COPS RUN FOR CHARITY ON SANTA CRUZ ISLAND

Cops Run For Charity

October 22, 2016

October 17, 2015 Santa Cruz Island

November 19, 2022 Santa Cruz Island

November 2, 2024 Santa Cruz Island

COPS RUN FOR CHARITY ON SANTA CRUZ ISLAND

Six deputies at the Ventura County Sheriff's Office started the 13.1-mile half-marathon run on Santa Cruz Island in order to get more people involved in the wilderness and especially Channel Islands National Park. The Cops Running For Charity (CRFC) have raised over $250,000 helping children live healthy in the outdoors.

Since the run inception, Ventura County Sheriff Search and Rescue have been on the course volunteering and in the management and activities of the run. The run raises money to help the community, while supporting activities in Channel Islands National Park. Since 2024 the course was planned to occur entirely on The Nature Conservancy property.

• 1. October 22, 2011
• 2. November 3, 2012
• 3. October 26, 2013
• 4. November 1, 2014
• 5. October 17, 2015
• 6. October 22, 2016
• 7. November 3, 2017
• 8. October 26, 2019
• 9. November 14, 2022
• 10. November 4, 2023
• 11. November 2, 2024
• 12. October 25, 2025

COPS RUN FOR CHARITY ON SANTA CRUZ ISLAND:

OCTOBER 22, 2016

NUMBER	NAME	GENDER	AGE	PLACE
1	WARING, Sasha	male	35	FIRST PLACE
2	MILLER, Randy	male	51
3	GREER, Michelle	female	56	(mother of #5)
4	SPAULDING, Betsy	female	57
5	GREER, Isabel	female	23	(daughter of #3)
6	DESBOROUGH, Lane	male	49
7	LUND, Christina	female	51
8	HIESHIMA, Marla	female	51
9	DAY, Shonna	female	53

In the News~

November 7, 2024 {Ojai Valley News]: “‘Amazing’ island half marathon raises money for Search & Rescue Area racers Monroe and Deneen place 1st and 2nd in men’s race. More than 100 runners from throughout the western United States gathered in the fog and rain on Saturday, Nov. 2, at a fundraising event hosted by Upper Ojai Search and Rescue. The Santa Cruz Island Eco Extreme 21K is a 13.3-mile race through the wilderness, on the largest island off the coast of California. The start line for the half marathon was Prisoners Harbor, on the north side of the island, and the course, dubbed the Isla Course, has never been run before in any race. Tim Hagel, a retired captain with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and former Thousand Oaks chief of police, has been organizing the race for more than a decade. “It’s a perfect setting, being able to combine an experience in nature above and beyond anything you could find on the West Coast,” Hagel said. “People tell us it’s the most amazing race west of the Rockies.” The race typically draws a number of biologists and other scientists who compete in Pacific island wilderness while receiving ecologic study and training, according to Hagel. “They get to see the wildlife and the marine biology,” he said. This year, 116 runners vied for bragging rights, paying $205 each to challenge the 1,900 feet of elevation gain and cross the finish line in time for a catered lunch and awards ceremony. The race sold out within six minutes, Hagel said. The event also saw a member of the Ojai SAR team setting a new record for completing the race. Ross Monroe, 35, of Santa Paula, finished with a time of 1:30:05. Average time for crossing the finish line is 3:00:00. “Ross did just over six-minute miles. We’re talking Olympics,” Hagel said. “And this is not an easy course. This is into the wilderness. There’s one hill alone that is less than three-quarters of a mile and it has an 800-plus-foot gain.” The course was breathtaking, according to Monroe. “Limited visibility, but it was also equally as cool running through the eerie fog and coming out not expecting what’s in front of you, but enjoying every minute of it,” he said. “We’re fortunate to have our back yard to train in and to be of service in.” Finishing second among the men was 37-year-old Peter Deneen of Ojai, who regularly trains with Monroe and logged a time of 1:38:03. “An idyllic 1-2 finish,” he said.

During his run, Deneen spotted an island fox, “which has rebounded since the restoration here,” and an island scrub jay, “the brightest blue thing that I’ve ever seen,” he said. Fastest time among the women (1:58:11) was Amy Olin-Matthews, whose brother-in-law works for the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. “I’m happy to be out here supporting him and the rest of the guys and gals,” she said. Running the race for the first time were sisters Megan Leckie, Reilly Cochran and Annie Barnes. Lane Desborough of Thousand Oaks has run every race but the first one. “The volunteers are the best part of it,” he said. “Everybody was so excited to see me at every aid station. It’s my favorite day of the year.” More than 45 volunteers assisted with the race. Ojai SAR Capt. Emeritus Bill Slaughter and current captain Brook Belgum helped man aid stations and said the Isla Course is now a favorite among runners. “They all seem to love it,” Slaughter said. “They definitely come out in numbers for this race,” said Belgum. “It’s a hot topic.” Slaughter thanked property owner the Nature Conservancy, UCSB, the Santa Cruz Island Foundation, Aloha Steakhouse, Topa Topa Brewing Company and Island Packers. Hagel, who now works for the Safe Passage Youth Foundation, which takes referrals of disadvantaged, high-risk youth and keeps them out of jail, said proceeds from the race go to the Ojai SAR unit “for buying equipment and training that save lives,” he told the Ojai Valley News. “It’s beautiful, because they’re out here volunteering in the landscape that they love — the wilderness.””