The name this year may be different, thanks to the addition of a new title sponsor, but the Tri-City Medical Center Carlsbad Marathon and Half Marathon still offers the same allure for runners around the globe: coastal courses, sold-out races, the chance to raise money for charity, and a kids race set in a theme park. As anyone who's seen the thundering herd traveling down Carlsbad Boulevard can attest, this race is a big deal. Here's a look at some of the people who make this event so special, as well as all the essential race details.

Events

• The marathon (26.2 miles)
• The half marathon (13.1 miles), named by Runners World magazine as one of the top 25 half marathons in the United States
• The Keebler Kids Marathon Mile for children 12 and younger
• The Health & Fitness Expo, with more than 80 vendors of athletic wear and accessories

Tri-City Medical Center Carlsbad Marathon and Half Marathon Schedule

Except where noted, all races start and finish at Westfield Plaza Camino Real, Highway 78 and El Camino Real, which is also the site of the Health & Fitness Expo.

Friday, Jan. 22
Health & Fitness Expo—2 to 6 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 23
Keebler Kids Marathon Mile—8 a.m. (at LEGOLAND California)
Health & Fitness Expo—10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 24
Marathon Start—6 a.m.
Half Marathon Start—7:30 a.m.
Health & Fitness Expo—7 a.m. to noon

Street Closures:

Expect street closures on Marron Road and Jefferson Street near Westfield Plaza Camino Real, and along Carlsbad Boulevard south to La Costa Avenue. Runners will also loop inland on Palomar Airport Road and some smaller side streets.

More Info:

www.carlsbadmarathon.com

Local Company Is Perpetually in Motion

When Lynn Flanagan founded Carlsbad-based In Motion, Inc. in 1981, she had no idea she'd one day be producing a world-class running event like the Tri-City Medical Center Carlsbad Marathon and Half Marathon. "If I'd known how big it would get, I would have been too scared to start the company," she says with a laugh.

Since then, more than 500,000 adults and 65,000 children have participated in events managed by In Motion, and $25 to $30 million in charitable funds has been raised. With 1,500 runners in the marathon and 8,500 in the half marathon, it's the largest event In Motion produces every year, having managed it since 1990, when it was still called the San Diego Marathon. The company also produces and owns the Keebler Kids Marathon Mile, the Union-Tribune Race for Literacy, In Motion Fit and San Marcos Fitness Roundup.

"Our entire family is grateful for the opportunity to share our passions for physical fitness and charitable causes with the entire community," says Flanagan, 68, who now works part time overseeing the marathon's charity program, elite runners and entertainment. This year's race includes 19 beneficiary charities, and In Motion also continues to make an impact on the local community with events such as the Retired Shoe Drive and a blanket drive for those in need.

In Motion is truly a family affair, with all four of Flanaga's children—Christine Adams, Ellen Larson, Patrick Flanagan and Katie Johnson—on staff. Adams took over the reins as CEO last summer. "We enjoy being a boutique company, and our goal every year is to produce the best marathon, not the biggest," says Adams. "Limiting the number of participants…ensures that everyone has a great experience.

Participants come from across the globe to compete in the marathon and half marathon, and kids age 12 and younger can even take part in the fun Keebler Kids Marathon Mile at LEGOLAND California. The 2010 marathon weekend features 27 bands along the course, with more than 2,000 volunteers who help the event run smoothly. In Motion also produces the Komen Orange County Race for the Cure, Komen San Diego Race for the Cure, Kids Magic Mile, and SeaWorld Shamu and You Family Walk for Rady’s Children’s Hospital.

For more information, visit www.inmotionevents.com.

The Running Man

When it comes to running the Carlsbad Marathon, Oceanside resident David Kloz is known as the hometown hero. The 34-year-old running coach, who is the leader of the Carlsbad-based BSK Running Center team, has placed in the top six every year since 2002 (his highest finish was second place), making him the most consistent top finisher in San Diego County.

