Resolution Festival planned to be an inspirational day on Jan. 1
By Daily Press staff
SM PIER — Everyone needs a push when it comes to New Year’s resolutions.
And at the Santa Monica Pier on Sunday, New Year’s Day, there will be dozens of people on hand to guide you toward success for 2006.
Rain or shine, the pier is hosting the first annual Resolution Festival, which is the brainchild of Lawrence Cohen, whose resolution for 2005 was to take more risks. Cohen is self-funding the Resolution Festival. He is taking the financial risk, believing that offering a venue and support network will pay off for hundreds, if not thousands of people.
The day will start with a 9 a.m. ceremony, followed at 10 a.m. by a Soft Sand Run, which will be led by Gary Deckman, who last year lost 71 pounds on There also will be a 10K run on the beach, as well as a 10,000 Steps Walk. Due to high surf, the county lifeguards have canceled the Polar Bear swim event.
There will be a “Spinning by the Sea,” event that includes 21 bikes on the sand. The charity spin will last for five hours beginning in the morning and be led by top spinning instructors, as well as actor Jack Scalia. To reserve a bike, e-mail to There is a suggested minimum donation of $25 per hour or $100 for five hours. Proceeds will go to the Johnny G Foundation. The day will end with people writing their resolutions in the sand with bamboo sticks.
The 10,000 Steps Walk will be led by Ernie Van Leeuwen, who for 10 years has been the oldest person in the Los Angeles Marathon and has recently undergone major digestive surgery.
Those events will lead up to the free “New Year/New You Expo.” The expo will feature lectures, demonstrations and booths offering supportive products and services. Throughout the day’s events, which go from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the stage will feature lectures and demonstrations designed to inspire and motivate individuals to reach and sustain their New Years’ resolutions, Cohen said.
Between 40 and 50 vendors — from financial consultants to health food experts to physical fitness trainers — will be on hand to give resolution seekers advice and guidance.
The festival has a “no excuses” theme, meaning it will happen rain or shine. The day’s opening ceremony recognizes athletes who represent the Challenged Athletes Foundation, which embodies the no excuses philosophy at the heart of the Resolution Festival.
Participants of the walk, run or swim will be able to designate $10 of their entry fee to the foundation, which has satisfied more than 1,700 funding requests from challenged athletes throughout the world.
Participants also have the choice to donate to four other non-profit organizations: ■ The Johnny G Foundation, which was established by the creator of the spinning phenomenon, provides support for individuals recovering from heart conditions. Johnny G, who was named one of the top 10 fitness icons by Men’s Fitness Magazine, will top the list of motivational speakers during the expo. ■ Operation USA was established to support victims of hurricanes. Of every dollar donated, 98 cents will go to Operation USA to re-establish health clinics serving low-income people. ■ Team Parkinson was established to raise awareness about Parkinson’s Disease and funds for research. ■ TreePeople has worked with the people of Southern California to give them tools to take environmental action into their communities through forestry, education and sustainability programs.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 31, 2005. Read the original PDF.