Marathon slated for Huntington Beach

A record number of runners and walkers from around the globe are soon

expected to converge on Huntington Beach for a weekend of exercise and

mingling.

Next week’s Surf City Health and Fitness Expo will culminate with the

sixth annual McKenna Volkswagen Pacific Shoreline Marathon from 7 a.m. to

2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27 at Pier Plaza in Huntington Beach.

Taking over as race director, Louise Weaner expects about 6,000

runners to enter the four race categories that include a marathon,

half-marathon, 5K or Youth Mile Run.

“We expect about 800 runners for the marathon, which would be a record

number,” said Weaner, who’s been involved in organizing the race since

its inception in 1997. “There’s a team of 10 runners from Nigeria that

will be running.”

A few changes will mark this year’s race, among them is the addition

of a beer garden that will be setup for participants at the end of the

race.

This new addition has been the cause of much controversy.

The Huntington Beach Police Department was emphatically opposed to the

garden saying it could set a precedent for organizers of future events

near the beach that they don’t want to see.

“Beer and sand traditionally haven’t mixed,” said Police Chief Ron

Lowenberg.

But event organizers feel adding a beer garden will keep the race

competitive with other larger marathons and feel it is important it be

included.

“People train for years and years for this and it’s a nice spot for

all the people to go in and celebrate after the race,” Weaner said.

“Special events like these have to keep up with the times to be

competitive.”

The beer garden will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on race day for

race participants only. All alcohol must stay inside the fenced area.

Runners in the marathon and half-marathon will not be using the

multipurpose path in Bolsa Chica State Park for this year’s race because

of construction in the park, but will instead travel north along Pacific

Coast Highway to Warner Avenue and turn around, said course manager

Franca Del Colle.

Course record holder Gilbert Salazar from Los Angeles will race as

will last year’s winner Robert Leonardo. Salazar set the record in 1999

with a time of 2:27:26.

The three-day Surf City Health and Fitness Expo will take place at the

Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort the Friday and Saturday before the race

and at Pier Plaza on race day.

More than 40 vendors and exhibitors will be offering food samples,

clothing, cookware and housewares, Weaner said.