Scenic 5K is one yummy race

June Casagrande

Come for the exercise. Stay for the food.

It’s that time of year again. Time to gear up for one of the

city’s all-time favorite athletic events, the Corona del Mar Scenic

5K.

The run, now in its 22nd year, offers a lot of good reasons to get

involved: a great family outing, great exercise, a gorgeous

ocean-view course and a chance to help a worthy cause. But all those

reasons are easily forgotten when, near the end of the course,

runners and walkers approach Restaurant Row.

“It’s the only thing in town I know of that lets you sample more

than 20 of the area’s very best restaurants for just over $22,” said

Melissa Adams, Newport Beach’s community services coordinator.

For the cost of registering to participate in the 5K race or the

two-mile fun walk, participants get free run of Restaurant Row, a

makeshift metropolis of booths offering treats from dozens of local

eateries: Five Crowns, Gina’s Pizza, El Ranchito, Tommy Bahama’s,

Bamboo Bistro, Sunflower Bakery, Rose’s Donuts and Gelato Paradiso.

Thanks in part to their culinary contributions, the Corona del Mar

Scenic 5K continues to be a growing success, drawing participants

from far and wide, race chairman Jim Skahan said.

Last year, about 2,400 people participated in the various events,

including about 100 kids in the Dolphin Dash, a 1K competition for

kids as young as 3.

“This started out as a little fun run on a Saturday morning and

grew up to be probably the premier even in Orange County for runners

as far as I’m concerned,” Skahan said.

The race, which raises money for city youth programs and for the

Corona del Mar Chamber of Commerce, takes place June 7. The course

winds through some of the most beautiful parts of Corona del Mar,

starting on the bluffs overlooking the ocean.

Pre-registration is $22 for the run/walk and $12 for the Dolphin

Dash. On the day of the races, registration is $30 for the run/walk

and $12 for the Dolphin Dash.

Registration forms are available through Newport Beach Recreation

Services (949) 644-3151. Online registration is at www.active.com.