Oceanside CA— More than 10,000 runners and walkers from the U.S. and abroad are expected to participate in the 28th edition of Tri-City Medical Center’s Carlsbad Marathon & Half Marathon taking place on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019. The highly anticipated event includes a full marathon, half marathon and Surf Sun Run 5K all featuring breathtaking views of North County’s landscape and epic coastline.
As a title sponsor for the tenth year, Tri-City Medical Center uses the event to improve the health of its community by highlighting the comprehensive health services, quality care and support it provides to the residents of North County.
“As a community hospital, our primary goal is to advance the health and wellness of our community members,” said Tri-City Medical Center CEO Steve Dietlin. “By sponsoring this event, we provide a fun and exciting opportunity that brings together our community and encourages a healthy, active lifestyle.”
In addition to sponsoring this event, every year Tri-City Medical Center selects 13 North County residents who have faced or are currently facing debilitating health challenges to be a part of Tri-City’s Lucky 13 program. The Lucky 13 program offers comprehensive training and emotional support to overcome participants’ health issues and achieve their fitness goal of completing the Tri-City Medical Center Carlsbad Half Marathon. More than just a running group, Lucky 13 helps participants overcome personal challenges and change their lives forever. See Facebook video [Here]
Among this year’s participants are:
- Cecilia Sawyer, 63 – A Carlsbad resident and retired elementary school teacher, Cecilia overcame heart surgery, injuries sustained as the victim of a drunk driving accident, breast cancer and the loss of her sister to ovarian cancer. She is dedicating her efforts to her sister who participated in the Lucky 13 program and completed the half marathon a few years ago.
- Paul Geisterfer, 26 – A Carlsbad resident, Paul was diagnosed with autism and Asperger’s syndrome at a young age and faced depression developed from severe bullying throughout his schooling. He wants to complete the half marathon to prove everyone who told him he wouldn’t amount to anything wrong, but most importantly to find happiness.
Christine Anderson, 33 – A Vista resident facing bipolar disorder and a torn ACL injury, she always wanted to be a runner, but her bipolar disorder and injury impeded her dreams. With the support of the Tri-City trainers, she’s perfected her running skills and found exercise as an effective way to control her mood.
“It’s inspiring to see friends, neighbors and other community members boldly facing health challenges each day,” said Dietlin. “We couldn’t be prouder of everyone involved in the Lucky 13 program and can’t wait to see them all cross the finish line on Sunday!”
For more information on the Tri-City Medical Center Carlsbad Half Marathon and the Lucky 13, visit www.tricitymed.org/medical-services/health-wellness/marathon/.
About Tri-City Medical Center
Tri-City Medical Center has served its community for over 50 years and is a 397-bed full service, acute-care hospital in Oceanside, Calif. with a primary care clinic and over 700 physicians practicing in 60 specialties. Its Gold Seal of Approval® from the Joint Commission recognizes its commitment to safe and effective patient care for the residents of the community it serves. It operates the only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in North County as well as an Orthopaedic & Spine Institute, a Cardiovascular Health Institute and a Neuroscience Institute along with the Tri-City Wellness Center in Carlsbad, Calif., recognized as one of the best wellness centers in San Diego County. It also specializes in women’s health, robotic surgery, cancer and emergency care. Tri-City Medical Center has received its fifth consecutive “A” rating from the national hospital safety scoring organization, The Leapfrog Group.
For more information about Tri-City Medical Center and Tri-City Healthcare District, please visit www.tricitymed.org.