Today is the Capitol 10,000 in Austin. It is one of the largest races in the United States and ranks as the fifth largest in terms of participants in a 10K. Organizers are hoping for a large turnout and want to come close to 30,000 runners.

Whether they make that number or not, it is still a large race, and one that is just fun to be part of. Even if you are a slow runner or a walker, there will be other individuals keeping you company.

I remember the first race back in 1979, if I have my year right. It was a white T-shirt, and you had to run faster than 56 minutes (or something close to that) to get one. I did not want to run the race, and had a plan to beg out of running with the excuse that I forgot to send the entry form in. For one reason or another, my entry was mailed in by my wife at the time, who also entered; and so I was committed.

The first race was along the Town Lake Hike and Bike trail; and it was a lot different than it is today. Along the trail there was a series of “swinging bridges” across some low water crossings. When the mass of runners arrived at each of the bridges, the back-up or logjam that resulted was unreal. The thing that I recall most vividly was that, when a runner hit the wood slats on one end of the bridge, it sent a shock wave or vibration back across to the other side. When your foot was coming down, the bridge often times was coming up. Then there was a slight swaying that was present.

Since there was a crowd on the bridge, you could not run fast. In fact, you were lucky to walk slow. I have a tendency to get seasick; and by the time I hit that third bridge, I was beginning to feel a little nauseous. The farthest I had run prior to trying to run six miles was only three miles. Not knowing how to do this long of a race, I reverted to my college track days and sprinted the first mile. You can imagine the last four miles were at a significantly slower pace. I managed to finish faster than the required finish time to get a T-shirt, but not by many minutes.

I ran twelve races after that before I missed one. The last few were entered just to be part of the crowd and enjoy the event. I ran in the back with the costumes, military cadence groups, fun runners and whatever other kind of runner wanted to participate. I ran one race with all of my previous T-shirts on a makeshift PVC construction apparatus, with the sole purpose of getting my picture in the paper the next day. It was unusual enough that I did indeed get my photo in the paper. It was a really cold and miserable day, but my 15 seconds of fame were now history.

For a couple of years, Brian and Emmett McCoy organized a bus to take the runners from San Marcos to the race. Refreshments were served up and back, and after-race stories were shared on the ride back to San Marcos. I am not sure if the doughnuts were good pre-race nutrition; but back then nobody really knew what was good for you in a race and what was just plain good to eat.

If you have never entered or even watched this race, it is well worth the time to make a trip to Austin to either run or watch the runners come across the finish line. Many of the spectators gather at the bridges and yell encouragement to the runners as they pass below. Other neighbors sit out in their yards and enjoy a Sunday morning breakfast as they watch the runners go by. Invariably there are a few who will be in their yards trying to get a runner to stop what they are doing and sit down and have a free beer with them. I do not recall any runner taking them up on the offer, but some of those runners at the very back may find the offering a good alternate to running another three or four more miles.

The course is a little easier to coordinate between the start and finish. The first races had the start and finish about one-half mile apart. It looks like the start and finish lines are closer together now, and parking your car near the finish and heading to the starting line is better. One thing for runners who are part of a group is that it is almost impossible to run together for very long. In a tight crowd, one runner may pass someone; but the partner gets shut out when other runners get between them.

At the finish area, you need a very specific spot or a big sign to meet at. Trying to find a friend in a mass of 20,000 other runners, and one runner arriving before everyone else, it becomes a very lucky day when you find each other. Plan ahead of time where you will meet and at approximately a time you think each of you will be there.

Be ready to have a good time, and it is a great time to meet other runners. Conversation with other runners is fun, and you meet some interesting people during the run.

If you didn’t run it this year, mark it down on the calendar for next year, and start a running or walking program that will put you in enough physical condition to make six miles so that you can have a good time and be part of one of the biggest events in Texas running. If you need help with a program, contact the San Marcos Runners Club for help. The club meets every Tuesday down at the Courthouse at 6 p.m. for a fun run. There is almost always someone in the group who will run with you and get you on a good program. You do not have to be a member of the club to join them for the run, and it is open to anyone who shows up.