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    Joseph Esparza (left) and Aaron Campbell, both of Arcata, were the first two runnners to cross Little River and they ended up placing first and second in the 8 3/4-mile race.
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    Benjamin Stern (left) and Sam Dannenbring, of McKinleyville, used the splash-and-dash technique to cross Little River.
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    This runner from Crater High School (Central Point, Oregon) was one of the few who ended up using the unexpected splash-and-swim technique to cross Little River.
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    Cedar Smith, of Eureka, was the first woman runner to cross Little River and finished second among women runners to Jennifer Jannenbring, of McKinleyville.
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    Lanore Bergenske, of Fortuna, ended up finishing first among 17 women runners aged 60 and older.
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    Trinidad Head provided a scenic backdrop to the river crossing at Little River (runner Kelly Ridgway, center).
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    Alex Alvarado, of Ferndale, was all smiles at the Little River crossing and said she was using the race as training for a marathon later this spring.
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    Rebekah Evans, of Orinda, Calif., was photobombed by Danny Holmes, of Eureka, as she snapped a selfie while crossing Little River.
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    Andrea Carby, of McKinleyville, and a crowd of runners splashed their way across Little River.
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    Long-time race volunteer Richard Verseput, of McKinleyville, provided a shoe shuttle service at Little River (runners could choose the option of running barefoot the rest of the race on the ocean beach while their shoes were delivered to the finish line).
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    Finishing the 8 3/4-mile race once wasn’t enough for the costumed runners from Crater High School (Central Point, Oregon) – after finishing the race, they chose to run back to their vehicles at the starting line.
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    First stop after crossing Little River in bare feet for Siobhan Ayres – put on her dry socks and shoes for the remaing miles on the ocean beach.
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    Joseph Genova and Ginger Greenlee, of Eureka, were all smiles as they headed south on the ocean beach to the finish line.
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    Rebekka Lopez, HSU Marching Lumberjacks axe major, led the band in the traditional “Rubby Duckie” tune as they headed for their annual dip in the ocean surf near the end of the race.
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    Rebekka Lopez (center right), HSU Marching Lumberjacks axe major, and fellow band members retreated from the cold and rough ocean surf after their traditional march into the ocean.
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    Raise awareness about autism and get some exercise were the goals of Zack Roberts, of Eureka, and Hannah Lippie, of McKinleyville. Roberts was one of the very few runners in costume this year.
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    Runners stopped by the healthy-snack table after the race and, in addition, were offered post-race a bowl of hot chili in a tent located on the beach near the finish line.
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    Axe major Rebekka Lopez and her HSU Marching Lumberjacks companions neared their annual dip in the ocean surf at the end of the race.
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    Rather than getting wet, this HSU Marching Lumberjacks trumpet player chose to play a tune for his companions as they dashed into the ocean surf.
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    A very chilled Kristen Tarsala, a trombone player in the HSU Marching Lumberjacks, joined runners gathered around the fire post-race after she and band-mates did their traditional march into the ocean surf.