Houston Marathon

[crewmatt]

So the Houston Marathon is 1 week after the Disney Marathon. And I'm moving to Houston as most of you know. Its also hosting the Olympic Trials that weekend. I'm certainly going to go spectate it, however - we all get that little itch to give it a shot, has anyone ever run it? Is it a good race? I'll certainly consider signing up and running it (albeit not trying for a PR) if people think its a good race.

 

[geaux_half]

Houston isn't a bad race; it is one of the 5 marathons that I've run. It is going through growing pains; last year was the first year that a lottery was put in place for registration. After lots of complaints, this year's registration process was tweaked allowing for entry based on times and prior participation. I believe all of those deadlines have passed and its back to a lottery only for the remaining slots.

Crowd support is good in spots; nothing like Chicago or New York where you have crowd support the entire course.

January weather in Houston is like weather in Orlando. Could be freezing or humid 60s at the start.

Race logistics are great. Loop course starting and finishing at the GRB convention center. Stay at a downtown hotel and you can roll out of bed and be at the start line. No bus transportation required.

 

[cewait]

Houston is one of the great runner's races. The course is flat, usually cool or as cool as Disney, and has the best start/finish line set-up.

Though it is one of two current Texas marathons I have not run, it is one that I would run if I were not running Goofy. The George R Brown provides shelter in the event of a cold or wet start. The organizers did start the lotto system last year but it really is not necessary. The race could grow larger if the organizers would allow...but without adopting an Elite style wave start it can feel too large at its current size.

It's a great race, unfortunately not one that fits my schedule. It's actually kind of funny since when I started marathon running I thought Houston would be a great first event. In the 90's the max time on course was a 5:30... I could not do that so I recalled my brother mentioning a great new race at Disney. With a 7 hour limit that was my race.

I did not realize you were moving here. When?


[ADDED] - Houston has a three marathons starting in 2012. The first is a well run, very low key event in Kingwood known as the Texas Marathon. It is a cheap event and makes for a great last long run before Disney when Disney's dates are in teens like 2013 should be. It is held on January 1. For 2012, registration is closed but a wit list is offered. You have to enter this one early.

Then on March 2 of next year The Woodlands Marathon returns. After being absent for several years, this event returns. Definitely a rolling hill event. It will be a more intimate race with a 7500 runner cap.

 

[FFigawi]

Houston is a good race that could be so much better if the race organizers did a better job. Starting 11,000 people in just two waves creates lots of crowding during the first few miles, especially when the 11,000 people from the other start (the half and full start on different streets) merge in after a mile or so. Also, it's the only race I've ever run where there is no water available after you cross the finish line. You have to walk a little ways past the post-race picture area and into the building before you can get water, and even then, it's only a cup of it. No bottles you can take with you. They also ran out of finisher's medals and shirts the past two years. That's just piss-poor management, especially to have it happen for a second year. Still, the course is very flat and the weather is usually pretty nice for running too.

Another marathon in Houston to check out is the Seabrook Lucky Trail marathon in mid-March. It's run on trails along the bayou and the Bay in the Kemah area and offers a half on Saturday and a half and full on Sunday.

 

[crewmatt]

Wow awesome, I'm glad Houston is a runner heavy area. Thats one of the things I've loved about DC. I'm moving out there what looks like 2nd-3rd week of August, so I guess I wont get to miss my first Texas summer. Bring on the A/C. Although the temps have been mirroring or slightly cooler than Virginia for the last week or so, but i'm sure the scales will tip to Houston in a few more days.

So I've thrown myself in the lottery, we'll let a roll of the dice decide whether I run it or not. If I don't I'll go spectate it and the Olympic Trials marathon.

I agree that running out of medals is an issue. However let's hope they dont run out of water. That would be far worse IMO. Chicago still hasn't really lost that label after they did a couple years ago.

I've heard of the Woodlands Marathon as well, that could be a fun one. Isn't that where the new Texas Ironman is held as well?

For info I'm moving into Sienna Plantation in Missouri City, so if anyone has any good ideas for good running/biking out there. Obviously I've been to Oyster Creek Park.

 

[cewait]

Wow awesome, I'm glad Houston is a runner heavy area. Thats one of the things I've loved about DC. I'm moving out there what looks like 2nd-3rd week of August, so I guess I wont get to miss my first Texas summer. Bring on the A/C. Although the temps have been mirroring or slightly cooler than Virginia for the last week or so, but i'm sure the scales will tip to Houston in a few more days.

