Catalina Connection

Annual Avalon Benefit 50k/50 Mile Run

By: KATHERINE M. CLEMENTS

AVALON— On Jan. 7, The 42nd Annual Avalon Benefit 50k/50 Mile Run will take place from 5 a.m.- 5 p.m., beginning at Crescent and the Pier Avalon to benefit the Avalon Lions Club, which supports local charities. The 50-mile run will take place from 5 a.m.-5 p.m., and the 50K run will go from 6 a.m.- 5 p.m. The Avalon Lions Club and event management company Spectrum Sports organize the race. The Avalon Benefit, 50 Mile/50K Run, is California’s oldest Ultra Trail Run. It was originally just the 50-mile run. The 50K joined the event in 2018 and instantly became a California classic in trail running traversing the same trails that the older run uses.

Participating in the Avalon Benefit 50Mile/50K gives runners an up-close and personal experience of one of California’s natural running trails across Catalina Island. Runners will experience Catalina’s vistas and views of the Pacific Ocean, see a bison or two and say hi to some of the volunteers and aid stations. It costs $120 to participate in the 50-mile run and $110 for the 50k— runners must register in advance online at https:// www.avalon50.com.

The run begins and ends in Avalon, and in between, runners will have to run the entire length of the island - and back. After the race has concluded, several award tiles and trophies will be given to overall winners according to age groups.

“The age group awards are made by local artist Robin Cassidy at Silverado Canyon,” said Mike Bone, President of Spectrum Sports. “Finisher medals are also provided to each finisher of both races; these are sustainable, wood medals.”

For questions about this race, please contact the race director at info@spectrumsports.net. The 50K race joined the party fi ve years ago and instantly became a California classic in trail running traversing all the same trails that the older run uses.

CALENDAR EVENTS AT SEAWORLD SAN DIEGO

SeaWorld Inside Look

SAN DIEGO— From January 14-16, SeaWorld will be offering SeaWorld’s Inside Look, a unique event that will take guests behind the scenes and give them an inside look into what it takes to maintain a zoological institution such as SeaWorld San Diego. The tour will let guests learn what it takes to be on the SeaWorld Rescue Team and will dive deeply into the world of orcas, dolphins, sharks, and more. Guests will hear and see firsthand everything it takes to provide the animals with care.

The park will be open from 10 a.m.-7 p.m., and the Inside Look tour is included with the price of admission.

For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit https://www. sandiego.org/members/attractions/ seaworld-san-diego/events/seaworld-inside-look.aspx.

By: KATHERINE M. CLEMENTS

SeaWorld Mardi Gras

SAN DIEGO—For select dates from Jan. 21- Feb. 27, SeaWorld San Diego will bring Mardi Gras excitement to San Diego. The New Orleans-styled carnival event will be accompanied by live music provided by the Good Time Jazz band, colorful costumes, and Mardi gras infused creole and cajun foods like jambalaya, beignets, and more. Throughout the day, performers will put on shows near the Sky Tower stage to show off their costumes and lead family-friendly games and activities.

For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit https://seaworld.com/san-diego/ events/mardi-gras/. The almost 59-year-old theme park offers events monthly, from educational purposes to family-friendly experiences.

Crossword

ACROSS

1 Scholarship qualifiers 6 Where St. Pete is 9 They’re numbered in N Y C 12 Williams of “Happy Days” 13 Small batteries 14 Hootchy --15 Coach 16 Love, possibly? 18 “--- Baby” (“Hair” song) 19 Mme., in Madrid 20 Exclusively 21 C acid 24 Twigs 27 Half of a 1955 merger (Abbr.) 30 TV chef LeeKong 31 “Bad, Bad --- Brown” 33 Hard throw, in baseball 34 They cause disgust 38 Gathers goats, perhaps 40 Tubes 42 Mauna --43 Borodin’s prince 47 Statement of indebtedness 49 Bowie’s weapon 50 Sporting association 51 Three-key computer bailout combination 52 Greene of “Bonanza” 53 Letters after a proof 54 Measure of conductance 55 Computer operator?

DOWN

1 Disk connection standard 2 Put down 3 Piedmont wine center 4 A cinch 5 Ratio of audio gold to dross? 6 Danish isle 7 Actress and communications inventor 8 Active Japanese volcano 9 Looks after the outer person 10 Implement 11 Big name in electronics 17 French pronoun 19 Educ. institution 22 Mersey beater? 23 Nasty if teamed with Donna 24 Hiatus 25 Wipeout 26 Scrooge 28 Pro 29 River at Ghent 32 Ocean cycles 35 N Y C mayor, once 36 Sham 37 Singer of 2011 single

“California” 39 Abilene-to-Waco dir. 40 Roulette bet 41 Boxer’s attire 44 Encircle 45 A Woman --- Importance (Oscar Wilde) 46 Roger of “Cheers” 48 Verb for Popeye 49 Airline to Amsterdam Crossword solution on page 18