race; there is no race-day registration. Runners can register online at www.santatothesea.com.

All events are USA Track and Field certified and will be chip timed by Gemini. A computer chip is placed on the shoe of every runner. When the runner crosses the finish line, two electronic mats send a signal to the computer, which records the runner’s time to one-thousandth of a second (.000).

Several events take place within the race, including a Charity Challenge, Neighborhood Challenge, High School Challenge, costume contest and the Finish Line Festival where more than 5,000 supporters are expected to watch the racers and celebrate with them as they cross the finish line.

Charity Challenge
For a third year in a row, people participating in Santa to the Sea’s half marathon, two-person relay or 5K races can take the Charity Challenge and help raise funds for one of five local charities. And for the team that helps raise the most money: a two-foot tall perpetual trophy to display for one year. This year’s charities include FOOD Share of Ventura County, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme, Interface Children & Family Services, Gull Wings Children’s Museum and United Way of Ventura County.

Neighborhood Cheer Challenge
Five neighborhood schools along the race route will compete for most spirited by creating a festival-type celebration in their neighborhood to cheer on and entertain the runners during the race. Runners then vote for the most entertaining school and cash prizes ranging from $2,500 to $500 will be awarded to all schools in order of most spirited. The five schools competing along the race route include Rio Mesa, Pacifica, Oxnard, Hueneme, and Channel Islands High Schools. As a gold sponsor, NRG Energy will award the cash prizes.

For more information, or to register visit www.santatothesea.com, or call race organizer Mike Barber at (805) 485-7233.

2013 Sponsors: Gold level includes Gene Haas Foundation, NRG Energy, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Marine Emporium Landing and Ventura County Star; Silver level includes Port of Hueneme, PowerBar, State Farm Insurance, The Collection RiverPark and Whole Foods; and Bronze level includes Premier TV, Rabobank, SoCal Gas, RoadRunner Sports, Quinn Power Systems and Vintage Marina Partners.

Other sponsors are Founders Sponsors which include CBC Federal Credit Union, BJ’s Restaurant Brewhouse, Costco, Earthborn Holistic, Travis Agricultural Construction, H&R Block, Opolo Vineyards, Oxnard, West Coast Marble & Granite and Total Barricade Service Inc.; In Kind Sponsors include Copy Court, Don Francisco’s Coffee, Ventura Rental Party Center, Salonpas, Jersey Mikes, Dole, Ashworth Awards, Road Runner Shuttle, Pods, Mayerson Marketing and UPS; and Santa’s Helpers which include Geico, Oxnard Downtown Management District, Greenlayer, Oxnard Convention & Visitors Bureau, KADY TV, Oxnard City Corps and 101 Running Tribe.

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 a 5K run and 1K kids fun run. 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.