March 7, 2010 Everything ready to go for Moe’s Half Marathon There is a country song by Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings that starts out with a verse “Sunday morning coming down.” Sunday is the day of the ARA-Moe’s Better Half Marathon and “Speak Up For Kids” CASA 5K out at the Tanger Outlet Center. From early registration numbers, it looks like it will be a nice turnout; a little worry about the forecast of rain, but race organizers will be hoping that it arrives later in the day. Whether it rains or not, the runners will show up and run the races, and hopefully the volunteers will show up as well. Many non-runners think that if it is raining, nobody will show up; so they are not going to show up either. Runners do not think that way; and some actually enjoy running in the rain. Maybe it takes them back to when they were kids and could step in every water puddle they could find; and over a 13-mile course, there may be lots of puddles to step in. Race organizers have been meeting on a regular basis, and things are ready to go as long as everybody shows up on time. Tricia Schneider, CASA race director, has been busy making sure loose ends are taken care of, and calling everyone to remind them that the race is still on. Eloise Hudson, also with CASA, has been lining up the volunteers and making sure all the duties are covered. There are lots of little jobs to fill. Frederick Case, a member of Kiwanis, has been recruiting Kiwanis members to help out with setting up aid stations, helped with pre-race packet stuffing and getting more members to work the pre-registration tables at Tanger on Saturday. Jim Moyle, ARA representative and co-race director, has been keeping things moving in Austin, and making sure the event people that help with the technicalities of the race are ready to go. David Alexander and I have been taking care of the measurement and setting up the course so nobody will get lost. The race will follow a little different route this year, and the new course has a new start and finish line. That means some adjustments needed to be made in where everything for the past 15 years has been located. It seems like little things to most people, but it is the little things that can make major mistakes that keep the race from coming off without a hitch. One good thing is that the major tasks of putting on the race are being handled by some experienced people that have helped with the race in years past, and at other races. They are at critical areas; and if problems arise, they can answer the questions from runners and keep the volunteers busy with the assigned duties. It makes the job of race director so much easier, and a little more stress-free. Tanger Outlet Center has been great in providing support for this race and others over the years. The use of the Tanger Outlet Center is a real benefit, as there is adequate parking, and the staff of the Tanger Outlet are there early in the morning to open doors and see if we need anything to help out; and it just makes putting on a race so much easier. Michelle Carswell, Tanger General Manager, and John Lairson, Assistant Manager, and their grounds crew are to be commended for supporting local events at the level they do. The race benefits CASA programs and Kiwanis scholarships for local students; and without their support, much of this could not take place. As to “Sunday Morning Coming Down,” it starts very early for a number of organizers. Some show up around 3:30 a.m., and others start arriving about 4:30 a.m., so that when most of the volunteers arrive at 5:30 a.m. things are ready to roll when the runners start arriving at 6:00 a.m. Putting on a race is not just showing up a few minutes before the start, and making sure everything is ready for the race to begin at the sound of a horn blowing. Tables are put out; shirts for the runners are stacked by size; food for after the race is put out; water and sports drinks are mixed and readied for taking to the aid stations; pens and entry forms are set out; pre-race packets are separated from day-of-race registrants; and then awards are arranged for after the race, and the list goes on. Hopefully everything comes together, and the runners have a great race and will want to come back to San Marcos again next year. I will let you know how it all comes out next week. 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!