2020 Modesto Marathon canceled, falling victim to coronavirus guidelines
The 2020 Modesto Marathon, scheduled for late March, was canceled on Thursday due to the threat of the coronavirus.
More than a combined 3,000 runners were expected for the races — marathon, half-marathon, 10k and 5k — scheduled for Sunday, March 29, in downtown Modesto.
“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the cancellation of the 2020 Sutter Health Memorial Medical Center Modesto Marathon and Sports & Fitness Expo scheduled for March 28-29,” according to the race website.
“The Stanislaus County Public Health Officer has prohibited the gathering of 1,000 or more people indoors and outdoors, effective Monday, through at least the end of the month due to the COVID-19 outbreak.”
The 26.2-mile race, a qualifier for the Boston Marathon, starts in downtown Modesto and eventually heads out to west Stanislaus County before coming back for a raucous downtown finish.
“This was an incredibly hard decision for us,” it stated to the site. “We know that you have trained many months for our event – with a large number of you preparing for your very first running event. ... We greatly appreciate the loyalty of our participants with so many of you coming back year after year, and we hope you will understand we didn’t make this decision lightly. We put your health and well-being in the forefront.”
Because roughly 3,500 “2020” medals, shirts and “swag bags” and insulated totes already were purchased, refunds, upwards of $135 for the marathon, can’t be issued, a race publicist said..
However, officials are offering a free deferral into next year’s race on March 28, 2021. Deferrals only will be offered online at www.runsignup.com through midnight, Sunday, March 29, 2020.
“We are currently working on logistics so that you may pick up shirts, medals and swag to run your distance virtually while following health and safety guidelines.”
You can pick up your 2020 gear Saturday and Sunday, March 28-29, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at 1325 11th St., Modesto.
Since being brought back in 2010, the race was entering its 11th year and has grown in popularity.
There were more than 500 entrants in last year’s marathon, won by Fresno’s C.J. Albertson in 2 hours, 16.45 minutes, and more than 1,000 in each the half-marathon and 5k.
This story was originally published March 12, 2020 at 7:17 PM.
