HP Houston Marathon; America's best kept secret exposed!
For the last 33 years the citizens of Houston Texas have been pulling the wool over our eyes. They've been hiding a secret. They've been keeping to themselves the most runner-friendly big-city marathon in America. It's high time some one dug in and found out the facts. It's time to blow the lid off and expose this hidden jewel!

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By Christopher Russell
Posted Monday, 29 November, 2004

20 things that I’ll bet you didn’t know about the HP Houston Marathon…

1. It’s been rated the fastest winter marathon in the U.S. (and one of the last Boston qualifiers for 2005)
2. The course is flat as a dead-man’s EKG.
3. The Houston weather on race day in January has averaged a cool 45-55 F°.
4. It’s the largest marathon and ½ marathon in Texas. (and Texas is a big state)
5. The half is the 3rd largest in the country.
6. The marathon is the 10th largest in the country.
7. Houston is the 4th largest city in America (behind only NY, LA, and Chicago).
8. They hold the course records for both the full and the ½ in TX.
9. With 40,000 attendees, they have one of the largest Race Expo’s in the country
10. The race has 5,000 volunteers.
11. There are 200,000+ spectators. (With Elvis impersonators, belly dancers, and live music lining the course each half mile).
12. Houston pioneered the HP Athlete Tracking System and is known to have the most technologically advanced marathon in the country.
13. The race is easy to get to; it is centrally located in the US and Houston International Airport (IAH) is the hub of Continental Airlines.
14. For an early registration fee of $65 you get a commemorative shirt, a certificate, a finish medal, a finishing shirt, a commemorative mug (for the FREE BEER) and a big party.
15. It’s got an indoor start and finish staging facility with a 100ft walk from the hotel to the gun.
16. The host hotel, a brand new Hilton is only 100 ft from the start/finish line.
17. The course is completely closed off to cars, no running next to cones.
18. The prize money is more than $118k this year.
19. The race raises $600k for local area charities.
20. FREE BEER! (Two of my favorite words) at the post race party.

What’s the Buzz?

With all this going for it the HP Houston Marathon won’t be a secret much longer. Runners all over America are passing the word. This race is beginning to get the buzz that it deserves. I did some research to see what people who ran the race had to say, because runners, as a species, are quick to tell you the truth about a race they’ve run.

“I run countless road races throughout the year, throughout the country, and I have to say that this is the best overall race that I have ever run.

The spectator support was hands-down the highlight of the race. For being such a large city, Houston really exhibits an excellent sense of community. Hundreds of people were cheering for me specifically; I know this because in 2004 the race featured names printed on the race numbers, so I heard my name called out throughout the race.”

“What a great race. Solidly organized, interesting course, amazing fan support. The fan support was SO great… You should run this race; you will NOT be disappointed - the crew won't allow it.”

“Yes I would run it again. The three best things: flat, fast, fans.”

…And from various Cool-Runners:

“It's a fast, flat course; crowd support is EXCELLENT, and the entertainment along the course is almost too good (makes you almost want to stop running and listen sometimes).

Houston is a great marathon with EXCELLENT crowd support…

The Houston marathon is an outstanding event. It’s a great first marathon course.

The course was flat, super flat.

I cannot imagine a more exciting and inspiring crowd. Thank you, Houstonians!”

That summarizes how most of the feedback was, not just positive, but glowing. Runners seem genuinely surprised that Houston was so runner friendly and enjoyable.

A runner’s race – All the bells and whistles of a big city marathon without the hassles

I talked to Steven Karpas, the managing director and he confirmed why he thinks the race has been successful. “We want to put the runner’s experience first. We’ve been experiencing explosive growth because we have kept it a runner’s race. We have all the bells and whistles of a Chicago, Boston or New York marathon.”

That commitment to the runner’s experience can be seen throughout the event. There is no long bus ride to the start or hassle getting your tired body back from the finish. The start is right at the George R. Brown Convention Center. The finish is at the same place. The Expo and all the weekend events are right there too.

