Shore winner

Paul Clinton

Gilbert Salazar hopes to give himself a little something extra

this year for his birthday. Something like a fourth win in the city’s

annual Pacific Shoreline Marathon, set for Super Bowl Sunday.

Salazar’s 30th birthday falls on Sunday, the day organizers are

scheduled to hold the seventh-annual McKenna Volkswagen Pacific

Shoreline Marathon.

“I’m looking forward to participating this year,” Salazar said.

“Winning four will be a dream come true.”

Salazar, who lives in Long Beach, won the annual race last year,

as well as in 2000 and 1999.

Robert Leonardo is one man standing in the way of Salazar’s quest

for four out of five titles. Leonardo, who lives in Van Nuys, won the

race in 2001.

“I’ll do my best,” Leonardo said. “I don’t have anything against

[Salazar]. I just like to compete against that guy in that race.”

The competition has been good for the event, which has grown from

a small city race to a more regionally noticed marathon that is now

an officially-sanctioned qualifier for the Boston Marathon.

More than 6,000 runners are expected this year, up from the 1,300

who participated in the inaugural marathon held in 1996. It is the

only marathon in Orange County.

“It started as the little marathon that could,” Event Manager Kira

Leasure said. “For some reason, we have been able to build enough

support that we’ve been able to experience the growth that we were

hoping to see.”

The marathon now draws runners from more than 40 states and 10

countries. It is sanctioned by USA Track & Field, the governing body

for many marathons. The event does not offer cash prizes to winners,

but is still able to draw professional runners, Leasure said.

City leaders have also enjoyed the blossoming of an event that

occurs outside the busiest tourist season in the summer, when crowds

from across the Southland come to Surf City for its popular beaches.

“It’s a good event for the city,” Mayor Connie Boardman said. “It

brings people in during a slow period for us.”

Assistant City Administrator William Workman is participating in

the marathon on Sunday.

This year’s event features four races. The main event, the 26-mile

marathon, kicks off at 7 a.m. Sunday. A half-marathon is also

scheduled for 7 a.m. Organizers are also offering a 5K run, at 8:30

a.m., and a Surf Kids Mile race at 10 a.m.

Runners can register for the races from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday, from 9

a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and from 6 a.m. to race time on Sunday.

Anyone who still wants to participate needs to register at the

event’s expo tent, near Duke’s Restaurant at Pier Plaza. The tent,

measuring a colossal 300 feet by 50 feet, is expected to be erected

today.

To participate in the marathon as a runner costs $75. The

half-marathon costs $45; the 5K costs $35; the one-mile costs $20.

As for scheduling, all the races should be wrapped up before the

Super Bowl kickoff at 3 p.m. The nation’s biggest TV event of the

year hasn’t deterred marathoners in the past, organizer Leasure said.

“It seems to work in our favor,” Leasure said. “People are already

in the mood to do something. They add this to their schedules that

day. It’s a pre-Super Bowl thing.”

Leasure, who has worked as a manager with the Salt Lake City

Marathon, is the event’s new manager this year. Leasure’s group, Race

Pace Promotions, is mounting it for the first time this year.

This year’s event will also mark the return of the beer garden,

which debuted last year to a tremendously popular reception. This

year, runners and guests can grab four eight-ounce beers for a small

donation. A portion of the event’s proceeds will be donated to the

Ocean Conservancy, Leasure said.

This year, organizers are expanding the beer garden by moving into

the expo tent. The tent will also feature some 60 exhibitors selling

various products ranging from sunglasses to home loans.

* PAUL CLINTON is a reporter with Times Community News. He

covers City Hall. He may be reached at (714) 965-7173 or by e-mail at

paul.clinton@latimes.com.