Long Beach Celebrates 25th Running of Marathon

Celebrating its 25th Anniversary, the Long Beach International City Bank Marathon and Half Marathon will be held on Sunday, Oct. 11. More than 22,000 are expected to run, walk or ride in the Marathon, Half Marathon, Marathon Bike Tour, Bubba Gump Run Forrest Run 5K and Kids 1 Mile Fun Run. Several special activities are planned as part of the 25th Anniversary festivities.

Marathon weekend includes several related activities. More than 45,000 are expected to attend the two-day Marathon Health & Fitness Expo in Hall C at the Long Beach Convention Center on Fri., Oct. 9 (Noon-7 p.m.) and Sat.,

Oct. 10 (9 a.m.—6 p.m.).  Featuring more than 100 exhibitors, the Expo — FREE to the public — will highlight the latest in the running, health and fitness industry.  All athletes must attend the Expo to pick up their race?packets, and the Expo is also the last place to register for any of the marathon events.  There is no race-day registration or packet pickup.  

On race day, 35,000 are expected at the Finish Line Festival on the Marina Green on Shoreline Drive.  The festival offers live music, food and fun, and is a gathering place and viewing area for friends, family and guests of?all participants.  Like the Expo, the festival is FREE to the public.

2009 event sponsors include: Title Sponsor – International City Bank; Corporate Sponsors, JetBlue Airways – Official Airline; Gotein – Official Race Recovery Drink; Long Beach Memorial Medical Center and Miller Children’s Hospital – Official Hospitals; the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company – 5K Sponsor; Road Runner Sports – Official Running Specialty Store; Buono’s Pizzeria – Official Pizza, Cliff Bar – the Official Energy Bar; Michelob Ultra – Finish Line Festival sponsor; SA Recycling – Official Recycler; BNSF Railway – Kids Run Supporter; REI – Bike Tour Supporter; and Long?Beach Hyatt Hotel – Official Headquarters Hotel. Media Partners include the Long Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau, Prevention Magazine, the Aquarium of the Pacific, the Downtown Long Beach Associates and California?State University Long Beach.

Founded in 1982, the initial Long Beach Marathon hosted around 1,250 runners. From then until 1995, the marathon was run consecutively under the umbrella of the founding non-profit – Long Beach Marathon. Due to financial?difficulties the race was disbanded in 1996 until it was brought back in 1999 under new management.  In 2001, International City Racing (ICR) was awarded the rights to operate the marathon in Long Beach and hosted just?over 4500 participants.  Over the last decade, ICR has helped to grow the event in both reputation and participation thanks to the efforts of the City of Long Beach, International City Bank, the many race sponsors as well?as great community support. On race weekend over 2000 volunteers will help staff the course and finish line. On October 11th, a very special group of 15 original “Legacy Runners” will be running in their 25th Long Beach?Marathon.

For more information on the Long Beach International City Bank Marathon, please visit http://www.runlongbeach.com