HIGH POINT – Representatives of the 2010 United Healthcare North Carolina Marathon on Tuesday outlined some of the changes coming to the race in High Point next year.

The marathon, held for the first time in the city in May of this year, will be held March 20.

“The reason for the change can be summed up in one word: weather,” said Melissa Fourrier, executive director of Foster Friends of North Carolina and race director. “We wanted to have the race when there was a stronger likelihood of cooler temperatures.”

Race participant and honorary chairman Charlie Engle applauded the move, and praised High Point’s marathon – which begins and ends at Showplace on E. Commerce Avenue – as among the smoothest of the 30 races all over the country he’s running this year.

“It’s a better time for runners,” Engle said of the new date. “What runners want is for things to be very simple, especially if they spend money to fly here and enter the race. ... This town understands how to host people. I can’t stress how critical that is.”

After holding the first marathon in Greensboro in 2008, Foster Friends of North Carolina reached an agreement with High Point to have the race in the city through 2015. This year’s event raised about $30,000 for the nonprofit organization, which works to assist foster children statewide. The city will continue to host the event at no charge to organizers. City officials have previously estimated that the city spent about $25,000 to provide services for this year’s race.

Officials cite benefits the event brings to the city such as tourism spending, activity to the downtown area and other exposure. Nearly 2,000 runners participated in this year’s event. Fourrier said organizers hope to double the turnout for next year’s race, which will again include a half-marathon and 5K in addition to the marathon, which is a qualifier for the Boston Marathon.

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