District will play host to marathon in 2006

The District will have its marathon once again in 2006.

“There is very much talk under way,” said Robert Sweeney, president and executive director of the Greater Washington Sports Alliance, which since last year has overseen citywide events. “We’re going to do it. In 2006. Probably in March.

“We are talking with one major financial institution and one insurance company and we are looking at a $1million budget and a televised event. If we cannot work that, we will have a smaller race — the same race as the previous one which was run and not run.”

Sweeney, of course, is referring to the Washington DC Marathon, which made its debut in 2001, was held again in 2002 and was canceled shortly before race day in 2003 after the start of the war in Iraq.

That cancellation set off of flurry of accusations of financial mismanagement and other issues between Mayor Anthony Williams’ office and H2O Entertainment, the race organizer.

The mayor’s spokeswoman, Sharon Gang, said the “mayor might support a D.C. marathon but would need to review the logistical details before committing.”

However, Sweeney, whose organization is an affiliate of the Washington Board of Trade, said, “It’s a done deal. We’ve had conversations with the city.”

He also has had conversations with Lee Corrigan, founder and principal of Corrigan Sports Enterprises, which stages the Baltimore Marathon.

“All I can say about it is that I have been talking with [Sweeney], and he really wants to have [the marathon] back,” said Corrigan, who pulled off the fourth Baltimore Marathon yesterday with nearly 10,000 participants — including dozens of elite runners — and a solid lineup of title and promotional sponsors. “Bob’s anxious because he’s being pushed by the mayor’s office.”

After the problems surrounding the 2003 race, city officials rejected marathon proposals for this year, requesting more time to plan.

Corrigan has big hopes for a new marathon in the District.

“It won’t be a Marine Corps Marathon,” he said. “It won’t be a marathon ’for the people’ (like the Marine’s mantra). It will be the greatest marathon in the world in the most powerful city in the world. It will be an international event, with runners coming from around the world and sponsors of a global nature.”

Corrigan also has plans for a half-marathon and a team relay event, with a competition between nations and a course that would pass down Embassy Row.

Sweeney went one step further, saying, “One of the ideas to look at in the next year and a half is for each embassy to bring in their [nation’s] best athletes.”

The challenge will be in finding corporate sponsors to underwrite such an event. The Baltimore Marathon costs about $750,000, but Corrigan hopes to top that with a better field and more prize money.

“I’m talking with three to four international companies, and I’m not asking for $100,000 — I’m asking for big money,” said Corrigan, who signed a three-year deal with Under Armour for the Baltimore Marathon last year. “I am looking for a five-year deal with the title sponsor. The biggest thing is to come out of the box strong, with a big purse with a big sponsor with promotional tie ins.”

A report from Towson University’s research arm claims the Baltimore Marathon Festival generated more than $29million for the city.

Sweeney, whose office is inside the headquarters of the Board of Trade, has positioned himself with Washington’s major corporate players. He said he’s been in touch with a few race management companies, including the nation’s largest in Elite Racing. Elite owner Tim Murphy has denied contact, but did not rule out the possibility saying, “We could be in D.C. someday.”

With the District focused on bringing baseball back to town the last few months, a 2005 race in D.C. was out of the question.

“We are still in the planning stages,” Sweeney said. “We were thinking of doing an ’05 one, but we had some smaller ones on the schedule — the Potomac River Marathon [in Alexandria in May] and one in Southern Maryland [Lower Potomac River Marathon in March]. We need a good race that will help the mayor regain the respect of the runners.”

Sweeney said he was impressed with the organization and volunteer efforts of the Potomac River Marathon. Financial commitments are critical to the success of a Washington marathon, but Sweeney and Corrigan agreed they need the cooperation of the highly territorial running community.

“A lot of people have contacted us [to put on a marathon in Washington],” Sweeney said. “Part of it is taking it out of their hands. Part of our role is to be an overarching bridge so everybody can be under the umbrella.”