Napa, California – The 2023 Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon & Half Marathon has officially sold out, with runners from around the world gearing up for the highly anticipated race. The event, scheduled for March 5th, has drawn runners of all abilities who are ready to tackle the scenic courses through California’s beautiful wine country.
The Napa Valley Marathon is a celebration of running, health, and wellness. The point-to-point race will feature several runners looking for their Olympic Marathon Trials qualifying time, including last year’s female champion and course record holder, Ann Centner (2:38:29). Others to watch include Peter Gilmore, Napa Valley Marathon’s 2009 champion who is now a top-level masters runner. This year’s field also includes wheelchair athlete Rob Balucas, who was injured in a biking accident in 2015 and became paralyzed. Rob hopes to qualify for the Boston Marathon.
Local runner Jonathan Pascual is a five-time finisher of the Napa Valley Marathon and is returning to the race this year after a seven-year absence due to health issues. Jonathan was diagnosed with stage IV cancer and had to put his running on hold. But this year, he is ready to tackle the course once again.
“It was through nutrition and my diligence in exercise that I could do a comeback running race in December 2022. I knew then that with the cancer treatments and continued training, I can keep getting stronger and fitter,” Jonathan said. “ I have accepted that I will no longer be the athlete I was once nor could I perform the way that I used to. So I decided that these are times of discovery. The challenge is to figure out what my mind and body can do athletically”.
According to Race Director, Michelle La Sala, “Whether runners are looking for a personal best, coming to celebrate a girl’s weekend, or seeking out a beautiful and inspiring course to achieve a goal, the Napa Valley Marathon offers it all. One of the largest sporting events in the valley and with proceeds supporting the local community, we are thrilled at the continued growth and notoriety this race brings. On behalf of the Napa Valley Marathon, Inc. board of directors and President Jonathan Williams, we look forward to welcoming runners to Napa and showing them a wonderful weekend!”
For more information about the 44th annual Napa Valley Marathon & Half Marathon, visit the event’s website at www.napavalleymarathon.org.
About Blistering Pace Race Management: Founded in 2016, BPRM works in a variety of race management capacities, ranging from staffing to full operational oversight. Clients include the Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon and Half Marathon, Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Half Marathon (10K & 5K), the Big Sur Marathon Foundation, Chicago Event Management, and the New York Road Runners. For more information, visit www.blisteringpace.com
