MB10k Sponsor Spotlight | Gold Arrow Camp

Meet One Of Our Super Sponsors

We are pleased to shine the spotlight on longtime Manhattan Beach 10k sponsor Gold Arrow Camp! You may have heard of them already, as they are a popular camp, but if not read on.

Our Q & A With Audrey "Sunshine" Monke of GAC

Please tell us about Gold Arrow Camp.

Gold Arrow Camp is a children's camp on Huntington Lake in California's Sierra National Forest. Since 1933, we've provided three generations of campers with a supportive community where their lives are enriched through the friendships they form and the experiences they have at camp. Campers and staff return to Gold Arrow Camp year after year because of the feeling of tradition, community, and belonging that they experience. For many campers, their time at camp is what they look forward to all year long. The fun and the friendships that are built at GAC provide life-long childhood memories for our campers.

In this age of constant screen time, how do you get campers to unplug and interact with each other?

Unplugging and connecting face-to-face is one of our core values. We're so fortunate that our campers and staff embrace the opportunity to unplug for the time they're at camp. Even our teenage campers recognize what a gift it is to be outdoors and away from technology for a few weeks each summer. Because everyone around them (including the staff) are not on their phones, the campers quickly get used to being unplugged...and they learn to love the focus on face-to-face interactions. Many campers report that their camp friends - who they only spend a few weeks with - are their closest friends. This is likely because they have so much concentrated, face-to-face time together with no distractions. Our nightly campfire chats are a highlight of camp for our campers.

What sets you apart from other camps?

We are a super rustic, outdoorsy camp and we focus on all non-competitive, recreational activities. Our philosophy is that kids need a break from academics and competitive sports and camp is the perfect place to have fun, make friends, and grow. We have an incredibly loyal community of families with many second and third generation campers as well as over 100 five-year campers each summer.

Tell us about the green blankets.

Our campers and staff who spend five summers at Gold Arrow get a special Five-Year Blanket, embroidered with their name. These are treasured in our community. The blankets are modeled after football blankets. Our camp's founder, Manny Vezie, played football under the famous coach Knute Rockne at Notre Dame University, so our camp blankets are the color and style of the football blanket Manny had during his Notre Dame days in the 1920s.

How long have you been a sponsor of the Manhattan Beach 10k?

We know we've been participating since at least 2009, but it could have been even earlier.

Is there anything you can reveal about what you are cooking up for your expo booth this year?

We are excited to be giving out reusable grocery bags!

What do you most love about the Manhattan Beach 10k?

It's a one-of-a-kind community event that really gets people out and celebrating your amazing city. We love seeing the crowds and the energy as we run through the neighborhoods and then by the pier. It's always fun for us to see current and past staff, campers, and families who stop by our booth to say "hi" and check in with their camp family. We also love to run and have an informal running team called the GAC Runners made up of our campers, parents, staff, and alumni. We love coming out to run together proudly sporting our green GAC Runners shirts while also supporting the amazing Manhattan Beach community.

Find Out More About Gold Arrow Camp

Click here or call: 800-554-2267

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Early Registration

If you missed our Extra Savings window for the 42nd Annual Race on October 5, we’ve got you covered! Right now we have Early Registration going on until September 23, 2019.

Pricing

• $35/ages 15+

• $30/ages 0-14

At this time we have online registration open. Visa/Mastercard payments only, processing fee applies. In-store registration opens September 1st at Village Runner, 1840 N. Sepulveda Blvd, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 Cash, check, Visa/Mastercard accepted, processing fee applies to credit card purchases. If you have any questions about the race please visit our Event Details and FAQs pages.

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Have You Seen These?

We are throwin' it back to our early days when these shirts debuted! Village Runner, Manhattan Beach is now selling I’m Training For The Manhattan Beach 10k tanks and tees for $20. With each sale, they are generously donating $5 to us so we can give back even more to the community! Get yours before they are gone and train with us.

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THE MB10K IS A NON-PROFIT EVENT AND THE PROCEEDS ARE DONATED TO COMMUNITY FITNESS-RELATED CAUSES & SCHOLARSHIPS. THE RACE COMMITTEE ORGANIZERS AND RACE STAFF ARE VOLUNTEERS.  

WE'LL SEE YOU AT THE STARTING LINE ON OCTOBER 5, 2019!

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Sign up below and we'll send you valuable information about the Manhattan Beach 10k Run.

Image Credits: Gold Arrow Camp & Village Runner

Sponsor Spotlight | GROW

Meet Barry Fisher 

Barry, along with his wife Kathy, own GROW in Manhattan Beach and Downtown Los Angeles. They specialize in farm-fresh produce, artisan cheeses, prepared meals, meat, fish & other gourmet groceries at their mom-&-pop markets. They have been a sponsor of the Manhattan Beach 10k since they opened their doors in 2006. Each year our racers make a beeline to the expo to grab handfuls of their refreshing grapes!

Our Q & A With Barry

Your produce shop GROW in Manhattan Beach opened in 2006, please tell us how you got your start.

