Alongside Surf City’s Pacific Ocean coastline, thousands of runners laced up to race in the 29th edition of the Surf City Marathon on Feb. 2. A total of over 18,000 runners descended on the city of Huntington Beach to compete in the marathon, half-marathon, 5K and beach mile events of an iconic, celebrated Southern California course.
Supplemented with the ideal cool and breezy weather conditions of an early Sunday morning, the 26.2-mile marathon course takes runners through Huntington Beach staples, including the HB Pier, Central Park and Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve before finishing on Pacific Coast Highway for a 10-mile stretch next to the ocean air. Similarly, half-marathon competitors travel through the pier and ecological reserve before ending their final stretch alongside the coastline. The course balances being perfect for new marathoners due to the mainly flat course and an opportunity for more experienced runners to qualify for the Boston Marathon.
Huntington Beach firefighters, return-ing from their part in the fight against recent California wildfires, received recognition at the event for their heroic efforts and service to the community.
Finishing in first place in the men’s marathon, Los Angeles second-grade teacher Antoine Puglisi secured a time of 2 hours, 31 minutes and 22 seconds, maintaining a pace of 5:46 per mile. Only his third-ever marathon, Puglisi ran the race in the days preceding his first child’s birth.
“I dedicate the win to my future baby. It’s like a big gift,” Puglisi said after the race. “I started too fast, so I was very exhausted at the end … It took me some time to recover. Now I’m great. My legs are fine. I could do a 5K right now.”
Second-place finisher, Apple Valley’s Zach Eustance, finished only 46 seconds behind Puglisi, providing for a tight finish in the marathon event.
Temecula’s Stephanie Cullingford (2:58:27) finished first in the women’s marathon, followed by Santa Monica’s Meredith Steely (3:07:18).
There was a five-second difference between the top two finishers of the men’s half-marathon, as Esteban Prado finished in 1:07:25 ahead of Thomas Dialynas. In the women’s half-marathon, first-place Sarah Czuprynski had a time of 1:17:22. Hannah Chau, who signed up on the Saturday before to support her mother, finished second.
The nonprofit Ainsley’s Angels paired several special needs riders with runners to participate in the event, including cheers of “Team Bailey” for Bailey Benton racing in a specialized chair. Several city officials from the city council, police department and library also raced in the various events.
Next year’s race, to be held on the first Sunday of next February, will mark three decades of the annual Surf City Marathon. Interested competitors looking to lace up to Huntington Beach’s coastline should visit runsurfcity.com for more information.
Just take Roosevelt Cook’s, a veteran runner who placed fifth in the half marathon, word for it.
“It’s cold everywhere else in the country,” Cook said, looking forward to the 30th Surf City Marathon. “This is Southern California. You have the palm trees, the beach right there. Come on out and celebrate. It’s been 30 years of fun rocking on the beach right here.”