Meet our mom, and the founder of the Carlsbad Marathon, Lynn Flanagan.
Our mom loved to run! She especially loved running along the coast of Carlsbad, the same streets many of you will run on Sunday.
She also enjoyed competitive running and participated in many races over her lifetime, including several full marathons. She appreciated the unique opportunity road races offered to challenge herself internally and against competitors.
Knowing our mom was an avid runner, a friend asked for her help organizing a race for a local non-profit. She agreed and quickly realized she'd found her calling. Quickly thereafter, she quit her job as an x-ray tech and set up a bedroom office in our childhood home, and incorporated her company, In Motion, Inc in 1981. Her love of running and seeing others enjoy the sport made her company an actual labor of love.
Our mom passed away this past October, surrounded by her children and family. Although she will not physically be with us at this year’s race, her heart and spirit live on in the essence of this event.
As a way to honor our mom’s love for running and racing, there will be a tribute wall at the expo where we invite you to share your “why” you run/walk, why you race, or what the Carlsbad Marathon means to you.
Thank you for joining us this weekend. We appreciate your participation and hope you have a fantastic race!
Happy running!