Legendary Kenyan
Henry Rono selected
as honorary starter

Los Angeles, May 21, 2009 - Legendary Kenyan runner Henry Rono, one of the greatest distance runners in track and field history, will be the honorary spokesperson and starter of the 16th annual Keep LA Running Charity 5K Run / Walk, 10K Run, Kids Dash, and Coastal Bike Ride, Sunday, July 12, at Dockweiler Beach in Playa del Rey. » Details

Kids run will add fun
to 2009 KLAR day
Join in the Kid's Run at KLAR for fun for the whole family. The Time Warner Kids Dash will start at approximately 9:45 a.m. near the finish of the 5K/10K races. Here's the schedule:

Elite runners to chase
$2,500 in prize money
For the second year in a row, Keep L.A. Running is offering prize money to the top finishers in both the 5K and 10K runs. Winners in each race will receive $300, with second-place finishers getting $200 and third-place finishers $100.

Get Ready for 2009
With Healthy Advice
Keep L.A. Running sponsor Kaiser Permanente applauds the efforts of participants at Keep L.A. Running. To help you "thrive" and get even more out of your healthy lifestyle, Kaiser Permanente offers - in English and Spanish - the latest advice on several important topics that you can view and print out.
» Details.

Riders roll out in the 2008 Keep LA Running bike ride.

16th annual Keep L.A. Running on pace
for fun in the sun on Sunday, July 12

Los Angeles, June 30, 2009 - The 16th annual Keep L.A. Running Charity 5K Run/Walk, 10K Run, Kids Dash and Coastal Bike Cruise is coming Sunday morning, July 12 at Dockweiler Beach in Playa Del Rey. More than 2000 runners, walkers and bike riders are expected to converge at Dockweiler Beach to enjoy a fun morning in the sun while helping raise money for children with cancer, premature born babies, and other worthy charities.

The event offers a fast, flat course overlooking the ocean, and a Health and Fitness Expo and Beach BBQ along the ocean shore where Imperial Highway hits the beach in Playa Del Rey.

Ideal running conditions greeted participants in the 2008 Keep L.A. Running races at beautiful Dockweiler Beach. Make sure you are a part of the fun in the sun in 2009.

Legendary Kenyan Henry Rono, one of the greatest distance runners in history, will be the honorary spokesperson and starter of this year's Keep LA Running. Rono will also run the 5K at the event. In the summer of 1978 Rono produced one of the most amazing feats in track history. In the span of 81 days he broke four world records: the 10,000 meters (27:22.5), the 5,000 meters (13:08.4), the 3,000 meters steeplechase (8:05.4), and the 3,000 meters (7:32.1), an achievement unparalleled in the history of distance running. Rono also won three NCAA cross country championships and back to back NCAA 3000 steeplechase titles in 1978 and 1979

Keep LA Running races are for everybody. They can be a fun running "happening" for the entire family, or an opportunity, for elite runners, to win cash prizes. Special trophies will be awarded for team competition in the 5K and 10K Runs. A team can enter an unlimited number of runners (male and female), but only the highest 5 finishers for each team count for the team competition. Members of running clubs registering as a team get a $5 discount. 

Louie Zamperini, a World War II hero who is believed to be the oldest living U.S. Olympian at 92, will be the spokesperson and the honorary starter for the 16th annual Keep L.A. Running Charity 5K Walk /Run, 10K Run and 10/20 mile Coastal Bike Cruise.Zamperini is pictured with Mary Decker Slaney, a spokesperson for the event in 2008. See details.

The entire family can participate in the 7:30 am 10/20-mile coastal bike cruise, which winds south from the start on the bike paths along the ocean. The 5K Run/Walk will begin at 8:00 a.m., with the 10K at 8:30 am. Or the kids can run in the Kids Dash, which will begin at 9:45 a.m. Additional information is available on this web site or by calling (310) 821-7898.

As always, the Laker Girls will lead the aerobic warm-up and the ChivaGirls will have a booth and will be signing autographs and take pictures. Many local elected officials will be on hand to encourage the runners, walkers and bike riders. Hollywood stars have also been invited to participate in the most fun running party of the year. Great raffle drawings will be handed out from the local pro teams.

Over the years Keep LA. Running has raised over $1,000,000 for its beneficiary charities. The event is organized by SEIU Local 660 Emergency Relief Fund, a 501 (c) (3) not for profit organization, and also benefits the Pediatric Oncology Service, Women's and Children's Hospital of LAC + USC Medical Center and the Harbor UCLA Medical Center Neonatal Ward.

