South Padre Marathon

2018 EVENT CANCELLED. From race director:

I regret to inform you that there will be no South Padre Marathon in 2018. We began working with the city of South Padre Island on creating the South Padre Marathon in March of 2014, and held the first event in November of 2015. The goal had been to create an annual destination race that would attract runners from across the nation. In the first three years, 6100+ runners and 15,000+ visitors from more than 40 states and a dozen countries attended the South Padre Marathon.

Since March of 2014, there have been multiple changes in city administration and in the CVB (Convention and Visitors Bureau) board and staff. Naturally, changes in staff often results in changes in priorities. It became apparent last January, that the goals and objectives of the current CVB staff and board are different than those of their predecessors.

This past Tuesday I was notified by the CVB that the city would be opening a RFP (request for proposal) for a half-marathon event in 2018, and that I was welcome to submit a proposal once it is released later this month. I have declined to submit a proposal.

I respect that the city’s decision. I am also appreciative of the opportunity and funding the city afforded us these past three years. However, the event is not currently financially viable for us to produce without the financial and logistical support of the city. Additionally, we will not be submitting a proposal for the following reasons:
– The event is a year-round undertaking (marketing, registrations, permitting, etc), we are not willing to wait until February or March for possible approval
– As you know, runners are already planning their event calendar for the year…particularly those who are planning on participating in a destination race. Since more than 60% of our runners have traveled from beyond the region, not announcing a race date until 6-7 months beforehand severely hampers our opportunity for success.
– Destination races typically have about an 80% turnover each year. They typically begin to grow in the 4th and 5th years as previous runners begin to return. If the city will be seeking bids each year, no one will have the opportunity to grow an event into maturity.
– Corporate sponsorship is generally secured 9-15 months prior to the event as they must plan according to their budgeting cycles

I want to personally thank all of you who participated and supported the South Padre Marathon. Thank you for sharing this journey with us, I wish the finish line had not come so quickly.

– Tim Scrivner, SPI Marathon Race Director (former)
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South Padre Island, the Sandcastle Capital of the World, is now home to the ultimate Runcation weekend! The SPI Marathon and Half-Marathon begin at the historic Port Isabel lighthouse, crosses the crystal waters of the Laguna Madre, via the 2.5-mile Queen Isabella Causeway, to the sun-soaked shores of South Padre Island. White sand beaches, sandcastles, palm trees and enthusiastic spectators line the route to your finish line at the largest beach bar in Texas!

Make every step count in this year’s South Padre Marathon. It’s simple. After you register, create an everydayhero fundraising page for your favorite cause. Choose your cause and set a goal. Then, share it with friends, track your training, and make a difference.You can choose to fundraise for one of our featured charities or find one that speaks to you – because at the end of the day, it’s up to you to make every step count.