LAGUNA BEACH : Two Streets to Be Closed During Races

Police are advising motorists to avoid the Laguna Beach area early Sunday because two major city streets will be closed temporarily so runners can participate in a fund-raiser for city schools.

“Basically, if you don’t have to come through Laguna, don’t come through it,” Police Department spokeswoman Bernadette Bertsch said. “That’s basically what we’re saying because it will be a mess.”

In addition to SchoolPower’s annual Laguna Beach Classic 10-kilometer race, two shorter runs have been added to the program to encourage new runners to participate.

The traditional 10-kilometer race and a new five-kilometer race will begin and end at the Sawdust Festival grounds, with pathways that include stretches of Coast Highway and Laguna Canyon Road. A one-kilometer run for children 12 and under will take place on Laguna Canyon Road.

Last year, 2,500 runners took part in the event, which generated more than $30,000 for SchoolPower, an education foundation that raises money for Laguna Beach public schools.

To accommodate the runners, police will partially close Laguna Canyon Road on Sunday between 7:30 and 10 a.m. Motorists will be escorted through the canyon, causing delays of at least 30 minutes, Bertsch said.

South Coast Highway will be closed between Broadway and Laguna Avenue from 7:43 to 8 a.m., and again from 8:13 to 8:30 a.m.

All participants will receive T-shirts and race winners will be awarded other prizes. The class from each school with the largest number of runners will be treated to a pizza party.

Registration is possible on the day of the race, beginning at 6 a.m. at the Sawdust Festival grounds on Laguna Canyon Road. The cost is $18 for adults and $12 for children.

The earliest race starts at 7:45 a.m. A pancake breakfast will be held before the event.