Approval Process for S.D. Marathon Has Become One

John Collias is a veteran runner who has competed in both the prestigious New York and Boston marathons, as well as 360 other running events nationwide. But there is nothing, he says, that matches the exhilaration of running along the Pacific coastline in a weekend morning fog.

“The weather is always nice and cool,” said the 36-year-old owner of an Encinitas runners’ supply store. “And the ocean just has this unique energy to it, pulling you along.”

Collias is one of about 6,000 runners scheduled to compete Dec. 9 in the San Diego Marathon--which, for the first time in its 27-year history, has mapped out a 26.2-mile course through five North County cities along the picturesque Pacific Coast Highway.

But he won’t get his chance to coast along the coast unless race promoters come to terms with three cities--Encinitas, Del Mar and Solana Beach--who say they lack adequate security to supervise the unique event.

Lynn Flanagan, director of In Motion, the race promoter, said staff members from the three cities have informed her that they plan to recommend that their respective city councils deny her request for permits.

Marathon planning, she said, has become a marathon event.

“We’re a victim of the times,” Flanagan said. “What’s happening here is that there were a number of events going on in the coastal area this summer. The sheriff’s deputies who work those areas are tired.

“They don’t want to man any more special events. They want to close the door. And, unfortunately, we’re next in line.”

Over the next two weeks, Flanagan plans to appear before city councils in each of the cities to detail a “well-defined traffic management plan” in which In Motion would supply its own security for the marathon, which several San Diego charities use to raise money.

“The decision to turn us down was made without the city councils’ decision,” she said. “They’re the ones who are responsible to the people. And lots of people and charity organizations want to see this race come off.”

Sgt. Rich Hendrickson, the Sheriff Department’s special coordinator for events in the three cities, sent a letter two weeks ago recommending denial of the permits because the marathon would take deputies from routine patrols.

“We are inundated with requests for special events,” he said. “The solution is you have to start cutting somewhere.”

Encinitas City Manager Warren Shafer said Friday that he does not expect easy sailing for Flanagan’s plan when it comes before the council Wednesday night. The private security staffing plan will be presented to the Del Mar and Solana Beach councils the following week.

“We have a number of concerns,” he said. “In addition to the problem of staffing the race, we’re having our annual Christmas street fair the very same day. And the two events are just not compatible.

“Even if they provide their own security, that doesn’t solve the conflict with the Christmas fair. We just can’t hold two events in the same space.”

Flanagan said the race, which is scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. and extend from La Jolla to Oceanside, would tie up one northbound lane for only a matter of hours.

“The lead runners will finish in just over two hours--the slower ones about five,” she said.

Ironically, Flanagan said, most of the traffic tie-ups will occur in Carlsbad and Oceanside, which have welcomed the race.

“Seventy-nine out of 80 businesses in Del Mar alone want this race,” she said. “It’s not the people who are against it. It’s just a few people at the Sheriff’s Department and a couple of city managers’ offices.”

If her plan is rejected, Flanagan says, the race might have to be rerouted--or even canceled.

“It could happen,” she said. “We’re just too far along in the planning, and it would be too bad. There’s a lot of charity groups that would lose tens of thousands of dollars if that happened.”

Runners say the event is the “one and only” marathon in the San Diego area, bringing the community notoriety by attracting thousands of participants from more than 30 states. Besides, they add, it’s for charity.

Collias, who sits on the boards of nine road race committees nationwide, said such races demonstrate an area’s community spirit.

“The beauty of races in huge cities like New York and Boston is seeing the camaraderie of people, merchants, police, organizers and runners working together,” he said.

“I’d like to think we have that kind of camaraderie in North County.”