Garmin Marathon Series Debut in Durham: A Community Win

0:00It's May 2, from your city to your ears. This is Durham News Today, powered by AI, I'm Corey with the Story. Thousands of runners flooded Durham, North Carolina, for the first ever Garmin Marathon series, doubling as a qualifier for the Boston Marathon. Over 5,000 athletes from 40 states and 17 countries showed up, making it the biggest debut road race the city has ever seen. Street 3 opened the next day after the massive turnout. The weekend packed in options for every level, from full marathons and halves to 10Ks, 5Ks, and a fitness expo. The route wound along the American tobacco trail, hit downtown spots, looped by the Durham Bulls Park, and wrapped at Wallace Waite Stadium with a post-race party, city and sports bosses are hyped, calling it a team win with help from the county, North Carolina Central University, Duke and the Bulls. They say it put Durham on the national map and pump cash into hotels, restaurants and shops all weekend.

1:00Local Wellness Coach Chan Little got props as a Garmin community champion for his work on mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Organizers stressed how events like this build community way beyond the finish line. Runners who hit Boston qualifying times now gear up for that legendary race, carrying Durham's energy to running's top stage and setting the city up. For more, Big Runs ahead.