Dugan Show Is a Long-Running Hit

David Dugan drove his 49-year-old mother to the inaugural Los Angeles Marathon 15 years ago, wished her well as he dropped her off at the starting line, then headed for the finish line.

He wasn’t prepared for what he saw 4 1/2 hours later.

Haggard, unsteady and semi-delirious, Mary Dugan stoically crossed the finish line, but struggled back to the car on legs so cramped she could barely bend them.

“She looked like a boxer coming out of a fight,” David Dugan said.

As painful as it was to watch, David never heard a complaint from his mother, who had completed her third marathon since beginning her long-distance running four years earlier. She has finished every Los Angeles Marathon since. Dugan, now 64, plans to keep another streak alive Sunday at the Pacific Shoreline Marathon in her hometown of Huntington Beach. Dugan has started every race since its inception in 1997, winning the women’s age 60-64 division the last two years. Her time of 4 hours 38 minutes in 2000 was nearly 31 minutes faster than her next-closest age-group competitor.

“Every marathon is a challenge for me,” Dugan said. “A lot of people older than me are out there doing great things. I just hope I can keep up with them.”

Dugan is one of about 300 runners who have completed every Los Angeles Marathon. She has also run the Chicago Marathon the last two years, finishing 11th out of 32 competitors in her age group last year. She’s completed other marathons in San Francisco, St. George, Utah, and Kansas City, Mo.

Sunday’s marathon will be her 46th.

“I run a lot of marathons and I feel like I should do this one too,” said Dugan, a Huntington Beach resident for 36 years. “I think it’s an important race to support because it’s Huntington Beach’s.”

Dugan said her personal best was 3:56 at the San Francisco Marathon about 10 years ago. Her fastest Los Angeles Marathon was 4:04 in 1992. Though she doesn’t expect to better those times in the coming years, other goals keep her motivated.

“I’m hoping to do the first 20 L.A. Marathons,” she said.

Dugan also wants to run the Boston Marathon. She qualified a few years ago but was unable to make the trip. She can qualify for Boston at Sunday’s race by running 4:10 or better.

“Wouldn’t that be something?” she said.

When Dugan turns 65 in September, she’ll move into the 65-69 age group, increasing her qualifying time for Boston by five minutes. Dugan said if she doesn’t make that time, there’s always another age group ahead.

“I’m going to keep on running as long as I can,” she said, “even if I can’t run as fast as I want to.”

Dugan, a married mother of five and grandmother of three, began running with the oldest of her three daughters, Paula, during weekly visits home from college.

About three years after taking up the sport, Dugan took aim at the Long Beach Marathon, training with her eldest son, Greg, who also raced. Although she had a stress fracture in her lower leg, Dugan completed the 26.2-mile course in just over five hours. A few months later, she completed the now-defunct Orange County Marathon in 4:03.

Dugan runs seven or eight miles a day during the week and a bit farther on weekends. She doesn’t belong to a running club and trains alone except for Sunday. One of her running partners is Mickie Shapiro, 64, of Costa Mesa, the only athlete in the women’s 60-64 age group to finish last year’s Ironman Australian Triathlon in New South Wales.

“I don’t have to slow down for her,” said Dugan, who averages about 10 minutes a mile for a marathon.

“I’m not a fast runner,” she said, “but I try to keep an even pace.”

David Dugan, 36, said his mother’s frequent jogs around town have made her nearly as recognizable as the Huntington Beach Pier.

“All my friends say, ‘I saw your mom running again today,’ ” he said. “She’s pretty well known in the community for her running.”

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Pacific Shoreline Marathon Course

Orange County’s only marathon will have its fifth running Sunday in Huntington Beach. About 5,00-6,000 runners are expected for the marathon, half-marathon, 5K and youth mile runs, which start at the Huntington Beach Pier and run mostly along the coast.

When: 7 a.m.-Marathon, half-marathon. 10 a.m.-5K. 11:30--Youth marathon

Course: The 26.2-mile marathon course includes a 7 1/2-mile loop inland.

Parking: Arrive early. Cars entering Pacific Coast Highway from Beach Boulevard will be directed to parking structures.

Details: Roughly 5,200 runners took part last year. More than 500 are expected to finish the marathon.

Registration: Race day registration is available starting at 6 a.m. at the Huntington Beach Beer Co.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

BICYCLING

March 17

* The Warrior’s Society Mountain Bike Pow Wow features three tough rides in the Santa Ana Mountains. The Vision Quest, recommended for experts only, is 52.5 miles with 11,500 feet of total elevation gain and two miles of hike-a-bike. The Counting Coup, for intermediate to expert riders, is 40 miles with 8,000 feet of gain and the Seek the Peak, for novice to intermediate riders, is 24 miles with 5,000 feet of gain. Details: (714) 894-8211 or https://www.warriorssociety.org

Saturdays

* Orange Coast Velo cycling club meets at Worthy Park, 17th and Main Street in Huntington Beach. Rides vary from 25 to 50-plus miles and begin at 7:30 a.m. with periodic regrouping and rest stops. After-ride socializing at Noah’s Bagels on Main Street. For further information call Jerry, (714) 960-4214 or Peter (714) 848-7618.

* Orange County Wheelmen training, 8 a.m., Food Park, MacArthur and Main, Irvine. Beginner and intermediate training groups will ride and stay as a group. Informal lectures will cover stretching, nutrition and hill climbing. Led by Fred and Peg Bauer, (714) 997-0892.

* Bicycle Club of Irvine rides, 9 a.m., meet at Deerfield Park, Irvine. Three routes, 10-15, 15-25 and 25-35 miles, each with a stop midway for breakfast. Rides finish at about 11:30 a.m. Ride leaders Scott and Sandy Angle, (714) 960-4068.

* Velo Allegro Cycling Club meets at 8 a.m. at Long Beach Marina off Second Street for 24-mile ride at 14-18 mph pace. Those with paceline experience meet at 7:30 a.m. for warmup and speed training of up to 50 miles. Details: Julio, (562) 988-8117.

RUNNING

Feb. 10

* The Great American Adventure Run offers 4.8- and 2.8-mile cross-country courses at Huntington Beach Central Park, West. Details: (714) 841-5417 or https://www.nealand.com/finishline

Feb. 18

* Brea 8K Classic benefits Brea Olinda High School clubs and organizations. Course with some rolling hills starts and finishes at Brea Mall. Details: (800) 344-5333 or https://www.brea8k.org

ADVENTURE TRAVEL

Monday

* REI’s Santa Ana store presents “Winter in the Backcountry: Snowshoeing, Ice Climbing and Backcountry Skiing.” Three REI outdoor adventurers will discuss gear, clothing selection, basic technique and local destinations and offer an ice climbing slide show. 11 a.m. Details: (714) 543-4142.