The 40th annual Long Beach Marathon will be run Sunday, with all races starting a half-hour earlier than originally planned because of the heat.
The marathon and bicycle tour will begin at 5:30 a.m. and half-marathon at 6:30 a.m.
Race officials are encouraging runners to wear sweat-wicking fabrics that give their bodies the best chance to regulate temperature and help prevent overheating, with lightweight, light-colored clothing, hats and sunscreen strongly recommended.
Runners are also advised to reassess their time goals as running in the heat is more challenging and to slow down or take breaks when needed.
Runners with smartwatches are encouraged to pay attention to their heart rates and body temperatures.
Runners experiencing dizziness, nausea, chills or who stop sweating are advised to stop running, hydrate, find shade, wait for symptoms to improve and seek help if necessary.
The races have been sold out for the past three weeks, with 4,520 runners entering the marathon, 12,047 the half-marathon and 1,479 the bike tour, race publicist Dan Cruz told City News Service. Registration is up 27% from last year, Cruz said.
Field sizes are limited to ensure participant safety and due to course logistics, particularly in sections with limited space, Cruz said. Modifications were made at the start line to accommodate the growing numbers, Cruz said.
Runners from 37 nations have entered the races, Cruz said.
The marathon field includes two runners who have run all 39 previous editions of the race, Lorenzo Herrea and Kenny Williams.
The 26-mile, 385-yard marathon course starts on Shoreline Drive. Runners will then pass through The Pike at Rainbow Harbor retail and entertainment center, run on an on-ramp to the Long Beach (710) Freeway, cross the Queensway Bridge to the bow of the Queen Mary.
The field will loop around the Lighthouse at Rainbow Harbor, head to Pierpoint Landing, then back through the start/finish area.
The sixth through 10th miles are run a few feet from the Pacific Ocean. The course then goes through the Belmont Shore neighborhood, passes Marine Stadium, goes around Colorado Lagoon, passing the Long Beach Recreation Golf Course.
The 16th through 20th miles are a 5-kilometer loop through Cal State Long Beach. The field then runs on Ocean Boulevard to the finish line on Shoreline Drive.
Runners will raise more than $600,000 for a variety of nonprofit organizations, including the American Cancer Society and Crohns & Colitis Foundation, Cruz said.
The Long Beach Marathon was first held in 1982. The race was disbanded in 1996 because of financial problems, then revived in 1999 under new management.