The participants get to stay inside the conventions center until the start, so no freezing your buns off in the corral for hours like other races. The Finish goes right back into the convention center to conveniently get your stuff, no standing in line and having to walk a mile when you’re body is hammered.

The Hilton America’s is connected to the George R. Brown Convention Center, the location of the race Expo, packet pick-up and late registration. It’s all in the one place. No buses. No walking. No hassle.

That is the kind of stuff that is really important to us mid-pack marathoners. I can’t describe the awfulness that I’ve experienced having to stumble through the city streets for miles after finishing a race, dragging my stuff with me, when all I want to do is sit down.

For a big marathon, (18,000 runners), Houston has a ‘loose’ start. The runners are not squeezed together and can get up to pace quickly without getting run over like other big city marathons.

Flat Fast Course

All these things make Houston a worthwhile race to consider for a great winter qualifier. The course itself will support a fast time. Unless you’re from Kansas or Florida, there are no hills. There are a couple of overpasses that may have a vertical climb of 10 – 20 feet, but that’s it. If the uphill war with gravity has your number, you won’t have to worry about it at Houston.

The course winds through the heart of scenic downtown Houston. It begins with an F16 flyby. It runs by Minute Maid Park, home of the Astros (Roger Clemens’ new digs). The marathon passes through the Montrose area which is known as ‘Houston’s French Quarter’, then follows a nice tree lined stretch through the Rice University neighborhood.

The course also goes through the Galleria shopping district (in case you forgot something). Memorial Park, famous to Houston area runners as a running Mecca, is on the menu as well. But, most importantly, this is a completely closed course. There will be no traffic cones and you won’t be sharing the roads with any cars. Did I mention ‘no hassle’?

Great running weather

Strategically, if you’re trying to qualify, or want to run your first marathon, that makes Houston a good choice. There are no hills to worry about and no foul weather. While we’re running through ice storms and snow drifts up here in the North, it’s around 50 degrees and a windless cool down by the Gulf of Mexico.

They’ve also got a strong pacing team program if you’re looking for some help.

Most people who have never been there think of Texas as a hot place, and it is in the summer, but in January it is perfect running weather. Another hassle you won’t have to worry about. Leave the sleet of New England behind. Leave the cold winds of the Midwest. Go down to Houston in January.

Easy to get to – Great location

Houston isn’t hard to get to either. I go there all the time on business by hopping a flight out of Manchester N.H. for $139. Houston has three airports and is centrally located from both coasts. The largest airport, HIA, is the headquarters and home base of Continental airlines. You can run your marathon and be back in New York for dinner.

Houston – Home of the “Hoopla”

One of the things race organizers are very proud of is what they call the “Hoopla”. They claim to have invented the concept of marathon Hoopla. One of the recurring themes in the reviews of runners who have run the race is how good the on-course entertainment was.

The facts back up this assertion. Tactically, the organizers have an ‘entertainment committee’ for every half mile on the marathon course. Essentially, the local organizations compete to entertain you, the runner. You won’t be bored.

You will have bands serenading you, radio stations blaring music and calling out your name to drive you on. You will have Elvis and belly dancers to inspire you through those tough miles. The effect is “a 26 mile corridor of entertainment”.

Technology innovators

On the technology front, the organizers also like to say that they invented racer tracking as well. The Houston Marathon was the first marathon where you could follow the progress of your runner on the internet or by being notified electronically when the runner crosses a waypoint mat each 5k. With HP’s sponsorship, you can be sure the technological innovation will remain strong and the runners will benefit.

Great Town – Great Support

The whole city throws itself into the act. There are 200,000+ spectators lining the course. There are 5,000 volunteers to help you, (and prevent hassles). The community rallies around the race and puts a big dose of Texas love into it so you, the runner will feel it.

The ½ marathon is 4 years old this year. It has grown to the 3rd largest ½ marathon in the country and has the 2nd most prize money. The half is sponsored by ARAMCO Services Company, continuing a tradition of strong corporate support.

