The home stretch

Jenny Marder

No matter how hard you train, there’s no way to prepare for the last

five miles of a marathon.

That’s according to an authority on the subject, Glen Weissman,

who brought home the trophy for the second year in a row Sunday at

the T-Mobile Pacific Shoreline Marathon. Weissman placed first at

2:34.31, followed by 2001 champion Robert Leonardo at 2:39.30.

“It hurts,” Weissman said upon finishing, but he added that “it

feels pretty good to win again.”

Like last year, Weissman began slow and steady and gained speed

throughout the race, coming into the lead at mile 21. It was the

moment he left Huntington Beach Central Park that the 34-year-old

software developer knew he had won.

“When I entered the park, they told me I was two minutes behind

first place,” Weissman said. “When I was leaving the park, they told

me I was one minute behind first place.”

Minutes after crossing the finish line, Weissman looked like he’d

barely broken a sweat.

“This was more of a solid victory,” he said. “Last year was more

of a close gap.”

Tracy Thomas, 42, of Long Beach, topped the female race at

3:20.43.

The marathon, which celebrated its eighth year on Sunday, drew

nearly 7,000 runners, about 1,000 more than planners expected.

“Between one and 15 countries were represented, and just about

every state in the union,” said Herb Massinger, president of the

marathon. “We were filling the hotels and keeping the restaurants

full.”

The marathon has come along way since its inaugural race in 1996,

which drew 1,300 participants and shot straight up and down the

coast.

This year’s 26.2-mile course followed Pacific Coast Highway north

to the Bolsa Chica Wetlands Ecological Preserve, then wound its way

back to the coast through local parks and along residential streets.

The start and finish lines were set up underneath the pedestrian

bridge that spans Pacific Coast Highway from the Hyatt Regency

Huntington Beach Resort and Spa to the beach.

In addition to the marathon, the event featured a half-marathon, a

5K run and a Surf Kids Mile run for the youngsters.

The day was marked by warm weather and clear skies.

“It was great. It was a beautiful day,” said Marco Leon, who ran

the half-marathon.

Officials are already busy planning for next year’s race.

“We’re working on a major sponsorship deal that will change the

face of the event,” Massinger said.

As for Weissman, he’s switching to shorter distances for the time

being.

“It takes a long time to recover, and it takes a long time to

train,” Weissman said.

* JENNY MARDER covers City Hall. She can be reached at (714)

965-7173 or by e-mail at [email protected].