Myrtle Beach Marathon canceled, but snow doesn't stop them all; officials mull refunds

MYRTLE BEACH -- At the time when thousands of runners were expected to be streaming through the finish line of the Bi-Lo Myrtle Beach Marathon at BB&T Coastal Field on Saturday, instead there was demolition.

The start line, staging and tents were all being razed, and portable restrooms were being hauled off the property late Saturday morning. None were needed after the cancellation of the race because of an overnight snow storm.

City officials took the decision out of the hands of the race committee Friday, and Myrtle Beach City Manager Tom Leath deemed conditions to be too dangerous for runners and motorists during the race, and volunteers and city workers who were going to set up the course in the hours leading up to the start.

After seeing road conditions Saturday morning, marathon president and co-race director Shaun Walsh agreed with Leath's decision.

"Based on the conditions we saw in the morning it would have been hazardous for participants getting to the start line, and it would have been extremely hazardous for the city personnel to be setting up the course at the times we had to do it," Walsh said. "We looked at Ocean Boulevard and the single lane for running, and there was a lot of snow and slush because cars weren't driving in that lane.

"It could have been pretty bad. Especially at the north end of the course, it would have been pretty hazardous."

Not all runners allowed the cancellation to deter them from running. Dozens of registered participants hit the snow-lined streets Saturday morning, determined to not let their training go to waste.

"Coming from Chicago, we're running in this weather all the time," said Ron Shumard of Chicago, who took a bus, plane and car to compete in the Dasani half-marathon for the first time. "I was disappointed. I invested a lot in this."

Runners could be found on Grissom Parkway, Ocean Boulevard and Kings Highway running at about 7 a.m. in about 30 degree weather on either the full route or their own modified routes.

"We run every Saturday morning and today was no different," said Tony Best, of Mt. Olive, N.C. "We had trained in weather like this the whole fall and winter."

This would have been Best's fourth marathon.

"My heart was broken when I heard the news," Best said. "You train so hard. This is a good course to run on. The people down here are so nice."

His running partner James Kornegay of Mt. Olive was also disappointed.

"I understand the safety concerns of the city, but the group of runners who come down here would have run anyway like they have this morning," he said.

Marathon awards director Jim Troxell was among the few race officials and volunteers who waited around the finish line to hand out medals to participants who completed their unofficial runs at the BB&T Field.

"I've got to say it's a lot less crowded at the finish line," joked Graham Hazelette of Gaffney, who crossed the finish line at about 8:45 a.m. after running about 10 miles. He was registered for the half-marathon.

The marathon's board of directors met Saturday morning in an attempt to determine how to reimburse or appease the 6,600 runners entered in the canceled marathon and half-marathon races.

Runners entered in the marathon or half-marathon paid between $60 and $110 in entry fees.

"We've had a lot of discussions on how we can take care of the folks, but we haven't solidified anything yet," Walsh said. "We're looking at other events to see what other events have done. We've spent in excess of half a million dollars on the event already. All of our money is front loaded so we rely on those entry fees to help pay the bills."

Walsh said expenses including T-shirts, a runner's expo, medals and advertising are all purchased before the race. There are few expenses the day of the race.

"We're still looking for a solution that will benefit the runners who weren't able to run and won't bankrupt the marathon," Walsh said. "We're a 501-c3 nonprofit organization. We want to pay the bills, help the charities make a dollar and take care of the participants."

Entrants had differing opinions on whether or not they were due a refund.

Some, like Alex Peschell of Greensboro, N.C., believe they are due something back since race officials did not deliver the product. "If they end up doing a refund I'll probably end up doing it again," Peschell said. "If they don't, I won't. I came down here and drove 31/2 hours and you want to get your money's worth."

Others, including Terry Smith of Greenville, who drove through the snow Friday night with fellow runner Cesar Perez, understand the extreme circumstances that led to the cancellation and the expenses already incurred by race organizers.

"We're very disappointed because we've been training for several months to get ready for this, and we're willing to do this," Smith said. "But I certainly understand the decision for the safety of everyone involved. It's beyond the committee's control. We'll do it next year. We hope to come back and hopefully it's not a blizzard next time."

All other marathon-week events, including a two-day expo Thursday and Friday at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, one-mile Family Fun Run on Friday, 5-kilometer race on Friday, a post-race House of Blues party and three cycling rides in Conway on Sunday have been held or are expected to be held.

Race organizers will likely mull over their options, so a decision isn't expected this weekend.

Leath said the decision to cancel the race was made more difficult because of the human and monetary investment in it.

"It's a huge decision because this race is really almost a year-long planning event," Leath said. "There was a huge amount of human effort put into it over and above the financial impact this may have. So it's not a decision I made lightly. But ultimately my responsibility is the safety of those involved and it was just not going to be a safe situation."

"Everything we've faced in the last few days has been a ... dilemma," Walsh said.

The start of today's bike rides are being delayed 11/2 hours to 9 a.m. in the hopes road conditions and temperatures improve further.

Staff writer Aliana Ramos contributed to this report.