Two Cities Marathon brings road closures and racing to Fresno–Clovis streets
The 17th annual Two Cities Marathon & Half drew runners through Fresno and Clovis on Sunday, Nov. 2, staging a full Boston‑qualifying marathon alongside a half, 10K and a new Kaiser Permanente Gavin Gladding 5K. Organizers also hosted a fitness expo and finish‑line festivities while local agencies coordinated temporary street closures to protect participants and manage traffic.
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Thousands of runners and spectators converged on Fresno and Clovis on Sunday for the 17th annual Two Cities Marathon & Half, a multi‑distance event that included a Boston‑qualifying full marathon, a half marathon, a 10K and the newly introduced Kaiser Permanente Gavin Gladding 5K. The event combined competitive racing with community programming, including a fitness expo and finish‑line activities aimed at drawing local residents and visitors to the downtown corridor.
Organizers closed portions of key streets to accommodate the race and ensure runner safety. Public safety and transportation agencies coordinated temporary closures along stretches of Behymer, Shepherd, Friant, Peach, Pollasky and Sierra, affecting both commuter and residential traffic during much of the morning. The measures were intended to provide uninterrupted race routes while allowing for controlled access at intersections and detours for motorists and local businesses.
The marathon’s Boston‑qualifying status positioned the full marathon as a draw for competitive athletes seeking qualifying times, while the half marathon, 10K and new 5K provided options for recreational runners, walkers and families. The fitness expo and finish‑line festivities expanded the event beyond the race itself, offering vendors, health and fitness information, and spectator programming that increased foot traffic in the nearby commercial areas.
For residents, the event presented both disruptions and opportunities. Temporary road closures required adjustments to morning commutes and access to affected neighborhoods, prompting advance notices from authorities and signage along impacted routes. At the same time, the influx of participants and visitors boosted activity for cafes, restaurants and shops near the start and finish areas, and reinforced the Two Cities Marathon’s role as a recurring civic event in the Fresno–Clovis calendar.
From an institutional perspective, the race highlighted the coordination required between event organizers, municipal agencies and public safety personnel to manage traffic, emergency access and crowd control. The continued success of the event—now in its 17th year—underscores how recurring sporting events can function as both public‑health promotion and local economic stimuli, while also demanding clear communication from officials about temporary impacts on daily life.
As the Two Cities Marathon & Half returns each year, city planners and community stakeholders face recurring tradeoffs between supporting recreational and competitive athletics and minimizing disruption to residents and businesses. The event’s combination of a Boston‑qualifying marathon and new community‑oriented race options suggests organizers are aiming to balance elite competition with broad public participation, keeping the race relevant for both serious runners and local families.
