Yuma marathon Jan. 28 is Boston qualifier

Runners, on your mark ... get set ... and ready to go for the annual Yuma Territorial Marathon and Half Marathon, a Boston-qualifying course scheduled for Jan. 28.

More than 160 runners have already registered for the race, which is organized by the Caballeros of Yuma and now in its third year, according to Mark Ericson, general chairman for the marathon.

“I expect a lot more in the next two weeks,” Ericson said.

He said the race attracts runners from all around the country, not just local runners, who have been bitten by the Boston bug. There are even a few from Canada participating in this year's event.

The 26.2-mile course has been certified with the USA Track and Field as a qualifying race for the Boston Marathon.

The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the city of Boston, on Patriots' Day, which is the third Monday in April. It is also the world's oldest annual marathon and ranks as one of the world's best-known road racing events. It is one of five World Marathon Majors.

To qualify for the Boston Marathon by running in the Yuma Territorial Marathon and Half Marathon, a runner must finish the race within a certain time period based on their age category.

“The older you get, the more time you have,” Ericson said.

Ericson said organizers want to make the Yuma Territorial Marathon and Half Marathon bigger and better each year and have made some changes based on some comments from last year's runners.

Among those changes, Ericson said, are switching the sports drink to Gatorade and having new mile marker signs placed along the course.

“They are professional-looking compared to what we had last year,” Ericson said of the signs.

Something else being done for the first time, Ericson said, is organizers are having the shoulders of Highway 95 swept clear of rocks and pebbles the day before the race. There will also be new banners marking the full and half turnaround points.

The race begins at 7 a.m. at the Cocopah Casino, passes through Somerton, continues through Gadsden and into the city limits of San Luis, Ariz., and back to the casino, where the race also ends.

Ericson said the marathon is perfect for runners, including first-timers, because of the course is flat and straight. There is, he warned, a slight change in elevation near the finish line.

“What is nice about this course is its a ‘down and back' course because of the level terrain. If a person is trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon, this would be a pretty good course to get it done.”

The registration fee is $95 for the marathon and $65 for the half-marathon. Active duty military members will receive discounts. To register or for more information, go to http://yumamarathon.com.

Water stations will be manned by volunteers and sponsored by different groups or organizations. At the end of the race, the Cocopah Casino will host an expo with drinks, food, sports massages and entertainment for participants and spectators.

All runners will receive a T-shirt and a finisher's medal. Awards will be given to the top three men and women and to the top youths in each gender in each category.

James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854. Find him on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/YSJamesGilbert or on Twitter @YSJamesGilbert.