More than a race

Vast contingency plans aimed at keeping OC Marathon runners and volunteers safe during a projected rainstorm were for naught Sunday, when about 14,000 runners participated in a mostly clear race from Newport Center to the Irvine Spectrum.

“It all worked out beautifully, because [the rain] held off long enough to get everything set-up and the runners on their marks,” Assistant Race Director Mike Bone said. “Things went a lot better than planned.”

Though there were intermittent drizzles later in the morning, the storm did not match the projected downpour of 2 to 5 inches and flash flood warnings issued earlier in the weekend by the National Weather Service.

Indeed, organizers said, despite the warnings, spectator and volunteer turn-out was about the same as last year, if not a little higher. Bone, also the president of Spectrum Sports Management LLC, said it was the biggest event in which his company has been involved.

“The crowds are growing again this year,” he said. “I’d guess, as far as the crowd participation, maybe 20 to 25,000, even with the weather,

“There were about 2,000 volunteers, and I have to tell you: most lived through the whole thing, even though we thought it would be cold and stormy,” Race Director Bill Sumner said.

Kelly Flathers, 36, of Huntington Beach, was the first woman to cross the finish line of the race’s 5k component. A self-described former “pudgy” child, she took up running as a small girl, eventually developing her skills to where she could try out for the Olympics — twice.

“I started running as far as making a difference in my own life physically, as well as emotionally,” she said. “By the time I ran the Presidential Mile, I felt I could do a lot better than that, and decided I wanted to be a fit girl.”

Flathers’ final time was 17:35, with a pace of 5:40. More results are available at www.ocmarathon.com

But, the marathon wasn’t all about running: while the final results are still being tallied, Sumner estimated the event raised about $2 million for local charities, as well as contributing approximately $5 million to the local economy.

“I spoke at several dinners last night, and at one, 400 of (those in attendance) were from Korea. They flew into the airport, had people at the Newport Marriott which sold out the DoubleTree,” he said. “You know, it’s kind of hard to put a firm number on the money we’ve raised.”

Marathon contributed to a number of charities, focusing mostly on children’s issues and disease prevention/treatment, including Chapman University’s literacy program, the Child Abuse Prevention Center, and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

“One thing I’d like to emphasize is that the event is called the Orange County Marathon for a reason: it belongs to the community,” Sumner concluded. “We just work for it.”

Men’s 5K Run

Dave Schumacher, 39, Huntington Beach: 15:17

Spencer Kinght, 18, Riverside: 15:19

Christian Rojas, 25, Homeland: 15:38

Women’s 5K Run

Kelly Flathers, 36, Huntington Beach: 17:35

Ceci St. Geme, 44, Newport Beach: 17:50

Sherri Ellerby, 43, San Clemente: 18:00

Men’s Half-Marathon

Wesley Ochoro, 29, Phoenix, AZ: 1:04:14

Lamech Mokono, 26, Phoenix, AZ: 1:04:14

Ezkyas Sisay, 18, Flagstaff, AZ: 1:07:45

Women’s Half-Marathon

Hyvon Ngetich, 22, Oro Valley, AZ: 1:13:57

Jacqueline Nytipei, 21, Oro Valley, AZ: 1:14:17

Jane Kibii, 22, Davis: 1:15:53

Men’s Marathon

Kassahun Kabiso, 24, Bronx, NY: 2:23:46

Charles Kiplagat, 31, Sante Fe, NM: 2:24:52

Deresse Deniboba, 25, New York, NY: 2:27:03

Women’s Marathon

Cheryl Foody, 27, Aliso Viejo: 2:38:38

Claudia Colita, 30, Marietta, GA: 2:47:10

Rebecca Tallam, 30, Sante Fe, NM: 2:58:46

CHRIS CAESAR may be reached at (714) 966-4626 or at [email protected].