Orange County Marathon organizers today announced a course change for the annual event, to be held on May 1 this year.
The new route will take runners off of Back Bay Drive – in response to environmental concerns raised by the Department of Fish and Game – and instead route them through Dover Shores on the other side of the Bay.
The marathon will have a new starating line, in front of the Newport Beach Marriott in Newport Center. Runner will loop around Newport Center clockwise, move onto MacArthur to Coast Highway, then over to Dover Shores and turn inland toward the OC Fairgrounds.
“The OC Marathon is sensitive to environmental concerns about running on Back Bay Drive posed by the U.S. Dept. of Fish and Game so we implemented a course change,” said Race Director Gary Kutscher. “The new route is more downhill, the ocean views are better, and the course is more welcoming with added neighborhood participation.”
More than 15,000 runners are expected for the marathon, half marathon, Wahoo’s 5K and Kids Run the OC. An estimated 25,000 spectators line the course and the start line in front of the Newport Beach Marriott and finish line at OC Fair and Event Center, while an additional 30,000 attend the two-day Health, Fitness and Nutrition Expo which showcases national brands and state of the art footwear and training technology.
More information is available at www.ocmarathon.com.
