FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
27th Surf City Marathon and Half Marathon presented by 361° Returns
to Huntington Beach
Orange County's iconic road race will send 15,000 runners
up and down the Pacific Coast Highway on Sunday
HUNTINGTON BEACH - This Sunday, February 5, the 27th annual the Surf City
Marathon and Half Marathon presented by 361° returns with 15,000 runners.
The popular Orange County road race is a convenient destination event with
the expo, headquarter hotels, start line and finish line festival all
taking place along the Pacific Coast Highway just steps away from the sand.
Phil Anthony is the brand manager for 361, an Irvine-based performance
footwear brand, which becomes the first presenting sponsor in the event's
history. He was raised in Huntington Beach, graduated from UC Irvine and
lives in Costa Mesa.
"As a performance footwear brand, 361 represents the ideal of going one
degree beyond," said Anthony. "We are always thinking of ways to support
the running community and to provide enhanced venues for all athletes to
achieve their goals, be it to run faster, farther or simply enjoy a day
with family and friends."
Anthony is quite familiar with the Surf City event, having run both races
multiple times. Few courses are more scenic with the out and back layout
hugging the coast, waves crashing in the background and the Huntington
Beach pier as a landmark.
"It's just a beautiful, iconic setup," he said. "The PCH and Huntington
Beach are iconic Americana locations. This is an event that's aspirational
and inspirational. It's not just dedicated to the elite, high-performance
runner. It's welcoming to people who want to get out and be active. Really,
it's a festival-style event."
One of running's all-time greats, Sylvia Mosqueda, will be on the course
Sunday, running the 5K. Mosqueda, 56, ran at San Gabriel High, East Los
Angeles College and Cal State Los Angeles. She qualified for the U.S.
Olympic Trials five times in the 10,000 and twice in the marathon.
"I know the half marathon (course) like the back of my hand," said
Mosqueda, who has run the event multiple times. "I know every spot. It's a
beautiful course."
Mosqueda is easing into the 2023 running season, starting with the 5K this
weekend.
"I've always put so much pressure on myself," she said. "I decided this
year I'm just going to come out and enjoy myself, see what I can do. Let
things happen gradually rather than being so forceful."
For those running the marathon and half marathon, Mosqueda thinks the
participants are in for a treat.
"I like out and backs," she said. "You can see people coming and going.
People can cheer you on. It's beautiful scenery with the ocean. People root
you on and let you know how far ahead or back you are."
Mosqueda finds the setting and her fellow runners to be inspiring.
"You're not the only one suffering out there," she said. "You're looking at
their pain. You see people older than you and think, ‘If they can do it, I
can do it.' Now that I'm an older woman, I hope I motivate people. It's not
always about winning. It's about being fortunate to be out there, enjoying
what you love to do."
361° will create an interactive exhibit at the two-day Active Lifestyle
Expo on Friday and Saturday at the main Huntington Beach parking lot. The
wellness expo is open to the public and will feature the latest in running
gear, nutrition and fitness apparel.
The running gets started on Saturday with the Beach Mile on the Sand at
11:00am. Participants can take the ‘Cowabunga Challenge' by completing both
the mile on Saturday and any distance on Sunday to earn the coveted bonus
medal.
Race Day begins on Sunday at 6:30am with the marathon, 5k at 7:00am and
half-marathon at 7:45am. Starting and finishing on the iconic Pacific Coast
Highway, the coastal course is flat and fast, perfect for a Boston
Qualifier or running a personal best.
After crossing the finish line to the cheers of family and friends,
participants celebrate their accomplishment at the oceanfront finish line
festival and Michelob Ultra beer garden.
For more information or a weekend scheduled of events, please visit
www.runsurfcity.com.
About the Surf City Marathon
The 27th annual Surf City Marathon and Half Marathon presented by 361° will
take place on Sunday, February 5, 2023. One of Southern California's
favorite races, the scenic course gives runners a first-class tour of
Huntington Beach with a convenient start and finish line located just steps
from the oceanfront. A two-day Active Lifestyle Expo kicks off race weekend
in Huntington Beach Parking Lot on Friday and Saturday. The experiential
expo is free and open to the public featuring numerous vendors offering the
latest in health and wellness, running gear, nutrition and informational
clinics. Further information about the race can be found online at
RunSurfCity.com
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