Indeed, the Aramco Houston Half Marathon has seen spectacular growth and will also host the 2005 US Mens Half Marathon National Championships. The Marathon and ½ have separate starts so you won’t have the hassle of tripping over each other on the course.

U.S. race officials have known about Houston for a few years. The U.S. running establishment has been in on the secret for awhile. Houston was the host of the 1998 Women’s National Trials. Houston was also the host of the 1992 U.S. Women’s Olympic Trials. In 2005/2006 Houston will host the US ½ marathon national championships.

Great Value - Great Food - Great Party - Free Beer

For your $65 entry fee you get a boatload of goodies:

• Entry shirt
• Certificate
• Finisher’s shirt
• Finisher’s medal
• Commemorative Mug

The party lasts all weekend. The convention center is rocking for the runners for 4 days straight. With the new hotel, it’s like being on a marathon cruise ship – everything is right there within walking distance from your cabin.

The fun starts on Thursday the 13th with a Greek Pasta dinner, continues Friday the 14th with the pre-race pasta dinner and pep rally. The pasta dinner offers a big buffet spread for runners to carbo-load on including free beer. (Although, speaking from painful experience, I’d be careful with the free beer two nights before the big race!)

The pasta party is also a segue into a pep-rally where the hoopla is revealed again. They have live entertainment and special guests give the runners a big send off.

On Saturday 15th they have a fun run for the kids and the Health and Fitness Expo, rated as one of the best. This is where you can pick up your packet or late register.

On Sunday the 16th you have the race starting in the morning and finishing up before noon. You can put that commemorative mug to good use at the Michelob Ultra post race party, which starts at 10:00 AM where there will be more hoopla and more free beer. (Again, from experience, you might want to take it easy with the free beer at 10:00 AM after running hard for 3+ hours!)

The Houston Myth

One of the things that I feel compelled to address here is the preconception that Houston, as a city, is a hot and sticky backwater with nothing but oil refineries going for it. This is simply not a true portrait of modern Houston. It may be another myth perpetrated by the citizens of Houston to keep tourist from screwing up their city.

The downtown area where the marathon activities are centered is a excellent metropolitan venue. Here are a few factoids from the Mayor’s office:

• Houston has a 17-block Theater District second only to New York City with its concentration of seats in one geographic area.
• Houston has a unique museum district offering a range of museums, galleries, art and cultural institutions, including the City's major museums.
• Houston has more than 500 cultural, visual and performing arts organizations.
• More than 90 languages are spoken
• Houston hosts every major professional sport.
• Houston is home to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the largest rodeo in the world.
• Houston has a young population; 37 percent of Houstonians are 24 years old or younger and 34 percent are between the ages of 25 and 44.
• Houston boasts more than 40 colleges and universities.

The truth is that Houston’s quality of life and low cost of living have been attracting people from all over. Both the economy and population has been growing quickly.

Running for charity

All participants in the HP Houston Marathon races are encouraged to run for a charity. The event raised over $600,000 for 28 charities last year and is a not-for-profit event. The hosting charity program is named ‘Run for a Reason’. If you need extra incentive to run or want to give something back, Houston supports that whole heartedly.

Great race – Great Value – Great times

The secret is out! The HP Houston Marathon is a great winter marathon for you to consider. It is fast and runner friendly. It’s got a big party going on. Pencil in Sunday January 16th on your calendar now to reserve a spot and be part of the best kept secret in running.

VITAL STATS HP Houston Marathon, Half-Marathon and 5K website Online race registration Date January 16, 2005 Start time Wheelchair race: 6:45 a.m. Marathon and Half Marathon: 7:00 a.m. Timing chips, powered by HP equipment, will score the marathon and half marathon. Time Limit Marathon: 6 hours Half Marathon: 4 hours Number of Participation 2004 Marathon: 6,376 2004 Half Marathon: 5,905 Addiitonal Events Koala Health & Fitness Expo Pasta Party & Pep Rally Associated race Half marathon 5-Kilometer