The hometown advantage definitely has its perks for Kloz, who has more than 20 marathons under his belt with a personal best time of 2:29:12. A former Cal State San Marcos All-American who trained under the legendary Steve Scott, Kloz runs portions of the course once or twice a week. "It's definitely one of the best runs in San Diego County and maybe one of the most beautiful marathon courses in the U.S.," he says.

Kloz's favorite section of the race route is along Highway 101 from Tamarack Avenue running south toward La Costa Avenue. "This race is one of the few along the ocean without huge hills like the Big Sur Marathon or the La Jolla Half Marathon, which makes it a nice, easy run," he explains.

He's even willing to give up some of his secrets to running the course well: "The big secret is to hold back during the first half of the race," Kloz says. "And when I say hold back, I mean hold your horses. If you normally run at a 5:30-minute-mile pace, pull back to a 6-minute pace. Once you hit the top of Palomar Airport Road at the U-turn, your legs are warmed up and you can open up your stride and let the adrenaline kick in."

Volunteer Picks Up the Pace

One of the keys to a great race is a solid group of pace runners to keep participants on track to meet their goal time, which is one of the reasons pace groups are offered as a free service to all marathon and half marathon racers. Trevor Sybert, Vista High School’s head track coach and boys cross country coach, was the 10-minute-mile pace runner for the 2009 half marathon. "I was running a slower than normal 'run pace' for me, but that wasn't the hard part. Holding that sign for two hours and 10 minutes was tough," he says with a laugh.

A pace runner can garner an entourage similar to that of Forrest Gump on his run across America. "That's definitely what it feels like at first," explains Sybert. "In the beginning, you have a dedicated group of about 15 people following you closely, so I did feel like Forrest a little bit. It was exciting to encourage them, and assure them they were on pace."

His group members all reached their goal, including a Kenyan native who hadn't run since moving to the United States about 12 years ago. "I told him that he should have been leading the group, but he explained he'd never run a half marathon before," adds Sybert. "He was kind enough to carry my sign for awhile, though, so I'm looking forward to seeing him again this year!"

Sybert graduated from Vista High School in 1995 and continued his running career at Biola University, where he reached nationals in both cross country and track three years in a row—a difficult feat at the collegiate level. Now he's back at his alma mater for his third season of coaching. "My school pride is already there, which makes coaching a lot of fun."

Sybert has run six half marathons, but there's something special about this one. "It's really a fun course, fairly flat and the crowd that it draws is amazing," he says. "This race really is a big deal!"

If you're planning on running the half marathon, look for the guy holding the 10-minute-mile sign. And if you're feeling extra nice, offer to carry it for a little while!

The Race's Beating Heart

The Carlsbad Marathon encourages participants to "run for a reason" by raising funds for the charity of their choice. One beneficiary charity that has become a race mainstay over the last three years is Heart for Africa. This organization supports African orphanages in several countries including Swaziland, where more than 200,000 children are orphaned.

Team leader Caroline McGraw had run marathons before, but after visiting Swaziland with Heart for Africa, she decided to run the marathon with the sole focus of raising funds for the organization. The following year, the marathon approved the group as an official beneficiary charity. Last year, the team included 25 runners, but this year the number has more than doubled to 60.

They're already well on their way to raising their goal of $20,000, which will fund a July event in Swaziland called Celebrate Litsemba, which means "hope." The king of Swaziland has donated the use of the national stadium for the momentous occasion, and 15,000 of the country's orphans will be in attendance to receive care packages and take part in a musical celebration, as well as get medical support after the event. "The money we raise will provide transportation for these orphans to and from the event, along with a blanket, food, water and a handmade beanie for each child," says McGraw's husband, Tom.

A team is staying on after the event to get local churches connected with the children. "We don’t just want to hop on a plane and leave no action plan," he adds "Our goal with this event is to lift these kids up, to lift their spirits and let them know someone cares for them."

More than 300 volunteers will be traveling to Swaziland with the group to organize and produce the event. For more information on Heart for Africa, visit www.heartforafrica.org; to learn about the marathon's other beneficiaries, visit the "Official Charities" section of www.carlsbadmarathon.com. •