Walnut Festival Run 10k & 5k

Is this really happening on the same weekend as the Lafayette Art & Wine Fest?
Thumbs down to the Walnut Creek Planning committee… Pull your head out and look around at what else is going on around us
before you begin your planning; it’s not rocket science!
I don’t think your admission fees are going to go over very well especially when people have the Free Lafayette Art & Wine Fest (LAW)??
Furthermore… I can’t imagine the good Art, Wine or Musicians will be present because the LAW fest is a much BIGGER draw?
WC please get it together!!!
Sincerely,
WC resident

We finished! This is my second time running this race, its a fun one. There are a lot of kids at this race and strollers and dogs are allowed. This is more of a family fun run, very relaxed. The course is a loop and for the 10K you go around twice. You run through downtown which is really cool. But I tend to favor races that go through town… I like the urban feel and the people cheering about.
The t-​shirts are tech shirts at no extra cost. This is definitely a must run in Walnut Creek! Afterwards walk (or drive) on down to the Farmer’s market to sample some goodies :-)

This run combines both the 5k and 10k runners at the start, with the 10k runners looping to do another lap. From end to end, starting at Lululemon, it goes up to Civic St. down S. Broadway (past Broadway Plaza), back up S. Broadway, finishing next to Nordstroms. Flat and smooth contour road running with no hills. The start time began at 8am, only everyone should be ready and at the starting line at 7:15am. This was my first time running it, so I’m not sure if attendance was up or down this year. The end results showed close to 800 participants. Regardless, everyone seemed enthused and encouraged. All the kids seemed cheerful and excited, as this definitely was a «run for education». A special run that raises money for Walnut Creek schools. So, I’m proud to have ran and contributed.
In my personal opinion, it’s an excellent 5k run for families and pets. Yes, some people ran with their dogs, which I thought was cool, but it got kids out and runnin’! There was even an award ceremony where kids, and all age groups, received a medal. First through third place (per age group) receive medals only, and they even went up on a podium. Pretty cool!
My only complaint would be ‘packet pick up day’; It’s only available during the «pm» hours only. They didn’t accommodate for people that work during the night. So, whoever sponsors this, please add an «am» pick up time. I don’t want to sign up on race day :) Oh, and on race day, I had no issues finding parking.
Other than that, I enjoyed this run and I plan to beat my time next year. That’s another reason why I liked running this event; They post your times on how you did, and where you ranked. I encourage others to get out there, and sign up for this run next year!

10k and 5k runs in downtown Walnut Creek benefitting education. Choose which school you’d like your $ 35 entrance fee allocated to. 2012 is the 75^th anniversary of the Walnut Festival Association. The Run originally started in the early 1950’s.
Start is at 1201 Main Street, which is completely closed for the event. Electronic timing services provided by On Your Mark Events, using B-​tag devices. For the 10k, aid stations are at miles 1.8 and 4.5 near Whole Foods Market.
Sponsors include Dirito Brothers, WC Orthopedics, Mechanics Bank, Luluemon, Sports Basement, WC Sports & Fitness Club, Wenzel Coaching, Forward Motion Sports, Athletic Outpost, High Tech Web Services and Whole Foods Market.
Net proceeds distributed to individual public or private Walnut Creek schools. School percentages based on designation at sign up by participants.