Record-setting weekend on tap for Chevron Houston Marathon
Posted Thursday, 12 January, 2006
HOUSTON, Jan. 10, 2006 –– The 34th running of the Chevron Houston Marathon is poised to be the biggest and best ever, with record weekend participation of more than 18,000 runners expected to compete for the $172,900 prize purse.
Registration for the Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Houston Half Marathon has reached the combined field limit of 15,000, closing before on-site registration during race weekend for the first time ever. Registration for the Houston Press/Smart Financial 5K will remain open until Saturday, Jan. 14 at 6 p.m. The three races are scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 15.
“The interest from Houston’s running community and around the world continues to grow,” said Brant Kotch, marathon race director. “We are expecting runners from all 50 states and 30 countries. This is the fifth consecutive year that we have seen a marked increase in participation. We first imposed a cap on marathon and half-marathon participation last year, to ensure runner safety and make it a pleasurable experience for all.”
Among this year’s runners is Texas Governor Rick Perry, who will run in the Aramco Houston Half Marathon. Governor Perry, an avid runner, will join the 8,000-plus expected for the race.
The Aramco Houston Half Marathon also will host the 2006 USA Men’s Half Marathon National Championship for the second consecutive year, featuring many of America’s top distance runners. They will be competing for $52,400 in prize money in the half, $21,000 of which is reserved exclusively for Americans.
Houston Mayor Bill White and Texas Governor Rick Perry will fire the starting gun to begin the marathon and half marathon at 7 a.m. The Houston Press/Smart Financial 5K will get under way at 7:20 a.m.
This year’s record participation is expected to result in a windfall for the race’s Run for a Reason program, which raises money for numerous Houston-area charities. Close to $1 million is projected to be raised in 2006, compared to $802,000 last year.
Runner packet pick-up, and on-site registration for the Houston Press/Smart Financial 5K, begins Friday at the Chevron Houston Marathon Health & Fitness EXPO presented by Koala Health and Wellness Centers. The EXPO, which also features more than 90 exhibitors and seminars on health, fitness and running, is open Friday, Jan. 13 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday, Jan. 14, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free and open to the public, the EXPO takes place in the George R. Brown Convention Center, Hall D, first level. There is no runner packet pick-up race day.
“New for 2006 are three separate areas, or corrals, at the start line for marathon and the half marathon,” said Kotch. “The first is reserved for elite runners, the second for those who expect to run under four hours in the marathon or two in the half, and the third for those running at a slower pace. Designed to improve the experience for everyone, runners’ bibs will indicate which corral they should start from, based on the expected race time runners provided at registration.”
The Chevron Houston Marathon, a Running USA founding member, is the nation’s premier winter marathon, annually attracting participants from all 50 U.S. states and nearly 30 foreign countries. In 2005, more than 18,000 runners took part in four marathon weekend events (marathon, half marathon, 5K and children’s run). The Chevron Houston Marathon offers the only closed marathon course in Texas and is ranked among the top five in the nation by the Ultimate Guide to Marathons for fastest course, organization and crowd support. More than 5,000 volunteers organize the race, which is Houston’s largest single-day sporting event.
More information is available online at www.chevronhoustonmarathon.com or by calling 713-957-3453.
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