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We Cook Delicioso, You Celebrate Happy! Catering for all locations & Lunch specials daily (831) 724-4544 129 West Lake Avenue, Watsonville, CA 95076 www.dlacolmenacatering.com Bt carnitas in town! The Wharf to Wharf race steps into a new future SANTA CRUZ – The COVID-19 pandemic may have caused Santa Cruz County's treasured Wharf to Wharf race to break its stride, but it has not broken its will. For the first time since 2019, the annual 6-mile race stretching from Capitola to Santa Cruz will be held for runners in person on Sunday, with a virtual compo- nent made available to those wishing to par- ticipate remotely. As if the long-awaited return to the famously scenic course wasn't enough, the upcoming race will also be the 50th in the event's history, which began with only a handful of local runners in 1973. Still, the internationally recognized event–and the racing industry as a whole–has been se- verely impacted by the economic devastation wrought by the pandem- ic and organizers hope this year will prove to be a successful first step into the new normal. "We are hitting way more in registration on a percentage basis than most events in the coun- try," said Race Director Scott McConville. "Al- most across the board you're seeing people hit- ting 50% to 75% of their old registration numbers pre-pandemic...for us to be 90-95% of our old numbers, I think speaks volumes relative to the rest of the industry." McConville told the Sentinel that his team typically caps the race at 16,000 participants, but ended up with a little more than 15,000 this year. While the total number of possi- ble runners was re- duced by about 1,000 as a COVID-19 safety measure, McConville admitted that reach- ing the participant cap was relatively slow this year. Reaching 15,000 took about two months instead of a few hours or even a few minutes, as seen in years past. "I think next year it will for sure be an easy sellout. People are still a little uncertain and we're trying to get our ground- ing again," said Mary Wright-Maleta, a long- time race participant, board member and so- cial media director. "The most important thing about Wharf to Wharf is, ultimately, it's a fundrais- er...for local youth run- ning programs. So that's why it's so important to our community." Proceeds from the race each year are donated to local schools, running organizations, equipment upgrades, and individual athlete scholarships. McConville said that the race has cumulatively donated more than $7 million dollars and av- erages about $250,000 each year. "I can't imagine Santa Cruz without Wharf to Wharf," Wright-Maleta added. "I don't think it's going anywhere and I think it'll bring so much joy to people. They'll remember how much it means to them...the support will be there for sure." But, the COVID-19 virus is still out there and race planners are work- ing to take precautions. In addition to reduc- ing capacity by 1,000 participants, extended spacing will be provided in opening corrals and lengthier gaps between start times will space out the waves of runners. "We put everything in place to continue to operate in a safe man- ner and of course we're going to follow all guide- lines," said longtime Wharf to Wharf Board Member Kimberly White. "The race is something that is needed. It's a celebration of communi- ty and health and fitness and...I think it's some- thing that everyone, in communities throughout the world, are longing to come back to." White's father, Mark McConnell, was cham- pion of the second-ever Wharf to Wharf race, former race director, and was a high school track coach in the county for many years. Much has changed about the event and the running industry since McConnell's 1974 victory, but the race has always adapted and kept steady through it all. "I compare it to a tree– the amount of roots and rings that the Wharf to Wharf has in the ground here in Santa Cruz County is extensive," said Director McConville. "I think the small town, combined with so much history and support that the community has brought forward, has allowed it to become a staple in families and generations." By PK Hattis PK@santcruz sentinel.com Photo Credit Shmuel Thaler

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