The Long Beach Inline Marathon Wins a Reprieve!

Not Only Do the Promoters Spare the Marathon, But They Creates a New Inline Event!

By Robert "Are You Sure About That?" Burnson

I was expecting an email this week announcing that the Long Beach Inline Marathon had been canceled -- forever. Instead, I got an email saying it has been granted a reprieve. And furthermore, that the promoters (Yes, the same ones who had been thinking of axing the Long Beach) had decided to create A NEW INLINE EVENT.

Who would have guessed it?

But we're not out of the woods yet. It seems clear that the reprieve will only be temporary unless more skaters start participating in the Long Beach Marathon.

The news of the reprieve came today from Robert Seagren, the chief executive officer of International City Racing, the company that puts on the Long Beach Marathon, which is a large running, bicycling and skating event. (Bob, in case you don't remember, was the gold medalist in pole vault in the 1968 Olympics.)

Here's Bob's first email:

Robert,

We are happy to report that we will have an Inline Skate event at this year's marathon on October 16, 2005. We will also have an inline skate event (8 miles) on April 3rd using the Long Beach Grand Prix race course. This event will be the Sunday before the Toyota Grand Prix. Entry fee ($30.00) will include tickets for the Grand Prix ... and many extra things. We should have this posted on our website soon. Thanks for your interest and hope to see you at both events - tell a friend.

Robert Seagren
CEO
International City Racing

I sent back a reply asking for info about how the decision was reached. Bob sent back a reply saying he be happy to talk about it and also asking for ideas on "how to get the word out" to skaters to support the events.

"This was not an easy sell to our Board of Directors who look to the bottom line," he wrote.

The bottom line suffered last year when two big sponsors, K2 and Solomon, pulled their financial support for the marathon.

Seagren said he is looking for ideas for how to increase the number of inline skaters in the Long Beach marathon and attract them to the new event. "The Grand Prix event is a real test for the future of inline in the [Long Beach] marathon," he said.

(If you have any ideas, post them in the forum, and I will relay them to Bob.)

Related Reading:

• No decision yet on Long Beach Marathon

• Long Beach Marathon May Get the Axe

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Copyright © 2006 by Robert Burnson