Next year, the Roanoke Valley will host its first marathon since the 1980s, incorporating parts of the Blue Ridge Parkway and downtown Roanoke for a challenging and mountainous course.

Organizers announced Wednesday that the 26.2-mile race, coined the Blue Ridge Marathon on the Parkway, will be held April 24, 2010, coinciding with the parkway’s 75th anniversary.

A team of six to seven people, including local economic development officials, runners and business professionals, are working on the details of the race that they hope will draw participants from across the country, boost local tourism dollars and stand out as one of the toughest marathon courses around.

They’re still seeking sponsors for the race, which is estimated to cost between $25,000 to $50,000. Proceeds will benefit the Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway, a nonprofit that focuses on preserving the parkway.

The course will wind up Mill Mountain, onto the parkway, head up Roanoke Mountain and go back down through parts of downtown Roanoke for 16 miles of mountain climbing and 10 miles of city roadways. Runners will finish in front of the Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center.

“It’s like running through a postcard that is Roanoke,” said John Carlin, a local runner who is senior vice president at Access, an advertising and public relations firm. Access designed the marathon’s logo.

Carlin is co-chair of the marathon committee, along with Pete Eshelman, who is director of outdoor branding for the Roanoke Regional Partnership.

Eshelman said Wednesday that this kind of long-distance running event has the potential to pump significant funds into Roanoke’s tourism market.

An economic study conducted for the first running of the Mount Rushmore Marathon reported that the race generated $1.6 million for the local economy, with 1,000 runners, Eshelman said.

Race organizers hope to attract 500 to 1,000 runners in the Blue Ridge Marathon’s first year.

A half marathon also will be held at the same time as this marathon.

For more information, visit www.blueridgemarathon.com.