Huntington Beach Hosts Over 70,000 for Surf City USA Marathon and Half Marathon

By C. MacDonald

More than 20,000 runners and 50,000 spectators have gathered in Huntington Beach for one of the top racing events in the nation on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 1st. They come from every state and over 33 countries. Many have dreams of using this race to qualify for the Boston Marathon.

The exciting event is California’s largest combined oceanfront marathon and half-marathon–taking runners along scenic Pacific Coast Highway overlooking the Ocean, HB Pier and 300-acre Bolsa Chica Ecological Preserve. Part of the course goes through beautiful Central Park. The fun-filled extravaganza has helped the distribution of more than 40,000 wheelchairs, providing mobility to people around the world through the Irvine-based Free Wheelchair Mission.

“It combines everything everyone loves about Southern California from the ocean and beaches to surf bands and an amazing California Lifestyle Expo,” said Sara DelaHaya, Communications Coordinator for the race produced by RaceForce, LLD, which also puts on half marathons in San Francisco, Oakland, Livermore and a new one–The Sunset Strip Half Marathon and 5K in West Hollywood, April 19, 2015.

This year’s race has more sponsors than ever before, DelaHaya said, including Michelob Ultra, The Waterfront Beach Resort (Hilton), Vitalyte, Dole, MarathonFoto.com, Cliff Bar, the California Resources Corporation and others.

Among the half marathon participants are Katy Portfolio and eight co-workers from Tutton Insurance in Santa Ana; Clare Shweyk, a veteran runner and native of England, and Marc Loopesko, co-director of Run Seal Beach. Numerous vendors help create the excitement inside the huge Expo Tent that’s open from 9-5 Saturday (1-31) and 6-1 on Sunday. The marathon starts at 6:30am Sunday near Huntington and PCH. To find out more about this sensational event, visit runsurfcity.com