The theme for the 2012  Race to Robie Creek  was “Samurai Sailtoad”.

On Saturday April 21, 2012 at the race start point,  Kimbal Anderson Sensei and members of Komyozan Dojo performed embu of Itto-ryu iaido, misogi-no-jo and misogi-no-naginata. They were joined by Yurek Hansen (Butoh dance) and Dwayne Blackaller (taiko, shinai). Before the race start, Kimbal Anderson Sensei performed a ritual purification on the race gantry,  to bless the race as a powerful focus of natural forces  and for the safety of the runners.