Running Advocate Saves Columbia Marathon

The newly branded race takes place in March.

Two years after it started, the Columbia (S.C.) Marathon appeared to be doomed. Even though the race had attracted more than 2,000 runners in various events, former race director Dan Hartley decided to cancel it without giving an explanation.

Apparently last year’s age-group winners didn’t even receive their awards.

But according to an article on The State’s website, Jesse Harmon, an advocate for the benefits of recrational running with youth, decided to try and save the race.

Harmon filed paperwork with USA Track and Field and reached out to some of the race’s previous sponsors. On March 6 of next year, the newly branded race is set to kick off as the Run Hard Marathon.

“We were planning an off-road half marathon of our own,” Harmon said. “Then we read in The State newspaper about the Columbia Marathon being canceled. We thought ‘We want the capital city to have a marathon. What do we need to do?’”

“We have to do some damage control,” Harmon said. “We have to repair the image.”

For More: The State