Got No Other Fish to Fry? Try Estancia’s Benefit 5K

The organizers of the Fish Fry 5000, a Costa Mesa 5K run planned for Sunday, have a bit of competition this weekend for their first-time event.

On Saturday, there’s the Scenic 5K in Corona del Mar, an established run with a sizable following, while Sunday will see return of the Orange County Performing Arts Center Triathlon in Mission Viejo, a top national event.

John Carpenter, director of the Fish Fry 5000, said he and other organizers were aware of the other events but decided on this weekend because it would give them a tie-in with the Costa Mesa Fish Fry, a longtime fixture sponsored by a local Lions Club.

The run is designed as a fund-raiser for the Estancia High School athletic department, which has been faced with a shrinking budget in recent years.

“The general idea was to get a unified fund-raiser that all the coaches could get behind,” said Carpenter, the school’s swim and water polo coach.

Carpenter said he hopes the Fish Fry will build into an annual event with a following of its own. Though this is a building year for the run, Carpenter hopes the event will at least break even.

“We’re set up to handle 1,000 runners, so the more that come the merrier.”

The course for the 5K starts at the high school and continues to the nearby bluffs overlooking the Santa Ana River. Besides following the scenic bluff-tops, it will also descend to river level. About half the run is on asphalt streets, about half on dirt paths; the climbs help make it a relatively challenging course, Carpenter said.

Also offered will be a 2K walk for those who’d rather not run.

*

Youngsters age 9 to 13 can test their baseball skills Saturday and Sunday in Major League Baseball’s Pitch, Hit and Run competition at Fountain Valley’s Mile Square Park. Top finishers will qualify for the regional competition in San Diego and could move on from there.

Entry fee is $12. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. For information, call (310) 829-5226.

What: Fish Fry 5000.

When: Sunday, June 5, 7:30 a.m for the 5K and 8 a.m. for the 2K. (Race-day registration begins at 6 a.m.)

Where: Estancia High School, 2323 Placentia Ave., Costa Mesa.

Whereabouts: From the San Diego (405) Freeway, go south on Harbor Boulevard and turn right on Adams Avenue. Turn left on Placentia Avenue; the high school will be on the right.

Wherewithal: $18 (includes T-shirt).

Where to call: (714) 760-3375.