Last Sunday, the 22nd Moe’s Better Half Marathon and the added race Speak Up for Kids 5K were held out at Tanger Outlet Center. The number of runners was down a little from past years; but considering that we were not going to hold it at the beginning of the year, it was a good turnout. Comments from runners were all positive, and they were glad that we did not cancel the race.

When you hold a successful race, it all comes back to the volunteers that make a race good or bad. It starts with Michelle Carswell, general manager at the Tanger Outlet Center, for letting us use their location to host the run. Meeting with her and June Hanson early on to see what we needed and what Tanger could provide for us was a real benefit. Jorge Soto, Tanger Maintenance Director, who came early on the day of the race, opened up some doors, put up barricades, put out cones and was available to assist us was really appreciated. He was a great help.

Runners commented that they liked the design that local artist Jill Pankey drew for the race shirt. CASA was the beneficiary for this year’s race; and Norma Blackwell and Tricia Schneider went above and beyond helping organize the race and getting donations to support the race. David and Linda Alexander are so valuable in any race here in San Marcos; and they were helping out from the very earliest stages of the race, including designing the entry forms, putting information on the web site, giving advice to volunteers and helping with the day-of-race set-up.

One volunteer, Mike Schneider, was a real jack-of-all-trades on the day of the race, as he helped me set out the mile markers, acted as a trail vehicle, picked up aid stations, and mixed energy drinks; and I am not sure what else he helped out with, but he sure was a welcome volunteer. Randy Cook and Francis Mendez volunteered to take charge of the aid station set-up, and to make sure they were manned and had plenty of cups, water and energy drink. Charlene Johnson is a person I can rely on for organizing day-of-race volunteers and making sure all areas are covered.

I had my sister, Sandy Keller, come for a visit from Chicago. She wanted to get out of the cold weather for a few days, so I put her to work for three days with setting up and following me around for the race. I am not sure who organized a little surprise for me, but my bet is that it was Linda Alexander. It seems everyone else knew about this surprise except me. Even my sister knew, and most of the people I know in town. Just before the awards ceremony, David Alexander gave this spiel about the race and how I started the San Marcos Runners Club back in 1980, etc.; and then they proceeded to bring out a huge birthday cake (even though my birthday is not until next month) and had the runners sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to me. Talk about getting older before your time! It was a great surprise; and I am still amazed that so many people knew and wouldn’t even give me a hint until that moment.

We had quite a few local runners in the Half Marathon who did well. Andrew Lock came in fourth overall and first in the 20-24 age group with a time of 1:23:25. Doug Mudd took first place in the 30-39 age group with a 1:33:19 time, and Paul Paese ran a 1:39:51 for a second-place finish in the 55-59 age category. Brian Schneider ran a 1:42:10 and Eric Rindahl ran a 1:44:54 for a third-place award in the 35-39 age. Matt Toamley ran in at 1:52:19; Pamela Graham ran a 1:52:40 for third place in the 20-24 age group; Eric Simmons ran a nice 1:53:21; and Elizabeth Black-Wills ran a 1:53:38 for a third-place finish in the 40-44 age category. Gina Moore ran across the finish line in 2:02:06, and that was fast enough to take home the Overall Female Senior Masters trophy (over 50 years). Erin Conley ran a 2:04:24 and Amanda Jimenez ran a 2:13:41, followed by Jennifer Lozano in 2:13:42. Angie Mudd ran a 2:23:37, Teresa Medina ran a 2:50:17 and Laura Mason came across in 2:50:23. Buda runners included Heather Sony in 2:13:53, Michael Sony in 2:15:20, John Shackelford in 3:10:38 for a second-place finish in the 65-69 age group and Tommy Machado from Martindale ran a 1:54:46 for a third-place award in the 35-39 age category. Vonda Lee Adorno from Austin, a frequent runner at runs here in San Marcos, won the Overall Female Grand Masters award for runners over 60 years at the young age of 72.

Runners from San Marcos who entered the Speak Up For Kids 5K included Alan Atchison, who was the Overall Grand Masters Champion in a time of 22:33, and Carl Schreiber who was the Overall Senior Masters Champion in 32:51. Renee Rainey was the Overall Female Masters Champion with a time of 27:08. Vicky Gamez at age 9 years was second in the under-14-years age group with a time of 36:03; and Olga Gamez, also age 9, ran in at 40:59. Karen Lawhead was second in the 30-34 age group with a time of 41:03, followed by third-place winner Jessica Bailey in 42:07. Andrea Estrada-Boren was third in the 35-39 age group with a 36:25 time, and Jennifer Nelson finished in 50:12. Carol Burklund took first place in the 45-49 age group with a time of 30:54.

Al Hale, a close friend of mine from San Antonio, took first place in the 70+ age group with a time of 34:04 at the age of 73. Jim Moyle, the co-race director of the ARA 20-mile run we had here in January, took first place in the 60-64 age group with a time of 31:21.

All in all, it was a successful race day; and a big thank you to all of the volunteers who showed up at 6 a.m. on a Sunday morning to make the event work as well as it did. It would not have been the success it was without all of you.