Competition doubles for marathoners

As the number of runners in the Florida Gulf Beaches Marathon increases, so does the need for volunteers.

By LISA GREENE

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 18, 2001

CLEARWATER -- Chris Lauber is mostly delighted that twice as many runners as last year have signed up for Sunday's Florida Gulf Beaches Marathon.

But it does create one problem.

"It's very positive," Lauber said. "But we need more volunteers."

Last year, the first marathon drew 635 runners. This year, nearly 1,400 people have already signed up, and Lauber expects a surge of last-minute entries.

About 200 people have offered to help, including members of local running clubs, a church youth group and a Girl Scout troop. But Lauber figures the marathon needs 50 to 100 more people to direct traffic, help with registration, and give out drinks and fruit to runners. Whether or not they help with the race, beach residents will be expected to volunteer something else: patience.

Roads will be closed or restricted Sunday morning along the race course.

"You don't want to disrupt people's lives, but special events have special needs involved," Lauber said.

Nine miles of the 26.2-mile marathon will be run on the Pinellas Trail, cutting down on the numberof roads to be closed.

The marathon will bring in some tourist dollars. Runners from 44 states and 13 countries have signed up.

Many are spending extra vacation time here, Lauber said.

"January in Florida is a very, very compelling concept," he said. "It's exactly the direction we want to go in terms of being a high-scale, communitywide event that also is a destination marathon."

This year's marathon will have another addition. It's one of the community events promoted as part of Tampa Bay's Super Bowl festivities.

Runners won't be tossing footballs along the marathon route.

But they will have put in months, if not years, of training for a sports event that receives less attention and money.

"The players' livelihood is to play football in front of millions and millions of people," Lauber said. "But in the marathon, they're just everyday people. For them, running in a marathon is their Super Bowl."

The race starts at 7 a.m. Walkers start at 6 a.m., and wheelchairs begin at 6:55 a.m.

Participants also can run in two-person or five-person relays instead of running the full distance.

To run or volunteer to help, call 347-4440 or register online at www.floridamarathon.com.

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