Close to 2,000 runners expected at PV half marathon, 5K
This month marks the end of an era for the longest-running marathon in the United States. After 45 years, the former Palos Verdes marathon has been reduced to a half marathon and a 5K run, which takes place May 19. The event promises the same beautiful views on a challenging course along with sponsorship booths and a beer garden in the Pelican Cove parking lot near Terranea Resort on race day, said race chairman John Williams. “It’s been a great tradition,” Williams said. “We really regret we can’t do the full marathon any longer but times have changed and the half has just taken over.” Race organizers with the Kiwanis Club saw attendance for the marathon languish in recent years at around 200 runners while the half-marathon continued to gain more support. This year will likely draw around 1,200 people for the half marathon and about 800 for the 5K. “It was very painful for us to do that (to not have the marathon.) But I think everyone is comfortable with why we did it. We’ve now built up more amenities for the half marathon runners,” said Walt Walston, race director with W2Promotions. With expenses rising and fewer applicants, the cost of the full marathon became too much to…
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