Ice Cream at the Finish Line
Tips and Treats for 36th Annual Beach Endurance Event
In this hot weather, you’re bound to go on an ice cream run, but now you can indulge totally guilt-free by enlisting in the 36th Annual McConnell’s Ice Cream Endurance Events on Sunday, August 21, at Goleta Beach County Park. The biathlon rewards runners and swimmers with sweet sundaes from McConnell’s and the Berry Man at the finish line of the family-oriented competition, which features a one-mile ocean swim, 5K and 10K runs, and a kids’ mile.
Ricky Ho, who won the 10K back in 2014, enjoys the event. “The people are really mellow, and I had a really great time,” he said. But what does he recommend at the finish line? “My favorite flavors are coconut, vanilla bean, and mint — especially mint,” said Ho. “There’s enough ice cream to eat to make your whole mouth freeze, and there are big chocolate chip cookies, too. Some of us even make our own ice cream sandwiches.” He admits that he only had a small bowl before diving in for his mile swim. But, said Ho, “I went back for seconds and thirds afterward.”
The 5K starts at 8:30 a.m., the 10K at 9:30 a.m., the kids’ mile at 11 a.m., and the stand-alone swim at 11:30 a.m., so you needn’t even get up early to participate. But coordinator Bill Rupp warns, “Leave a little extra time for parking. The work being done on the bridge at the entrance to Goleta Beach County Park is tying up some spaces.”
See tinyurl.com/mc-races to register.
