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The weather on Sunday, November 12, 2006, was typical for a mid-fall day on the Outer Banks – warm, a brisk wind and overcast skies with clouds that threatened rain. But the day’s events were anything but typical.
The excitement was thick in the air as 4,400 runners and walkers hit the streets of the Outer Banks, making a mad dash from Kitty Hawk or Nags Head to Roanoke Island. Lanes of traffic were closed from milepost 1 in Kitty Hawk all the way through Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head and Roanoke Island. Thousands of community supporters cheered from the sidelines, even when the rain came pouring down. Hundreds of volunteers worked for hours to support the runners. Police officers worked overtime, managing the merging of traffic and runners. Radio stations broadcast from the heart of the action. Runners and walkers streamed down the Outer Banks roads for hours. This
was the first annual OBX Marathon.
The OBX Marathon, presented by the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau, and the Gateway Bank Half Marathon were a huge success,
from the perspective of the community and the runners. Visiting runners were amazed
by the amount of community and spectator support they received on the Outer Banks, and all the runners liked the course – a mainly flat course with varied terrain and incredible scenery. Organizers and community leaders were thrilled with the turnout, and the
beneficiaries of the proceeds were the Dare Education Foundation and the Outer Banks Relief Foundation.
The marathon course began at Milepost 1 in Kitty Hawk. The half-marathon course began just north of Jockey’s Ridge in Nags Head. The course led over the Washington Baum Bridge to Roanoke Island, with the
finish at Manteo High School and the after-party at Roanoke Island Festival Park.
Registration is now open for the 2007 OBX Marathon and Half Marathon, which will be held Sunday, November 11, 2007, at 7 am. Entry fees are $75 for the marathon (2,500 runner limit) and $60 for the half-marathon (3,500 runner limit). The marathon course is
a Boston Marathon qualifier, and both events are walker friendly. There’s also a 1.2-mile Family Fun Run the day before the race.
If you’re a runner, you don’t want to miss this popular event! The course is flat, the scenery is incredible, the community support
is fantastic, the weather is nice, and you know you’ll have a great time visiting the Outer Banks.
Register online at www.obxmarathon.org |
