SEATTLE, Wash - October 25, 1999 -- When the Seattle Marathon held it's first marathon back in 1970, there were 38 starters; 31 of those running finished the race; and there were no women entered. Only two officials were on hand and there were no spectators present. Publicity was by word of mouth, and runners entered by just showing up at the starting line. Women started running in the Marathon in 1973, but not until 1975 was an official women's division added. 1975 also marked the first year a half-marathon was added to the event.

The event has grown and last year over 8,000 people participated in the "family of events" surrounding the Marathon. As the Marathon celebrates its' 30th Anniversary, organizers anticipate 1999 to be a banner year with an anticipated 10,000 people entered in any of the five exciting athletic events; the 26.2 mile race, the half-marathon, the half marathon walk and the kids staged marathon.

The winner of that first Seattle Marathon was Evan Shull who went on to become director and prime organizer of the event in 1972. A future 2-time Olympic qualifier, Bill Glad, finished 16th in the first Marathon. He went on to win the race in 1977. That same year the runners were introduced to "E.R.G.", an electrolyte replacement with glucose, a sugar-salt mineral substance. It's introduction was less than successful with the runners finding its taste bitter.

It was in 1972 when organizers set the official time for the race for the weekend after Thanksgiving where it has remained ever since. The first several years the Marathon enjoyed near-perfect weather conditions, however in 1979 and 1980 the situation changed radically. Both years saw near-freezing rain driven across Lake Washington by gale force winds. The weather did not ruin the event. Spectators turned out in large numbers and fast times were still recorded by the majority of the field.

As the race grew in size, so did the need for sponsorships. Early races were sponsored by the Snohomish Track Club, KZAM Radio, Super Jock & Jill and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. In 1978 Club Northwest and Safeco became sponsors and repeated that sponsorship the next year. Other sponsors have included Radio Stations KPLZ, KVI-570, Pacific Northwest Bell, Pemco and the Virginia Mason Sports Medicine Center. During the 1990's Northern Life became the title sponsor of the race. The 1998 Marathon, which realized a 20% increase in participants over the previous year, was sponsored by InSport.

This year the organizers welcome a new title sponsor American Suzuki Motor Corporation, an organization that has been a supporting sponsor in the past. In addition to helping to defray the costs of staging the 1999 Suzuki Seattle Marathon, they will be awarding a 2000 Suzuki V6 Grand Vitara automobile to some lucky winner immediately following the conclusion of the race.

FOX Sports Net is proud to be the presenting sponsor of this year's Marathon, promoting the event as well as presenting hightlights of the race. 1999 marks the second year of Immunex sponsorship for the Suzuki Seattle Marathon Kid's Staged Marathon. All of the sponsors are committed to good health whether it's running, walking or some form of exercising. Proceeds benefit the American Lung Association of Washington again this year.

In the early years, runners in the Marathon were mostly local residents. The Marathon has grown to where it is now considered one of the top 20 running events in the country. Runners come from around the USA and Canada and every year the international contingency has become larger. The race is considered a qualifying event for the Boston Marathon and times posted here can be used to determine eligibility for that race.

"We're proud of our accomplishments over the past 30 years," said Louise Long, executive director of the Seattle Marathon Association. "We fill the hotels with participants who bring their running shoes and tourist dollars. And we do it all with volunteers from a very supportive community and generous sponsors who help defray our costs making it possible to donate dolla rs to our benificiary. Most importantly, we all have fun...participants, organizers and volunteers. We invite people to come join us."

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