Blessed with the last warm weekend of the season, the 2016 Down by the Bay 5k was a fun and memorable event for all ages. The event started with the excited faces of the Tots getting ready to scamper over the Tot Trot wave course, to amazing Teachers passing out the “polka dot whales tail prize” and the parents cheering all around. After the Tots claimed their Tot Trot prizes, they headed towards the Family Fun area or joined in the 5k Fun Run.
The 5k participants were a diverse group ranging from runners, walkers, stroller pushers, first-timers to pros. Lined up according to their pace in their Caribbean blue DBTB5k tees or costumes, they dashed off from the starting point in one long graceful wave that dispersed smoothly over the course. Top 5k finishers were presented with the first-ever finishers prize of Down by the Bay 5k etched pub glasses.
As the Tot Trot & 5k finishers crossed the Finish area, they made their way to the Family Fun Area for post-race snacks and enjoyed the merry sights of everyone, young and old, having fun with our Sponsors, the creative games, and the tranquility of this nature preserve. The Family Fun Area featured over 10 different games and activities, from Obstacle Course, Face Painting to the Photo Booth, both sponsors and participants had a blast.
Thank you to our wonderful Sunnyvale Firefighters who pulled up alongside the curb in their shiny red Fire Truck. Little tots and big tots alike gathered around for Firefighter sticker badgers, photos and lots of curious Q & A’s.
As the event wound down, our volunteers and parents pitched in with the clean-up and left the beautiful Baylands Park, a nature preserve, as clean and beautiful as when the event begun.
A happy end to a wonderful morning, we look forward to the next Down by the Bay 5k in 2017.
But before this story ends, we thank our volunteers for the efforts that went into making this event. The event fully tapped into the talents of everyone and the results were nothing short of impressive. We thank them for all their work, before, during, and after the event, in all aspects of their participation.
2016 Event Details:
Sunday, November 13, 2016
Baylands Park, Sunnyvale
9:00am .5k Kids’ Tot Trot (8 & under)
9:15am Family Activities Open
9:35am 5k Run|Walk|Stroller Race Starts
10:45am 1st Place 5k Runners Announced
11:00am Event Concludes
* This event will take place rain or shine
* Costumes are highly encouraged!
See 2016 Race Results here!
Timing by Synergy Race Timing
Thanks to our 2016 Organizers!
- Jeanine “Jean” Lee (Chair)
- Eve Byer Young (Chair)
- Brigitte Braumann
- Devon Conley & Social Committee (Family Fun)
- Hatty Lee (Graphics)
- Jessica Person
- Laura Lillibridge
- Lauren Rodrigues
- Nidhi Jain
- Pauline Peng
- Sarah Gordon
- Yanneth Tomas
Special Thanks to Megan and Jeremy Hanken for providing 5k course equipment and donating their time to setting up/taking down the race, Three Years in a row.
Check out the 2016 photo albums below
