13 April 2016, 10am
Big Sur International Marathon
Sun 24 April 2016
More than 5000 elementary school students along with parents, teachers and families have signed up to participate in the By the Bay 3km fun run in Pacific Grove, California on 23 April.
This largest ever Big Sur Marathon event now ranks as the third largest kid’s race in the USA and the largest event in the Big Sur portfolio. The Marathon itself is capped at 4500 in accordance with highway permits. The other distances (21km, 10.6, and 9 miles, plus a 5km and 4-person relay) all have individual caps ranging from 750 to 1600. The Sunday events host 10,000 participants for the six distances and all except the 5km are sold out.
In 2008 the kid-focused 3km moved from marathon Sunday to a different venue on the Saturday and has been steadily growing. This year’s 5146 surpasses last year’s total by 20%. “The growth of the By the Bay 3km reflects a growing interest in youth fitness in our community,” said Race Director Doug Thurston. The marathon provides bus grants to schools coming from longer distances throughout the Salinas Valley. For many children this event along the scenic Monterey Bay coastline provides their first ever glimpse of the ocean.