Palm Beaches Marathon Lacks Race Director, Updated Details - WPBF West Palm Beach

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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Jim Fields spends his lunch hours training for his next marathon. The lifelong runner figures he'll log around 700 training miles preparing for his favorite marathon: the one in West Palm Beach this December."A flat course, which is what every runner loves," said Fields when he's asked what he likes about the Palm Beaches Marathon Festival. "The weather was cool because it's in December. It's just a fantastic race."But some are having doubts about whether this year's marathon will take off. Negotiations between the race owner and its organizer -- the group that produces Sunfest -- fell apart. The marathon lacks a race director. And its website still lists last year's course and many 2010 details.The marathon's group ownership leader, Chris Devine, said the race is on."The volunteer captains are set to go," said Devine. "The course is going to be consistent with last year's course.""Not much will change," he added. "So if you enjoyed last year it will be very much of the same."The race brings in many out-of-town visitors who fill hotel rooms and restaurant tables."We certainly hope the event goes forward and hope it continues to grow," said the Downtown Development Authority's interim director Raphael Clemente. Clemente said the race also brings suburb lovers back downtown."It's easy when it's sort of in your back yard, but not quite, to stay in your area or stay in Wellington or stay in Gardens," said Clemente. "And you miss what we have to offer here. Maybe because you just don't know it or because you were here 15 years ago. It's a totally different place now."Fields sure hopes all his training will pay off with a pre-dawn start on Flagler Drive this Dec. 4. But he'll be running somewhere, no matter what."I would definitely hate to see it not be available for this year," said Fields. "That would be a real bummer. If not, I guess I'm going to have to look for somewhere like Fort Lauderdale or Miami to go to."