ForImmediateRelease
August3,2016
MEDIACONTACT:
JulieArmstrong,[email protected]
831-625-6226/831-521-0704(cell)
SalinasValleyHalfMarathonScheduledforThisSaturday
isCancelledDuetoPoorAirQuality
DuetotheunhealthfulairqualityintheSalinasValleyasaresultofsmokefromthe45,000-plus
acreSoberaneswildfire,theorganizersoftheSalinasValleyHalfMarathonhavecanceledtherace
scheduledforthisSaturdaymorning,August6th.
“Itiswithregretthatweannouncethiscancellation,”reportsDougThurston,ExecutiveDirector
oftheBigSurInternationalMarathon,parentorganizationoftheSalinasValleyHalfMarathon.
“However,ourfirstcommitmentisalwaystothehealthandsafetyofourrunnersandvolunteers.”
Thurstonsaidtheairqualityalongtheracecoursemovedintothe“Unhealthful”range
overnightTuesdayfollowingashiftinwinddirection.TheMontereyBayAirResourcesDistrictexpectsto
seeelevated(particulate)readingsinthenextfewdaysintheSalinasValley.Inaddition,modelsshow
thatthesmokeplumeisflowingintothearea.
Thurstonsaidtheraceorganizersarenotifyingallparticipants,volunteers,sponsors,vendors,
andvenuesofthecancelationassoonaspossible.
Registeredrunnerswillhavetheoptionofdeferringtheirentrytothe2017SalinasValleyHalf
MarathonorreceivingafreeentryintothisNovember’sHalfMarathononMontereyBay.
Inaddition,participantswillstillbeabletopickuptheirraceshirtsandgoodiebagsatthe
scheduledtimes,thisFridayafternoonfrom1:30-6p.m.attheSalinasValleyMemorialHospital
Farmer’sMarketinSalinas,Saturdaymorningfrom6-8a.m.attheSoledadMission,orattheBigSur
MarathonofficeinTheBarnyardShoppingVillagenextMondaythroughWednesday.
Theracewilldonateunusedwater,food,andotherusefulsuppliestothefirefightersbattling
theblaze.
“Thisfireisatragiceventforourcommunityinsomanyways,”Thurstonsaid.“Weare
confidenttherunningcommunitywillagreethatthiswastherightdecision.
Anyinstructionstoparticipantswillbepostedsoonatwww.salinasvalleyhalfmarathon.organd
www.bsim.orgaswellaseventsocialmediasites.