A run for school spirit

Erica Shen

Twenty-two years ago, parents of the Newport Mesa Unified School

District organized a race to raise funds for the district’s

elementary schools.

The Blue Cross of California Spirit Run has evolved into one of

the largest races in Orange County, attracting runners from all over

Southern California.

“The event has attracted Olympians and many of the top club

athletes from L.A., Orange and San Diego [counties] over the past 22

years,” race director Kathy Kinane said. “The course has rolling

hills with a nice downhill finish. The depth of the field is a good

attraction for the club athletes. A good-sized pack of fast runners

makes a great race for both the runners and spectators.”

This year’s Spirit Run will take place March 13 at Fashion Island

in Newport Beach. Proceeds from the race will benefit Roy O.

Andersen, Harbor View, Eastbluff, Newport Coast and Lincoln

elementary schools. Over the last two decades, the Spirit Run has

raised more than $1 million for educational programs in the Newport

Beach area. Last year alone, the race raised $100,000.

The races will begin promptly at 7:15 a.m., with the 10K run. The

program will continue with the 5K race, followed by junior races.

“When I was hired to manage the event in 1992, the event only had

a 5K and 10K,” Kinane said. “In order to encourage more kids to have

fun running and training for a race, we started kids’ races, and now

we have eight separate kids’ races, and all of the finishers 12 and

under receive a finisher’s medal.

“With obesity and inactivity an huge problem in the United States,

this event helps to encourage more kids to get out and run.”

Steve Scott, the UC Irvine alum who still holds the U.S. record in

the mile, will return as the honorary race director. Scott has

volunteered with the Spirit Run for the last decade.

“In 1989, I met Steve Scott, and one of my associates asked him to

come and run the race, sign autographs and hand out medals,” Kinane

said. “He agreed and was a fantastic role model to the kids. Steve is

a world-class runner that encourages everyone to run no matter what

their goals are.”

Registration information is available at https://www.kinane

events.com.