The 2011 OC Marathon will kick off Sunday, May 1, in Newport Beach with a new course and thousands of runners.
The local race is considered one of the best full and half-marathon courses in the state because of its diverse terrain, sloping course, and beautiful ocean views. The race begins in Newport Center and travels through Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Santa Ana, and Irvine before it ends at the OC Fairgrounds.
The OC Marathon is USATF certified and serves as a qualifier for any U.S. marathon.
Part of the race weekend will be “Kids Run the OC,” in which the marathon will host a record number of schools and kids on Saturday, April 30.
The idea of the program, held at the OC Fair and Event Center, is to promote physical fitness and education and to promote a generally healthy lifestyle to combat childhood onset obesity. The race will host 57 schools encompassing 3,000 children. The students will accumulate the equivalent of 25.2 miles through a training program with faculty and/or volunteers, and complete their last mile at the April 30 run.
Due to environmental concerns, a new start line located on Newport Center Drive in front of the Newport Beach Marriott will be used in the full and half-marathons. The trail then leads through Corona del Mar on the bluffs overlooking the coastline, before turning inland and heading towards the Back Bay. The runners will make their way through Dover Shores and continue into Costa Mesa.
Perhaps the most staggering fact about the marathon is that last year, it generated $20.78 million in positive economic impact. The OC Marathon has evolved into a significant revenue generating machine for the region and has cemented itself as the biggest marathon in the area.
More than 15,000 runners will participate in the seventh annual OC Marathon, half marathon, Wahoo’s 5K, and Kids Run the OC. An estimated 25,000 spectators will line the course throughout the county while an additional 30,000 are expected to attend the two-day Nutrilite Health & Fitness Expo, which showcases national brands and state-of-the-art footwear in training technology.
With so much viewing area and a ton of city streets to cover, the event will generate buzz all weekend. Keep in mind that the roads and traffic could be more crowded than usual, so plan accordingly.
To find out more about the OC Marathon and the Health & Fitness Expo visit ocmarathon.com.
