Cal State Long Beach students will cheer on thousands of people who will be running through campus during the Long Beach Marathon Sunday.
“Anyone is welcome to come cheer,” said Nikita Rambaran, receptionist at the Beach Pride Center. “We have clubs and organizations from our campus come and set up tents and water for the runners and things like that in support of them.”
The Long Beach Marathon will take runners in a loop from downtown near the Aquarium of the Pacific, east through Belmont Shore, up through the university and back downtown. Miles 17 to 20 will take the runners through the CSULB campus, from Atherton Street to Palo Verde Avenue, eventually cutting across campus at Merriam Way.
This year’s race is expected to draw about 8,000 runners and tens of thousands of spectators. The event is known as one of the most scenic — and flat — marathon courses.
Student organizations plan to not only cheer, but use the time to recruit and have fun.
“We have planned to just be very supportive and make a lot of signs,” said Kaitlyn Nelson, a junior psychology major and president of the Invisible Children United club. “I personally have not been involved in anything like this before, so I’m really excited to see the turnout.”
Nelson said the club is planning on setting up a table to accept donations for rebuilding schools in northern Uganda.
“I expect the atmosphere to be really energetic, especially with all the organizations participating,” Nelson said. “I think it’s really awesome that the runners get to go through campus.”
Beach Pride is an Associated Students, Inc. program that is funded through student fees. It runs school spirit programs like the cheer team, the school mascot and Beach Patrol. Its office is located in the University Student Union.
Students who want to cheer on the marathon runners can meet at the Beach Pride Center at 7:30 a.m. Sunday. After the runners make their way through campus, students will be treated to food, entertainment and prizes at the wrap party.
Disclaimer: The Daily 49er is not responsible for Postings made on www.daily49er.wpengine.com. Persons commenting are solely responsible for Postings made on this website. Persons commenting agree to the Terms of Use of the website. If Postings do not abide by the Rules of Conduct or Posting Regulations as listed in the Postings Policy, the Daily 49er has all rights to delete Postings as it deems necessary. The Daily 49er strongly advises individuals to not abuse their First Amendment rights, and to avoid language suggestive of hate speech. This site also encourages users to make Postings relevant to the article or other Postings.