So I've thrown myself in the lottery, we'll let a roll of the dice decide whether I run it or not. If I don't I'll go spectate it and the Olympic Trials marathon.

I agree that running out of medals is an issue. However let's hope they dont run out of water. That would be far worse IMO. Chicago still hasn't really lost that label after they did a couple years ago.

I've heard of the Woodlands Marathon as well, that could be a fun one. Isn't that where the new Texas Ironman is held as well?

For info I'm moving into Sienna Plantation in Missouri City, so if anyone has any good ideas for good running/biking out there. Obviously I've been to Oyster Creek Park.

Oyster Creek is where I train when not staying in the subdivision...... It's a great little run with the rollers.

The Woodlands is where the IM TX is held but do not think it on the same track.

There is a great little training series here aimed at the Houston marathon, though I rarely run them since they all use the same road.

We have a relatively new RD in the LaPorte area of town. Last year he produced a new half http://www.laportebythebayhalfmarathon.com/ that went over the newest Ship Channel bridge....twice. Besides Disney, the race has one of the coolest medals that is also functional http://www.laportebythebayhalfmarathon.com/medal.html

He also produces a nifty (aka gimmicky) little 10k sin Seabrook, it crosses the Seabrook causeway 4 times. It is held in September so you can cook a little on the course.

I think I signed up for both this year... ( know I am running the half).

 

[FFigawi]

I agree that running out of medals is an issue. However let's hope they dont run out of water. That would be far worse IMO. Chicago still hasn't really lost that label after they did a couple years ago.

Well, they've done that too. They ran out of water and Gatorade at the mile 3 water stop this year. Thankfully, the rest of the stops had plenty, but that's not a good way to start a marathon.

As Charles said, there are lots of great little races around here. The two he mentioned are really good (although climbing the Seabrook bridge 4 times is why they call it the Toughest 10k in Texas), as is Angie's Half Crazy Half Marathon in March. Different theme and charity and medal each year. This year's race benefitted the local Little League so the medals looked like baseballs.

 

[cewait]

One thing in Houston that may be a little different, we tend to not have anything longer than a 5k from May until September. But we have a robust running scene through the winter.

 

[tiberius]

I've heard of the Woodlands Marathon as well, that could be a fun one. Isn't that where the new Texas Ironman is held as well?

Yes, but there are very few similarities between the courses beyond starting and finishing at the same area. Still both are fine courses that could yield some pretty good times.

 

[FFigawi]

How many of you guys got into the race? I received an email last night letting me know my credit card had been charged, so I know I'm in. It's only a week after Goofy, but since I'm running the Rocky Raccoon 50 in early February, I'm going to use it as a training run. If I have to run 3-4 hours on Saturday and another 2-3 on Sunday, I might as well get a medal while I'm at it.

 

[crewmatt]

I'm in Yea, I'll probably just take it easy and enjoy the run. I'm just doing the full in Disney the week before

 

[cewait]

nope..... I'll watch

 

[FFigawi]

Sorry you didn't get in, Charles.

 

[crewmatt]

So for my Houston runners here, any good running clubs in the area? I'm always up for finding a fun group of people to run with. I saw Fort Bend Fit and Sienna Running Club.

 

[cewait]

So for my Houston runners here, any good running clubs in the area? I'm always up for finding a fun group of people to run with. I saw Fort Bend Fit and Sienna Running Club.

In the area, those are the two largest. Though the focus of ft bend fit is the marathon, they are trying to create a year round group. I run off and on with the group, but I build up to the marathon at a differing rate than the USAfit program does. There is a group called tripshyclones. Many of these guys are the same just the the spin off group is a year round group.... Plus they add cycling and swimming to the mix.

Note that ft bend fit runs around the lost creek park area, but more on the streets than in the park.

Regionally, Houston Area Runners Association HARA is a large group. It's so large that I really only refer to their calendar page any more.

 

[FFigawi]

As Charles mentioned, HARRA is quite large, but if you visit their web site, you can find links to lots of the clubs that fit underneath their umbrella. Most of them have weekly runs on certain days and times that you'd be welcome to participate in. One of my favorites is the run on Wednesday evenings around Rice University and ending at Valhalla, the dive bar on campus with really inexpensive but good craft beer. You're also welcome to join the group I coach with, In Flight Running, for our Saturday morning long runs.