Run with the animals at the zoo in the next week’s ‘Run Wild 5k’, which is part of Santa Barbara Open Streets.
Do you run like a cheetah? Or maybe the gait of a gazelle is a better description. Either way, earn your tiger stripes later this month at Santa Barbara’s first 5k course that takes runners through the Santa Barbara Zoo.
The Run Wild 5k is a new addition to the Santa Barbara Open Streets event coming to Santa Barbara on Saturday, October 25. The festival has also added other new sports-related activities including a 3-on-3 basketball tournament taking place in front of the Cabrillo Arts Pavilion on Cabrillo Blvd.
Being so close to halloween, costumes, animal themed or otherwise, are encouraged for the Run Wild 5k.
Local ironman athlete Zack Bertges collaborated with SB Open Streets organizer Robin Elander to add a running component to the overall event, now in its second year.
“Run Wild was a concept Robin and I came up with, as a result of us being friends & supporters of the community for a number of years,” Bertges explained. “I volunteered at the Open Streets event last year, knew of the hard work that everyone was putting into it, and was then happy to help when Robin approached me this year with the idea of hosting a fundraiser run for the organization.”
Bertges thanked David Velasquez, the zoo’s Director of Guest Services, for connecting the zoo to Santa Barbara Open Streets. The zoo’s close proximity to Cabrillo Blvd. helps give the new 5k a unique character.
“I’ve also known of other zoo runs around the country, and knew there was a great opportunity to work with our local S.B. Zoo along Cabrillo Blvd,” Bertges said.
The 5k race will be professionally timed and will provide prizes to the top male and female finishers as well as for the best costume. A free 1k Kids Run (ages 4-12) will be held, and all those with a race bib will receive half-off admission to the zoo that day.
It costs $30 and serves as a fundraiser for the Open Streets initiative. There will be onsite registration starting at 9:30 a.m., and the race itself begins at 10:30 a.m. A portion of the race course will be visible to spectators on car-free Cabrillo Blvd.
“This came about as a desire to add more fun, healthy programming for diverse age groups as well as an additional funding source for the event,” Elander said.
Other activities that will make you sweat at Santa Barbara Open Streets include skateboarding, yoga, and fitness exercises. There is also a large biking presence.
Cabrillo Blvd. will be closed to cars from Skater’s Point and Anacapa Street all the way to the bird refuge.
