September 27, 2009 October is a month with cool weather and a lot of races For runners in San Marcos and nearby areas, a lot has been said about the running scene in October. Well, October is here next week; and San Marcos can really have its fill of races every weekend with no driving to another town, or just a very short drive for a few added extra races to enter. If a runner is really up to the challenge, he or she can enter as many as eight races in the month of October. For more details, go to the San Marcos Runners Club web site at www.sanmarcosrunners.org and click on “Upcoming Races.” Starting on Saturday, October 3, here in San Marcos, the “From Here to Eternity” 5K run kicks the month off. The race starts at the Lamar Annex and runs up a few hills to the cemetery and back to Lamar Annex. The race starts at 8:00 a.m. and has an entry fee of $20. Call 512-392-5579 for more information. If you are inclined to take a short drive to Starcke Park in Seguin, you can enter the Seguin 5K Moonlight Run starting at 8:00 P.M. at night for a nice full moon to run under. Call 830-401-2340 for information. The next week on Saturday, October 10, the very popular Pet Fest 5K will start at 8:00 a.m. down at City Park (Lions tube rental area). There is a family fun run and a kids run along with this event starting at 9:00 a.m. Entry for the 5K is $16 for early registration and $20 for day-of-race registration. Dogs are welcome, and they will receive a nice bandanna to tie around their neck for pacing their master through the course. The course follows the River Walk, and is very scenic and cool under the trees. Call 512-805-0624 for more information. The following week on Saturday, October 17, runners can really see what they are made of as there are two races here in town. The first is the Ronald Run 5K/Pi’s and Pets Fun Run starting at 8:00 a.m. out at River Ridge Business Park. Call 817-233-3655 for information, as this race may have been moved to City Park. If not, you need to stick around, as the Red Ribbon 5K and Family 1K run are scheduled to start at 8:30 a.m. The popular Family 1K starts at 8:00 a.m. that morning; and entries often number close to 100+ kids running this event. The first 100 children to register for the 1K Fun run receive a free T-shirt. Watching ages from maybe 3 years old up to 12 years run around the loop is worth showing up that morning. The 5K course is a flat, fast and certified course for runners looking for a PR. Entry fee is $15 early and $20 for day-of-race or late registration. Call 512-396-7695 for information. If you can handle two races back to back, you can make a short trip to the Kyle Fair and Music Festival for the Kyle-O-Meter 5K race on Sunday, October 18. Entry fee for individuals is $25 early and $30 late and day-of-race. They have a package deal for four runners at $80 early registration and $100 late registration for a $5 discount to each runner if you register as a group. Call 512-262-3939 for information. For a different challenge on Sunday, October 25, the Country Roads Half Marathon will be run out at the Tanger Outlet Center starting at 7:00 a.m. The course is the ARA-Moe’s Better Half Marathon run in reverse; and that means fewer uphills and more downhills for a fun change. A long-sleeved high-tech shirt will be given to all runners; and awards are in five-year age groups with Overall Champions, Masters Overall Champions, Senior Masters Champions (50+) and Grand Masters Champions (60+) as well. Entry fee for early registration is $35 and late registration and day-of-race is $45. Call 512-396-2584 for more information. Rounding out the month of October, you can take a short drive down to New Braunfels for the Wurst 5-Mile Run (not 5K but 5 miles) in Landa Park. The race starts at 8:00 a.m.; and entry is $25 for early registration and $30 for late and day-of-race registration. Buck’s Pottery provides the handmade mugs to the age-group winners; and for the Overall Male and Female winners a cash prize of $150 is awarded. For the Masters Overall Male and Female winners, a cash prize of $100 is given. There are not many months like this October for runners; so now is the time to collect the T-shirts, awards and great running weather and enjoy running without having to travel very far. Maybe we will see you at “all” of these races? Dr. Maurice Johnson - better known around San Marcos as “Moe” - is a professor in the Department of Health, P.E., Recreation and Dance at Texas State University - San Marcos. 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 • Home • About the Club • Current News • Club Runs • Places To Run • TX Running Clubs • Running Links • Useful Stuff Upcoming Races • Race Results • Country Roads 10K & Kids Run • ARA-Moe’s Better Half Marathon • “Running With Moe” Contact Us!