RUNNING / BARBIE LUDOVISE : Is Orange County Ready for a Marathon Now?

OK, local runners, what’s the first thought that comes to mind when you hear the words “Orange County Marathon?”

A) What? Not again!

B) Is there really such a thing?

C) Are you sure you mean Orange County?

D) Is this a trick question?

To answer all of the above: Yes. The Orange County Marathon, last seen limping through these parts six years ago, seems to be back on track thanks to a new bunch of organizers--collectively known as Orange County Marathon, Inc. The race is scheduled to start at Anaheim Stadium at 8 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 3, and will finish in Irvine near UCI.

Although rumors have circulated all summer-- “Did you hear? $100,000 in prize money! BMWs to the winners! More world-class runners than at any other event!” --race organizers have declined to release much information on the event, one they continually describe as a “major, world-class marathon.”

For weeks they’ve said they will reveal all at a press conference, now scheduled for Monday at Anaheim Stadium.

But why wait until Aug. 26 to announce plans for a major marathon only 10 weeks away?

“We don’t want to take a lot of steam out of that press conference,” said Robert Taylor, executive vice president of the event.

Apparently, OCM Inc.’s marketing ploy is to attract by intrigue. But while some area runners are embracing the race, others are confused and skeptical. For months, race publicity was scarce. Some runners have received slick, colorful flyers and application forms in the mail.

But without at least six months of advance notice, most marathon hopefuls--novices especially--might not have time to train properly.

Those who have seen marathons come and go in this county might have scoffed at the notion that another was in the works. After all, securing sponsors has been a problem in the past, and with the current economic climate, local corporations aren’t exactly tossing their dollars around.

(If you don’t believe it, check with Long Beach Marathon officials. Long Beach was the chosen site for the women’s portion of the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials next year, but had to give up the honor when organizers couldn’t come up with the sponsorship money. The trials have since been awarded to Houston.)

The last marathon to swing through these parts was the 1985 Orange County Marathon, co-sponsored by The Irvine Co. and the county Board of Supervisors at a cost of about $160,000. The race drew 900 runners, but a year later, The Irvine Co. dropped out, citing a desire to focus its gift-giving to other areas, such as the arts.

Since then, every attempt to put on a world-class marathon here--or any marathon--has failed, mainly because of money.

Apparently, current OCM organizers envision a much brighter future.

The race has the enthusiastic backing of several local politicians--making red tape less sticky--and a sponsor list that includes a tire manufacturer, an airline, a cable television sports show, a rent-a-car agency, a radio station, a local business/retail publication, a hospital and a utilities company.

But sources say that even without the help of sponsors, the OCM organization has the financial strength to fund the race for two to three years, thanks to a trust fund inherited by OCM founder Kent Bowen.

Lynn Flanagan, president of In Motion, the marketing firm that produces the San Diego Marathon, says she has heard plenty about the financial stability of the Orange County event. But she is leery.

“I heard they’re asking $125,000 to $250,000 for title sponsorship,” Flanagan said. “That’s the highest price around. It’s as if they went around seeing what everyone else charged, then went higher.”

The San Diego Marathon--scheduled this year for Dec. 8 in Carlsbad--has been around in some form since 1954. Flanagan said it is long-term dedication and planning that makes a marathon successful.

“I think in this business, you have to pay your dues. You don’t start out being a world-class event in your first year,” she said. “I’ve heard Orange County thinks it’s going to be a New York (City Marathon) right away. That’s not very realistic. It makes all of us in this business wonder what’s going on.”

Los Angeles Marathon President Bill Burke was a bit more blunt when asked what he thought of OCM’s future.

“They’re on their way to oblivion,” Burke said. “Oblivion right down the 405.”

The L.A. Marathon, now in its eighth year, took six years before turning a profit, Burke said. Last March, it drew a record 21,380 runners. Burke says he doesn’t think Orange County will last more than a year.

“I’m in the marathon business, so I am hopeful all marathons everywhere are successful,” Burke said. “The more popular the sport, the better it is for everyone. But in this economy, all businesses are having difficulties. We know the Long Beach people lost the Olympic Trials because they couldn’t raise (sponsorship money). If they can’t do that for an Olympic Trials, how is Orange County going to do it?”

The people at OCM aren’t talking about any of this on the record . . . at least, not this week.

Only time--and maybe Monday’s press conference--will tell.

Looking Back: It hasn’t always been called the Orange County Marathon, but the county has hosted several marathon events, most of which were of the small, neighborly variety.

Twenty years ago, the 1971 World Masters Marathon in Anaheim drew 310 entrants, 240 of whom finished. Ivy Gorman, then a 38-year-old homemaker from Costa Mesa, was among the contestants.

“It’s the only marathon they’ve ever let women in,” Gorman told The Times a day before the race. “I’ve run with the men before just for the fun of it, but I’ve never been officially entered.”

The race’s director, Bill Selvin, invited some of the world’s greatest marathoners, including Derek Clayton of Australia, then the world-record holder at 2 hours 8 minutes 33 seconds. Clayton didn’t show.

Said Selvin: “There’s no reason why Orange County can’t conduct a marathon on the same plane as the Boston Marathon.”

In 1983, Anaheim Stadium hosted an “Anything Goes-A-Thon,” where about 1,000 entrants ran, walked, hopped, cycled, skipped and roller - skated their way 12 times around the stadium parking lot--all to raise money for charity.

Notes

The World Track and Field Championships start Saturday in Tokyo and run through Sept. 1. PattiSue Plumer, a former Newport Beach resident, will run in the women’s 1,500. Plumer, a 3,000-meter specialist, chose the shorter distance to improve her speed for what she hopes will be a run at a medal in the Olympic 3,000 next year. Danny Harris, the No. 1-ranked intermediate hurdler in the world, will attempt to win his first world championship. Harris, who trains at UC Irvine, recently bought a home in the hills of Orange. Tom Tellez, the head U.S. men’s coach for the meet and head coach at the University of Houston, started his coaching career in Orange County at Buena Park High and Fullerton College. Tellez is most famous, however, for currently coaching the world’s top two sprinters, Carl Lewis and Leroy Burrell.

Race Schedule

Saturday: Orange County Blue Angels 8K Cross-Country Championships. Starts 8 a.m. at Elysian Park, Los Angeles. Information: 891-5529.

Sunday: Santa Monica Marathon, Half-Marathon, 5K. Starts 7 a.m. from Santa Monica College, 17th and Pearl streets, Santa Monica. Information: (213) 458-8311.

Thursday: Sunset in the Park Cross-Country. 2.8 and 4.8 miles. Starts 6 p.m. at Central Park in Huntington Beach. Information: 841-5417.