Dear Salinas Valley Half Marathon participant:
From Doug Thurston, Executive Director
Due to the dramatic change in air quality in the Salinas Valley as a result of smoke from the 45,000-plus acre Soberanes wildfire, we made the decision today to cancel this Saturday's Salinas Valley Half Marathon.
Our first commitment is always to the health and safety of our runners and volunteers. Although the air quality in the race area was good to moderate earlier this week, it moved into the "unhealthful" range overnight Tuesday following a shift in wind direction. The Monterey Bay Air Resources District expects to see elevated (particulate) readings in the next few days. In addition, models show that the smoke plume is flowing into the race area and back burns scheduled Thursday and Friday to help stem the fire are predicted to settle into the Valley through Saturday morning.
As a registered participant, you will have the option to: - Defer your paid entry to next year's Salinas Valley Half Marathon; or,
- Exchange your SVHM entry for an entry into the Half Marathon on Monterey Bay on November 13, 2016.
Instructions on how to choose between these options will be sent to you soon. Entry refunds are not available. In addition, you will be able to pick up your race shirt and goodie bag at the previously-scheduled times, this Friday afternoon from 1:30-6 p.m. at the Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital Farmer's Market in Salinas or Saturday morning from 6-8 a.m. at the Soledad Mission. In addition, shirts and goodie bags will be available at the Big Sur Marathon office in The Barnyard Shopping Village in Carmel next Monday through Wednesday, August 8-11, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
If you do not wish to use either option with your SVHM entry and you do not pick up your packet or T-shirt, you can deduct 100% of the entry fee you paid for the Salinas Valley Half as a tax deductible donation. The Big Sur International Marathon, owners of the Salinas Valley Half Marathon, is a non-profit organization.
The Soberanes fire is a tragic event for our community in many ways. The Big Sur Marathon organization has contributed more than $120,000 in cash to date to help firefighting and recovery efforts. In addition, we will donate water, food, and any other useful supplies ordered but not used at the Salinas Half to the firefighters battling the blaze.
We appreciate your patience and understanding. Respectfully, Doug Thurston Executive Director/Race Director Salinas Valley Half Marathon An event of the Big Sur International Marathon (831) 625-6226 doug@bsim.org
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