Sports

OGDEN — Every Ogden Marathon has a story. The 13th version of the popular race is here, and should present a wonderful tale on and off the race course.

Girls state 3-A golf championship tourney at Riverside GC, Riverdale, May 16, 2013. Photos by Dennis Montgomery, Special to the Standard-Examiner

PARIS — After David Beckham’s long and distinguished football career ends on a remote plastic field in northwestern France, his life promises to be far more glamorous once he steps away from the game he loves.

Nearly 20 years after breaking into the Manchester United team, the 38-year-old former England captain won the French league title with Paris Saint-Germain this season.

But after announcing his retirement on Thursday, Beckham’s role in football will take on a new dimension worldwide.

LONDON — End it like Beckham.

David Beckham, whose curling free kicks, rugged good looks and celebrity marriage made him one of the most famous athletes in the world, is retiring from soccer.

Whether striding on the grass, the red carpet or the fashion catwalks, Beckham transcended his sport and became its highest-paid player, with a fortune estimated at $250 million.

The 38-year-old former England captain said Thursday he would quit after his final two games with Paris Saint-Germain, where he won a league title this season.

Missy Franklin is starting to feel like a grown-up.

“I don’t know where the time went,” she said, breaking into a bubbly laugh. “We just went to the bank the other day and signed everything over. It’s crazy. I do feel a little bit older.”

Sure, the star of the London Olympics still has much of her life in front of her. But Franklin reached one important milestone last week, celebrating her 18th birthday, and she’ll mark another Monday when she graduates from her Denver-area high school.

OGDEN — Marathon runner, author and 1972 U.S. Olympian Jeff Galloway spoke Wednesday morning to runners, race officials and spectators on the role of physical activity in boosting mental health.

The Zions Bank Ogden Marathon is Saturday.

Galloway, an Atlanta native, presented a synopsis of his book “Fit Kids-Smarter Kids,” in which he wrote of the ties between exercise and increased mental function.

“Exercise turns on circuits in the brain,” Galloway said at the “Marathon Week” kickoff breakfast at Weber State University. “With increased exercise, kids think better, feel better and are more able to achieve goals in their lives.”

OGDEN — The Zions Bank Ogden Marathon is set for Saturday, but things will be a little different this year in light of the tragic events that took place in Boston last month.

Jenny Scothern, executive director of Ogden’s GOAL Foundation, said security will be beefed up, and marathon organizers have spent much of the past month developing and expanding details of a contingency plan in the event of an emergency at the Ogden race.

“We’re working very closely with all of our local law enforcement and emergency responders,” she said. “Most of the things we are doing are behind the scenes, but we’re taking every action to be prepared.”

One of the actions that won’t be behind the scenes is a new text-only emergency line available to the public. In case of an emergency during the marathon, the public can text details to 801-940-6530 for help.