Closing of PCH May Be Hurdle for Marathon

HUNTINGTON BEACH — City leaders are planning what will be the first marathon in Orange County in more than a decade, hoping it will become an annual event attracting thousands of runners and spectators.

But they also are wary of what it will require: the closing of Pacific Coast Highway until 2 p.m. on Super Bowl Sunday.

Council members Monday will be asked to approve a resolution calling for the closing of Pacific Coast Highway between Beach Boulevard and Warner Avenue from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Jan. 26.

Community Services Director Ron Hagan said police and fire departments and downtown-area residents have expressed concerns.

“There will be some inconvenience,” Hagan said, “but Super Bowl Sunday has always been dead at the beach. If we could build this event up, we could bring a million-dollar boost to the city each January.”

The Orange County Marathon will be the first officially sanctioned 26-mile run in the county since 1985, according to Herb Massinger, president of Race Pace Promotions of Dana Point. It will serve as a qualifying run for the Boston Marathon.

Massinger coordinated the last marathon, which was sponsored by the county and the Irvine Co.

“There have been efforts to bring a marathon to Orange County for years and years and they’ve all faded away,” he said. “This is the last major metropolitan area in the country that doesn’t have a signature marathon.”

The marathon route will stretch from the Huntington Beach Pier to Warner Avenue and back in a figure-eight pattern. Unlike the Los Angeles Marathon route, the nearly level course could help runners set speed records, Massinger said.

“From the standpoint of world-class runners, this will be a fast course,” he said.

About 3,000 runners and 1,000 spectators are expected to take part in the day’s events, which include a half-marathon, 5K and 10K runs, and a downtown street fair.

Councilman Dave Sullivan said Caltrans officials have indicated they will grant the city permission to close Pacific Coast Highway for the event.

For registration and information: (714) 661-6062. Registration forms are also available at City Hall.