Ben Turman introduced himself to Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon race directors in an e-mail that contained his personal records and background in running earlier this month.

As a distance runner who has had success in road racing of varying distances, Turman said he has heard a lot of positive things about the NVM — everything from organizational detail to spectacular scenery for the 26.2-mile event that traverses one of the world’s top wine growing regions.

“It’s a great event, and I’d like to join the fun this year,” Turman wrote.

The marathon, now in its 29th year, is welcoming Turman with open arms.

They’re providing the former UC Berkeley runner — who clocked a 3:44.90 for the third-fastest time in the 1500-meter run during the 1993 Pacific-10 Conference track and field season — a complimentary entry.

He’ll join two other elite-level runners, Mike Wallace of Menlo Park and Tom McGlynn of Burlingame, who are all projecting very fast times on the point-to-point course, which is certified by USA Track & Field.

“It’s a beautiful area,” Turman, 37, said Thursday in a telephone interview.

“I looked at the course description and elevation map, and it looks like a really nice opportunity to run a good time.

“Everybody I’ve talked to associated with the Napa Valley Marathon has been very welcoming and professional, very supportive and encouraging. That’s very nice. I know it’s a quality event. I’m definitely honored and appreciate the encouragement I’ve had so far.”

Turman, who works as a technical project manager at Autodesk, a software technology company, will be running only his second marathon when he answers the starter’s bell from Rosedale Road and Silverado Trail on March 4 at 7 a.m. in Calistoga. Top runners are expected to reach the finish line at Vintage High School in Napa between 9:15 and 9:30 a.m.

Runners will receive official times up until 12:30 p.m. when the course closes.

Turman has given himself six months to train for the NVM, which calls itself the “Biggest Little Marathon in the West.” His goal is a time of 2 hours, 26 minutes.

“I want to have a good experience, and for me that means running smart,” he said. “From what I’ve seen so far of running longer distances and just running in general, the cost of making a mistake in a marathon can be pretty severe — if you go out too fast, or if you try and press too soon, or if you don’t have the right fluid in-take, or if you’re not adequately prepared for the distance. You can be in a world of hurt out there.

“My goal is to prepare as well as I can.”

He recently finished 15th in the Kaiser Permanente Half Marathon, which is held near Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, in a time of 1 hour, 9 minutes, 59 seconds. His only other marathon came in 2004 when he was third at the Avenue of the Giants in Humboldt County with a time of 2:50.

“This time I’ve been training specifically for this event and really followed what I hope to be a thorough program to prepare myself,” said Turman, who makes his home in the Bay Area community of Kensington with his wife, Maya, and their children, Naomi (6) and Miles (4).

He left the track and hit the roads after college and founded the Transports Adidas Racing Team in 1996. Starting with only five runners, the team has grown to over 40 men and women athletes. In 2000, Turman was the USA Track & Field Pacific Association Road Runner of the Year, and overall short course Grand Prix Champion.

The Transports team has a streak of five consecutive Road Grand Prix team championships. They’ve won three consecutive cross country Grand Prix titles. The team has also become an incubator for post-collegiate runners, and has helped many runners develop into Grand Prix champions and U.S. Olympic Trials qualifiers.

He was a miler at Berkeley High School, where he holds the school record in the 1500 (3:58.7), and Cal. After that he transitioned to longer events and competes in road races.

“I haven’t really had a serious go at marathons, so I’m hoping to use this as the benchmark,” he said. “I don’t see myself as a world-class athlete. I’m just a guy who’s married with two kids and a full-time job who still likes to run and mix it up.”

The NVM will attract over 2,000 runners. The marathon weekend includes a Sports and Fitness Expo on March 3, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Napa Valley  Marriott. Also on slate is the marathon’s popular Marathon College, an innovative speaker/seminar program that includes a “faculty” composed of respected running authorities and celebrity runners.

“I wish everybody a good run and a big thank you to everybody that helps put it together,” said Turman.

Entry is limited to the first 2,300 registrants. Runners can register for the marathon online or download an entry form at www.napavalleymarathon.org.

Alternatively, contact the race via e-mail at nvm@napanet.net, or call 255-2609. The registration fee for the race is $100. There is no race-day registration.