Redondo Beach Super Bowl 5K 2020

As you might notice this is technically not an ultra (nowhere even close to an ultra, but still worth doing a quick write up about). This was my fourth experience running with a group of runners known as the “Salmon” that as you can see in the photo above dress up in salmon outfits and start at the front of the pack of runners and then run the course in the reverse direction. This was the 9th annual spawning of the salmon at the Redondo Beach 10K. The numbers of salmon has been as high as the low 20’s and this year we were a little light with 9 runners, and a guppy (Hudson).

We all met at Eric’s car at 6:45am to gather our wits and our outfits before heading to a 7:30am start time for this year’s run. Usually the 10K is at 8:30 but this year they switched it up and the 10K started at 7:30 followed by the 5K runners at 8:30am. The other runners included Rob Himmler, Katie Butler Litsey, Steven Seidner, Sarah Schneider, Stefan Bauer, and a few others new runners for the year.

The run is one of my favorites of the year and with next year being the 10th running of the salmon we are aiming to get a sponsorship by one of the main sponsors “likely Michelob Ultra” for next year’s 10th year and see if we can upgrade the suits, do some recruiting and get 20 – 30 salmon on the route. The first few miles are filled with chants, dancing, and getting into a rhythm. Then around 2 miles in you start seeing the lead runners which is great to cheer them on and occasionally get a high five. Then the fun starts. We all line up in single file on the right and as the crowds come through you high five people more then you ever thought possible. To the point that your hands sting and your arms feel like your part of an endurance competition to see how long you can hold them up. We used to do a lap through a local coffee shop and high five the customers but unfortunately, they are no longer in business so that tradition has ceased. Another tradition some years is throwing small packs of Swedish fish candy to kids on the side of the street watching the runners go by. Hudson was a trooper the whole run, aided by about a dozen suckers and 3 packs of gummy bears which kept him occupied as he sat in his Double Bob Stroller next to the speaker “pointed out the other direction from him”.

This year was a nice change up because usually the last few miles is isolated, and we work our way to the start/finish line with only the sound of our personal chants and the Soundsystem we have along with us for the ride. This year with the 5K starting an hour after the 10K we had a second round of high 5’s for about a mile while we worked our way to the start and ran the last 10 minutes of the race basking in the glory of another successful, highly spirited and entertaining race. The local chamber of commerce and Rotary club do a great job hosting the event and after party and this event out of all the races this year might go down as my most enjoyable, least painful, and just good old clean ridiculous fun had by all.