Gilbert Salazar (Long Beach, CA) and Beth Woodward (Orrville, OH) Win Surf City USA Marathon; Jimmy Grabow (Long Beach, CA) Sets Half Marathon Record

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., Feb. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Gilbert Salazar of Long Beach, CA and Beth Woodward of Orrville, OH were the top finishers in the 15th annual Surf City USA Marathon on Sunday in Huntington Beach.  Salazar, 38, won in 2:35:02, while Woodward, 35, won with a time of 3:00.59.  California's largest combined oceanfront marathon and half-marathon featured more than 20,000 pre-registered runners from all 50 states and 18 foreign countries.  Detailed race information is available at www.runsurfcity.com.

With the Pacific Ocean and Surf City USA's iconic pier as a backdrop, a crowd of more than 30,000 lined Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach for near-perfect racing conditions.  An additional 35,000 spectators attended the Active Lifestyle Expo on Friday and Saturday.  The winner of the men's half-marathon was Jimmy Grabow, age 26 of Long Beach, CA who finished in a course record 1:03:37.  Cheryl Smith, age 30, of Laguna Beach, CA won the women's half marathon in 1:17:48.

For the sixth year in a row, racers used "Run for Mobility" to raise funds for the Free Wheelchair Mission, an Irvine-based nonprofit group that provides wheelchairs to underprivileged people in developing countries.  With an estimated $191,500 raised this year, Surf City USA Marathon participants have now donated nearly $2.0 million.  Other notable accomplishments:

Candace Ransom: (Riverside County, CA) a mother running in memory of her son Luke, a surfer killed by a great white shark in October of 2010, finished the half marathon in 2:10:20.

Greg Jacobson: (Chicago, IL) a police homicide detective who ran on behalf of five fallen police officers who died in 2010 finished the half marathon in 2:13:33.

George Border: (Huntington Beach, Calf.) at 82-years-old George was the oldest participant registered for the full Surf City Marathon course.  He finished in 5:22:15 then walked briskly toward the beer garden where he was seen jogging in place while waiting in line.

"It was one of those perfect days where all the elements came together to create the ideal running experience," said Surf City USA Marathon GM, Amy Tomchak.  "Energy ran high the entire weekend, the weather was perfect, and we had a new course record in the men's half marathon. The Free Wheelchair Mission came very close to breaking the $2M fundraising mark, and thousands of runners had the time of their lives.  It is just great to be part of it."

Staged in front of The Waterfront Beach Resort, a Hilton hotel, the Surf City USA Marathon's exclusive oceanfront course runs on Pacific Coast Highway, past the famous Huntington Beach Pier and winds through the surfing beaches that define Southern California. 

SOURCE Surf City USA Marathon