Houston Marathon

[cewait]

I have run 19 marathons since 99 and never once run Houston - My home town race. When I started it had a 5.5 hour limit and frankly that was not a possibility for me in the early years. Than once we started streaking at the mouse house I was committed to Disney and with Houston the following weekend I just never felt like I could do a back to back even though Houston opened the limit to 7 hours for a while and reccently cut the time back to 6 hours.

With a conflict in the convention center's schedule this year I have an opportunity to run from my own bed. This year the Houston Marathon is on January 30 - three weeks past Goofy.

I decided to enter but was thrown a loop when Houston decided they needed to hold a lottery for entries this year. Seems like all events in Houston with a signup in 2009 sold out in less than a couple days - the marathon included. Reacting to this Houston created a lotto system.

Fast forward to tonight. I received a notice from the committee that I was selected for the event and my card was charged the entry fee. I am kind of pumped about finally getting to run Houston.

 

[tiberius]

Good going, Charles! I'll be out there cheering on the runners.

I am sitting out Houston this year, mostly due to the late date and my desire top concentrate on IM training. However, I haven't yet heard from anyone I know who did not get in...makes me wonder if the Houston Marathon officials overestimated the demand for the race for the coming year.

 

[disneyaway]

Fun! One of my friends did the half and her husband did the full last year. They both really loved it- had a blast.

 

[buckeyecinderella]

Congratulations, Coach! You'll have to report back on your experience!

 

[escape]

Great news, Charles!

I've heard a lot of good things about the Houston marathon. One of our local girls ran in the H. marathon a couple of years ago and while there, won a trip to Greece to participate in the marathon over there.

Good luck with your training!

 

[FFigawi]

I know of a handful of people who did not get in, one of whom is rather annoyed that her not-too-serious-a-runner husband made it and she didn't. Most of my running friends and I didn't bother to enter the lottery in protest for them having it in the first place and are running Dallas and/or Austin instead.

Glad you made it in though. It's not nearly as well run or as interesting as Disney or Rock n Roll races, but having done it the past two years, there's definitely something to be said for being able to sleep at home the night before. Plus, it's flat and good for setting a PR.

 

[cewait]

Kind of surprised about the not run as well. They toot their horn fairly loudly about being a runner's race. I do have a lot of friends and formerly coached walkers who boycot the event since they pulled the time limit back.

I too was hesitant about entering this year. I think the lottery idea was just dumb. With a little fore thought and planning they could create a race that would never need a lotto.

But I did enter as this is possibly the only year I will run the race - or at least as long as I have the Goofy streak working.

 

[geaux_half]

Enjoy CHM! I thought it was well run the 2 years that I've run it. I did the 1/2 in 2007 and the full in 2009. Worked baggage claim last year as I did the Goofy Challenge the week before.

I stayed at the Hilton near the GRB both years that I ran it. Was nice to be able to roll out of bed and be at the start. Having the GRB is convenient as well as you don't need throw away clothing in case of cold weather.

The HEB hot breakfast post race is a nice touch as well. I can't eat right after running but I went through the food line and brought a plate up to my room. After cleaning up, I was able to enjoy the food.

You get a cotton event shirt at packet pickup and a technical finisher shirt post race.

I think the whole lottery mess could've been avoided as well. I still don't get having separate race caps for the 1/2 and full and then allowing transfers between events even after an event has reached the cap.

I'm running RNR SA 1/2 in November and the Austin 1/2 in Feb. I may end up running the 3M 1/2 in Austin same day as CHM. The downhill course looks like it could be fast. I'm sure it will fill up quick now that CHM lottery is done.

 

[CALIFLADY]

Coach-

I ran Houston twice - in 1997 and 1998 - so it's been a long time. Frankly, these were the ONLY marathons I've ever run. Back then it was flat and fast, with the exception of an overpass near the Galleria and the few underpasses on Allen Parkway back into downtown.

Sounds like they're trying to get snobby, what with the lottery thing. That's too bad.

 

[TEK224]

Congrats Charles! Glad you got in!

Terri

 

[BrianD]

Good luck, Charles - glad you made it in!

As Houston is my hometown, though I haven't lived there in 17 years, I am interested in one day running the Houston Marathon. Just curious, what is the appeal of this particular race to where it has reached the point that it requires a lottery? Is it just an incredibly well executed event? I can't imagine it is because of the population of Houston, because I now live in Atlanta (nearly the same size) and they struggle to fill up their one annual full marathon.

 

[cewait]

I think there are multiple things.

First they announced an increased cap for the 2010 race which drove a panic entry session last year. Like Disney used to be it is a race cap, not a half cap and a full cap. Not sure of the exact time period but less than a week to fill the event. This was on the heals of the MS 150 selling out in 6 hours for the 2009 event. The funny thing is that there are now three marathons in the Houston proper area in January. The Texas Marathon which is really a serious marathoner's race...small crowds and little spectator support. USAFit offers an optional marathon the weekend before Houston for those who were shut out in last year's panic and this year's lotto.

I have always heard it is one of the better run races - though I think their ratings may be down as a result of the lotto and how they handled last year. It is flat, usually cool and the crowds are deep for much of the race. I will humbly state that the volunteers are second to none - I am a long time volunteer - using this race as a pay it forward event.

There additional entry pressure to be able to handle an entry flurry next year as the 2012 Houston is the Olympic Qualifier for both fields. I am wondering if the folks in the back office put the lotto in place a year early to assure they have the bugs worked out for next year; when demand is sure to be high...after all it is fun to say you ran the Olympic Qualifier, right?

Anyway, since the 2011 race is two weks later I am taking this apportunity to make number 22 Houston.

 

[Duanerice]

Congrats Charles. Nice having a local race. We've had a half marathon for the last 3 years and it's great. But we now have our own marathon on December 18! Not bad for a little town.

Not sure i am going to run it as I have LV 2 weeks before and a HIM a few weeks before that, but we'll see.

enjoy,
Duane