Many Eau Claire residents were hoping somebody would eventually pick up the Eau Claire Marathon, financial advisor Pat Toutant said, after it was announced the former coordinator would step down after this year.
People certainly didn’t have to wait long as Toutant and Scheels All Sports took over the marathon and will have it up and running yet again this May.
Scheels originally pursued somebody passionate enough to take the event over from Karen Drechsel, the previous race coordinator, and they thought Toutant would be that person.
Toutant said he has a passion for running and a healthy lifestyle, and combining that with community outreach helped him get the ball rolling to continue the event.
“It’s a community event, and we’re all together going to make this something that I think could become real special,” Toutant said. “Apparently it was meant to be, because everything lined up.”
The Eau Claire Marathon has taken place    the first weekend in May for the last five years, turning Carson Park into a packed place of personal triumph and satisfaction.
More than 1,500 have toed the line for either the full 26.2 loop, the half-marathon, relay or 2-mile fun run. Toutant said a lot of people were talking about getting it up and going right away, but it came down to a collaborative effort to get the ball rolling.
“I heard a lot of things, and like anything, it just takes the combination of the right things to happen,” Toutant said. “The number of people who have reached out to me to help have been enormous already, so that just tells you how many people want to see this thing continue.”
UW-Eau Claire senior Steph Jauquet, who ran the half-marathon in 2013, said she was initially very disappointed she wouldn’t be able to run in Eau Claire this spring. But she said she was excited to find out she would have another opportunity to run again at Carson Park.
“I think this is a great event,” Jauquet said. “Without this race, I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish my goal of running a full marathon before I turn 22.”
Toutant said the Eau Claire Marathon will benefit so many more people than just the runners who fulfill their own personal achievement.
He said the event proceeds will go to a variety of organizations that promote the same kind of healthy lifestyle as the marathon represents in an application-type process. He will then choose three charities for a period of time to be the recipients of those dollars.
He also said what is different from years past is that he will have a one-year, two-year and three-year charity contribution from certain organizations in attempt to incorporate as many groups as possible to be a part of the event and benefit of its proceeds.
“My goal is to never attach myself just to one thing, because too many things change,” Toutant said. “If there’s a disaster or something happens in Eau Claire where there’s an immediate need, I want to have the flexibility to say ‘You know what, that organization needs our help, and that’s where we’re going.’”
The 2014 Eau Claire Marathon will take place on May 4. The website, eauclairemarathon.org, is up and running and getting more content every day with applications up by hopefully next week. Toutant said  many runners and volunteers are needed to make the event as successful as it has been in years past.