Dennis O'Hanlon — Blog — Manhattan Beach 10K Run

We Are Unique

The Manhattan Beach 10K is unique in many ways. One special way that we set ourselves apart from other races is that we have bands along the course that play to entertain and motivate the runners as they head to that gorgeous finish line.

Today we are featuring one of these bands, Fallen Arches, formerly known as the Dennis O’Hanlon Assemblage. We were able to interview the founder Dennis O’Hanlon and Frank Giffen, who now manages the band.

Meet Dennis

We lived in Hermosa Beach for 30 years until 2009, when we moved to Gig Harbor, WA. My wife Bonnie and I often come down to see friends and play the 10K run gig. Bonnie and I have been playing on that same corner on Blanche since 1989.

We have always surrounded ourselves with musician friends. I am a semi-retired guitarist, bassist and singer. Still do some gigs up here. I passed the band over to Frank Giffen a few years ago.

Meet Frank

I found Dennis’ group the first time I ran the 10K. I’d been enjoying the other bands along the route and as I was coming up the street I could hear, but not see, the band, and I thought, “That sounds like Dennis and Bonnie,” and then quickly discovered that it WAS Dennis and Bonnie and the others. I stopped and said “Hello,” Peter Yollin gave me his guitar and I played a song with them, then went back and finished the race.

A year or two later, I left my guitar and amp with them beforehand and then ran the race, stopping to play another song when I got to that corner. After that, Dennis invited me to play with them each year, and when he moved to Washington, he gave the gig to me.

Peter and his son Max have played with me and a couple of former bandmates I recruited each year, and aside from the early call time, it’s a fun gig. I love seeing co-workers, friends, and one year my daughter, running the race and calling out their names as they run by. And of course, Dennis’ song is always a treat to sing.

The Manhattan Beach 10K Run Song

Dennis wrote a song entitled The Manhattan Beach 10K Run Song around 1995! It has been sung at every race since. We asked him some questions about the song and the race.

What inspired you to write the song?

The inspiration was all the fun those folks running by were having. Most of the songs we did were running related..."Born to Run", "Walk Don't Run","Running on Empty", and of course near the end, the stragglers would hear something like "Baby Elephant Walk" So I based my song on the Ronnette's hit that had the chorus, "Da do run run, da do run run". Mine has the riff "They do Run Run....

What’s your favorite memory about playing at the Manhattan Beach 10K?

Bonnie and I loved seeing the folks who lived near our corner come out each year. We saw, in 27 years, young families blossom. Small children grew and went off to college. Lovely to be a part of that longevity.

How was the corner on Blanche chosen as your spot to play?

There was a bluegrass band on that corner way back in 1985. They had been there for a few years, but opted not to continue. John Post was a friend of mine from my old craft show days. He knew I was a musician and asked me if I wanted to do the gig. For the first few years we were a bluegrass group, banjo, stand-up bass etc. We morphed into more a contemporary band.

Sing Along

Now as you pass the Fallen Arches you can sing along with them!