In the Redondo Beach 10K Race, Super Bowl Runs a Close Second

An army of runners descended on Redondo Beach Sunday morning to affirm the fact there was life beyond the Super Bowl on the day of the big game.

An estimated 23,000 people ranging from serious competitors to weekend warriors to beach zanies dressed in moose antlers and airplane wings and Groucho glasses took part in the eighth annual Redondo Beach Super Bowl Sunday 10-kilometer run.

The block-long starting line took nearly five minutes before the last entries--four guys in togas pulling a comrade in a handmade chariot--finally officially started.

Football fans, particularly of the Chicago persuasion, were in evidence--including one runner dressed as a refrigerator--but most people said that given a choice between running and watching the Super Bowl, they would have been out there running. As they say in running circles, no pain, no game.

The Redondo race has become an annual draw for serious runners and free spirits alike. The setting is picturesque, the course is fast and two beer companies provide thirst-quenching at the finish line. Truth be told, there were more beer fans than Bear fans Sunday. “It’s your basic laid-back South Bay 10K,” said one race promoter.

The man in the moose antlers, Jeff (Moose) Dobra from San Pedro, said his headgear is “traditional.” An avid runner, Dobra said the football game was no big deal. “I’d rather race,” he said. “Especially if they’re giving away free beer.”

Even Gary Kimbrell, the football coach at nearby Miraleste High School, said he’d take the run over the game, unless the Rams had made the Super Bowl. “If the same teams were playing I would (run),” he said. Last year he ran in a 49ers’ uniform. He still hopes to run in a Rams’ outfit.

The Statue of Liberty, her torch held high, broke the finish line in about 50 minutes looking none the worse for wear. Lady Liberty turned out to be Jeri Phillips of Torrance, who has raced in her statue garb seven times because, she explained, “I’m a patriot.”

As in John Adams, not John Hannah.

Two prominent Bears’ fans said the choice would be tougher. Chicago-born Tom Bruce of Gardena, wearing a Bears’ cap, said he has run every Redondo 10K but, if the Bears were on at the same time, “I would’ve watched for Walter Payton’s sake.”

Steve Pircher of Redondo Beach, who ran in a Bears’ jersey, said that as a “serious Bears’ fan. . . . I wouldn’t do anything if the Bears were on.”

For the serious runners, the race is all that matters. Overall winner Steve Ortiz, 26, drove in from Barstow at 4 a.m. He won in 29:48. Ortiz said he usually runs two races a month.

“I’m doing it because I’m a serious runner,” he said. “I don’t care if the Super Bowl is right now. I run 10Ks. That’s what I do.”

Ortiz finished six seconds ahead of runner-up Ron Roberts of Los Angeles. The third-place runner was Chris Shallert of Canoga Park in 30:01.

The top woman finisher was Susan Berenda, running for Converse West out of San Clemente. The second-place finisher a year ago, she won in a course record 33:03, more than two minutes ahead of runner-up Kathy Kanes at 35:20. Nancy Brown of Los Angeles was third at 35:44.

The first competitor to cross the finish line was actually Ruben Varela of West Covina, who won the wheelchair division that was added this year. Varela, who said he has become competitive in wheelchair racing the last six months, had only one complaint: “ I got a flat.” He managed to finish in 29:47 nonetheless. Then he happily signed autographs.

For the New Balance set it was a Super Sunday well before the game started.