WMBFNews.com | Myrtle Beach/Florence, SC | News, Weather, SportsTaking a look back at the Myrtle Beach Marathon

Taking a look back at the Myrtle Beach Marathon

By Chandi Lowry

MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF)- The Bi-Lo Myrtle Beach Marathon started with an idea between a group of friends in 1996, and now, the event is celebrating its 13th year.

As Shaun Walsh, the president of the marathon, flips through his scrapbook he recalls how the race first began.

Walsh said in October 1996, he and a group of friends thought of bringing the event to the city after taking part in the Chicago marathon. Two years later, 2,400 people gathered at Farrow Parkway for the first Myrtle Beach Marathon.

Walsh said the weather made it a race to remember.

"Just as the gun went off from the start, the lightning came and the torrential downpour. People were running in almost ankle deep water on parts of Ocean Boulevard," he recalled.

By 2003, the marathon included five events, including a relay.

Susan Mungo remembers her first time in the race fondly.

"The first time I was in the Myrtle Beach Marathon it was as one of the relay runners and even though I was part of a relay team it was exciting because I was being part of a team," Mungo said.

Eight years later, Mungo is still running and getting ready for the race to start.

"I've run every leg so to speak of the marathon and it's really a great course.  It's a flat course.  It's a wonderful event and it's so much fun because you spend so much time training and then you're there at race day and it's such a great feeling of accomplishment when you are done."    

In 2004,  Walsh said the marathon became the biggest little marathon with 5000 people registering and it brought over $4 million to the local economy.

This year, the 13th Annual Bi-Lo Myrtle Marathon has plenty of volunteers, 12,000 runners and continues to help charities in the area. 

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