FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 31, 2016

Contact:

Julie Armstrong, Marketing Communications Director

831-625-6226 / Julie@bsim.org

Half Marathon on Monterey Bay Opens Registration April 1

Big Sur Marathon-produced event features beautiful course along Monterey Bay

The Half Marathon on Monterey Bay, a top U.S. destination race produced by the Big Sur Marathon organization, opens registration for its November 13, 2016 race on Friday, April 1. The annual race, now in its 14th year, takes place on the coast of Central California’s Monterey Peninsula. Nine thousand runners are accepted on a first come, first served basis.

This popular destination race includes iconic locales from the Monterey Peninsula. The scenic course begins in Monterey, running through the historic downtown, into a tunnel where a music and light show is planned, down famed Cannery Row, past the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and into the neighboring town of Pacific Grove.  The rocky shoreline, quaint downtown, crashing waves, shorebirds and marine life of Pacific Grove combine to make this one of the most beautiful races in the country.  The out-and-back course diverges onto a paved coastal recreation trail and finishes near Monterey’s Fisherman’s Wharf.

“I have run dozens of half marathons and some of the biggest in the country and this is…by…far…MY FAVORITE race ever!” commented a 2015 participant. “It has the ease of a small ‘home town’ race but is flawlessly organized by the team that puts on one of the most prestigious races in the world.”

The Half Marathon on Monterey Bay draws runners from all 50 states and two dozen countries.  It also features an elite competition with a $20,000 prize purse.  The standing course record is 1:02:33 set in 2006 by American Ian Dobson. The female course record is 1:09:43 set in 2010 by Ethiopian Belanish Gebre.

This year, the Half Marathon on Monterey Bay is part of the Waves to Wine Challenge, a three-race series encompassing Big Sur Marathon-produced events.  Runners who take part in two half marathons including Monterey Bay in November and the Salinas Valley Half Marathon in August, plus either a Big Sur Marathon April race distance of 9 miles or more, or the June “Run in the Name of Love” 5K will receive a commemorative medallion and be eligible for special sponsor prizes.

Registration for the Half Marathon on Monterey Bay begins April 1, with an “early bird” special entry fee of $100 available through midnight on April 7.  The event also features a 5K and 3K on a section of the Half Marathon course, taking place the day prior.  For more information at to register, visit www.bigsurhalfmarathon.org.