Major sponsors of Keep L.A. Running include PacifiCare, Colonial Life, Kaiser Permanente and American Income Life; The Law Offices of Fensten & Gelber, Union Bank of California, Trustmark, Delta Dental, Benefit Vision, Aflac, Southern California Ford Dealers, and Lewis, Marenstein Wicke & Sherwin. Charter Communications and Time Warner Cable are media partners of Keep L.A. Running.

Volunteers are needed for the event in the following areas: race registration, race pre-registration (the day before the race), event traffic control, water station monitors, mile timers, communications, stuffing the competitor goody bags, T-shirt distribution, assisting with race set-up, (Banners, information table, sponsor booths), awards presentation and press operations. Those interested in volunteering for Keep LA Running are asked to call race director Brennan Lindner at (310) 821-7898.

Get ready for a great time at the beach
The 2009 Keep LA Running 5K Run/Walk, 10K Run, Kids Dash, and Coastal Bike Cruise is scheduled for Sunday, July 12 at Dockweiler State Beach in Playa del Rey. Register today to be a part of the fun and festivities. Tom Coat photos.

Hesch, Reyes Trade Record-Setting 5K & 10K Wins
Highlighting 15th Annual Edition of Keep LA Running
Results | 5 American Income Life Photo Galleries, Plus a Photo Essay

America's greatest middle distance runner of all time, Mary Decker Slaney, served as spokesperson for the 15th Annaul Keep LA Running. She also jogged the 5K with her sister, Denise, an Orange County resident. "It's the first time I've run in an event with my sister and it was a lot of fun," said Slaney, who, although about to turn 50, still holds four American records. Said Denise: "I ran harder than I would have run, but it was terrific."

Los Angeles, July 13, 2008 – In a duel of past winners, Christian Hesch of Morro Bay and Sergio Reyes of Los Osos traded victories and each set records at the 15th annual Keep LA Running 5K Run/Walk, 10K Run, Kids Dash, Coastal Bike Cruise and Mayor's Mile, Sunday, July 13 at Dockweiler State Beach in Playa del Rey.

Hesch, who had won the 5K in 2005, clocked a course record 14 minutes 29 seconds, 41 seconds faster than Bryan Dameworth ran in 2000. Reyes, who had won in 2004, was four seconds behind, and Derek Tate of Hollywood was third in 14 minutes 29 seconds in the fastest ever 5K at Dockweiler Beach.

In the women's 5K Tove Berg won comfortably in 17 minutes 40 seconds, followed by twin sisters Sabrina Lopez, 18:31, and Regina Lopez, 18:53 both of Alhambra.

Fifteen minutes after completing the 5K, Reyes started in the 10K race, leading from start to finish and winning in a course record 29 minutes 38 seconds - 28 seconds ahead of Brian Livingstone of Los Angeles. It was the first sub-30-minute time in the history of the event. Hesch also completed the unusual double, finishing third in 31:23.

Daniela Alonso of Los Angeles also set a race record in finishing first in the women's 10K in 35:43. She was followed by Emily Mitchell of Hermosa, Beach, 36:34, and Christine Bolf of Los Angeles, 38:40.

For the first time, the top three finishers in both the 5K and 10K shared in prize money. A total of $4,000 was up for grabs in the Colonial Life Prize Money competition, with $500 going to the male and female champions in each race. Complete results, a breakdown of the Colonial Life Prize Money, and the champions of the event from 1998 to present can be accessed on the Results Page.

Runners also competed for the PacifiCare Team Cup Competition, made up of five-person teams. In both the 5K and 10K, Mt. Gleason came away the winner.

The runners had an ideal day on which to chase records. Calm, cool conditions were perfect for running.

What a warmup! Participants at Keep LA Running were treated to high-spirited dance routines by the Chivas Girls (left), the Laker Girls (right) and the L.A. Sparks youth group.

Over 1,500 participants competed in the 5K and 10K runs and walks and the Coastal Bike Ride. The event raised more than $150,000 for its charities - the Pediatric Oncology Ward at County USC Women and Children's Hospital; the Harbor UCLA Medical Center Neonatal War; the American Cancer Society, and the L.A. County/SEIU Local 721 Emergency Relief Fund.

Track legend Mary Decker Slaney and 1936 Olympian and World War II hero Louie Zamperini acted as honorary starters for the races, which attracted many celebrities and elected officials.

Kaiser Permanente, Colonial Life, PacifiCare and American Income Life were co-title sponsors of the event. Other lead sponsors included LA County Federation of Labor, Trustmark, Benefit Vision, Delta Dental, Aflac, United Way, Law Office of Fensten & Gelber; Gordon, Edelstein, Krepack, Felton and Grant, Union Bank of California, Southern California Ford Dealers, Riley Marketing / Allstate Insurance, and Lewis, Marenstein, Wicke and Sherwin.