Runners flock to Thanksgiving Day run
Taking advantage of clear skies that graced La Cañada’s Memorial Park Thanksgiving morning, some 1,600 men, women and children participated in a local holiday tradition still spreading its wings after more than two decades.
The 23rd annual Thanksgiving Day Run & Food Drive, hosted by the Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge, drew local residents and jogging enthusiasts from throughout the Southland — enough to set some new personal bests, according to Community Center Executive Director Maureen Bond.
Bond reported Monday that more than 1,300 runners registered for the event’s 5K run at 8:30 a.m., while well over 300 children laced up for the 1-mile children’s race that followed.
“We ran out of our kids’ medals that we give out, which our ceramics department makes for the race,” Bond said. “That’s pretty solid right there.”
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The first-place runner in the adult competition was 27-year-old L.A. resident and Crescenta Valley High School graduate Eric Kleinsasser, who clocked in at 15 minutes and 30 seconds — four seconds shy of last year’s winner and 11 seconds ahead of second-place runner Adrian Diaz.
Placing first among female runners was 13-year-old La Cañada resident Mia Barnett, who crossed the finish line in 18 minutes, 26 seconds, just 20 seconds before La Cañada resident Sonja Cwik, 21.
This year’s food drive, organized by the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department’s Crescenta Valley Station, started long before the race with some 40 collection bins set up at La Cañada Unified schools and participating businesses.
Donations will be distributed in a Dec. 17 event held for more than 150 area families in need. To help further that cause, more than $1,100 was donated to the Crescenta Valley Station for the annual food drive from those who attended or participated in the holiday race, Bond said.
Among this year’s attendees were La Cañada Mayor Jon Curtis, Mayor Pro Tem Mike Davitt and Councilman Len Pieroni, in addition to La Cañada resident and newly elected state Sen. Anthony Portantino.
“This is just a wonderful thing for the Community Center, and it’s twofold. We give thanks to our community and we’re so grateful they participate so we can continue to offer the great programs we do,” Bond said, thanking runners and volunteers alike. “You couldn’t have asked for a better day.”
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Sara Cardine, sara.cardine@latimes.com
Twitter: @SaraCardine
