Despite some off-season money issues, the 2010 Stillwater Marathon is on track for May 30 and expecting many more feet on the ground.
“We anticipate close to doubling the amount of participants,” said Dave Mooney of St. Croix Events, which runs the marathon.
In 2009, the races had a combined 2,400 participants. Almost two months out from the May 30 race, Mooney estimates that the races will have about 4,000 runners.
“Planning is on track, thanks to great momentum from 2009,” he said. “Race registrations are steady, well above this time last year.”
But the marathon had a bumpy fall and winter. St. Croix Events was more than ,000 in debt to several local agencies after last year’s race, and didn’t even up until a few weeks ago.
Those owed funds included the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, which had billed the event ,364 for working traffic control and security last year.
Sheriff Bill Hutton said his office was paid in full in late February.
The sheriff was very clear with marathon organizer David Eckberg that a late payment will not be acceptable.
“He is well aware we will not participate in this if we are not paid in advance,” Hutton said.
The sheriff’s office will require that Eckberg pays by April 15.
The city of Stillwater also wrote Eckberg a letter saying that he needed to be on good terms with those entities in order to continue.
Eckberg, who heads St. Croix Events, which also runs Lumberjack Days, directed questions to Mooney.
Mooney said that St. Croix Events offered to escrow money for all those groups. The issue, Mooney said, is that some of the sponsors had not paid up.
“We were awaiting cash to come into us,” he said. “It was a cash-flow situation.”
Mooney said St. Croix Events hopes to change that this year.
“We’re addressing how we collect and extend credit to our sponsors and vendors,” he said.
All the charities and nonprofits that helped out and received donations from the event were the first ones paid last year.
“That was a top priority to see that our charity partners received their contributions,” Mooney said, and those same groups have been invited back to participate.
The marathon is adding some national clout for 2010, bringing in Dick’s Sporting Goods, which sponsors ten marathons nationally each year. Mooney said that St. Croix Events is also working with another national sponsor with local ties, and expects an agreement on that soon.
That kind of recognition should give the race a little bit more of a spotlight, he said.
Last year, 31 states were represented in the race. Applicants have matched that number so far this year, Mooney said, and with the race two months away, he expects all 50 states will be represented.
This year, in hopes of bringing more business downtown, the marathon will be having post-race award ceremonies at P.D. Pappy’s, the Water Street Inn and the Freight House, Mooney said.
He’s also hoping that the event gets strong support from St. Croix Valley residents.
“We encourage the community to support the runners and embrace the event as hometown hosts,” he said.
For more information visit www.stillwatermarathon.com.