Most sports readers wouldn’t expect to hear about a sorority’s philanthropy featured in the sports section but the 2010 Malibu International Marathon board reached out through their volunteer coordinator Pepperdine junior Jordan DeShazer. DeShazer arranged for Delta Gamma her sorority to partner with the race so that runners could raise money for Blind Children’s Center of Los Angeles a local and private non-profit for visually impaired children.
Along with raising money from event participants DeShazer said “A lot of campus clubs and organizations have stepped up and volunteered. [Even] some students from Malibu High and UCLA are coming as well to help put on the race.
We are cheering on the runners handing out water bottles and doing anything else we can said Delta Gamma junior Gianna Martin-Duarte. It’ll be fun. We are even decorating our booths!” she said hoping to both amuse and encourage the runners in their 13.1 or 26.2 mile race.
The Malibu Marathon takes place Sunday. The full marathon begins in Camarillo at 7 a.m. connecting to Pacific Coast Highway near Point Mugu where the half-marathon begins at 8:30 a.m. then stretches its way almost 14 miles down PCH and ends at the gorgeous and sunny Zuma Beach in Malibu. With a clear forecast predicting a balmy 75 degrees and “abundant sunshine” for the weekend the coastal run is expected to be one of the prettiest marathons in Southern California.
Alysha Nizam a Pepperdine student who ran the half-marathon last year is excited to run it again this year. “It’s so fun to run along the coast and watch the leaders [of the full marathon] run by before we start she wrote in an email.
Charlotte Mooney, student fitness manager for campus recreation, is equally as excited and can’t wait to run this weekend! Marathon training takes a lot of dedication and work… when we push our bodies to the limit there is no other sense of accomplishment like it.”
The 2009 Malibu Marathon hosted approximately 1000 runners in its inaugural year 332 in the full and approximately 600 in the half according to Marathon Guide but DeShazer says this year’s race “is expected to have almost twice as many runners.” The Malibu International Marathon Board also stated that they hoped to “have some of the logistical kinks worked out improving both course safety and race organization.
Experienced racers ranked the Malibu Marathon 3.5 stars on marathonguide.com. Their biggest criticism was the fans—or lack thereof. Fan support received a dismal 1.5 stars last year.
Delta Gamma, Kappa Alpha Theta, Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE), Delta Tau Delta, Malibu High and UCLA volunteers hope to improve the runners’ experience this year. Fan support is one of the most encouraging parts of any distance event, just like the crazy fans of the Tour de France or the 1.3 million spectators of this past weekend’s ING New York City Marathon, boasting 43,000 runners.
Friday and Saturday host a runner’s expo at Zuma Beach until 2:30 on Sunday when the race officially ends. Volunteers, spectators, and fans alike are all encouraged to come out and support the runners on Sunday. Numerous Pepperdine students, some faculty, alumni, and celebrities are entered into the two distances.
DeShazer expects to be simply inspired by those who will be running and hopes the volunteers can return the favor.