Elings Terrain Festival

If you’re like most people, you’re probably snacking your way through the holiday season. Why not start your battle against the bulge now, and help local schools at the same time?

Consider this your personal invitation to run in the Elings Terrain Festival. The event offers three community cross country races — a 5k, a 3k for kids and a 3k for the dogs — Saturday, at Elings Park in Santa Barbara.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the cross country programs at San Marcos, Dos Pueblos and Santa Barbara High Schools. Like all California schools, their athletics programs are in need of funding.

“I’ve seen the way cross country can affect a kid’s trajectory,” said race director Paul Bradford. And Elings is the perfect spot. “You’ve got sand, dirt, grass, switchbacks, hills, flat, really fun,” Bradford said.

For more information, log onto www.elingsterrain.com.