ENCINITAS — With a 3-1 vote, Council gave the “10/20 run” the green light at Wednesday’s meeting. Because organizers have also received approval from Del Mar and Solana Beach, the race is a go.
The race, slated for Feb. 16, 2014, will take an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 participants from the Del Mar Fairgrounds to Chesterfield Drive in Encinitas, and then runners will turn around and head back on the same path to the fairgrounds.
Along the route, live bands on 20 stages, six of which are in Encinitas, will play tunes to motivate runners.
Both directions of Coast Highway 101 will be closed from 7 to 11 a.m. for the event.
Race organizers plan on donating $10,000 to nonprofits in each of the three cities. In Encinitas, the Cardiff Mainstreet Association was chosen as the beneficiary.
Last summer, Council asked race organizers to address traffic and other potential issues for businesses on “restaurant row” on Coast Highway 101. Council indicated they were satisfied with the answers, however, brought up fresh concerns about the race being within several weeks of the Cardiff Kook Run, which has been held in early February for the past two years.
Deputy Mayor Lisa Shaffer, who voted against the motion, proposed Council refrain from action in order to also receive input from Cardiff Kook Run organizers.
But Councilwoman Kristin Gaspar said 10/20 run organizers had already waited one year for approval, and it was unfair to ask them to hold off again, especially since that could potentially delay the event.
“I’m going to end up supporting this because I think it’s a good thing for the community,” Councilman Tony Kranz said, adding that he hopes organizers consider ending the race south of Chesterfield Drive, as businesses and residents in that area could be impacted more than others.
Mayor Teresa Barth recused herself from the vote. The California Fair Political Practices Commission said she shouldn’t weigh in on the race because her condo is within 180 feet of the race course.
