Big Sur Marathon canceled, Monterey Bay Half Marathon goes virtual

MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION) Organizers of the Big Sur Marathon and the Monterey Bay Half Marathon announced Wednesday that the Big Sur Marathon is canceled this year and the Monterey Bay Half Marathon will become a virtual event.

The change is happening due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Organizers say they want to monitor the fluid nature of the outbreak.

“Our highest priority is always the wellbeing of our participants, volunteers, spectators, and our residents. As a mass participation event, we feel that planning any race this year is not the right thing for our community,” said Doug Thurston, Race Director.

The Big Sur Marathon was originally rescheduled from late April to Nov. 15, but ultimately, the Marathon Foundation decided to cancel. Entrants of the marathon, relay, 21-miler, 11-miler, 12K and 5K have the option to get a 60% refund of their race entry or donate the entry fee to the Big Sur Marathon Foundations. Other add-on expenses will be fully refunded, and entrants for 2020 will get priority registration for the 2021 or 2022 races.

“Even though our race has a no-refund policy,  standard in our industry, we know these are unprecedented times, “ Thurston said. “We know many of our runners and their families have been greatly affected by this pandemic and we want to help them as much as we can.”

Organizers said they are working out the details of how the virtual Monterey Bay Half Marathon will look, but said it will involve digital activation, redeem sponsor offerings and receive a participation shirt and medal when they finish the event in their neighborhood.

Over the last four years, the Big Sur Marathon Foundation said it has had to cancel five races due to unforeseen circumstances. In 2018, the Monterey Bay Half Marathon was canceled because of wildfire smoke.

For Monterey Bay Half Marathon updates, visit the website here or email info@bsim.org.