Dec. 13 half marathon may lead to annual Inland Valley marathon race
POMONA - The first L.A. County Half Marathon on Dec. 13 on a course winding through Pomona, La Verne and San Dimas may be the first step to an annual full marathon race in the area.
The 13-mile run will involve numerous local partners and is being organized by former Olympic pole vault champion and Pomona native Bob Seagren and his company, International City Racing.
The announcement was made Monday (Nov. 16) afternoon at Fairplex, which will serve as the starting and ending point of the running event.
"It's a distinct pleasure to welcome Bob Seagren back to Pomona. We hope this event grows and becomes another longtime Fairplex tradition," said Jim Henwood, president and chief executive officer of the Los Angeles County Fair Association.
For Seagren the marathon, which he hopes to make a signature event, is a dream come true.
"We're here today because for at least 10 years a dream of mine has been to do a run in Pomona," Seagren said Monday.
Seagren is familiar with the area having graduated from Pomona High and Mt. San Antonio College before going on to USC.
This area marks "the start of my athletic career and (it's) near and dear to my heart," Seagren said Friday.
Seagren's Long Beach-based organization is responsible for putting on the various running events around Southern California including the recent Long Beach International City Bank Marathon which drew 22,000 runners.
The goal is to have a half-mile marathon this year and the next and then turn it into a full-size marathon by the third year, Seagren said.
Half marathons are the fastest growing area of interest for runners, he said, adding it is something that doesn't require as much training and preparation as a full marathon yet "it is a major accomplishment in itself."
In addition to the half marathon, there will be other opportunities to participate including a bike tour, a one mile run for kids and a 5K run/walk that will benefit the Mt. San Antonio College Foundation which is raising money for the construction of the Heritage Hall Education Center.
The facility will serve to showcase the accomplishments of Mt. SAC's outstanding athletes and those that have competed there.
Monday afternoon Seagren said he was "a mediocre high school pole vaulter in 1964" the year he graduated from Pomona High.
The coaching and mentoring of long-time Mt. SAC track coach Don Ruh was what turned him into the athlete he became, Seagren said.
Seagren earned a gold medal in the pole vault in the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City and a silver in the 1972 Olympics in Munich. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s he was one of the best in his sport.
Ruh, Mt. SAC track coach from 1963 to 1994, said after the announcement that to carry out an event such as this "takes a very special person to do that," and Seagren is that special person.
Seagren has never forgotten Mt. SAC and during his time as an executive of a major athletic shoe company it sponsored the Mt. SAC Relays.
The half marathon event will include several partners such as Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center which will provide medical assistance to athletes during the event should they need it and will be part of a free Health and Fitness Expo taking place at Fairplex that weekend.
The half marathon will be important for the three cities directly involved and beyond, said Richard Yochum, hospital president and chief executive officer.
Pomona Mayor Elliott Rothman said an event such as this one "is going to put us on the map," adding it's also something many are looking forward to.
Registration information is available by going to www.runlacounty.com or through www.fairplex.com.
Leave a comment