Sports

Dole Great Race of Agoura Hills Expected to Make Record Run

The 27th annual event is expecting record attendance.

More than 7,000 runners are expected to participate in the 27th annual Dole Great Race of Agoura Hills, a nationally recognized running event that brings running enthusiasts from around the world to Agoura Hills. The Great Race offers both certified and recreational races followed by an award-winning post-race party.

The Dole Great Race of Agoura Hills takes place on Saturday, March 24 throughout Agoura Hills with pre-event activities on March 22 and 23.

The Great Race features two certified half marathons awarded “Best in the Nation” by Active.com: the Northwestern Mutual Chesebro Half Marathon and the Pacific Half Marathon.

Find out what's happening in Agoura Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Northwestern Mutual Chesebro Half Marathon is a popular part-road and part-trail course with beautiful and challenging terrain that sells out every year. The course travels through the Cheeseboro/Palo Comado Canyon, a protected recreation area of the National Park Service.

The Pacific Half Marathon also takes place around the Santa Monica Mountains with runners toeing up at Paramount Ranch, a former western Hollywood movie set, now a national park. The course continues through the mountains’ “Three Magical Miles” offering runners spectacular scenic points and historic highlights. 

Find out what's happening in Agoura Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Great Race also features a certified 10K and 5K. The Equinox Fitness Clubs / Old Agoura 10K is among Runner's World Magazine’s top six 10Ks in the country. New this year, the Great Race adds an elite 10K wave—the Los Angeles Sports & Fitness Magazine Invitational with Southern California's fastest runners competing for $5,000 in prize money. The Deena Kastor 5K is named for the Olympian marathon medalist who grew up in Agoura Hills.

Recreational runs include the Kids Mile, one of the largest youth runs in California, and the Camp Kinneret Family Fun Run.

Event producers announced that the Camp Kinneret Family Fun Run has already sold out. “The Great Race continues to grow in popularity,” said event producer Danny Greenberg. “No other event offers so many activities that celebrate running.”

Radio station 100.3, The Sound, will be onsite to pump up runners as they near the finish line in Chumash Park, where runners are rewarded with the Whole Foods Great Brunch post-race party. The post party was voted “Best in L.A.” for its endless buffet of pancakes, pizza, tacos, fruits, healthy snacks, drinks and other treats. The festival atmosphere includes a live band, giant inflatables for kids, giveaways, and 50 vendor booths dedicated to sports and fitness.

To pre-register for all races, visit www.greatraceofagourahills.com. Registration will continue until the day before the race for any event not sold out. Individuals, service organizations and students earning community service hours that are interested in being involved with the event may sign up at www.greatraceofagourahills.com/volunteer. More than 400 community volunteers help produce the Great Race each year.

For 27 years the Great Race has served the community, raising over $1.4 M for Agoura Hills and Oak Park elementary schools and high schools’ athletic programs. Through fitness awareness programs at the seven Agoura Hills and Oak Park elementary schools, the Great Race help promotes student nutrition and exercise challenges.

For the general public, the Great Race Sports & Fitness Expo is free and offers an indoor rock wall, activities, entertainment, vendor booths and last minute race registration (for races not sold out). The two-day expo is Thursday, March 22, from 12-7 p.m. and Friday, March 23, from 12-6 p.m. at the .

Agoura Hills City Manager Greg Ramirez said that the Great Race has grown into a signature event bringing thousands of visitors to the host city sponsor’s specialty hotels, restaurants, boutique shops, attractions and nightlife.

“Tourists discover our rural charm and beauty and the word spreads that Agoura Hills has a lot to offer in the way of recreation and entertainment,” Ramirez said.

A recent study conducted by Corona Insight, a Colorado-based data analytics and market research group, reported that the Dole Great Race of Agoura Hills is an economy booster for all the greater Conejo Valley, generating $1.13M in economic impact.

Sponsors of the 27th Annual Dole Great Race are Dole Food Company, Northwestern Mutual, Neftin Westlake Volkswagen/Mazda, Road Runner Sports, Equinox Fitness Clubs, Bio-K Plus, Whole Foods Market, Oak Park Dentistry for Children, Camp Kinneret, Los Angeles Sports & Fitness Magazine, the city of Agoura Hills, Agoura Hills/Calabasas Community Center, Evolution Audio & Video, 100.3 FM The Sound, Clif Bar, Arrowhead Water, Endurance Bag Company, TWIW Insurance Services, Meathead Movers, Waste Management, LAraces.com and many local businesses. The Dole Great Race of Agoura Hills joins participants, businesses and leaders in creating healthier communities.

For more information visit www.greatraceofagourahills.com or contact the Great Race staff at 1-877-GR8-RACE. 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here