Santa Margarita Lake hosts 8th Annual Chicken Run in memory of sisters

By Camille DeVaul · Thu Jan 15 2026

Santa Margarita Lake hosts runners of all ages in memory of Brittni and Brynn Frace

ATASCADERO — Runners of all ages and abilities laced up their shoes and hit the trails around Santa Margarita Lake on Sunday, Jan. 4, for the 8th Annual Running Chicken Fun Run. The event, which features 5K and 10K courses, is held each year in memory of sisters Brittni “Bitti” and Brynn Frace and has grown into a beloved tradition that brings the community together while supporting the next generation of local runners.

The course itself holds special significance, as it follows the very same trails the sisters ran while students at Atascadero High School. While the 10K route presents a more challenging route with hills and winding paths, the 5K option allows runners of all skill levels to join in the fun. This year's theme was 'We Got This!,' and the bibs that the runners wore were made out of a design that Brittni made prior to her passing — like years before, the race is always themed around artwork and sayings that the girls used to say.

Nearly 250 runners completed the event despite a forecast that had some participants worried.

Warren Frace, father of Brittni and Brynn, said, “We had a really good race, everybody was really excited about how it finished up ... the weather turned out fine for the race, but the forecast, I think, scared a lot of people off. For the race it was good. It was kind of cloudy, but no rain ... all the rain was after the race, which was perfect.”

Top overall finishers showcased both youth and experience. In the 10K, Connor Fisher, 31, of Reno, Nevada, led the men’s field with a time of 39:08, followed by 16-year-old Rudy Uribe of San Luis Obispo at 40:02, and 20-year-old Dane Hardy of Atascadero at 40:40. In the women’s 10K, Nora Pizzella, 28, also from Reno (and Connor Fisher's wife), finished first in 43:52, while 17-year-old Tilly Ralston of Atascadero crossed in 47:34, and 16-year-old Bella Tomasini of Atascadero finished just one second later at 47:35.

The 5K race also featured impressive performances. Jameson Mora, 41, of Paso Robles, took first in the men’s division at 16:28, with 15-year-old Robert Pullen of Santa Margarita at 19:26, and 24-year-old Garrett Stouffer of Atascadero at 20:04. In the women’s 5K, Kailyn Gunther, 34, of Santa Margarita, led the pack at 22:56, followed by 16-year-old Peyton Hamann of Atascadero at 23:42, and 40-year-old Shawna Dobson of Santa Margarita at 23:45.

A new addition to the race this year was the Granny Goose Award, honoring the sisters’ late grandmother, who had been the race’s biggest supporter and sponsor. First-place winners in each age group received a “Chicken” bell in recognition of their achievement, while the top three overall finishers earned beautifully crafted glass art awards. Frace noted that the new timing system allowed for quick identification of winners, making it easier to celebrate both overall and age-group champions.

Beyond the race itself, the Running Chicken Fun Run serves as a fundraiser. The foundation established in Brittni’s memory provides scholarships to student-athletes at Atascadero High School and Paso Robles High School, as well as a scholarship at Chico State for a cross-country runner. It also sponsors young athletes in need of running shoes, with over 300 pairs provided to date. Nearly $50,000 in scholarships have been awarded, supporting the next generation of local runners and fostering a lasting legacy.

Frace reflected on the broader impact of the race, “It's a nice time to remember and reflect on Brynn and Brittni, and then it's just a great event where you bring all these folks together, to have a good time, so it's kind of a celebration at the same time. And then the proceeds going to this next generation of runners [leaves] a nice legacy. A lot of the scholarship winners, we see them showing up and running at the race year after year. You're building a legacy and community, it's really gratifying to see that.”

With a successful event in the books, the Frace family is already looking ahead to next year’s race, scheduled for Jan. 3, 2027. The Running Chicken Fun Run continues to honor Brittni and Brynn while creating opportunities and memories that will last for generations.

To find out more about the Run 4 Bitti and Brynn Foundation, visit run4bittiandbrynn.org

Feature Image: Running Chicken Fun Run organizers Warren Frace (far right) and Shari Frace (center) pose with the top three finishers of the 10K race — (from left) Connor Fisher, of Reno, Nevada; Rudy Uribe, of San Luis Obispo; and Dane Hardy, of Atascadero — after the event Jan. 4 at Santa Margarita Lake. Photo by Rick Evans/ATN