Posted: October 5, 2004

Athletics: Carlsbad Marathon woos weather-weary runners

CARLSBAD, CA - In a move to showcase its classic Southern California climate and to reward runners who brave snowy or rain- soaked fall marathons, the Carlsbad Marathon has announced the "I'll Take My Rain Check in Carlsbad* promotion.

During the fall marathon season, runners and walkers who finish any marathon amidst snow or rain will be eligible for either free or discounted entry into the 2005 Carlsbad Marathon - San Diego County's only seaside marathon. The race is set for January 16, 2005.

Carlsbad, located approximately 30 miles north of San Diego on the Pacific coast, has an average low temperature of 47 degrees and average high of 65 degrees in January. Normal rainfall in the San Diego area in January is 1.8 inches. By contrast, Seattle's average rainfall in January is 5.94 inches and Chicago's average snowfall in January is 10.7 inches.

"Southern California is not immune to rain," said Lynn Flanagan, president of In Motion, Inc., organizer of the Carlsbad Marathon and Half Marathon. "But we certainly have much better weather here than in other parts of the country, especially in January"

Free entry into the Carlsbad Marathon (formally the San Diego Marathon) will be offered to finishers of fall marathons where snow covers at least a portion of the course. Marathoners who trekked through their race in the rain will be treated to half-price entry fees. "With major fall marathons taking place in cities such as Chicago, New York and Seattle, we may get a flood of responses," said Flanagan.

The free entry is limited to the first 200 runners who submit their Rain Check application because of snowy fall marathon conditions. The half price entry is limited to the first 200 runners who submit their Rain Check because they ran their fall marathon in the rain.

Rain Check applications are available online at www.carlsbadmarathon.com or by calling (760) 692-2900. Rain Checks must be mailed to: "I'll Take My Rain Check in Carlsbad," c/o In Motion, Inc., 6355 Corte del Abeto, Suite C-103, Carlsbad, CA 92009.

The 14th annual Carlsbad Marathon and Half Marathon, scheduled for Sunday, January 16, 2005, are San Diego County's only winter seaside marathon and half marathon. The fast out-and-back half marathon course and the rolling marathon course feature live bands and offer spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and Carlsbad beaches. The event weekend also includes the Keebler Kids Marathon Mile on Saturday, January 15, 2005 and a three-day Road Runner Sports Fitness expo.

For more information regarding the Carlsbad Marathon and Half Marathon, visit www.carlsbadmarathon.com or call (760) 692-2900. For more information on Carlsbad tourism visit www.carlsbadmarathon.com or call (800) 227-5722.

From Press Release.