What, and whom, you’ll want to know about before Sunday’s Modesto Marathon
For the 10th anniversary of the Modesto Marathon, we initially thought we’d share 10 things to know. But thanks to marathon co-director Karen Lozano, the list grew to 26.2.
Thirty-eight percent of the runners are returnees.
Thirty-nine percent of those competing are in the half marathon, 33 percent in the 5k and 17 percent in the full marathon. The remaining 11 percent are in the youth 5k, the half-marathon relay and the virtual marathon (participants who run remotely).
Runners are from as far away as Australia. Most are from California, but participants represent 28 states and the District of Columbia, as well as Hong Kong, Puerto Rico, Great Britain and Canada.
Females outnumber males, 57 percent to 43 percent, and the largest competitive age group is runners 35 to 39.
Among the contenders to win the marathon are three-time champion Jesus Campos of Fresno, who won last year with a time of 2:33:10; fellow three-time champ Jon Olsen of Modesto, who last won the marathon in 2017 with a time of 2:33:14, just ahead of Campos; and Ivan Medina, who placed third last year.
Medina holds Modesto Marathon half-marathon course record of 1:09:54, set in 2015.
Campos holds the full-marathon record of 2:26:53, set in 2013.
Olsen, coming off a recent 93-mile race, had been on the fence about jumping so quickly into Sunday’s marathon. But he posted on Facebook Monday, “I’ve decided to run after all. This race means too much to me. This race is about supporting a community that has given me so much…. AND I get to share the course with my son!” Nate Olsen is a junior high student and Teens Run Modesto participant aiming to complete his first marathon.
Probably the biggest name joining the field this year is Magdalena Boulet of Oakland. Boulet earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team by finishing second in the 2008 U.S. Women’s Olympic Marathon Trials, but a knee problem forced her to drop from the 2008 Olympic Games. In 2015, she won the prestigious Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run.
Isidore Herrera of Simi Valley has said he will be racing for a men’s Olympic Qualifying Trials time, which stands at 2:19. Herrera, 29, won the 2016 Napa Marathon in 2:27:29.
Another elite runner going after the Olympic qualifying standard is Fresno resident CJ Albertson. He already broke the standard at the last Two Cities Marathon in Fresno.
Accomplished female ultrarunner Devon Yanko of San Anselmo is set to race the half marathon.
The Marathon Fitness Expo, Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., has a new location, the CrossPoint Community Church Family Pavilion, 1301 12th St.
The expo is free and open to the public. It includes a variety of vendors offering apparel, jewelry, running gear and more.
Fitness writer Matt Fitzgerald of Oakdale will be at the expo with his newly released book, “Life is a Marathon, A Memoir of Love and Endurance” for sale.
Also on hand for expo visitors will be Julie Weiss, who completed 52 marathons in 52 weeks in 2013, raising more than $500,000 in the fight against pancreatic cancer.
Dee Cajiuat will again be at the expo to offer free K-T taping to those in need. It will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
CrossPoint Community Church is once again collecting shoes at the expo. Volunteers will accept new or gently used shoes of all types, not just running, to distribute to the needy.
Online registration, at modestomarathon.com/race/registration, closes Friday at midnight. Prices will be higher at the expo and on race morning.
Race bibs and swag will be available for pickup at the expo Saturday. Starting at 6 the morning of the race, they can be picked up at the finish line area, 11th Street near N, but runners are warned there will be lines.
Race time for the full and half marathons, as well as the half relay, is 7 a.m. The 5K starts at 7:25 a.m.
There will be a bag drop area for runners. Bundle up while you’re waiting and know your extra clothing will be there when you finish.
The National Weather Service says Sunday will be sunny in Modesto, with a high near 74 degrees. Of course, that won’t be until afternoon.
Because of road closures, the best places on the course to cheer on runners are the aid stations, most of which are accessible by car. For the course map, aid stations and access points, see modestomarathon.com/race/course.
Runners can let friends and family know where they are on the course so supporters get a rough estimated finish time. Athlete tracking is available at results.rmraces.live/Modesto-Marathon/events/2019/Modesto-Marathon-Half-Marathon-5K-Half-Marathon-Relay/track.
Service animals are allowed on the course. For the safety of other runners, no other dogs are allowed.
26.2 Have fun!
This story was originally published March 27, 2019 at 2:04 PM.