Adding Chill Factor to Run : Activity: Joggers end brisk 1 1/2-mile jaunt by jumping into cold ocean. Event has become a Christmastime tradition.

Dewain Campbell and his two children, Chase, 12, and Amanda, 10, wanted to do something special on the day before Christmas. So, as the sun rose Thursday morning, the trio ran down Coast Highway and then took a dip in the chilly ocean.

“This is a good life experience--something we’ll remember for the rest of our lives,” Campbell, 40, of Newport Beach, said, shivering but wearing a gigantic grin.

The Campbell family wasn’t alone.

About 80 other joggers stripped to their swimsuits and dove into the 59-degree water at Corona del Mar State Beach.

The swim followed a brisk 1 1/2-mile run from Fashion Island Newport Beach during an annual event called the Walrus Run sponsored by the Newport Beach Athletic Club. Now in its seventh year, many of the participants have made the chilly adventure a family tradition.

“What else do you do at 7 a.m. on Christmas Eve?” asked Debbie Frederickson, 39, of Newport Beach. She and her husband, Bill, also 39, have happily braved the cold waters for years. “It’s always worth it,” she said, her legs trembling.

Sheila Seberg, 53, of Newport Beach did the run and swim with her husband, three daughters and a son-in-law. “This is a great way to start Christmas,” she said, promising to be back next year. “It’s so beautiful out today.”

Indeed, air and water temperatures were unusually high for this time of year, lifeguards reported. At 7:30 a.m. the air temperature was 53 degrees.

“The water was pretty warm, actually,” said Nick Schrank, 14, of Newport Beach as he dried off. “It was better than I thought it would be.”

This year, participants each paid $18 to enter the Walrus Run. The proceeds were given to the Orange Coast Interfaith Shelter of Costa Mesa.

The shelter provides a place for needy families to live for 60 days while they get job counseling, food and emotional support. It was founded in 1981 with the sole purpose of helping homeless families get back on their feet.

“I think that a lot of people who may not have known about the shelter will now know about our cause,” said shelter President Linda Schulein, who watched the runners finish the trek in less than 30 minutes. “Often, fund raising is hard work, but this run was fun, and we really appreciate their helping us.”

The Walrus Run began with seven men who thought it would make for great “male bonding.” It caught on and quickly became a Christmastime ritual for many beach residents.

“You gotta have family tradition,” said Ken Gomez, 48, of Newport Beach, one of the originators.

“What a great way to celebrate Christmas and bring in the new year, especially because we’re helping a charity this year,” said Stan Loupe, 44, of Newport Beach, who participated in the run for the third time.

Santa Claus, played by Craig Ryan, 41, of Corona del Mar, led the runners down Coast Highway, stopping at every corner to let out a hearty “Ho! Ho! Ho!” and mimic walrus-like singing. Later, as the swimmers came out of the ocean, the man in red offered rum “to warm their insides.”

“Oooo, that water was cold, but so much fun,” said Gomez, with beads of water dripping from his hair to his toes.

Robert Stephano, 26, of Newport Beach agreed. “I’m here doing some male bonding with my brother and six longtime buddies. . . . It’s just fun and worth it.”