As one of the top 10 growing sports in America, trail running continues to draw crowds of all experience levels
AVALON, Calif. – The Hi Tec Catalina Island Half Marathon & 10K will be hosting hundreds of participants on Catalina Island on Saturday, Nov. 9. The event will include a half marathon distance (13.1 miles) and a 10K distance (6.2 miles), both providing scenic tours on exclusive trail running paths on Catalina Island. Registration for the 2024 event is now open.
The Catalina Island Half Marathon & 10K has seen growing popularity, as has the sport of trail running, which is one of the top 10 fastest-growing sports in America and had a participation increase of 31.4% from 2018 to 2022. Organizers of the race have continued to work towards creating an event that welcomes these new athletes trying out the sport while ensuring that they continue their sustainability efforts in keeping Catalina Island wild. With each registration of one of the Run Catalina Island events, a portion of the proceeds are directly donated to the Catalina Island Conservancy, a non-profit that focuses on conserving Catalina Island, as well as the Avalon Lions Club.
“With trail running popularity on the rise, we want to ensure that we are providing the opportunity for everyone to join in on our unique event while continuing to deliver a personalized race day feeling to our participants,” said Mike Bone, President and CEO of Spectrum Sports Management, which produces the Catalina Island Half Marathon. “Our race is friendly to newcomers, as well as to hikers and walkers. I’m excited to see trail running more in the spotlight, and can’t wait to see more and more people trying out this amazing sport in such a beautiful location.”
The Catalina Island Half Marathon trail will challenge participants with climbs, peaks and vistas. Runners will start in the town of Avalon, run past the Wrigley Mansion, and then enter the Interior for a few miles of climbs. They then will summit with views of the Pacific Ocean where on a clear day two other islands that comprise the Channel Islands are visible. After running past the summit they will run downhill through the Wrigley Memorial before finishing back in town. The 10K course will begin in the middle of Avalon and run through the city before entering 2.5 miles of trails just above the city landscape. Participants will journey past some of Avalon’s most famous landmarks including the Casino building, by the Wrigley’s house, on to horse trails, past the golf course and loop back into town, finishing by the fountain, the landmark of downtown Avalon.
The Catalina Island Half Marathon is a part of Run Catalina Island’s Triple Crown Challenge. The challenge involves completing all three Run Catalina Island events within a 12-month period. This includes the Avalon 50K or 50 Mile, Catalina Island Marathon and Catalina Island Half Marathon. Runners may begin their Catalina Island Triple Crown journey with any one of these races, but all specified distances must be completed within a 12-month period, meaning they must finish all three races consecutively once they begin. Athletes who complete the challenge receive discounted registration for all three events, individual event swag for each race, an official Triple Crown finisher jacket, Hi-Tec shoes and a one-of-a-kind belt buckle.
For more information on The Catalina Island Half Marathon, visit www.catalinaislandhalfmarathon.com. Follow the event on Instagram and Facebook.
ABOUT CATALINA ISLAND HALF MARATHON AND SPECTRUM SPORTS MANAGEMENT
Managed by Spectrum Sports Management, the Catalina Island Half Marathon provides the opportunity to run one of Southern California’s most popular natural attractions. A recognized leader in endurance and sporting events in Southern California, Spectrum Sports Management & Timing Services creates a wide range of events and has over 50 years of collective industry experience. Spectrum Sports Management emphasizes delivering a premiere, professional and world-class service to their clients, their participants and the communities in which they work. To learn more, visit www.SpectrumSports.net.
