Pacific Shoreline Marathon set for Jan. 30

Eron Ben-Yehuda

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- Pacific Shoreline Marathon organizers are expecting

more than 8,000 participants from all over the world to run in this

year’s event, set for Super Bowl Sunday, Jan. 30.

Because not everyone can finish the 26-mile marathon -- the only one in

the county -- the event also will include shorter courses stretching 13

miles, five miles and three miles. For children, there are “fun runs,”

ranging from a quarter of a mile to a full mile long.

For those who aren’t too tired after the race, a variety of sports

exhibits will be on display at Pier Plaza, including football tossing,

climbing rock walls and a golf green, said race director Herb Massinger.

Post-race festivities also will include live entertainment, featuring the

instrumental surf band The Breakaways and Flamenco guitarist Robbie

Longley.

“He’s probably one of the best known guitarists that ever lived on the

planet,” Massinger said.

A food court will offer munchies provided by Mother’s Kitchen.

The city is an ideal location for a marathon because it’s flat and

scenic, thanks to 8 1/2 miles of shoreline, Massinger said. The racing

will kick off at the pier at 7 a.m. and last until about 2 p.m.

Until now, the races ran mostly along Pacific Coast Highway. But this

year, organizers are debuting a new course that snakes through the city.

Runners will pass through Central Park and skirt the edges of the Bolsa

Chica wetlands.

The course will require closing off some residential neighborhoods to

vehicular traffic and parking, said Ron Hagan, the city’s community

services director. Main Street, previously blocked off, will remain open

because merchants had complained in the past that business suffered, he

said. Notices were mailed to all residents along the route warning them

about the times for street closures and suggesting alternative routes and

parking spots, he said. But Hagan realizes that some people will still

complain about the inconvenience.

“Nobody likes to be put out,” he said. “[But] if New York can close the

Brooklyn Bridge, if San Francisco can close the Golden Gate, if Boston

can close Boston Commons, I think we can survive a few hours of

[closures],” he said.

If the event attracts the expected number of runners and sponsors, the

city should make a modest profit of between $8,000 and $12,000, he said.

The event, which is publicized in running magazines throughout the world,

also will reinforce the city’s image as a health-oriented community, he

said.

Officials hope to avoid a repeat of last year’s event, when heavy rain

kept many people indoors and volunteers accidentally pointed runners in

the wrong direction during the race. Although there’s nothing anyone can

do about the weather, volunteers along the route have been replaced with

paid staff, Hagan said.

Before race day, there will be a Super Carbo Load Party on Jan. 29 at the

Huntington Beach Beer Co., where you can mingle with runners and eat a

meal of pasta, salad, bread and ale for $10.

The entry fees for the runs are $55 for the marathon, $35 for 13 miles,

$22 for five or three miles, and $13 for the fun runs. Prices will

increase after this Sunday.

For an entry form, call 536-3525 or log on to the Web site at o7

marathonrun.comf7 .

FYI

WHAT: Fourth annual Pacific Shoreline Marathon

WHERE: Huntington Beach Pier

WHEN: 7 a.m. Jan. 30. Entry forms available now.

WEB SITE: marathonrun.com

CALL: 536-3525