It began with the need for a boogie board.  Our son sold fruit in front of our home to raise money for a boogie board.  We sourced fruit from growers whose fruit I export to Asia.  Our neighbors appreciated the quality and began leaving notes in our mail box with cherry orders for my son.  This is how we got the idea to open GROW.

Being from the Central Valley, how did you choose to settle in Manhattan Beach?

A good friend recommended Manhattan Beach when I was moving to a new company based at LAX.  The weather was picture perfect the day we arrived to look at homes.  We fell in love with Manhattan Beach and did not look at any other communities.  To this day we know we made the right choice.   

You recently opened a second location in Downtown L.A., how does this location differ from your Manhattan Beach spot?

The biggest difference is each shop’s customer base.  South Bay customers are typically families while DTLA is generally single people.  We took the Manhattan Beach model to DTLA and quickly learned we needed to make some dramatic changes for GROW to meet the needs of our new customers.  The prepared department, grocery and alcohol departments are the sales base for DTLA while produce, grocery and meat/fish are in MB. 

What do your markets specialize in?

GROW specializes in fresh produce, prepared meals, meat, fish, select groceries and artisan cheeses. 

Why should people shop at GROW vs other markets?

That is a great question.  I think the best way to answer this is from what customers tell me:

1. "You have the best produce and my kids eat more of it because it tastes so good."
2. "I trust the items in your store as I feel you take the time and care to insure they are good to eat and my family will enjoy them."
3. "I have a hard time eating a filet at any restaurant since I can prepare yours better at home."
4. "GROW is a local business who supports our community more than any other grocery store in Manhattan Beach."
5. "I love that I can park my car right by the door, be in and out in less than 5 minutes with a great meal. I love the convenience."
6. "Your morning delivery is perfect. I can order by midnight and everything is on my doorstep by 7:00 am the next morning. And you pick better produce than I can!"
7. "I am a member of these cults: GROW salsa, GROW guacamole, GROW chicken noodle soup, GROW pork chops, GROW cherries."

You sponsor many South Bay schools and charities. What inspires you to give back to the community in this way?

We live here.  This is our community and we care about our schools.  Our children were taught from Grand View to MBMS then Costa.  We feel the schools in our community are the foundation of Manhattan Beach and deserve our support.

Now that we are in the midst of summer, what’s your favorite produce for this season?

It changes every week!  Most people will see “plum” or “yellow peach” at a typical grocery store.  What many people who do not shop GROW don’t realize is there are so many varieties of pluots, peaches, nectarines, plums and grapes.  We educate our customers about the differences. On stone fruit, they change about every 10 days or so.  Understanding this, my taste jumps around each week.  Today, I like the Red Phoenix pluot.  In about 10 days, we are going to have my favorite plum of the year- the Emerald Beaut.  What is great, customers have been asking for the Emeralds for over a month - they know what good fruit is. 

How long have you been a sponsor of the Manhattan Beach 10k?

We opened Sept 19, 2006.  We were at the MB 10k two weeks later cutting oranges.  I remember that day perfectly as I was cutting oranges until my left hand was numb. Runners are excited to see us at the finish line year after year! 

How did you first get involved with the race?

Our friends at Village Runner recommended we participate.  So glad they reached out to us.  This is the longest partnership we have had with a community event.

What can participants expect to see at your booth this year?

The same as the past two years- Pristine and Sweet Scarlet grapes.  Last year’s runners searched us out because of the great flavor and CRUNCH.  We love seeing people take a bunch then come back, then back, then back, then in the shop asking, “Where is that grape I had at the MB10k?”

What do you most love about the race?

Seeing our friends, neighbors and GROW customers after the race.  Love to hear shout outs from runners saying nice things about the shop and our great staff.  But what we really love is that we feel we are part of the community.

A Special Treat For You

Barry and Kathy have generously offered a double discount to our race participants! After you pick up your race bib from Village Runner, MB in October, take a few steps to your left and visit GROW for your food shopping. They will give you 10% off before the race and 10% off after the race when you show them your bib.

GROW South Bay

1830 N. Sepulveda Blvd.
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
310.545.2904

Hours:
9am-8pm, Mon-Fri
8am-8pm, Sat
8am-7pm, Sun

Don't Miss Out On Our Registration Deal

Early Registration is going on now through September 24, 2018.

PRICING THROUGH SEPTEMBER 24:

• $30 Youth (14 & under)

• $35 Adults
   

Please Note!

Online registration is open NOW at www.mb10k.com and ends October 1, 2018 at 11:59 p.m.

In-store registration opens September 1 at Village Runner, Manhattan Beach and ends October 5, 2018.

THE MB10K IS A NON-PROFIT EVENT AND THE PROCEEDS ARE DONATED TO COMMUNITY FITNESS-RELATED CAUSES AND SCHOLARSHIPS. THE RACE COMMITTEE ORGANIZERS AND RACE STAFF ARE VOLUNTEERS.

Come celebrate the 41st running of the MB10k and run or walk - October 6, 2018 at 7:30am!  

We'll see you at the starting line!