Long run in High Point
High Point will host the North Carolina Marathon through 2015, the city and Foster Friends of North Carolina have agreed.
The 2009 event, a week ago, drew about 2,000 runners.
Planning has begun to make improvements for next year, City Manager Strib Boynton told me Friday.
First on the agenda is to bring in vendors to sell food, drinks and other items in the start/finish area downtown. Some friends and family members of runners were frustrated this time at the lack of refreshments and activities available.
Discussions are under way to open the ground floor of Showplace, which would provide a great location for vendors as well as entertainment. Boynton added that he'd like to see some other furniture showrooms open, perhaps offering home-decorating demonstrations by designers.
Large-screen TVs will be set up at various spots downtown to aid spectator viewing. There wasn't enough room for all of them to crowd around the finish line. And to further ease that congestion, there will be separate finish lines for the marathon/half-marathon and 5K races.
Boynton would like to draw "celebrities" to participate in the 5K. He mentioned Mike Barber as one possibility, but then Boynton has a devilish sense of humor.
I'd like to see the Convention and Visitors Bureau organize walking tours of downtown. As I've written before, there are enough highlights to make that activity a well-spent hour or so. It could be a good way for folks to pass time while waiting for the marathoners to come in.
I'd also like to see some buses available to take spectators to various viewing areas along the marathon course. Individuals trying to drive themselves around just add to the traffic problem.
Speaking of traffic, Boynton was pleased with the Police Department's work. Eighty-six officers and reserves were on traffic-control duty. He estimated the city's total cost at $25,000 to $30,000.
Other ideas are in the works. Considering how well High Point did on relatively short notice, the 2010 event ought to be really good.
"We've got 11 months to get it together, not three," Boynton said.
I believe the North Carolina Marathon has just begun a long and successful run in High Point.
Comments (2)
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How about Don Vaughan? - he could show us some of those Carolina Cheerleader moves (of days past).
From what I've heard, this year was far better than the first year and folks are very encouraged about the improvements. There's hope that this can be a really big event.
Posted on May 9, 2009 7:19 PM
I believe Don did some running around in High Point in his younger days.
Posted on May 9, 2009 10:52 PM