April 8, 2007
Running season is in full gear with several area races scheduled
The running of the Capitol 10,000 usually signifies the start of the running season in Central Texas; and from now on, a runner can find a race nearby on almost every weekend.
San Marcos has its share of races over the summer and early fall, with about seven or eight good races held in town.
When I report the results of local runners in races, San Marcos has a number of runners; but lately, there is a good number of runners from nearby Kyle and Buda who are doing very well in area races. It is always nice to be able to get up on race day and not have to drive to another town to run a race; and local runners really take advantage of that opportunity.
Looking at the schedule of nearby races, it appears Kyle runners will be able to walk out the door and enter a race right in town for the next few weeks.
Starting with April 14th, the Chapa Middle School 5K will be run. The race starts at 9:00 a.m. at Chapa Middle School on Dacy Lane. Whitney Self, a health teacher at Chapa Middle School, is the person to contact for more information on that race. Registration on day of race will be from 8:00 a.m. until 8:45 a.m.
On April 21st, the very next weekend, the first annual Project Graduation Hays 5K will be held. The 5K race starts at 8:00 a.m.; and then at 9:30 a.m., the kindergarten through 5th-grade students will have a run. Starting point for this race is the Shelton Stadium at Hays High School, and the organizers have certified the course to be accurate.
The registration deadline for the Project Graduation Hays 5K is April 13th; so if you plan to run this race, you need to register this coming week. For more information, go to the web site Haysprojectgraduation.org for a course map and registration form.
Continuing on with races in Kyle, there is the 2nd annual Front Porch Days 5K and Kid’s Fun K on Sunday, April 29th. This race is in the Plum Creek area at Negley Elementary School. Race starts at 7:30 a.m., so get there early and be ready to run. Cost for the 5K run is only $18 and the Kid’s Fun K is $10. The race will be chip-timed through a fast, rolling neighborhood course. Race organizers hope that runners will stick around after the run to help celebrate Front Porch Days festivities for an old fashioned celebration of all that is Plum Creek.
Kyle runners will have three weekends in a row that will allow them to run in town and not have to travel to another city to run. For San Marcos runners it is almost as good, as it is only 9 miles to the north on I-35 to arrive in Kyle. You will have to get up about 15 minutes earlier than the runners in Kyle to enter these races.
If you would like a change of towns, a runner can drive a little farther to Dripping Springs on April 21st for the 7th annual Tiger 5K and Kid’s K supporting the Band Boosters of Dripping Springs High School. This race is in conjunction with the Founders Day Festival in Dripping Springs and will be run out at Hidden Springs Ranch.
Cost for entering is $16 for early entry and $21 on day of race. Students will only pay $10 to enter. Awards are for every 5-year age group and overall winners get a trip paid for. For information contact Mike Powell at 512-858-2564.
As you can see, the race season in central Texas has started off with a bang. Runners have four races to take advantage of in a very short driving distance. Knowing the central Texas area, most of these races will be in nice neighborhoods or on country roads that should offer some nice scenery on the run.
While this area is known as “the Hill Country” the races advertise a flat route for the runners. Runners might want to check with local residents as to the definition of what “flat” is for that area. Sometimes a race will be flat except for that little hill in the middle of the course.
Locals will tell you, “It is only a mile or two long but not very steep for my pickup when I drive it.” I used to mention that our races that start out at the Tanger Outlet Center have gentle rolling hills, except for one hill on Centerpoint Road; and runners who finished the race let me know that my definition of gentle rolling hills is very much different than theirs.
Either way, have a happy Easter, try to stay warm, get out the running shoes and enjoy April weekends on the run.
San Marcos has its share of races over the summer and early fall, with about seven or eight good races held in town.
When I report the results of local runners in races, San Marcos has a number of runners; but lately, there is a good number of runners from nearby Kyle and Buda who are doing very well in area races. It is always nice to be able to get up on race day and not have to drive to another town to run a race; and local runners really take advantage of that opportunity.
Looking at the schedule of nearby races, it appears Kyle runners will be able to walk out the door and enter a race right in town for the next few weeks.
Starting with April 14th, the Chapa Middle School 5K will be run. The race starts at 9:00 a.m. at Chapa Middle School on Dacy Lane. Whitney Self, a health teacher at Chapa Middle School, is the person to contact for more information on that race. Registration on day of race will be from 8:00 a.m. until 8:45 a.m.
On April 21st, the very next weekend, the first annual Project Graduation Hays 5K will be held. The 5K race starts at 8:00 a.m.; and then at 9:30 a.m., the kindergarten through 5th-grade students will have a run. Starting point for this race is the Shelton Stadium at Hays High School, and the organizers have certified the course to be accurate.
The registration deadline for the Project Graduation Hays 5K is April 13th; so if you plan to run this race, you need to register this coming week. For more information, go to the web site Haysprojectgraduation.org for a course map and registration form.
Continuing on with races in Kyle, there is the 2nd annual Front Porch Days 5K and Kid’s Fun K on Sunday, April 29th. This race is in the Plum Creek area at Negley Elementary School. Race starts at 7:30 a.m., so get there early and be ready to run. Cost for the 5K run is only $18 and the Kid’s Fun K is $10. The race will be chip-timed through a fast, rolling neighborhood course. Race organizers hope that runners will stick around after the run to help celebrate Front Porch Days festivities for an old fashioned celebration of all that is Plum Creek.
Kyle runners will have three weekends in a row that will allow them to run in town and not have to travel to another city to run. For San Marcos runners it is almost as good, as it is only 9 miles to the north on I-35 to arrive in Kyle. You will have to get up about 15 minutes earlier than the runners in Kyle to enter these races.
If you would like a change of towns, a runner can drive a little farther to Dripping Springs on April 21st for the 7th annual Tiger 5K and Kid’s K supporting the Band Boosters of Dripping Springs High School. This race is in conjunction with the Founders Day Festival in Dripping Springs and will be run out at Hidden Springs Ranch.
Cost for entering is $16 for early entry and $21 on day of race. Students will only pay $10 to enter. Awards are for every 5-year age group and overall winners get a trip paid for. For information contact Mike Powell at 512-858-2564.
As you can see, the race season in central Texas has started off with a bang. Runners have four races to take advantage of in a very short driving distance. Knowing the central Texas area, most of these races will be in nice neighborhoods or on country roads that should offer some nice scenery on the run.
While this area is known as “the Hill Country” the races advertise a flat route for the runners. Runners might want to check with local residents as to the definition of what “flat” is for that area. Sometimes a race will be flat except for that little hill in the middle of the course.
Locals will tell you, “It is only a mile or two long but not very steep for my pickup when I drive it.” I used to mention that our races that start out at the Tanger Outlet Center have gentle rolling hills, except for one hill on Centerpoint Road; and runners who finished the race let me know that my definition of gentle rolling hills is very much different than theirs.
Either way, have a happy Easter, try to stay warm, get out the running shoes and enjoy April weekends on the run.
 |
Dr.
Maurice Johnson - better known around San Marcos as “Moe” - is a professor in the Department of Health, P.E., Recreation and
Dance at Southwest Texas State University. Moe has been a fixture
in the San Marcos running community - both as a runner and race organizer
- since way back when Moby Dick was a minnow. His column on running
and fitness appears each Sunday in the Sports section of the San
Marcos Daily Record. |
• Recent “Running With Moe” Columns •