The 2019 Race on the Base drew thousands of participants and hundeds of onlookers as the three-day event without a hitch.
“Overall, we are really happy with everything,” said Race Director Emeline Noda on Monday. “I really can’t recall a legitimate complaint over the entire weekend,” she said. Noda is also a recreation manger for the City of Los Alamitos.
Given the horrendous weather over the past three weeks, Noda said organizers were especially pleased with the turnout. She said 3,233 residents registered to participate in the various events.
“We are really trying to build it back up to levels of more than 4,000 participants,” said Noda, adding that the consistent threat of rain and inclement weather likely dissuaded many from attending.
Noda said there were participants of all ages and it has become a family event.
She also thanked the many corporate and government sponsors and strategic partners, including the following:
- Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base
- California Military Department
- 500 Volunteers
- Charities
- NAF/MWR
- Civil Air Patrol
- The Pub at Fiddler’s Green
- Navy Golf Course
- AAFES
- Sunburst Youth Academy
- Los Alamitos City Council
- Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Commission
- City of Los Alamitos Staff
- RUN Racing
- Gemini Timing
- Senator Tom Umberg
- Assemblyman Tyler Diep
- Emcees
- ASL Interpreters
- National Anthem Singers
- 40+ Expo Vendors and Food Trucks
- JFTB Fire
- OCFA
- Care Ambulance
- Center Stage Productions
- Big Top Rentals
- Eagles Portables
- American Rentals
- 24/7 Event Services
- Powercell
In addition to the usual slate of activites, Noda said organizers added a new “Rucking 5K,” wherein runners had to carry a weighted “rucksack” on their backs the entire way.
“Everything went well,” she said, and the only thing she hopes will change for next year will be “better weather.”
Photos by Dave Peeters and Crystal Houseman
