MYRTLE BEACH -- The Myrtle Beach Bi-Lo Marathon is now just under a week away. Last year it brought an estimated 20,000 visitors to the Grand Strand.
This year however, something is a bit different as for the first time in 9 years the route for the full marathon will now go through Market Common on the former Air Force Base. That route will add access to even more businesses that could feel a sales surge from race weekend.
"We are very excited that the marathon is going to be running through here, we are mile, 6 and 7," said marketing manager Hatton Gravely, “The combination of the roads and the city parks make it just a great place for runners to run through, we constantly have runners and walkers walking around the lake and walking around this area and I think it's just a favorite to come to, for locals, for the local people that are running and so I think the city wanted to incorporate it as the new area in Myrtle Beach to showcase.’
Usually in the middle of the day Gordon Biersch in Market Common is pretty slow, but that may not be the case this Saturday, explained restaurant manager, Heather Helms.
"On the day of the marathon we are hoping to have a 50 percent increase in sales that day compared to last year because everyone will be right here in the Market Common at this time cuz we think that this is probably the perfect spot for people to come and watch it," Helms said.
Shaun Walsh president of the marathon said that the new course will not only ease runner and traffic congestion along Ocean Boulevard but will also give runners something scenic to enjoy.
"In Market Common just again with the amount of time and effort that is being placed in developing that area through the streets and the landscaping and the building and so forth that are out there, the lake, it's just a natural fit for it all, and really in all essence we are going to back to our roots because that's where we uses to start and finish the event back in the first couple of years that we actually held a Myrtle Beach Marathon."
As in past years, the race will begin and end at the BB&T Coastal Field on 21st avenue north and Grissom Parkway then runners will go through Market Common on several turns that include Farrow Parkway Johnson Avenue, Hackler Street and Howard Avenue.
"The runners if they come in with their number that they wear in the race then they also get a free beer,” said Helms, “So hopefully that'll be a little boost for everybody to come in and get a little something extra special."
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