You couldn’t have asked for better weather for the 34th Annual Super Bowl Sunday 10K/5K Run/Walk, a major fundraiser for the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce.

Billed as "Presented by Kaiser Permanente," the event, which cost more than $200,000, came together through the efforts of hundreds of people ranging from local police officers to the public works department.

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Some workers had to struggle out of bed at an ungodly hour to make it to Seaside Lagoon by 5:45 a.m. to help out with registration. Volunteers, including Cindy Harris of Hermosa Beach, versed runners as to where to find ATMs and pick up T-shirts.

Then there were the three Future Firefighters Association members from El Camino College—Allan Montoya, Robbie Clough, Anthony Rosas and their friend, Bernice Bareng—who instructed participants on how to use the new technology embedded in the bibs.

For the first time in its history, the 10K went wireless this year. Runners filled out entry forms via laptop computers and received bibs implanted with microchips that would record race times down to the second.

The timing system, computerized race bibs, registration terminals and tables, and race results were supplied by Timberline Timing Systems, a firm based in Fort Collins, Colo. that provides timing equipment for races nationwide, including triathlons and cross-country ski competitions.

The added expense of going wireless also meant a slight fee increase for runners, who paid from $30 for a single 5K slot to $180 for a six-person 10K corporate team.

Unlike past years, this year's registration lines were short and the wait was minimal. Organizers encouraged entrants to pre-register on Saturday or earlier online, as well as making 20 stations available for registrations instead of the usual 10.

Nevertheless, Marna Smeltzer, the president and CEO of the Redondo chamber, spent some fretful hours hoping all would go well with the new technology.

“I’m used to seeing long lines for registration,” Smeltzer said Sunday as she assessed the relatively small crowd waiting to enter one or two of the three races. “I was very concerned [that] we were down in numbers.”

She needn't have worried.

Judging by the river of runners crowding Harbor Drive for the start of the first race, a 5K (3.1 miles with views of King Harbor and the Esplanade), there looked to be several thousand, including many in costumes. Others with little ones in baby buggies waited on the sidelines for the upcoming Baby Buggy 10K, and even more awaited the crowning 10K.

Prior to the races, a costume contest—enthusiastically commentated by Councilman Steve Aspel—showcased all manner of characters, including Batman, Catty Woman, a chorus line of Lady Gagas, Girl Scout cookies and a trio of knights wearing beer cartons.

All bundled up in a knit hat and sweatshirt, Smeltzer, who has never entered the race in her 25 years with the chamber, almost did this year. She ended up, as usual, standing back to help in what she called the “solutions” area—the place runners go if they have problems—ready to put out fires anywhere they erupted.

But the chamber’s biggest fundraiser went so flawlessly that the director was somewhat at loose ends.

Smeltzer credits the success of the event to her race staff, including people like Leslie Page, manager of the Redondo Beach Marina; Tracey Nelson, chamber finance manager; and Spectrum Sports, the outfit that has managed the Redondo Beach 10K for seven years.

“We’re just happy it’s nice, sunny weather,” said Spectrum Vice President of Events Kevin Carrera, who was helping various vendors set up to sell everything from T-shirts to five-minute massages to tennis shoes at the Health & Fitness Expo on Saturday.

Spectrum is a part of the reason Smeltzer is able to say, “The event practically runs itself.”

It’s Spectrum’s job to coordinate all the city permits; hire vendors to provide tents, trucks, T-shirts and traffic control equipment; and work in conjunction with the Redondo Beach Fire, Police, Public Works and Engineering departments.

“We preset all the registration tents, all the expo tents, pre-stage the beer garden and pick up any deliveries we have coming in on Friday so we can be ready to rock and roll by 10 a.m. Saturday,” Carrera said.

The company also helps arrange sponsorships (Michelob Ultra sponsored the expo) and rents booths to vendors such as health-bar vendor Larabar, Chase Bank and State Farm.

Carrera and his crew were on site at 3 a.m. on race day to fence sections of the 6.2 mile course along the Esplanade, barricade streets and set up start and finish line.

The biggest presence at the Health & Fitness Expo, a massive open space hemmed by 40 white tents and centered by an inflatable arch, was Kaiser Permanente’s Health Mobile.

Kaiser clinicians offered free biometric health screenings for blood pressure, glucose, body mass index (how much weight you should carry) and cholesterol, among others.

As he awaited his results, Redondo Beach resident Scott Bergonzi said the screening “is a nice little checkup to know where you are with your health.” This was the second year Bergonzi underwent the tests; however, it was his third year running the 10K, he said.

The major reason companies participate in the expo, most said, was to spread the word about services and/or products.

One such company, DermFx, a spa on Pacific Coast Highway in Redondo Beach, had three representatives talking about various treatments, including microdermabrasion, Botox, photo facials and facelifts.

DermFx representative Michele McPeak Baltz, a Redondo resident, said the company had just expanded into the wellness category. To that end, she said, the spa offers injections of Vitamin B12 (for energy) and B5 (anti-stress), as well as injections of Lipoden (for fat burning) and IVs to help build stamina.

Although the primary thrust of the expo is health and fitness (e.g., the Healthways-Blue Zones Vitality City initiative, spinal checkups, sunscreen), there were plenty of booths devoted to sunglasses, hair bands, clothes and free (healthy) snacks like Clif bars. Village Runner, a Riviera Village retailer, sold running shoes.

All in all, it appeared to be a successful event. Officials announced Sunday morning that 9,000 runners were participating; however, Smeltzer said Monday morning that the amount of money raised through the race and the expo was not available.

Proceeds will likely fund business workshops, the "Student Leader for a Day" program, the "Senior Dance" hosted by the Redondo and Torrance chambers of commerce, Man and Woman of the Year awards, business surveys, a "Shop Local" initiative and other community reinvestment programs, Smeltzer said.