Photos of the PJ 10K Long Beach's Annual Fun and Funky Run

Exercise and Socialize A Party in Pajamas, And a Beer Garden

PJ10K4InCostume — It's party time in PJs for these runners in the beer garden.

They roll out of bed, go out in public dressed as they are when they sleep, some even with their hair still in curlers.

They gather early in the morning and go for a little run.

It’s the PJ 10K, an annual event in Long Beach, CA, a creative concept that’s a party in pajamas.

The Pajama Run, as it is officially known, is a 10K, 5K and 1K event that takes place the end of June, from downtown Long Beach, along the sand, to Belmont Shore and back. It’s as silly as it is scenic. Participants are required to wear PJs – “It is mandatory to wear appropriate clothing” the rules clearly state –and more than 3,000 take part in it (the 2012 race was Saturday, June 30).

PJ10KFunGirlsBeerGarden — Are they celebrating finishing the PJ 10K or being in the beer garden?

PJ10KHootersHulaHoop — Under the watchful eyes of the Hooters girls, a runner does the hula hoop.

PJ10KCrazyCostumes — Do these people REALLY wear those costumes to bed!?

PJ10KCurlersByBeerSign — Hair in curlers and beer in hand, this runner is ready for the beer garden.

To be clear, this a fun event. The post-race Expo has food and vendor tents and in 2012 organizers added a beer garden, in which participants received a cold can of Michelob Ultra and were encouraged to stay throughout the day. The beer garden is open to the public, too, and beers are sold throughout the afternoon ($5 Bud Light and $6 for a Shock Top and Landshark Lager).

The beer garden also has Hooters girls, and in 2012 people who could do the hula hoop for a minute won a free Hooters calendar.

PJ10KFInishingRunner — Only a few more steps and she can get to the beer garden!

PJ10KRunning — Runners approach the finish line during the annual PJ 10K in Long Beach, CA.

PJ10KRunnersGetBeers — Getting a free Michelob Ultra in the beer garden is a PJ 10K reward.

PJ10KHootersGirlsUltraLean — A welcoming site at the Michelob Ultra beer garden are Hooters girls!

There’s even a post-beer garden party at Shannon’s bar just up the street on Pine Ave.

This kind of activity is what I like to refer to as “exercise and socialize.”

So enjoy the photos, but as a veteran of such things, I do have a few suggestions for the beer garden to make it a real, rocking party:

• Open it a half hour after the start of the race. People want to go in immediately after the finish; eventually it will be nearly as popular as the Super Bowl 10K’s beer garden up the coast in Redondo Beach.

• Have music in the beer garden and put the DJ by the beer garden entrance (a radio station set up inside, but too late to be effective and it was at the back of the large area). Better yet, have a band!

• Hold the costume contest in the beer garden.