Background/History

The City of Morro Bay Recreation & Parks Department has named the annual Rock to Pier Run in memory of Brian Waterbury. Brian was the one who had the idea of running on the beach from Morro Bay to Cayucos and founded the race in 1970. He was a math and computer science teacher for the San Luis Coastal Unified School District for 30 years and coached cross country and track. In addition to his efforts in promoting running among students and the community, he had a distinguished competitive record of his own. Brian competed in over 400 races at distances ranging from the mile to the marathon in his 40-year career. His top accomplishment was an 8th place in the 50/59 age division at the Boston Marathon in 2001 where he ran 2:51:09 and placed 391st out of 12,000 entrants. Other notable racing achievements include back-to-back age group wins at the Tucson Marathon in 2000 (2:47:09) & 2001 (2:47:56) and a masters marathon PR of 2:43:12 at Sacramento’s Cal International Marathon in 1988. His best time in the Rock to Pier race came in 1989 when he ran 34:48 and placed 6th.

Brian started his running career in 1962 as a freshman at Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach and continued as part of the team at Cal Poly. After finishing his athletic eligibility in 1970, he found that there were no opportunities for post-collegiate athletes to continue competing because there weren’t any races in San Luis Obispo County. Since he loved to run, he and Cal Poly teammate Terry Record decided to start their own race. The first Morro Bay to Cayucos Fun Run in the summer of 1970 drew 32 people with Terry crossing the line first and Brian third. The field the second year increased to 42 and included 1964 U.S. Olympic team 10,000M runner Ron Larrieu and international cross country team member Cheryl Bridges, who would go on to set a world marathon record in December of that year. In early 1974, Brian helped form the San Luis Distance Club. Terry had moved away by then and the members of SLDC assisted Brian in conducting the race, which by 1977 had grown to over 600 entrants from all over California. In 1986, the City of Morro Bay was looking for additional recreational activities to sponsor and expressed an interest in adding some races to its calendar of events. SLDC turned the Morro Bay to Cayucos race over to the city which has conducted it ever since.

---

---