By JANE PALMER
Herald Staff Writer
Breathtaking scenery has helped the Big Sur International Marathon win a place on Runner's World magazine's list of the top three marathons in the United States.
"We are really excited about it," said Julie Armstrong, marketing communications director of the Big Sur marathon. "We are already on the map, but this gives us a larger presence on that map."
In its December "Best of Running" issue, Runner's World editors named New York and Boston as the top two marathons, followed by Big Sur. It encouraged readers to "put this one on your life list."
"It is really the course and the incredible scenic vista that helped win this award," Armstrong said. "It really is one of the most beautiful marathons in the world."
The Big Sur marathon is traditionally held on the last Sunday in April. The course runs along the Big Sur coastline. The sight of cliffs, pastures and iconic arched bridges distracts runners from the pain as they run along the "ragged edge of the Western world," Armstrong said.
But it is not just the course that attracts runners from around the world.
"We provide the best running experience of any marathon in the world," said race director Wally Kastner. "We treat our runners like royalty."
It is the combination of spectacular scenery and attention to everyone in the race, not just the elite, that Kastner believes put the marathon alongside Boston and New York. In fact, the Big Sur marathon doesn't offer prize money and doesn't attract
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world-class runners.
Boston is the oldest marathon in America, and New York boasts 45,000 runners.
"We are a little race in the Central Coast in California," Kastner said. There are 12,000 participants in all the day's events and only 4,500 runners in the marathon.
The timing of the honor is ideal: The Big Sur marathon is gearing up for its 25th anniversary in April. After the Runner's World nod, Kastner expects the event to sell out earlier than ever. It is already 55 percent full.
"We can't get any bigger, unfortunately," Kastner said. The number of participants is capped at 12,000 because of logistics.
But Kastner hopes that, despite the race size, the honor will raise the profile of the event.
"We are hoping to get an understanding out of Monterey County that we do fit in with AT&T Pebble Beach and Concours — just in a different category," Kastner said.
"Of all those, we are the only one that the everyday man or woman can participate in," Kastner said. "It's not go watch. It's come and do it."
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